Great snow, good food and fair prices do exist – our expert picks the places that deliver all three
		
	

	





	

		


		
			
		

		
	

						

				

				
  
  

	

	
	

	
	



  
  
    Skiing has never been a cheap pastime, and the idea of a holiday to the snow this winter might, at first glance, seem prohibitive for many in the current financial climate. But the good news is that if you choose your destination with care, it really is still possible to enjoy a week in the mountains of Europe without breaking the bank.Unlike in summer, the budget for a ski holiday is complex. The series of mandatory costs stretches ominously beyond the travel and lodging basics. These include specialist clothing, lift passes, winter sports insurance, equipment rental, ski school, childcare, mountain lunches and après-ski.Expectations heavily influence the choice of destination. An experienced intermediate, for example, will have different destination criteria than a beginner or wobbly second-weeker, and family groups of different abilities will seek terrain that suits all standards.
  



  
  

	

	
	

	
	



  
  
    The big-name resorts are the most expensive, but you might consider staying instead in a satellite village that shares the same giant ski area. Eastern Europe can provide lower-cost alternatives, but be warned that a so-called budget resort here may not provide the kind of overall satisfaction that you seek.Then there’s the snow factor – you need to be assured of sufficient cover. A stay in a low-altitude resort at the start of the season may offer attractive prices, but also include stubbornly green pistes. Snow-making is highly effective, but expensive to run – and you need temperatures below freezing.I’ve researched holidays in some 16 European countries and here’s my pick of budget-conscious destinations for this winter.Browse by country:FranceSlovakiaAndorraBulgariaItalyAustriaFranceVaujany, FranceThis is a prime example of a wallet-friendly satellite village that links into a major ski area. From Vaujany, you can enjoy the 250km and 69 lifts of Alpe d’Huez without the higher expense of staying in one of France’s top destinations.It also offers a wide choice of money-saving lift pass deals. For example, The Vaujany and Oz sectors provide plenty of skiing for a family at €167.50pp for six days. A group minimum of three can ski the entire area for €310pp.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				A six-day lift pass in the Oz–Vaujany ski area costs just €167.50
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itSki Peak has been the ski holiday specialist in Vaujany for 30 years, with a choice of chalets, apartments and a hotel. It offers a one-bedroom apartment sleeping up to four in the four-star La Perle de l’Oisans from €1,050 (£912), self-catering, excluding travel. You can fly from Gatwick to Grenoble with easyJet from £61pp return. Vaujany transfers cost from £70pp with Ben’s Bus.Les Deux Alpes, FranceThis largely purpose-built resort in the Dauphiné is one of a clutch of high-altitude European resorts where snow cover is guaranteed throughout the season – the lifts go up to a heady 3,600m and skiing continues throughout much of the year.Prices for food and drink in the village are markedly lower than in the big-name Tarentaise resorts, such as Courchevel and Val d’Isère.The Les Deux Alpes six-day lift pass (€261 to €326.50) is also comparatively cheap, and serves some 200km of mainly intermediate skiing, with long runs down from the glacier all the way to the valley floor.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				Some ski packages in Les Deux Alpes include breakfast, lift passes, transfers and flights
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itErna Low offers the ski-in/ski-out Club L’Orée des Pistes, close to the main Yandri Express lift, from £914pp for a week, including breakfast, lift pass, transfers and flights from Stansted.SlovakiaJasná, SlovakiaJasná is the largest and most challenging ski area in Slovakia, offering the best all-round slopes in Eastern Europe. It has only 40km of piste and 19 lifts, but there’s also a giant freeride sector.Prices in the resort meet most expectations of the area: a pint costs between €1.50 and €2.50, and a main course in a mountain café around €8-12, or around €17-22 in a smarter restaurant.A six-day lift pass costs from €250 when bought online. Flights are equally as kind on your budget, with return prices from £54 return, flying with Wizz Air from Luton to Poprad-Tatry.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				A pint in Jasná costs between €1.50 and €2.50
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itChalet Jasna offers double rooms from £275pp, including breakfast and daily shuttle services to the slopes, excluding travel.AndorraPal-Arinsal-La Massana, AndorraDuty-free Andorra is by no means as cheap as it once was. Prices are higher these days, but resorts here are still considerably cheaper overall than in the Alps.Pal-Arinsal is the main linked ski circuit of Vallnord, connected by a 12-person gondola to the small regional town of La Massana. The terrain is best suited to beginners and intermediates.However, Ordino-Arcalis (included in the lift pass) has more challenging slopes and is only a bus ride away.At €306, a six-day lift pass is slightly cheaper than French Alpine resorts such as Serre Chevalier (€335), but lessons are much more affordable. You can do 15 hours over five days for €175.50-193, compared with €255 in the French Alps.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				Lessons and lift passes are far cheaper in Andorra in the Pyrenees than in the French Alps
