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If you’re planning on going skiing, then you’ll want to get to grips with your finances as early as possible. If you fail to do so, it’s easy for costs to escalate well beyond your expectations.
These costs can take many forms. The equipment you hire, the lift passes, and your accommodation can all contribute to the total bill.
The good news is that cheap ski holidays can provide just as much value as expensive ones, if we’re savvy about the way we book them. So, how can we keep these costs under control?
Look Beyond the Headline Price
Our first priority must be to understand exactly how much a holiday is going to cost in total. That means looking beyond the price presented to you by the company.
When you have a figure that includes everything, from your ski boots to your boarding passes, you’ll have a basis to compare different holidays and determine which represents the greatest value for money.
Factor In Equipment, Lift Passes and Lessons
When it comes to the average ski holiday, there are three expenses in particular that are worth paying attention to.
Your equipment can be purchased at home, and transported to the resort. Doing this might allow you to pick out gear that is a little more high-end, and suited to your needs. You’ll save money by buying your own gear, but only if you go on enough trips to justify the cost.
Most new skiers are better off renting.
Your lift passes will tend to be more fixed in price, but they’ll vary from one resort to the next. Determine what you’re getting from your passes, and whether it’s worth paying extra for, say, access to a neighbouring valley.
Finally, we should consider the cost of lessons. These will tend to vary with the resort. The costs mostly applies to new skiers. But bear in mind that good skiing lessons will allow you to get better value from your holiday, and so they’re worth paying for.
Don’t Forget the Cost of Eating on the Mountain
Skiing is an energy-intensive activity. You’ll need calories as you go through the day, and you’ll find plenty of shacks and restaurants ready to dispense them, in the form of fantastic food. But this comes at a cost. Factor in the price of eating out in the evenings, and you might easily add hundreds of Euros to your total bill over the course of a trip.
You can cut this figure with a little common sense, and self-catering. Carry snacks with you, and supplement those restaurant meals with the occasional cheaper one.
Plan Ahead for the Smaller Extras
There are a number of expenses to consider when you’re planning a holiday of this kind. And many of them are easily overlooked. Get around this by making a checklist of expenses, and working through them as you budget. You should also leave yourself with a little extra reserve of cash, which you can use to deal with unexpected problems.
