How to plan a family ski holiday without breaking the bank

Guest contribution from Mountain People, the simplified way for you to book your next tailor-made Alpine winter and summer holiday, allowing you to book everything you need for your next trip all in one place

 

A common misconception still remains around the ski industry, that ski holidays are for the chosen few and are expensive. Like all holidays though, they can be as expensive or in this case, as inexpensive, as you want.

Of course, whether you are a seasoned skier family returning to the slopes this season or a family considering your first ever ski holiday (which you won’t regret), the options open to you are endless and this is all reflected in your budget. There are plenty of benefits of booking a package skiing holiday with a reputable tour operator or agent and if you do so in good time you can certainly find a bargain! However, we know some families may prefer to book a holiday independently, and if that includes you, here’s how you can do it.

Family Holiday

Let’s consider the options available for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children). Your first port of call has to be looking at your flight options; do you have to fly Saturday to Saturday? The answer is simply no! With the emergence of low-cost carriers and competition between the others, flight prices vary significantly, why not fly on a Friday or any other weekday that works for your party or consider an early morning flight which means more time in the resort. This will all have a significant effect on your flight prices for the whole family.

The Resort

Your choice here will have some effect on your budget, but most resorts will have a wide range of accommodation types ranging from Self Catered Apartments, Hotels and Chalets with deals to be found in all. For you, looking for resorts within as short a distance as possible from your airport will start reducing costs from the get-go. Transfer times to resorts range from an hour and thirty minutes up to four hours, depending on your chosen airport and chosen resort, so do your research.

Most big resorts are situated within a larger ski area, like the Portes du Soleil, Les Trois Vallées, Arlberg Ski Region, Dolomiti Superski etc. The majority of these ski areas have smaller resorts or what are known as satellite resorts nestled in the Valleys around them. These smaller resorts and satellite resorts are just smaller villages nestled in the same ski area and here you can make savings on accommodation and also enjoy a quieter space if that is what you and your family like. So why not consider Les Gets in the Portes du Soleil or Les Menuires in the Les Trois Vallées as options when considering where to go.

 

Transfers

Coach, Scheduled, Shared or Private transfer options, they scale in price accordingly. For a family on a budget, your best option could be a return shared or coach transfer to and from resort. Timing is a factor to consider here, so booking as early as possible will always be your best option as prices can go up if left until last minute!

Accommodation

Self-catering accommodation has to be next on your list for a budget-driven ski holiday. An apartment for a family of 4 will start off at €500 for non-peak season weeks. Non-peak season weeks are a good option to consider if you want to keep your price down and stay away from the large crowds in-resort. Peak weeks around Christmas, New Year’s, February mid-term, and Easter see prices increase and large numbers travelling, so if you can avoid these peak periods for your winter holiday, you will save accordingly. There are countless Residence operators across the vast majority of European resorts and this will give you access to self-catered apartments ranging from small studios for 2 – 4 people up to 3 and 4 bedroom apartments for 10 – 12 people if your family is slightly bigger or you convince another family to come with you (you won’t have to convince them ever again). One thing you will never forget after waking up in a ski resort is the view you will be greeted with every time you look out the window or stand on your balcony.

Ski Pass

Let’s be honest, you do not need a full area access ski pass, it is your first time skiing, a local area ski pass is going to be more than you need for your first trip and your next one (once you start skiing, you won’t stop). The difference between these two options is significant; you will save between €50 and €60 per ski pass. This will aid greatly in reducing your overall price. Further discounts are also available if you purchase a family pass which is available for groups of 2 Adults and 2 Children minimum, across a range of resorts.

 

Rental

You will be learning how to ski or snowboard and spending some time on your bum laughing in the snow, so you will require basic equipment. You’ll need an economy pack (Skis, Boots, Poles or Snowboard and Boots) for the week which will cost you around €90 per adult and between €50 and €70 per child depending on their age. A must recommend for us is a helmet, not everyone wears them (but you should), some insurance companies have gone as far as stating that you must wear a helmet under their insurance policy. An adult helmet will cost another €25 with children’s helmets costing around €20.

Lessons

The only way to ski or snowboard is to learn! With numerous Ski and Snowboard school providers in each resort, you will have a choice to make in terms of who to go with? Some of the big names have been around for years and subsequently charge accordingly. However, these providers will give you and your family some of the most reliable and focused ski and snowboard lessons on the mountains. For a family of 2 adults and 2 children having lessons every morning (half day) for the duration of their stay (6 ski days) the cost will be €740 approximately, that breaks down to €185 per person. To keep your family lesson costs down, take your lessons in a group. Each of these groups will generally have up to 6 people sharing a lesson with a dedicated instructor. These other people in your group will be of the same skill level as you and it is a great way to meet new like-minded people while in resort. Kids will love the group lesson experience and will receive a badge or equivalent at the end of the week after completing their lessons.

