Cheap Ski Holidays
Browse our offers for great savings on your next ski holiday. You can score some great deals with us thanks to our 90+ years experience in the industry. We’ve always got some insider tips, like booking outside peak seasons, picking affordable resorts a bit off the beaten path, going for budget-friendly après-ski, and maybe even self-catering. Skiing and snowboarding are incredible experiences, and our custom ski packages are top-notch, but we’re all about making the slopes accessible to everyone. That’s why affordable skiing isn’t just a dream – it’s something we make happen for all.
So whether you’re after some cheap snowboarding holidays, are a solo skier who wants to explore the slopes as cheaply as possible, a couple looking for a cheap ski weekend break in the Alps or a mixed ability group looking to maximise savings on an annual ski holiday, we can help you find fantastic cheap ski deals.
Some skiing countries are cheaper than others, but with our expertise and connections we can find the cheapest ski resorts and accommodation in France, Austria, Italy, Andorra and even Switzerland.
If a budget ski holidays in Avoriaz sounds awesome or you’ve been searching high and low for ways to save money on a trip to Zermatt, you can pick our brains for the best advice in the business.
For ski holidays that offer the best bang for your buck, Erna Low is your best friend!
Cheap Ski Holiday Deals
Why choose Erna Low first for cheap ski holidays in France?
At Erna Low, we’ve been making Europe’s mountains more accessible to the masses since 1932 ̶ when you’ve been doing something that long, you tend to get good at it! And since all our staff have a personal passion for snowsports and Alpine culture, we take pride in ensuring that every aspect of your holiday is cost-effective without ever compromising on quality and always arrange a ski holiday for customers that we would be delighted to take ourselves. With excellent connections in every resort and across the snowsports sector in general, we’re uniquely placed to create cheap ski packages with in-built savings on everything from flights and transfers to ski resort accommodation and ski hire equipment to lift passes. At Erna Low we make skiing cheap option. We’ll always move heaven and earth to provide you with amazing cheap ski deals that brilliantly balance value with quality.
Cheap ski weekend & cheap ski breaks
There are several highly-rated European ski resorts where you can enjoy a cheap ski weekend. Italy’s Sauze d’Oulx is a superb example ̶ part of the vast 440km Milky Way ski area, this sheltered ski area features lots of terrific tree-lined pistes and with plenty of red runs, it’s a paradise for intermediate skiers and fights to Turin airport and resort transfers are very reasonable. The village centre is full of cobbled streets and traditional trattorias, while there are bargains galore on self-catering apartments. Meanwhile, Les Menuires in France is a charming traditional resort that’s choc a block with chocolate box chalets and has benefited from significant investment in modernising facilities in recent years. Part of the stunning Three Valleys ski area, you’ll find sunny south facing runs here that are particularly pleasant in February and March, a Three Valleys ski pass provides brilliant value for money and there are several marvellous mountain restaurants that are very reasonable.
Cheapest times of year for a ski holiday
Ski holiday’s can definitely be cheaper at quieter times of the year, so in most resorts, that means November and December (but before the Christmas season kicks in), January (from the second week onwards), the middle of March and April outwith Easter. When planning for cheap ski holidays, it might be best, to avoid Christmas and New Year if you can, French ski holidays, UK half-term holidays and high season in mid to late February. In terms of resort conditions at these times of year, Alpe d’Huez in France and Italy’s Madonna di Campiglio can enjoy heavy snowfall in early December, Austrian resorts like Zell am Zee and Mayrhofen are top notch in January (as are French picks like Tignes and Les Arcs), while Italy’s Monterosa is in great condition in March.
Budget ski accommodation
Accommodation is a crucial component of any ski holiday and even if you’re economising as much as possible, you’ll still need a location that either offers doorstep skiing or a frequent ski shuttle service so that you can reach the slopes with minimum hassle. If you opt for self-catering accommodation, it works out cheaper than half-board or all-inclusive arrangements (unless you’re cooking Michelin-standard delicacies and drinking champers every evening!) and if you can opt for the plainer and more practical end of the market, we can help you find some brilliant bargains.
