Ski.Powder.Mountain.JPGA ski holiday in France can be up to three times more expensive than in other locations, Skyscanner can reveal.
Skyscanner compared the cost of flights, ski lift passes, ski hire and accommodation in a selection of European and North American ski resorts and found startling differences in the total costs.
Val D’Isere, which has long been a popular but pricey choice for the British skier, came in as the most expensive ski holiday, costing three times as much as a trip to Kopaonik, Serbia’s premier ski resort.
          Cheap flight does not = cheap holiday
          Even though return flights to Geneva, the gateway airport to Val D’Isere, cost just £50, a fraction of the cost of flights to the other destinations, when the price of the other components were factored in, the total cost soared. In fact the Skyscanner's research showed that it is cheaper to buy flights to Canada or America and go skiing on the other side of the Atlantic, than to ski in Val D’Isere.
Savings are even more apparent for longer ski trips where the cheaper resort costs balance out the more expensive flight costs; a 14-night ski holiday in Val D’Isere cost £3308, whilst in Vail (Colorado, USA) it was £2921, and in Whistler (British Columbia, Canada) is was £2530.
          Ski holidays have been considered as a secondary trip by some, but Skyscanner’s research shows that they are far more affordable than many people realise. Budget savvy skiers and snowboarders are looking beyond the traditional haunts of the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps, and finding that they can still afford a ski holiday if they choose their destination carefully, with both Bulgaria and Serbia offering good value for money.
          Sam Baldwin, Skyscanner travel editor commented:
          “We’re tipping Kopaonik in Serbia as the best value ski resort this winter. In what is likely to be a tough season for the ski industry, we’ve already seen a 130% increase in winter flight searches for Serbia, whereas searches for flights to Geneva are down on last year.
          “The quality of the accommodation, lift systems and accommodation in Kopaonik is just a good as resorts in the Alps and food and drink are much better value; the main difference is that the ski area is smaller than the big, interlinked domains in the Alps. However, for intermediate level skiers and snowboarders, Kopaonik offers excellent value skiing and there is some good off piste terrain too.”