Prices in some of Europe’s most popular ski resorts have fallen dramatically since last season, new research has found.
The average cost of a week's equipment hire, lift pass, tuition, food and drink is down in three quarters of the world’s top resorts, with double digit percentage falls in more than a third of them.
An annual report on the winter sports industry by the Post Office and Crystal Ski Holidays has found that resorts that welcome a large number of Britons each year are among those where prices have fallen, including Kitzbuhel, Les Deux Alpes, Serre Chevalier and the Three Valleys hub of Courchevel.
Zermatt remains one of the most expensive resorts in the world Photo: Getty
Even resorts considered to be the most popular and some of the most expensive in Europe have seen falls in prices on the ground. For example, costs in Val d’Isère in France are down 9 per cent on last season, while St Anton and Mayrhofen, both in Austria, have seen 7.5 per cent and 9 per cent falls respectively.
The Post Office also found that popular North American resorts had seen a fall in prices, including a 13.8 per cent fall in Whistler.
Resorts where the average cost of everything needed for a week’s skiing or snowboarding went up were very much in the minority. Of the 27 resorts surveyed, only seven saw an increase in prices, three of which were Europe’s most expensive (Saas Fee, Wengen and Zermatt, all in Switzerland) and three of which were North America’s most expensive (Winter Park, Breckenridge and Vail).
Cost of skiing this season
| Resort | Cost* (£) | % change since 2014/15 |
|---|---|---|
| Bansko | 259.34 | -0.8 |
| Kranjska Gora | 264.13 | -11.8 |
| Livigno | 286.29 | -11 |
| Ellmau | 306.38 | -1.6 |
| Sestriere | 322.04 | -8.9 |
| Morzine | 333.02 | -8.8 |
| Ruka | 334.01 | -11.6 |
| Soldeu | 343.84 | 3 |
| Les Deux Alpes | 363.69 | -13.5 |
| Serre Chevalier | 367.45 | -13 |
| Selva Val Gardena | 374.59 | -8.3 |
| Mayrhofen | 383.22 | -9 |
| La Thuile | 385.30 | -10.3 |
| Kaprun | 404.54 | -6.4 |
| Courchevel | 450.31 | -10.5 |
| Kitzbuhel | 458.23 | -15.2 |
| Val d'Isere | 458.45 | -9 |
| St Anton | 522.83 | -7.5 |
| Saas Fee | 573.40 | 0.6 |
| Wengen | 597.26 | 0.6 |
| Zermatt | 698.50 | 1.7 |
| Tremblant | 526.83 | -6.9 |
| Banff | 584.31 | -11.7 |
| Whistler | 610.45 | -13.8 |
| Winter Park | 693.85 | 14.4 |
| Breckenridge | 745.52 | 9.3 |
| Vail | 751.88 | 0.2 |
* Cost of a week's equipment hire, lift pass, tuition, food and drink for an adult
Zermatt retained its place at the top of the European cost table, with a 1.7 per cent increase on last season’s costs, meaning that a week’s equipment rental, a lift pass, ski lessons, food and drink for an average adult will set you back £698.50.
Similarly, eastern Europe retained its position at the foot of the table, however falls in costs in some Italian resorts, including Livigno, meant that its USP of value for money is weakening.
Andrew Brown, from the Post Office’s Travel Money branch, said the strong pound has much to do with better costs for British skiers and snowboarders.
Whistler is one of the most popular North American destinations for British skiers Photo: Fotolia/AP
• Best North American ski resorts
“This means that even where local prices have edged up, UK tourists will find the cost of skiing as well as meals and drinks noticeably cheaper this winter,” he said.
“While skiing remains cheapest in Bulgaria and Slovenia, our research reveals that long-established favourites in France, Austria and Italy are great value too. Livigno is a great bet for both solo skiers and families, as are Morzine and Ellmau.”
North American resorts remain, on the whole, expensive, despite falls in cost and without taking into account the price of transatlantic flights. The cheapest resort surveyed was Canada’s Tremblant, which, with a week’s equipment rental, a lift pass, ski lessons, food and drink averaging £526.83, would be the fourth most expensive in Europe, ahead of St Anton’s £522.83.
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