Looking for the cheapest ski resort in the world? We don’t blame you. Skiing isn’t exactly a cheap sport – but it is one of the best ways to spend your holidays.
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From cheap beer to bargain lift pass prices and affordable accommodation, there are some ski resorts in the world offering holidays for bargain prices. You just need to know where to look.
Flights: From £50 return to Poprad via. WizzAir
Accommodation: Propaganda Snow offer amazing deals from £169 per person for seven nights accommodation in a four-man room, including breakfast, airport transfers, lifts to the slopes, guiding and evening activities
6 day lift pass: €199
Fresh powder, acres of freeride terrain and beer for £1.20 – what more could you ask for? Jasna in Slovakia is one of the cheapest ski resorts in the world.
B&Bs can cost as little as £20 per night and a full two-course meal per person will come to under £10.
It’s only a two and a half hour flight from the UK with WizzAir running cheap flights from London airports. Read our full article on skiing and snowboarding in Jasna here.
Flights: From £500 return to Srinagar via. Delhi
Accommodation: From £27 per night at the Pineview Hotel in Gulmarg
6 day lift pass: £91 (8,000 rupees)
Not many people think of heading to Kashmir in India for a ski holiday, but this resort should be on every powder hunter’s bucket list. But be prepared for high altitude – this is the Himalayas after all.
The lift goes up to 4,000m, plus the summit of Mount Apharwat is another couple of hundred metres up. The flights to Srinagar aren’t the cheapest, but ski passes, accommodation and food will suit those on a tight budget.
Flights: From £59 return to Sofia
Accommodation: Villa Bizeff offer bed and breakfast for £10 per night per person
6 day lift pass: €262 (includes snowboard/boots hire and 3 days/2 hour tuition)
Bulgaria is one of the biggest up and coming ski resorts in Europe with some of the cheapest deals around. The season runs later than most of the northern hemisphere until mid-May, so you might be able to pick up a late season deal.
With multi-million euros invested in the ski area in the past few years, it is expanding into a top, modern ski resort with brand new ski lifts and hotels.
It might not have the biggest kilometres of pistes, but it’s a great place for beginners to learn plus there’s acres of off-piste skiing and snowboarding to explore.
Flights: From £58 return to Inverness
Accommodation: Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel has shared dorms from £17 per person per night
5 day lift pass: £160
The UK might not be top on your list of ski resorts to visit – it can be pretty windy up there – but for a quick weekend getaway, Scotland can be one of the cheapest places to visit, especially if you don’t need to fly.
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With 30km of pistes, 11 lifts and an endless array of backcountry riding, you’ll definitely easily fill two days riding this area, especially if there’s just been a big dump of fresh.
Flights: From £52 return to Podgorica
Accommodation: Hotel Čile have a special offer of €25 per person per night, including breakfast and dinner
6 day lift pass: €84
Just 10km east of the town of Kolašin in Montenegro, Kolasin 1450 is one of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe and the world.
Topping out at 2,030m above sea level with 30km of runs, it might not have a huge length of runs but it gets some serious snow during the winter months.
You can get a pint of beer for under £1.50 and lift passes for under €90 for a whole week. Now that’s what you call cheap.
Flights: From £503 from London to Bozeman Yellowstone
Accommodation: Treasure State Hostel has five-bed dorm rooms from $28 per bed per night
6 day lift pass: $330
Looking for 2,000 acres of skiable terrain, plenty of powder and zero crowds? Make your way to the lesser known Bridger Bowl in Montana, USA.
At 2,650m high, your chances of decent snowfall are high. The flights aren’t cheap from London but compared to places like Aspen and Vail in Colorado, lift pass prices at Bridger are practically peanuts.
It’s $114 for a two day pass at Bridger Bowl compared to $302 for two days at Vail (with an advance reservation discount).
Flights: From £69 to Zurich
Accommodation: Airbnb apartments range from £65 per night for three people, just 30 minute drive from Livigno
6 day lift pass: €194.50
If you want the snow quality of the European Alps without the hefty price tag, then Livigno in Northern Italy is a great option.
Set in a wide valley near the Swiss border, Livigno has long been a favourite with Brits looking for the cheapest ski resort in Europe.
For a few years, off-piste riding was banned in Livigno but luckily this has now been lifted and there are some great deals to be had on heliskiing.
The Livigno pass gets you half-price on one day in St Moritz, if you want to see what the flashy Swiss resort has on offer.
Flights: From £76 to Munich
Accommodation: Jugendherberge Lenggries, a youth hostel on the side of the slopes, has excellent ratings with beds from €23.40 per night
6 day lift pass: €168
Few people outside Germany have heard of Lenggries, but it’s produced a number World Cup ski racers including former Olympic champions Martina Ertl and Hilde Gerg.
As part of the Brauneck Bergbahn ski area, there are 34km of slopes to explore with 16 lifts. It’s one of the most popular ski areas in Bavaria, just an hour’s drive from Munich.
It’s also one of the most reasonable priced resorts with morning passes for just €28 and season passes just €400 compared to €900 elsewhere in Europe.
Watch out for city folk heading up on weekends – it can get busy – weekdays are crowd-free and peaceful in comparison.
Flights: From £65 return to Ljubljana
Accommodation: Hostel Pod Voglom near Lake Bohinj offer rooms from £13 per night.
6 day lift pass: €139
Situated high above the beautiful Lake Bohinj, the Eastern European resort of Vogel in Slovenia is a hidden gem and one of the cheapest ski resorts around.
Skiing started here in 1964 and has expanded into a 22km resort with spectacular views across the Julian Alps. It’s seriously good value for money and really great place for beginners that don’t feel like they need a vast network of lifts when they are learning to ski or snowboard.
You can look forward to excellent homemade food, friendly food and lots of schnapps.
Flights: From £74 return to Skopje
Accommodation: Hotel Teteks has double rooms from £17 per person per night
6 day lift pass: €69
Popova Shapka is the number one ski resort in Macedonia, just 35km from the capital city of Skopje. The village itself has 200-300 chalets available to rent plus a few independent restaurants. Head up to Casa Leone for a decent Italian style meal and a great view.
The slopes should keep beginners and intermediates entertained for a good few days when the snow is deep and the lifts are working.
Backcountry pow hunter should seek out Eskimo Freeride, the cheapest catskiing company in Europe, with amazing deals on backcountry expeditions.
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