Travel Insurance

This is a must! No matter what level of Skier or Snowboarder you are, travel insurance with winter sports cover is something you and the whole family should have. Travel insurance comes in various options, where you can avail of a cheaper single holiday cover. However, if you will be travelling again later in the year, it may be more beneficial to get yourself multi-trip cover. There are countless travel insurance providers so you will always find a good deal for this.

 

 

QUIZ: Where to ski and snowboard?

With more than a thousand ski resorts in the Alps, it can be hard to find the perfect place for that amazing trip that ticks all the boxes, especially if it’s your first time going on a ski holiday. Therefore, we’ve created a quiz to help you find your ideal destination and guide you in the right direction in your search. At each question right down your option -A, B, C or D- and at the end of the quiz count the letter it has been repeated the most. Here we go!

1. Apart from skiing, why would you like to go on a ski holiday? 

1. As a break-away from the routine
2. I just want to take to the slopes!
3. Discover a new place
4. Have a great time with my friends

2. How much should the transfer take from the airport to the resort?

1. I don’t mind as long as the trip has a beautiful view
2. Less than 2 hours, I’m too impatient!
3. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu
4. I just want to arrive on time for the après-ski

3.  What type of skier are you?

1. The one that takes their time to contemplate the views
2. I’m a snowboarder
3. The adventurous kind
4. An après-skier

4. What’s your skiing level?

1. Intermediate
2. Expert
3. Beginner
4. I can try…

5. Which is your most-used emoji?

1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. ?

6. Best company to tackle the slopes with?

1. My partner and people from my closest circle 
2. Anyone who loves the snow as much as I do
3. Somebody willing to explore around
4. Friends! The more, the better

7. How will you spend your evening?

1. Relaxed at the spa
2. Still snowboarding or skiing
3. Discovering a new place in town
4. Drinking with my friends 

8. The most important thing about the resort?

1. The scenery
2. The pistes
3. The connections
4. The bars

 

Majority A – Val Thorens, France

At Val Thorens, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes away from Geneva Airport.

After working so hard you look forward to treating yourself and relaxing. A great ski holiday must come along with a great spa! In the top-floor of the Pashmina Hotel, you’ll find the Occitane. You can have a massage, relax at the jacuzzi or at the steam room and take a nourishment treatment before descending the slopes. 

While you relax, and let the treatments take full effect as you have a glass of the finest champagne, you can enjoy the stunning winter panorama of the Trois Vallées. Also, if you want to explore other ski resorts, the Three Valleys is well connected by lifts with Méribel, La Tania, Courchevel and more.

Even if the first development built was a somewhat unsightly apartment block, Val Thorens is now home to some of the smartest hotels in the French Alps, more sympathetic with the Savoyard style. Some of the best hotels in the resort are Altapura, with an elegant Scandinavian style and Koh-i Nor, named after the largest diamond in the world.

 

Majority B – Avoriaz, France

At Avoriaz, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Geneva Airport.

All you care about is taking on those slopes! You are happier on the pistes and surrounded by snow, that’s why you’ll love the stunning views over the Morzine valley and Mont Blanc. Avoriaz has one of the best conditions to snowboard and ski: it has 600km of pistes to freeride, it’s usually one of the first resorts to get snow, and it’s the highest resort of the Portes du Soleil ski region (over 5900 feet). Also, the alpine resort has some of the best snowparks in Europe, including the Stash, a fun ungroomed area to freeride and freestyle. 

But if you go to Avoriaz don’t forget your swimming costume (yes, your swimming costume), you are going to need it at Aquariaz Indoor Water Park. Built on the top of a cliff, you can see the whole valley covered in snow while you’re swimming in a heated pool. Aquariaz has all the features you expect from a water park: a gently-flowing river to float around, an aquatic play area for young children, massage tables, and even a 10-metre high water half pipe.

Once a year, Avoriaz also hosts the Snowboxx Festival, with many ski and snowboard activities and an epic après party. Each year the line-up of the festival is headed by some acclaimed DJs such as Jax Jones, Annie Mac and Rudimental, amongst other artists. 

 

Majority C – Borovets, Bulgaria

At Borovets, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Sofia International Airport.

For you, each day is a chance to discover the world and skiing is just a pretext for new adventures! If you know the Alps well already, and they’ve lost their charm, then you should ski in Borovets, located at the foot of Mount Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans. This Bulgarian resort has great connections to other places worth exploring and it’s easy to find excursions to Sofia and Plovdiv. Also, it’s near the Rila Mountains and you can visit the fascinating Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. 

