5 tips to save money on your skiing trip

It smells like holidays… Have you already thought about your next trip? How about a winter sports holiday? As we all know, this comes with a certain budget! Here are some tips to make the most of the snow without breaking the bank!

To find the cheapest ski destination, look for places that are less popular... in other words, avoid the prestigious resorts ;-). To give you some ideas, look for resorts in Germany or in countries where the cost of living is lower, such as Poland, the Czech Republic or Slovakia. This will allow you to enjoy the slopes to the full, as they are much less crowded than elsewhere. The website www.bergfex.com will tell you everything you need to know about skiing, the resorts in Europe and their rankings so that you can choose your destination.

Don’t be careless about preparation. If you are going to ski, take up a sporting activity and train first. The risk of injury is lower with trained muscles. This way you can return home in perfect health without worrying about medical costs! 

If you’re going on a ski trip, you should check what is covered by your insurance. You never know what could happen during a ski holiday! Travel insurance is therefore absolutely essential. In Europe, the European Health Insurance Card covers a large proportion of medical costs free of charge, but it does not replace travel insurance during a winter sports holiday.

You have 2 options: buy or rent. Let’s have a deeper look at these 2 options:

• Rental ski shops replace their equipment quite often (every couple of years) to make sure that they are up to date. Renting gives you more options and the opportunity to change equipment (from skiing to snowboarding if you do both, for example). Many rental shops now accept online bookings, which saves you time and money (special discounts apply in some cases).
• If you bring your own skis/snowboard, you will be more confident on the slopes, but you will have to transport all your equipment. Also remember that if you choose to invest in your own equipment, you will not be able to replace it every year!

Keep in mind that restaurants on the ski slopes are often more expensive than those in the valley. If you're on a budget, opt for a picnic in the snow with home-made sandwiches, fruits and a bottle of water. 

Finally, good luck with packing your bags!

01/2023