Where to Ski And Snowboard - Skiing costs more as sterling falls

Skiing costs more as sterling falls

10th February 2016, by Abi Butcher

Prices are still down in the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbühel

Bad news for skiing families this half term — the value of sterling has fallen by more than 10 per cent in the past two months.

According to the Post Office Travel Money, although prices are still lower in European ski resorts than they were this time last year, skiers will expect to pay as much as £66 more per person for ski essentials, meals and drinks on a one week trip than two months ago.

At the beginning of the season, when the Post Office Travel Money published its annual Ski Resort Report in early December — which we reported here — it was good news all round with prices down in three-quarters of ski resorts. But since then the UK pound has fallen in value by over 10 per cent against the euro and Bulgarian lev and by nine per cent against the Swiss franc

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “The trick for skiers will be to do their homework and not only research snow levels but also check resort prices for ski equipment, lift passes, tuition and living costs. There has been significant snowfall in Switzerland but prices are higher than in French resorts, where ski conditions are also improving.”

Research released today by Post Office Travel Money ski partner Crystal Ski Holidays shows that in France the cost of skiing together with meals and drinks comes to £504 in Courchevel, while skiers can expect to pay £273 more for the same items in the Swiss resort of Zermatt (£765) – 54 per cent extra. The same applies to two other world-class ski resorts. In Val d’Isère, France the ski costs add up to £513 but in Wengen, Switzerland, they will cost £654 - 27 per cent more.

At the budget end of the market, snow has fallen in Bansko and the Bulgarian resort remains the cheapest option for bargain-hunters. At £260, ski costs are 40 per cent cheaper than in La Thuile (£432), one of the few Italian resorts to have seen reasonable levels of snowfall to date.

This season’s biggest price fall has been in Kitzbühel (£513). Despite the recent fall in sterling value, prices are down five per cent year-on-year and piste conditions are described as good with more snow forecast in the Austrian resort.