Skiing on a Budget: What's the Best Way to Save Money on a Ski Trip?

Skiing is a hugely popular sport around the world, with approximately 1.5 million Brits jetting off to hit the slopes each year. However, as exciting as a ski holiday can be, it can also be expensive. From ski passes and lift tickets, to ski gear, accommodation, spending money, flights and ski lessons, costs can add up fast.

But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to save money on a ski trip. With the right planning, you can find great deals on everything from flights to equipment rental and self-catering accommodation. This guide will walk you (or maybe even ski you) through money-saving tips to help you get the best prices for your next ski holiday without breaking the bank.

Tips for saving money on a ski trip

We’ll cover a range of ways to cut costs across different aspects of your ski holiday, including choosing cheaper resorts, finding group discounts and knowing when to book early to get the best deals.

'Skiing is 100% always going to be expensive. It has to be one of the most expensive sports out there, especially with a family. But a normal person can do it on a reasonable budget if they utilise the right money-saving strategies.'

Choosing the best destination for your budget

When people think of skiing, France or Switzerland might come to mind first, but many resorts across Europe offer fantastic slopes at much better value. One of the biggest cost factors in choosing a destination is flight prices. The ski season runs from late November through to April, but some times are better value than others.

To find the best value flights, we’ve looked at the cost of a January flight on Skyscanner, as January is generally a cheaper time to hop on a plane in search of an alpine adventure.

Average flights to popular ski regions in January

Some of the most well-known ski resorts around Europe include Val d’Isère and Tignes in France, St. Anton in Austria and Zermatt in Switzerland.

Val d’Isère ski resort, France. Photographed by Andy Parent.

The only thing is, because of their popularity they can be quite expensive. So, by exploring outside of the most popular areas, you can find great places to ski without the need for a ‘luxury’ budget.

Skiresort has created a list of inexpensive ski resorts in Bulgaria for example, which includes the likes of Malyovitsa, Semkovo and Vetrovala. Ski lift tickets cost from €13 (£11) a day at these resorts during peak season.

Compare this to some of the more popular resorts in Bulgaria such as Borovets and Bankso, which cost from €50 (£41) a day during peak season according to Skiresort. That’s a huge saving of €370 (£306) for a 10-day holiday!

Borovets ski resort, Bulgaria. Photographed by Klearchos Kapoutsis.

Money-saving tips when choosing a destination:

• Consider a package deal – Booking a package through Crystal Ski or TUI can sometimes be better value than booking everything separately.
• Avoid school holidays – Prices soar during February half-term and Christmas, so off-peak times like early December and late January can be cheaper.
• Find lesser-known resorts – Cheaper accommodations and better deals can often be found in lesser-known ski regions, such as Bulgaria and Germany.

Saving on ski passes and lift tickets

Lift tickets are a major expense on a ski holiday. The average ski pass cost in Europe is now €66.46 (£57) per day, which is 34.8% higher than in 2015.

Money-saving tips when purchasing ski passes:

• Buy lift passes in advance – Many resorts offer early booking discounts as an enticement.
• Use multi-day discounts – Booking for multiple days can save money compared to single-day lift tickets.
• Consider half-day passes – Perfect for beginner skiers or those who want to explore après ski activities, this ensures you’re getting the most value for money.

Saving money on accommodation

Ski-in, ski-out hotels may be convenient, but they’re also pricey. Instead, consider self-catering accommodation or cheaper accommodation in nearby towns, where you can still experience local culture but save money. Just be wary of how much money it costs to travel to and from where you're staying to the slopes or tourist spots, as you don't want to end up spending on transport what you've saved on accommodation.

Compromising a bit of luxury can also save you lots of money. For example, you can stay at the Les Balcons Du Savoy in Chamonix, France. A 4* hotel from €240 (£199) a night.

Source: Les Balcons Du Savoy, price for 1 night for 2 adults from 3rd Jan to 4th Jan 2026.

Alternatively, just a 14-minute walk away, you can find apartments on Airbnb for more than half this price, ranging from €106 (£88) to around €152 (£126) a night.

If you’re happy to make this adjustment, this could give you a potential saving in the region of €900 (£745) to €1,340 (£1,109) across a 10-day holiday!

Source: Airbnb, price for 1 night for 2 adults from 3rd Jan to 4th Jan 2026.

Money-saving tips when booking your ski accommodation:

• Share accommodation – If travelling in a large group, rent a chalet together instead of multiple hotel rooms.
• Stay near the airport – Research your airport transfer time as the closer you are, the cheaper the transfer will be.
• Book early – Prices rise closer to travel dates, so the earlier you book, the better the value.
• Use discount codes – At Savoo, we offer discount codes for sites like Booking.com so you can make big savings.

Saving on ski equipment and rentals

Renting ski gear at the resort can be expensive. Consider hiring equipment from off-site stores for better prices.

Average daily cost for equipment rental

We've taken a look at the cost of equipment at All Mountain Rental to see what you might expect to spend renting equipment while away on your ski trip:

• Ski boots - €16 (£13) a day.
• Adult skis - €22.40 (£19) a day.
• Snowboard boots - €16 (£13) a day.
• Adult snowboards - €31.20 (£27) a day.
• Adult helmet - €16 (£13) a day.
• Snowshoes - €11.20 (£9) a day.
• Off-piste pack (includes rucksack, transceiver, shovel and probe) - €25.60 (£21) a day.

My German colleague and fellow Savoo Money-Saving Editor, Marvin Pamment says:

'The ski equipment is pretty average, also tends to be cheaper if you book gear online in advance. Sometimes also cheaper if you go via a 3rd party aggregate site. There would be dozens of options in normal sized ski towns. Sport2000, Intersport are big chains and then there are local shops as well. Hiring in the UK to then go skiing in Europe would probably be counter productive as you likely would get lower quality gear here given that there is no demand in the UK, and you then have to pay extra luggage fees.'

Some final money-saving tips

Skiing doesn’t have to cost a fortune. By planning ahead, choosing cheaper resorts, booking early and using group discounts, you can save money while still enjoying a fantastic ski holiday. Find out more about when is the best time to book a holiday with our helpful guide.

Final money-saving tips

• Bring a packed lunch – Mountain restaurants can be pricey.
• Check exchange rates – A strong pound can make some ski regions better value.
• Use a reusable water bottle – Save on expensive resort drinks.
• Avoid Saturday flights – Flying mid-week can offer better prices.

Ready to book your next ski holiday? Here at Savoo, our up-to-date voucher codes help you save money at retailers, sports equipment and travel companies, like Crystal Ski, TUI, Booking.com, Mountain Warehouse and more. And finally, if you decide skiing is not for you after all, check out our top 10 cheapest holiday destinations abroad for getaway inspiration.

*All information, including prices and exchange rates correct at time of publication.