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itHeidi offers seven nights in the four-star Hotel Sant Gothard in Arinsal from £575pp, including breakfast, transfers and flights from London Gatwick.BulgariaPamporovo, BulgariaSkiing in Bulgaria is less expensive than almost anywhere in Europe, but you need to be aware of the holiday experience here. As in all Eastern European resorts, it may not bear favourable comparison to destinations you have visited in the Alps, the Dolomites, or the Pyrenees.Pamporovo is essentially a resort best suited to beginners and early intermediates looking for fun on the slopes at a good price. The 30km of piste is set in magnificent countryside close to the frontier with Greece. You can buy a five-day lift pass for €121. The ski school has an excellent reputation and lessons in the 14 ski schools start at about £44 for two hours.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				A five-day lift pass in Pamporovo costs just €121
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itCrystal Ski offers a week in the four-star Hotel Orlovetz from £619pp, including breakfast, flights and transfers.Bansko, BulgariaThe country’s top resort is geared largely towards intermediates looking for a cut-price destination with enough skiing to keep them happy for a week and plenty of affordable restaurants (expect to pay around £30 for a three-course meal for two in a mid-priced restaurant).Nightlife is positively cheap by Alpine standards too: club entry is often free, or around £4-5.Bansko has the most modern lift system in the country and the setting is spectacular. Experts will find limited challenges on piste, but given sufficient snow there’s a decent amount of freeride terrain to be explored with a local guide.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				Bansko’s restaurants serve local dishes at affordable prices
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itSNO offers a week in the four-star Hotel Pirin, from £543pp, half board, including transfers and flights from Newcastle.ItalyMadesimo, ItalyThis is an attractive old village situated above Lake Como, a 2.5-hour drive from Milan and Bergamo.The terrain is best suited to intermediates looking for a small resort with oodles of Italian charm and some fine restaurants and bars.Prices for food and drink are a fraction of what you’d expect to pay in an equivalent French resort, and a six-day lift pass costs from €246. Around 11 hours of instruction (1hr 50mins daily over five days) costs €130.The 60km of runs in the 13-lift Valchiavenna ski area mainly offer little serious challenge, but there’s enough to keep anyone happy for a week.The ungroomed Canalone itinerary route, which descends 1,000 vertical metres, is one of the top 10 classic off-piste runs in Europe.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				Madesimo’s tree-lined ski trails suit all skill levels
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itMomentum Ski offers a week at Hotel K2, just opposite the main lift, from £860pp, half board, including flights and car hire.Livigno, ItalyThis is one of Europe’s most remote resorts, with usually reliable snow cover. It’s reached by a three-hour drive from Innsbruck or longer from Milan airports, but many tour operators provide transfers as part of the package, which helps to keep costs down.For historical reasons, the village is duty-free. Prices for food and drink are markedly lower here and if your budget is tight, it may well be worth the long journey.Unless you are an Olympics fan, avoid February 2026. Livigno is the setting for the snowboarding and freestyle events, when the village will inevitably be overcrowded.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				Ensure transfers are included in the package for your Livigno holiday
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    How to do itInghams offers one week at the Hotel Intermonti from £858pp, half board, including flights and transfers.AustriaNiederau, AustriaYear on year, price increases in big-name resorts mean that Austria is no longer the bargain it once was for British skiers – but the budget-conscious don’t have to avoid it. The secret is to find a cut-price deal on the basic cost, and self-cater.For learners, friendly Niederau is ideal. The resort has a 60-year history of teaching the British beginners and intermediates, and its wide nursery slopes are part of that tradition.
  







	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

			
				
				

	 
    

	
	
    
        
        
        
    

	
	

	
	

    
    
	

	
	

	
	

	
	

	
	
	
	
	
	
	


	

	

	

	


	
	

	
	

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	



			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
		
	
	

	
		
		
			
				Opt for a self-catering holiday in Niederau to cut down on costs
			
		

		
		
			
				
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    The village links to Auffach and the wider Ski Juwel area, giving access to 113km of pistes without the price tag of bigger resorts. Local lift passes cost €206-229 and mountain restaurants are reasonably priced compared to Austria’s more popular resorts.How to do itIglu offers one week at the three-star Hotel Austria from £588pp, including breakfast, transfers and flights from London Stansted.About our expertPeter HardyIn a lifetime as a professional ski nomad, Peter has visited 528 destinations worldwide, co-written 25 books on skiing with his wife, Felice, and has been reporting on skiing for The Telegraph since 1991.Way back in 1961 he made his first turns in deep snow on the nursery slope behind the church in Lech-am-Arlberg. Deep snow? The piste machine had yet to be invented. In his quest for the perfect ski destination on the planet, his travels continue to take him to fresh snow each winter.