A ski holiday requires a certain amount of organisation, especially when it comes to the budget. On average, a holiday in the mountains costs between 900€ and 1,000€ per person for a week.
This budget is divided into various categories, some of which, such as accommodation, ski passes and food, are compulsory and more expensive than the rest.
The costs can vary depending on the resort, the time of year, the number of people and the length of the stay, etc.
To help you plan your holiday, OVO Network has broken down the various budget items that make up a ski holiday.
How much will you spend on transport?
Transport is one of the major expenses of a mountain holiday. It is one you can’t avoid, but there are ways to save money!
Of course, the cost will vary depending on whether you are a large family, a couple or a group of friends. Similarly, the means of transport that can be used will be more or less limited.
Travel by car
Both practical and economical, driving gives you more freedom once you arrive, allowing you to save money on other items.
The journey can be long and tiring, especially in the high season when there is more traffic. But a second driver often makes it easier to organise and less of a hassle.
The main costs of a car journey are ferries, tolls and petrol. For example, a trip from Paris to Tignes costs around 250€, so 500€ for the return trip. This budget will obviously vary according to the route travelled.
Additionally, there are a number of incidental costs, such as the purchase of chains/snow socks for your tyres and an ice scraper.
The price of chains ranges from 50€ to 560€. They are often sold in pairs, so you will need two. Socks are cheaper and easier to put on, but they wear out faster. Expect to pay between 45€ and 150€ per pair.
By train
More expensive than the car, the train is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to resorts like Chamonix (3h40 from Lyon) or Alpe d’Huez (4h from Paris). For smaller, family-friendly resorts, access may be more difficult or even impossible.
If travelling from the UK, you can get the Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord Station and explore options for your onward journey.
For domestic train travel, to get to the Alps, the price of a round-trip INOUI TGV can range from 170 – 260€ per person. However, discount cards can reduce this price, especially for children and students.
The SNCF has been running a number of interesting, low-cost, but little-known offers for some years. OUIGO, for example, has “Mountain & Ski” offers from stations in the Ile-de-France to the Alps. The price is 5€ per child up to 11 years old, for all journeys, and 10€ per adult. To calculate the full cost, you will have to add the price of the shuttle or the taxi to get to your resort, unless you opt for a “train + shuttle” formula like the Train des Neiges which leaves from Marseille, Aix-en-Provence or Manosque and serves the 25 resorts of the Southern Alps.
By air
Defining an average budget for a flight is always complicated, depending on the flight time, the airline, the time of year, etc.
However, we have worked out an approximate price ranging from 35€ to 120€ per person. You’ll need to add the cost of checked luggage and, depending on its weight, additional kilos.
Obviously, the earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it is. This means you should plan your holiday in advance and budget carefully for it.
Flying can be convenient and direct – the most complicated part is often getting from the airport to the resort. Taxis or private transfers are often the quickest way to get to the resort, but the price can quickly become expensive.
Coaches which you book in advance are a good second option, and sometimes public buses will serve your chosen resort, however, these take longer.
Money-saving travel options
Carpooling is one of the most economical and environmentally-friendly options, although it is more restrictive, particularly in regard to space.
A carpooling trip costs about 23€ for 100 kilometres, which is shared between the passengers: for example, Paris-Chamonix will cost two people about 140€. There are many carpooling websites but some are specialised in ski destinations such as Skivoiturage.
Another economical way to travel is by bus or coach: although it takes longer than carpooling, it is cheaper. During the ski season, competitive rates are offered by French operators such as Blablabus or Flexibus. This makes this means of transport even more attractive.
For example, journeys from Paris to Val d’Isère start at 20€ with Flexibus. For the Southern Alps, ZOU buses are a good option.
Accommodation – how much will it cost?
This is the largest single item of expenditure, accounting for almost 29% of the budget for an average mountain holiday.
Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to save money and will offer you the best choice. In addition, the bigger the group, the smaller the individual share of costs.
