Getting The Most Out Of The Snow
You were bitten by the skiing bug in the boom years, but now you’re riding the bust, it’s easy to think that luxuries such as a ski holiday are out of the question. Not necessarily. There are plenty of ways in which you can still make the slopes without spending a fortune on your ski holiday. Here are some tips!
A Bit Of Research Goes A Long Way
Research your dates carefully. Peak-season can vary from country to country and while the general rule that skiing at Christmas or New Year will severely dent your bank account, avoiding these times can bring the cost down dramatically.
Book a self catered ski chalet. The boom in European skiing has been matched by a boom in the properties surrounding resorts and renting a self-catering chalet can be the luxury at just the right price, provided you fill all the rooms. Many chalets are more than comfortable, while others come with media systems, en-suite bathrooms and spa.
Self catering also means you can eat for a lot less than the price of a schnitzel at the local restaurant. Loading up on beers at the local supermarket can turn a night out into a night in. Stock up on food before leaving the U.K. can also save you money.
Drive
Filling your car with people adds to the fun as well as reducing the petrol costs and with ferry’s competing with the budget airlines, you’ll find getting to the continent surprisingly cheap.
If you’re hiring your equipment, do so independently. Booking online means you’re stuck with whatever deals the website has with a particular ski shop. Hiring independently means better choice, higher quality equipment and often a better price. You might even be able to barter a reduced rate for you and your group.
Research The Resorts On Offer. 
The majority of resorts across Europe are of an excellent standard and seeking out a resort popular with locals more than tourists can get you better value for money. One rule to keep in mind with this is the further east you go, the better the price.
Plan your skiing and buy your ski pass accordingly. A seven-day pass is expensive and you’ll find yourself skiing all week in order to justify the cost. A five-day pass is cheaper, leaving you two days to explore the area and enjoy other activities such as tobogganing, or snow hiking.
Alternatively, you can buy a local pass rather than an area-wide pass. You’ll save a pretty penny on the pass itself and have enough snow to keep you busy for the week. You might even come across great off-piste runs you would have otherwise missed if you ski the wider area.
With a little careful planning you can continue to enjoy ski chalet breaks on a budget. Chaletfinder.co.uk puts you in direct contact with the owners of ski chalets so you don’t pay booking fees, the online portal can help you find last minute ski chalet deals in France, Austria, Switzerland and throughout Europe.