A European ski trip can be cheaper than skiing in the US

Forget Aspen and think about the Alps. Depending on how close you live to the mountains, skiing in Europe may actually be cheaper than skiing in the United States, including airfare.

Skier Sam Weintraub, founder of the ski resort review website PeakRankings, has skied at about 135 resorts around the world and can attest to the price difference. In January, Weintraub spent 20 days skiing the slopes of six European ski resorts. He spent a total of $3,800, including an $800 round-trip ticket from Newark Liberty International Airport to Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr. Weintraub paid about $670 out of pocket for eight days of lift tickets. As for the rest of his 12 days, he flashed his season passes to select ski resorts around the world: the Icon Ski Pass and the Epic Ski Pass. (He had already used passes in the United States earlier this ski season, so the price of those passes was not included in his total estimate of $3,800).

But he said travelers who pay for lift tickets separately can still see significant savings. The average daily price for a ski lift ticket in the U.S. during ski season is $198, according to vacation rental booking site HomeToGo, which analyzes 48 major U.S. ski resorts. Weintraub, on the other hand, was paying an average of just $83.75 per day for elevators at resorts not covered by the pass.

When you combine great deals on flights and lift tickets, a European ski trip can be cheaper than you think. Here’s how:

Skiing in Europe is cheap mainly because lift tickets are cheap. In the US, a single lift ticket can cost more than $300 per day. At Deer Valley, one of Utah’s most expensive resorts, you’ll have to pay $315 for an adult one-day lift ticket, excluding taxes and fees, on most weekends. A child’s ticket may cost him more than $195.

Compare this to trades found in Europe, such as the Jungfrau region of Switzerland. Located at the foot of the Alps, this island is traditionally considered an expensive bucket-list destination. A one-day ski pass costs 75 Swiss Francs (about $85 at the time of writing).

But the deal is even more advantageous for families. On Saturdays, each adult with a day ticket can bring up to 3 children for free. That’s just over $20 per lift ticket for an adult with her three children who took full advantage of this deal.

Some people attribute cheaper lift tickets in Europe to increased competition. There are over 500 ski resorts in the United States. With a similar land area, Europe has about 4,000 ski resorts, according to ski data provider Ski Resort Services International.

Weintraub’s Icon Pass and Epic Pass accounted for most of his low travel costs. These season passes allow him access to a variety of resorts around the world, including three of the six resorts he visits on his travels. Depending on how much you ski in the U.S. or abroad, a pass like this could save you money.

A multi-resort pass can sometimes be cheaper than a single-day lift ticket, especially if you’re skiing in Europe for about a week or more. For example, Italy’s Dolomiti Superski offers a 500 euro (approximately $540) pass that allows an adult to ski at any of its 12 interconnected resorts for eight days. Less than $70 per day.

Airfares are a big part of your ski budget in Europe, and they’re getting cheaper. Average economy airfares from North America to Europe are expected to drop 3.5% this year, according to the American Express Global Business Travel (AmEx GBT) Air Monitor 2024 report.

The decline in airfares correlates with the increase in routes. For example, Air France’s North American capacity will increase by 20% in winter 2023 compared to 2019, including a new seasonal route to Innsbruck, Austria. The city is famous for snow sports and has hosted two Winter Olympics.

Weintraub booked his flight a month before departure. This is outside the 2-8 month range recommended by travel experts. International flight reservations. According to Google Flights, flights between Newark and Geneva typically cost between $485 and $770, which is cheaper than the $800 Weintraub paid.

“If we had been more proactive, we could have saved hundreds of dollars more,” he said in an email.

Like the United States, Europe also has mountainous regions that are very expensive. To save money, avoid iconic resorts like Courchevel in France and opt for lesser-known resorts like La Clusat.

Eastern Europe is particularly affordable. An adult one-day ticket to Bansko Ski Resort in Bulgaria costs approximately $53. Not only are they usually cheaper, they may also have shorter lift lines.

No matter where you decide to ski across the pond, consider not only lift tickets and airfare, but also other costs such as transportation, meals, accommodation, lessons, rentals, etc. See if it can help you save money.