Group holidays with OVO Network
OVO Network has a wide range of properties across the Alps to suit all budgets. Our website allows you to find the right accommodation for you. Our team of professionals is here to guide you in your search and your choices, whether you are coming to the mountains with children or with friends.
How much will your ski equipment cost?
Equipment
It is possible to rent or buy equipment and both options have advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on how often you go skiing in a year, your budget and your ability to transport it.
The price will vary depending on the quality of the equipment rented, the level of the skier, the size of the shop, the time of year and the resort.
On average, you should expect to pay between 300€ and 500€ per adult per week to hire skis, poles and boots (resort prices). The best way to save money and reduce this cost is to plan ahead. By renting in advance on the internet, it is possible to get discounts of up to 50%.
If you want to save money, check out the offers from our partner Skiset, which can save you up to 55% on your equipment.
Clothing and other essentials
As well as the technical equipment for skiing, you’ll also need the appropriate clothing. It is possible to get them secondhand or to buy them new, knowing that some of them can be used outside skiing. This budget should be weighed against the fact that the clothes can be used for several years.
The “Wedze” brand from Decathlon offers good quality at affordable prices. We recommend that you purchase the following items:
- One or more sets of warm thermals: from 5 to 20 euros
- Ski trousers: from 25 to 50€
- A ski jacket: from 70 to 100€
- A pair of ski gloves: 20 to 30€
- Ski mask: 20 to 30€
- A protective helmet: from 35 to 100€
This represents a budget ranging from 175 to 330€.
How much will my ski pass cost?
The French ski pass package is among the cheapest in Europe: 17% cheaper than in Switzerland. However, it still represents 16% of the total budget for a mountain holiday on average.
In 2021, the average price per day was 30.10€ for an adult in high season. The price varies according to the resort, the period and the type of package. For a week’s pass, expect to pay at least 300€ for an adult.
Remember to buy your package in advance to benefit from substantial discounts. Here are some of the major ski pass sites:
- Les 3 Vallées
- Les Portes du Soleil
- Evasion Mont-Blanc
- Les Aravis
- Chamonix
- Les Sybelles
- Tignes / Val d’Isère
Food: How much will you have to pay?
Food is the third largest part of a ski holiday budget. It will take about 15% of the total budget, including shopping and restaurants.
The advantage of renting accommodation is that you can take food with you and cook for yourself, making big savings. In-resort, you can expect prices to be 10% to 30% higher in mini-markets. We’d recommend doing your food shop at a larger supermarket further down the mountain on your way to the resort if possible.
As far as restaurants are concerned, prices are about the same as in a big city like Paris. Specialised websites such as TheFork (formerly LaFourchette) will be able to help you choose a restaurant and offer you interesting discounts. The restaurants on the slopes are even more expensive, so it is better to plan a picnic on most days if you’re sticking to a budget.
Other activities – how much will they cost?
Not everyone comes to the mountains in winter to hit the slopes. Winter holidays include activities other than skiing, which can represent an extra cost. Ski resorts are aware of this and offer many other activities such as ice skating.
Whether covered or open-air, natural or artificial ice, ice rinks can be found in almost every family ski resort in the Alps. In La Clusaz, for example, the price is less than 10€ per person.
Aussi, une excursion en traîneau à chiens promet de ravir petits et grands ! En compagnie de 4 à 8 huskies, vous profitez des paysages de la montagne et du grand air. L’excursion comprend une initiation à la conduite du traîneau (à partir de 12 ans). Le tarif pour un adulte est de 85 euros, et entre 35 et 55 euros pour un enfant. Vous pouvez retrouver cette activité à Chamonix et dans d’autres stations des Alpes.
Our partner properties in Chamonix
Whether it is for organisation or budgeting, the key word is planning ahead. Getting started early allows you to make the most of your ski holiday when the time comes.
And with accommodation, shopping, transport, equipment hire and ski passes, there are many budget items to consider. You can use this article as a checklist when planning your holiday. That way, there are no surprise expenses!
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