At 2925 metres of altitude, Borovets is a more budget-friendly destination compared to the Alps, and it has a wide offer of courses and activities for beginners. Still, intermediates can also have fun in the Balkans.

The resort also offers great après-ski plans where you can make other international friends, have fun and share some travelling recommendations. Besides, many skiers highlight Borovets’ nightlife as a key feature, as it’s the ski resort with the most bars per square km in Europe. Bulgaria is also one of the cheapest countries in Europe to buy beer, but you might want to try Rakia, Bulgaria’s national drink.

 

Majority D – St. Anton, Austria

At St. Anton, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Innsbruck Airport.

Taking to the slopes is an exciting idea, but you can’t stop thinking about the après-ski plan! St. Anton nights are well-known in the ski scene. Skiers and snowboarders can start their afternoon in the legendary après-ski mile, listening to live music and having an Austrian beer in bars like Mooserwirt, Taps, and Krazy Kanguruh. If it’s after 8pm and you are still looking for a place to continue the party and have some Jagermeister, you can go to Piccadilly/Postkeller, a complex in the middle of town with two ambiences: an area to drink and talk and another one if you feel like dancing. 

St. Anton is one of the snowiest areas in Europe, offering excellent snow conditions suitable for skiers and snowboarders of any level. However, experts will have a great time on the slopes in the resort and they can test their skills in areas like Galzig. On the other hand, the Nasserein area is more suitable for beginners and they can join the Ski School Arlberg, the largest school in Austria.

The Alberg region is the largest linked ski area in Austria and the lifts are highly efficient. With your ski pass, you’ll be able to ski at any point of the 305km in the Ski Arlberg area and visit neighbours resorts of St Christoph and Stuben and any of the other place in Lech and Zurs.

 

Happy with your resort? Which one is going to be your next destination? Share it with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, we’d love to know the result!

 

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Top 10 Ski Resorts with Short Transfer Times

Your time is valuable when you’re on holiday and there’s skiing to be done. No one wants to be wasting time on a transfer from the airport to the ski resort, especially when time isn’t on your side. 

Here at Ski-Lifts, we ensure that your transfer is seamless, so if you only have a short amount of time to spend on your ski break, get an instant quote today and book a hassle-free transfer with Ski-Lifts, to one of these ski resorts with short transfer times.

1. Morzine, France

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to Morzine (75 minutes, 76km)

Morzine is one of the resorts across the Portes du Soleil ski area in France, which stretches up the France–Switzerland border. With 52 hotels and 41 bars and restaurants, there is no shortage of facilities. With that being said, Morzine still manages to pull off that genuine mountain village vibe. When it comes to the slopes, Morzine is a perfect ski resort for beginners and intermediate skiers, with plenty of gentle pistes.

Even if you’re not a dedicated skier, Morzine is one of those ski resorts where there is an abundance of other activities to fill up your holiday while everyone else is whizzing down the slopes. These adventurous activities include; ice-diving in a lake, nature discovery tours, snowmobiling, tobogganing, snowshoeing and of course, shopping. And we can get you there!

©Photo by eGuide Travel (www.flickr.com/photos/eguidetravel/4247034177/)

2. Chamonix, France

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to Chamonix (65 minutes, 99km)

Chamonix town in Chamonix Valley is bustling with life, thanks to the 9,000 permanent residents and plenty of tourists. While Chamonix could hardly be classed as a tranquil alpine retreat, the surrounding cliffs and tumbling glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif makes a stunning setting. The town’s old buildings have kept their authentic look and also now that Chamonix centre is traffic-free, it offers pleasant walkways, with cafés looking over the river Arve’s torrent and no shortage of quirky shops – galleries, bookshops and speciality food, along with classic souvenirs and the latest ski and snowboarding gadgets.

3. Verbier, Switzerland

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to Verbier (120 minutes, 160km)

Verbier is the main resort in the 4 Valleys, the largest Swiss ski area. Verbier’s success is due to a combination of a sunny, scenic location, brilliant terrain and a lively bar scene.  Verbier has been a long-time favourite of the young and sporty clientele. The fact that Verbier is so easy to access from Geneva Airport has also helped with the popularity.

Thanks to the altitude of the ski area and the snowmaking, Verbier is a safe bet when you’re booking for early or late season.  The resort itself sits at 1,500m, however, heights of more than 2,700m can be reached by a couple of gondola rides, which only take around 11 minutes altogether.  At 2700m you can bet your house there will be abundant snowfall. Get an instant quote online today to see how much your speedy ski transfer could cost.

