Good Value ski resorts

Ski holidays can be extremely expensive, however there are some things that you can do to increase the value of your trip and reduce your overall expenses.  Be aware that many ski resorts will offer discounted prices at the beginning and end of the snow season.  The snow quality may not be as good at these times, but it can make your holiday a lot cheaper.    

Some ski resorts increase the value of their ski passes through affiliate plans that also give you access to other mountains.  For example, three of the best ski resorts in northern Colorado (Steamboat, Winter Park and Copper Mountain) are all owned by the same company, called Intrawest.  They offer a special deal where you can purchase one lift pass that covers all three resorts.  If you have a lot of time available for skiing or snowboarding in this part of the world then purchasing this pass is a good idea as you will be allowed to ski all three mountains for much better price than purchasing separate lift passes.  Take the time to look into mountains with affiliate connections to increase the value of your ski holiday. 

There are other financial incentives offered by some ski resorts that can save you a lot of money and make your skiing holiday much more affordable.  One example of this is Big Sky resort in Montana, USA.  The best value-add that this resort offers is that children under the age of 10 ski for free!  If you are taking a couple of youngsters with you to the slopes, this offer will mean a big saving on lift passes.  Big Sky is also the largest ski area in the United States, with more than 5,500 acres of terrain, so there is bound to be something suitable for all ability levels.      

Another way to increase the value of your ski holiday is to purchase a holiday package deal.  New Zealand ski fields have become well-known for the great value packages that they offer.  Packages can include everything from airfares, car hire, accommodation, lift passes, equipment hire and even ski school lessons.  Packaging your holiday in this way can save you a lot of money when compared to purchasing each item separately.     

Some good value ski resorts

		Cervinia, Italy Cervinia is the poor man’s Zermatt. I don’t mean poor because of the quality of the skiing. It is merely because the cost is drastically less than Zermatt. The skiing is as good if not better because it is less crowded. The terrain is varied so there is something that will please everyone in your ski group.
		Brides-Les-Baines, France This small resort town is the key to saving cash. It is merely a gondola ride up to Three Valleys Ski Resort. This little village may not have snow on the ground but the mountain will. Staying at Brides-Les-Baines will surely cut your expenses drastically.
		Bohinj, Slovenia Bohinj is a lake community at the base of the mountain. The skiable areas are reached by cable car. This is a very reasonable area to go on a ski holiday as it is usually half the cost of other resorts.
		Andorra Andorra is a lesser known ski area with all of the amenities of the high dollar resorts. The terrain is varied and there is something suitable for all levels of skiers. The duty-free stores and fun après ski activities make Andorra a great holiday ski destination.
		Boyce Park Ski Area, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, USA One of the least expensive places to ski in the US is Boyce Park. Although most of the runs are beginner and intermediate levels, the price will make your trip worthwhile. For less than $20 USD, you can ski all day. This is definitely one of the cheapest ski areas around.