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Cheap ski holidays: Best deals on a budget, from beginners to experts

Save on your next snowsports trip with our pick of the latest offers

Helen Coffey
Monday 16 December 2019 19:02 GMT
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Find deep pow in St Anton
Find deep pow in St Anton

No doubt ski holidays can be pricey, but savvy snowsports fans can always pick up a bargain – tour operators release a whole range of deals throughout the season. The Independent will be keeping this rolling deals page regularly updated all winter long, so readers can find the best-value packages on the market in one place.

The Independent’s ski holiday recommendations are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and book, but we never allow this to affect our coverage.

Chalet for less in Tignes, France

Tignes, seamlessly connecting by lift and piste to neighbouring Val d’Isere, offers an impressive ski area to get your teeth into. Staying in a chalet can help keep costs down, as guests get breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner with wine thrown in: Esprit Ski is offering £280 off per family on seven-night stays at its Chalet Caribou departing 12 January. It’s a particularly good base for families, opposite Esprit’s nursery and 150m from its Snow Club. From £3,189 for a family of two adults and three children (aged two to 10 years old), chalet-board, including flights and transfers.

Last-minute in Vaujany, France

This oft overlooked resort is small, cute and relaxed, but gives access to the ski area of much bigger neighbour Alpe d’Huez. Erna Low is offering 20 per cent off stays at the Le Crystal Blanc apartments, which have their own heated pool, steam room and fitness room. From £537 for seven nights’ self-catering accommodation sleeping two, including return Eurotunnel crossings, departing 4 January.

Save in Les Arcs, France

Les Arcs, which combines with neighbouring La Plagne to form the mega ski area of Paradiski, offers a huge range of slopes and is great for adventurous intermediates. Ski Total is offering a saving of £300pp on seven-night packages to Chalet L’Ours Brun departing 22 December. Sleeping 12 guests in six en-suite rooms, the chalet is based in the resort’s highest base, Arc 2000, and is 250m from the nearest lift. Guests also have access to an indoor pool at the neighbouring Altitude Residence. From £699pp, chalet board, including flights and transfers. Other applicable deals for a 22 December departure include two-for-one equipment hire with the purchase of a full-area (Paradiski) lift pass; a six-day Paradiski lift pass for the price of a local Les Arcs pass; and, if you book as a group, the ninth guest goes free.

B&B in Alpe d’Huez, France

Alpe d’Huez has long been popular with Brits thanks to its extensive skiing terrain of 250km and a slightly lower lift pass price than nearby Alpine giants the Three Valleys, Tignes-Val d’Isere and Paradiski. Ski France is offering seven nights’ B&B accommodation at the ski-in/ski-out Hôtel Le Christina, located at the base of the Tronçon cable car, for £751 per double room – a saving of 28 per cent – for 5 January departures.

Jet off to Courchevel, France in January

Courchevel may be associated with Russian oligarchs and eye-watering price tags, but there are great deals to be had for those staying in the less “exclusive” resorts. Courchevel Moriond (formerly known as 1650) is family-friendly and better-value than Courchevel 1950. Le Ski is offering seven nights in its Chalet Le Mazot, chalet board, for £549pp (saving £373pp), including flights and transfers, for 5 January departures. The chalet has its own private sauna.

Christmas in St Anton, Austria

Spend the festive season in the mountains for a Christmas you’ll remember. St Anton in Austria is famed for its challenging, extensive terrain and its wild apres – but there’s also gentler lift-linked Lech to explore, plus the ultra-snowy Warth-Schrocken. Alpine Elements is offering £100 off this Christmas on seven-night stays at Chalet Rathia, departing 22 December. The price of £785pp includes chalet-board accommodation, flights and transfers.

Christmas in Morzine, France

Morzine is part of the fabulous Portes du Soleil ski area, encompassing 600km of pistes and 12 resorts across France and Switzerland. Ski Line is offering a last-minute white Christmas here with savings of £526pp on 21 December departures. Seven nights at the four-star Chamois D’Or, chalet board, is now just £399pp, including transfers – the chalet, which sleeps 16, has its own hot tub.

Get a bargain in Yllas, Finland

Fancy something different? Yllas in Finnish Lapland has a range of non-ski activities on offer, from husky rides and snow biking to snoeshoeing and a traditional experience, to complement a snowsports holiday. Inghams is offering a whopping £250pp discount on seven-night stays at the resort’s Ylläs Saaga Apartments departing 19 January. Flights, transfers and self-catering accommodation in the traditional cabins are all included for £319pp; half-board option available.

Spend January in La Thuile, Italy

Get two countries for the price of one with a stay in La Thuile – this Italian resort is connected to La Rosiere over the French border. The resort is great for intermediates, with plenty of long, wide runs. Crystal has a week at the Hotel Du Glacier, B&B, for £535pp departing 12 January 2020 – a saving of £105pp. Includes flight and transfers.

Arinsal, Andorra, for less than £400pp

If you’re looking for great-value coupled with a good range of slopes, the Pal-Arinsal ski area in Andorra has you covered. Arinsal is known for its lively apres-ski and excellent ski school, plus there are free lift passes for children up to 15 years old. Neilson is currently offering seven nights’ half-board at the Hotel Montane for just £365pp, including flights, transfers, hot wine at apres time and pastries all day, on 26 January departures.

St Anton has wild partying and challenging terrain

Luxury for less in Val Thorens, France

The highest resort in Europe is part of the Three Valleys ski area. Pierre et Vacances is offering 20 per cent off (€300) stays at the Residence Les Temples du Soleil​, which features a sauna, hammam and two hot tubs. Seven nights’ costs €1,200 per self-catering apartment, sleeping four, for 21 December departures.

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First-timers package in Pamporovo, Bulgaria

Skiing can be an expensive holiday as a beginner. Heading to wallet-friendly Bulgaria can be a savvy way of keeping costs down. Balkan Holidays are offering a free ski kindergarten place or child lift pass when two parents pre-book “Full Ski” packs (lift pass, equipment hire and lessons) in the resort of Pamporovo. Plus the second child gets 50 per cent off a full ski pack. Seven nights’ B&B at the four-star Grand Hotel Murgavets currently costs £494pp, including flights and transfers, for a 21 December departure.

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