Cash-strapped skiers and snowboarders should look east for value this year. According to new research by the Post Office the best-value destinations are Romania and Bulgaria.
The Post Office looked at the cost of lift passes and equipment hire for six days as well as the cost of a meal for a family of four in Europe and North America’s top ski resorts – Poiana Brasov in Romania, Borovets in Bulgaria, La Thuile in Italy, Courchevel in France, Soldeu in Andorra, Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany, Obergurgl in Austria, Verbier in Switzerland, and in North America Vail and Banff.
The best-value resort is Poiana Brasov in Romania where six days with lift pass, ski and boot hire and a meal for four costs £596. In Borovets, Bulgaria, the same items will cost £761.
La Thuile in Italy is the cheapest of the resorts in the Eurozone. Six days there will cost £777. In Courchevel, France, this will cost £844, in Andorra £916 and in Germany £924. Obergurgl, Austria, is the priciest resort at £1,052.
Verbier is the primary ski resort of French-speaking Switzerland, attracting advanced skiers and snowboarders, with prices to match. A ski pass, hire equipment and meal will rack up a bill of £1,132.
Vail in Colorado will cost £941 while Banff in Alberta, Canada, is £1,171.
The Post Office has looked at the percentage change in prices from last season and while prices in Courchevel are 9 per cent lower than last year and Vail is 25 per cent cheaper than in 2008, the rest of the ski resorts have increased prices. Banff, Obergurgl and La Thuile registered the biggest increases – of between 16 and 17 per cent.
To read the report in full, click here (pdf).
