Fancy a getaway this winter? You certainly deserve it, that’s for sure; the festive period is a difficult time at the best of times with all the planning that goes into a family Christmas, but rendered all the harder by the rising costs of just about everything. Ironically, this extra-difficult modifier is also a mark against you doing something nice for yourself after it’s all blown over. After all, what money is there to take yourself off with?

Well, we’re here to say that money does not a good ski-break make. Indeed, cheap ski holidays are more accessible than you think! There are many ways you can have the winter ski holiday you’ve earned, and the following tips are your guide through a good few of them.

Go Off The Beaten Track

Not literally, of course – after all, this is how mountaineers get lost and never found again! What we mean to say is “look beyond the glitzy resorts”. There are a great many lesser-known resorts across Europe and beyond, which can offer far better value for money than the so-to-speak name-brand resorts.

Heading for a smaller-profile place can mean cheaper accommodation, yes, but also cheaper lift-pass pricing and even fewer crowds – meaning more quality time on the slopes, and a more relaxed experience apres-ski. You also often get to discover a completely new neck of the woods, a welcome break from the same tired tourist-trap skiing landscapes.

How To Find Truly Budget-Friendly Resorts For Your Cheap Ski Holidays

So finding the lesser-known resorts is an excellent way to save money – but how do you actually find them? And also, resorts are only one part of a much larger equation when it comes to ski-breaks, so how do you continue to keep your costs low? Here are some practical planning tips to help you stay on the right side of your budget.

First, it’d help to know what your budget actually is. Consider that this will be used for your resort accommodation, ski gear hire, lift passes, travel and food. Consider also that cheaper mid-week flights can dictate your destination as well as your departure time!

Look at cheap flights to different wintry destinations, then do some research on the cheaper resorts that are maybe a little further from the airport. As for avoiding peak-time prices overall, try heading out for your trip in either early December or early March to avoid the half-term family holidaymakers.

Money-Savvy Travel And On-The-Slope Hacks To Keep Costs Down

The smaller costs are often those that eat up the most of your budget, as they sneak up on you mid-trip. That expensive airport bottled water, for instance, is the same price as a convenient taxi from airport to lodgings – both of which can be avoided with forward-planning and public transport. You could also save money by opting for self-catered lodging, in order to avoid the cost of high-end resort restaurant dinners.