Skiing is a costly business, so picking the right resort for your budget is essential. If you're planning a last minute trip to the slopes this season, you might want to consult Post Office Travel Money's annual ski report, which compares costs in 25 popular resorts in Europe, giving an indication as to the cheapest and most expensive.
The latest report published in October 2018, compares the estimated cost of a selection of typical skiing expenses, such as equipment hire, lift pass, ski tuition, lunch on the slopes and a range of drinks, so you'd obviously also have to factor in other essentials like flights, accommodation, and après ski of course.
The research suggests that in the most expensive surveyed, the Swiss resort of Zermatt, the list of items would set you back almost three times as much it would in the cheapest.
The Bulgarian town was once again crown the "cheapest ski resort in Europe" in 2018, where the total skiing expenses came in at an estimated £405, compared to £1,026 in the more exclusive resort. The research suggests a beer would cost you a more agreeable £8 in the former, compared to a whopping £24 in the latter.
Meanwhile Italy is home to four of the 10 cheapest resorts, and by contrast, France is home to none. The cheapest of the five French resorts surveyed was Morzine, where these expenses would set you back £608.
Those looking for something a little more bargainous, might want to consider one of these alternatives:
7. Sestriere, Italy = £529
Sestriere came in as the seventh cheapest ski resort overall.
6. Ellmau, Austria = £527
In 2018 Ellmau saw the biggest fall in prices of all the European resorts surveyed in the report.
5. Rauris, Austria = £522
Rauris, which is slightly cheaper than Ellmau according to the report, emerged as the best value of the five Austrian resorts looked at.
4. Vemdalen, Sweden = £514
Vemdalen was one of five new European ski resorts included in the report, of which it proved the cheapest.
3. Kranjska Gora, Slovenia = £452
Kranjska Gora slipped to third cheapest ski resort.
2. Bardonecchia, Italy = £452
Bardonecchia held on to its position of second cheapest European ski resort and was also the cheapest in the eurozone.
1. Bansko, Bulgaria = £405
The Bulgarian town of Bansko regained its crown as the "cheapest ski resort in Europe," with the total skiing expenses coming in at an estimated £405, compared to £1,026 in the exclusive Swiss resort of Zermatt. Here, the research suggests a beer would cost you a more agreeable £8, compared to a whopping £24 in the latter.
Post OfficeTravel Money compiled this data in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays. See the full report here.
