Seasoned holiday planners know all the tricks in the book to save money on travel, transfers and accommodation, however what really pushes up the price of a ski holiday is the all important Ski Pass. Unless you're going to ski tour everyday, there's no avoiding this essential piece of the puzzle.
While ski resorts may have varying prices and offers, there are several strategies you can employ to secure the most affordable option without compromising on the quality of your experience.
This article will guide you through some effective techniques to find the best deals on ski passes.
Plan Ahead: One of the golden rules to finding cheaper ski passes is to plan your trip well in advance.
If you know the resort you want to visit...
Early bird discounts and promotional offers are often available if you book your passes several months before your visit. Keep an eye out for pre-season sales or early booking discounts, which can significantly reduce the cost of your ski pass. Sign up to resort mailing lists & instagram profiles to be the first to know.
Be open to different Resorts: While it may be tempting to stick to well-known and popular resorts, exploring lesser-known ski destinations can often result in more affordable ski passes. Research and compare various resorts in your desired region to find those offering competitive pricing.
That's where Snowclans comes in!
We have compiled a comprehensive list of all the 6 day pass prices for European resorts
Use this as a guide to compare and narrow down the selection of resorts you want to visit.
Group Discounts: If you're planning to ski with a group of friends or family, inquire about group discounts. Many resorts offer reduced rates for larger groups, so be sure to check their group pricing policies.
The most common groups are: Tribe passes: 3 Adults Family passes: 2 Adults + 2 'Children'
Large group discounts: Usually starting at 20+ people
Season Passes
If you are planning to Ski multiple times in a season a season pass might be a cost-effective option. These can be purchased for one or multiple resorts (Check out the rest of the blog for Multi-area pass info) and often break even at 2-3weeks vs. buying a multi-day ticket.
There's emerging variants that offer a blend of flexibility and volume, such as 100 day passes for use on non-consecutive days.
As with weekly passes, season passes can have amazing discounts if bought in advance, keep monitoring from the Spring for discounts of up to 50% pre-season.
Follow on the insta where we release stories for each new deal we find
Age Discounts
Don't think it's as simple as above and below 18 and over 65s
Age classifications for adult ski passes varies among different European ski resorts.
A few of the common cut off points we've come across are:
Over 25s
Over 16s
Over 13s
It's not uncommon for the 'Children's' passes to also be tiered into Youth / Teen / Child, with some resorts offering free passes for little rippers. Similarly, those in their later years can get "Senior" passes, that start from 65-75.
Create a shortlist and check out the resort websites to see who's got the best offers.
Beginners Passes & Free learner areas
The best price is free! Absolute beginners can sometimes be gifted the pleasure of free magic carpets, but more often than not they're included in Ski Schools costs and reserved just for them.
A lot of resorts have dedicated beginners areas.
There's 2 ways that beginners lift passes work - Limited lifts or Points systems.
Points Systems for Beginners: Instead of purchasing a full-day or multi-day pass, beginners have the option to buy a pass with a specific number of points. Each lift costs points, with beginners slopes lifts often very cheap. This also allows them to take lifts to harder slopes to give them a shot once or twice before committing to a full pass.
Limited Lift Access for Beginners: In some European ski resorts, beginners' lift passes offer access to specific lifts and slopes designated for novices.
Limited lift access passes often come at a reduced price compared to full access passes, making them a cost-effective choice for those starting their skiing journey.
Hope that gives you enough inspiration!
Remember - check out our comparison tool to figure out the best ski pass for you and narrow down your ski resorts.
All the best
Snowclans team