| For many people, times have been better. For some | | | | holidays are more expensive than ever. |
| not so long ago, winter was the best time of the | | | | Get on the Internet and search for chalets that are |
| year; a chance to visit their favourite Alpine resort to | | | | being rented direct from the owners. Second look at |
| enjoy the best of what their annual ski trip had to | | | | driving. Ferries are cheap during the winter months |
| offer. Now though, with money not so hard to come | | | | and most Alpine resorts are within 600 miles of Calais. |
| by, those trips are checked by negative bank | | | | That's one good hit with two people sharing the |
| balances and the strong Euro. So does that annual ski | | | | driving or a cheap overnight in an Ibis or Formula 1. If |
| trip have to be banished to just a pipe dream, or is | | | | there's four of you sharing, you can be there for less |
| there a way? Outdoormania's Graeme Holmes finds | | | | than £100 each. |
| out. | | | | At the Resort |
| If you're in the UK, a standard European six day ski | | | | Don't rush out and buy a week's lift pass as soon as |
| trip can cost many thousands of pounds per person. | | | | you get there. Chances are that, unless you're in |
| Not only have you the cost of the holiday itself, but | | | | training and tee-total, you're not going to be up on |
| you've everything else to factor in. French lift passes | | | | the fist lift and down on the last every day. Most |
| are often in excess of £200 for a week on | | | | resorts offer discounts for after 11.00am and after |
| the slopes, then there's ski hire, beer at £6 a | | | | lunch. Go for these and day passes and you will |
| pint not to mention exorbitant prices both on the | | | | make some big savings on a weekly ticket. |
| mountain and in the resort. | | | | An obvious one, eat in and drink in. Sure go out for a |
| But there are ways you can save. If you do it right, | | | | beer but last season French resorts were charging up |
| those potential thousands of pounds can be reduced | | | | to 10 Euro for a half litre of beer. That gets |
| to just a few hundred, making the winter holiday a | | | | expensive if you have a session in mind! If you're |
| valid proposition even in troubled times. | | | | going to go out drinking, have a few 20p French |
| Gear | | | | bottle first, then go out! |
| A couple of tips, when you're buying ski clothing | | | | Mountain restaurants are about as expensive as |
| avoid the brands. Sure if you want a jacket with a | | | | anywhere you will find in Europe. When you're skiing |
| certain logo on the shoulder, you can expect to pay | | | | take a rucksack or hydration pack. Make sure you fill |
| five or six hundred pounds. The fact is that most ski | | | | your hydration bladder with an energy drink every |
| jackets and other ski clothing items come out of the | | | | morning and pack a few snacks and a flask. If you're |
| same Chinese factory despite the brand. Check that | | | | a couple, this alone could save you as much as |
| it's breathable and waterproof, avoid the brand and | | | | £40 a day. |
| you can buy a complete clothing set up for less than | | | | Think about where you go |
| a £100 if you shop around. | | | | Lastly, a probably the greatest potential for saving |
| Hardware-wise, hire can cost a couple of hundred | | | | you money, is think about the country you're visiting. |
| quid alone. Check eBay and buy second hand. When | | | | France is getting ridiculous in terms of cost yet still |
| you get home sell it again. I know people who have | | | | remains the most popular ski destination for Brits. |
| actually re-sold snowboards, skis and ski boots at a | | | | This against a strengthening Euro make some of the |
| profit, helping to recoup some of the holiday cost. | | | | prices out there border on the extortionate. Sure it |
| Booking | | | | has some of the best ski areas but they're often |
| With more and more taxes, airport parking, taxis and | | | | some of the most crowded so you don't just spend |
| with airlines now charging extra for baggage and skis, | | | | more time in queues and less on the slopes, but you |
| the extras can soon boost what appears to be an | | | | pay for the privilege as well. Think about other |
| okay deal, to something that begins to look | | | | countries which are less expensive; Italy, Bulgaria and |
| expensive. Sure certain last minute packages can be | | | | even Austria can end up saving you a small fortune, |
| cheap but today, largely speaking, ski package | | | | especially if you're a group or a family. |