- Cheap ski chalets A catered ski chalet is rarely going to be extremely cheap, but chalet-style accommodation offers the aesthetic attractions of the classical A-frame exterior with several suites sequestered inside, and you can find reasonable prices for these types of residences in ski areas like The Three Valleys, Portes du Soleil, Paradiski and elsewhere. When you want chalet chic and cosiness at a decent price, this type of accommodation is a great fit.
- Cheap ski apartments With a huge range of ski apartments in France, Italy, Andorra, Switzerland and Austria, this category of accommodation often provides the best bargains throughout the season, but especially outwith peak times. With self-catering ski apartments, you can live like a local, pick up fresh ingredients from local supermarkets and delis, and prepare your own cost-effective, healthy and delicious meals. Furthermore, for a cost-cutting double whammy, why not self-drive to your self-catering ski apartment, which also allows you to stay in your own social bubble for the duration if this feels more reassuring.
- Cheap ski hotels
Because of facilities and amenities like onsite restaurants, bars and sometimes even spas, ski hotels have a reputation for being expensive and while a self-catering apartment can often be more economical, there are some scenarios where a ski hotel can be convenient and reasonably cheap. For instance, many three-star ski hotels are surprisingly salubrious and staying on a half-board basis can sometime save you cash if you’ve chosen a resort where eating out, ordering in or food shopping are expensive. Furthermore, in a ski region where almost all accommodation is reasonably low cost, such as Grandvalira, you’ll find ski hotels that are comfortable, affordable and in keeping with the surroundings.
Whatever your accommodation and resort preference, there’s no question that we’ll find something to fit your needs and budget.
Save on ski extras
When you arrange a ski holiday independently, the cost of essential extras such as ski passes and ski equipment hire can mount up and especially if this is your first experience organising a snowsports trip, you can end up paying more than you should. However, when you let Erna Low arrange your ski extras, you can make some serious savings.
- Cheap ski passes
Tap into our experience and expertise to grab the best value ski passes possible ̶ we can often secure discounts on couples, family and group ski passes, making sure that your costs are kept to a minimum.
Furthermore, depending on your plans, skiing ability and resort of choice, we can advise whether a cheaper local pass will suffice, or if you’ll get maximum value for money by spending a little more up front for a lift pass covering the wider ski area and thereby unlocking more ski mileage.
- Cheap ski equipment hire
Whether you need skis, a snowboard, goggles, or any other type of ski gear, we’ll source the most reasonably priced deals from reliable outlets near your accommodation and roll the reduced cost into your cheap ski package, saving you time, trouble, or money. We can help source everything from ski boots to jackets and other rugged clothing ̶ but remember that if you want to save as much cash as possible, you might be able to borrow some equipment from friends too, although naturally there’s no guarantee it’ll be a perfect fit!
Cheapest apres-ski
If you’re planning a ski trip as a stag or hen night, or you simply enjoy evening entertainment as much as your daytime adventures on- and off-piste, it’s helpful to know which resorts have pubs, bars and clubs where prices for drinks and admission are perpetually low or there are regular happy hours. Here are a few party zones where it doesn’t cost a fortune to have a great time:
- Livigno in Italy has plenty of blue and red runs for intermediate skiers and a terrific terrain park with huge jumps and tricky rails and kickers to challenge keen snowboarders, tasty food is available for cut-rate prices and you can grab a beer for as little as €3. Fly to Milan for this cracking resort and there’s a smooth bus transfer to the resort.
- Alpe d’Huez is a favourite French ski resort for many of our customers and as well as the perfect powder on offer, the bars and pubs deliver great value, with venues like The Underground Bar, Smithy’s, O’Sharkey’s, Sphere Bar, Igloo Bar and the local branch of La Folie Douce offering cut-price drinks, regular promotions, and distinctive atmospheres that range from cosy bars with brilliant banter to full-on dancefloor experiences where you can let your hair down and party like a rock star.
FAQs
Can I get a quality ski holiday on a budget?
Absolutely. You can score a quality ski holiday with Erna Low without emptying your wallet! Check out our package deals that include all your extras in one payment. You can also get in touch and inquire about off-peak deals, don’t hesitate to get in touch.