4. Courmayeur, Italy

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Turin Airport to Courmayeur (90 minutes, 150km)

Much like Chamonix, located on the French side of Mont Blanc in Chamonix Valley, upmarket Courmayeur is one of the great ski and climbing towns in the Alps. The Italian side of Mont Blanc has a totally different weather pattern to that of the French side. In the winter Courmayeur gets much more sunshine than shady and chilly Chamonix. The centre of Courmayeur village is pedestrianised and lined with high-end boutiques, lively bars, quality restaurants and even antique and homeware shops. The main ski area is reached by cable car from the centre of the village. The top lift reaches a maximum height of 2,755m and the bottom of the slopes lay at 1,224m. Get a hassle-free quote for your ski transfer in Italy online today.

5. St Anton, Austria

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to St Anton (60 minutes, 100km)

St Anton is, Arlberg is situated in the western part of the Austrian Tyrol region, the town has always been well known for its natural beauty, reliable snowfall and the excellent condition of the slopes. The large networked lift system in St Anton includes the neighbouring resorts of St Christoph and Stuben and a St Anton ski pass also covers the resorts of Lech and Zurs.  Although the town does lay low, luckily there’s a good range of skiing from 1200m to almost 3000m. The ground is grassy and below 2000m, so there’s no real need for a large snow base to make the runs skiable. However, well over a metre of snow is needed to cover the rocks above the treeline. Early on in the season, lower resorts are likely to have more runs open.

6. Mayrhofen, Austria

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Mayrhofen (60 minutes, 70km)

Skiers and snowboarders have been hitting the slopes by Mayrhofen for more than a century and for the locals, providing hospitality, is a way of life. The Zillertal, where Mayrhofen lies, is also famous for being one of Austria’s most musical valleys – almost every member of local families can boast of being a member of a band. The musical theme extends to all the way to the mountain, where music can be heard across the slopes from every mountain hut.  Mayrhofen boasts 136km of runs and 57 lifts, a reputation for consistent snowfall throughout the season and runs which sit between 1,650m and 2,500m. Mayrhofen is packed full of red runs and suits versed intermediates perfectly. For those experts, Mayrhofen is home to Austria’s steepest slope, the Harakiri. For your speedy 60-minute transfer, get an instant quote online at Ski Lifts.

7. La Clusaz, France

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Geneva Airport to La Clusaz (90 minutes, 70km)

La Clusaz is an authentic mountain village that boasts a rustic and Gallic charm. Due to the proximity to Geneva airport, La Clusaz attracts a tonne of weekend visitors. The local slopes are all below 2500m, so snow conditions can be unpredictable, however, there is a lot of snowmaking to make up for that. There are steep black runs and bumps, as well as decent off-piste when conditions allow. There are also challenging but wide blues, as well as gentle nursery slopes up to the mountain. La Clusaz is home to rustic huts throughout, and a few lively bars to keep you occupied.

8. Solden, Austria

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Solden (70 minutes, 83km)

Solden is home to some challenging red pistes and exceptionally long top-to-bottom runs.  For those who love the lively bar scene, Solden is the place for you. The ski area in Solden is not enormous. However, the runs go high and all sectors offer serious vertical and also some long runs. Snowmaking spans across 67% of the area, including all slopes on Giggijoch. Even in a generally poor season, you can usually count on coverage, even down to resort level.

9. Kitzbuhel, Austria

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Kitzbuhel (80 minutes, 83km)

This medieval silver-mining centre deserves its reputation as one of the most picturesque ski towns in the Alps. Old coaching inns which have now inevitably been converted into four- and five-star hotels compete for space in the medieval streets alongside expensive fashion boutiques and fancy cafés. The town stands at 800m and the top lift at 2,000m. For guaranteed snow, head to Kitzbuhel between the end of January and the majority of February. Although Kitzbuhel may look like one of the most expensive resorts in Europe, surprisingly prices fail to reach anywhere near the heights of Courchevel or Zermatt.

10. Innsbruck, Austria

Ski-Lifts’ Airport to Ski Resort Transfer Time – Innsbruck Airport to Innsbruck (15 minutes, 6km)

Innsbruck is a city, not a ski resort, right? Our answer to that is, take a look at the map.  Innsbruck is a place surrounded by mountains. To the north lies the Nordkette. South-east of Innsbruck city centre is the Patscherkofl, while to the south you will find the east-west ridge of the Alps and the slopes of the Stubai Glacier. To be precise, there are nine ski areas surrounding the city, covered by the same lift pass. These ski areas offer a brilliant variety of terrain.

©Photo by Javier Lastras (www.flickr.com/photos/jlastras/3348950947/)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Let’s book your ski transfer

If you’re heading to one of these ski destinations with a short transfer time, don’t forget to book your airport to resort transfer with us here at Ski-Lifts! We offer transfers to over 200 resorts across Europe and America, whether you’re an individual, couple or a group – and booking online is hassle-free. Once your transfer has been organised, you’ll be able to start planning for your ski trip. It’s that simple! Get an instant quote today.