There is nothing I enjoy more than spending some time boarding on the slopes. The rush of streaming down a mountain is pretty much the most fun I have ever had.. Then coming in tuckered out after a fun day of skiing or boarding and then relaxing with a well-earned cocktail next to a roaring fire isn’t too shabby either. However, on the down side ski holidays can be quite expensive. Many people pay more than they need to when they go on ski trips so here’s a few tip son how to save some cash next time you want to hit the slopes.

Booking Well Ahead of Time

If there is one tip that I can pass along for bargain hunters that is the most helpful, it is simply to look for ski deals well in advance of when you want to go on a trip. I know some people can’t plan that far ahead (yours truly most of the time), but I’ve learnt to start looking for deals on ski holidays up to a year or so before I plan on going. The more time I give myself to look for deals on my ski holidays, the greater the chance becomes that I will find a great deal. Ski packages can generally be found for very decent prices when you book far enough in advance.

Go in a Group

The least expensive ski trips (or any trip in fact) I have ever had in my life have all been when I was a part of a group. If you can get a group of people together to go on the ski trip, it will shock you how much money you can save over taking the trip as an individual. It doesn’t even have to be a large group. Even if you just go with three other fiends on the trip, most ski resorts will be happy to give you a discounted rate. Going as a group also allows you to split expenses while you are on the holiday, including things like food and lodging.

Take the Train

Though it will be faster to fly on a ski holiday, I find that I can save a great deal of money when I use the train instead (depending on where you are in the world or course!) Firstly airports generally suck and flying is a great way to see.. the seat in front of you.. while a train allows you to really absorb the view, see a few sights and generally get a better feel for where you are.

The other great cost benefit I receive by travelling on the train is the avoidance of paying fees for taking my ski equipment. When I fly, it hurts my bottom line one way or the other. Either I pay the airline’s outrageous fees for bringing my ski gear on the plane, or I pay the resort to rent my equipment while I am there. Taking the train allows me to save money and use my own, better equipment.

Avoid Peak Holiday Periods

This is one of the best ways to save money on a ski holiday. If you want to stay within a sensible budget, do not ever go on a ski holiday around Christmas or New Year if you want to make it a budget holiday. Even just going a week before Christmas will allow you to save tremendous amounts of money on your trip, also going during the week helps to avoid annoying crowds.

Cooking My Own Food

One of the biggest expenses on a ski holiday is paying the outrageous ski resort prices on food. I find that if I stay in a place that has a kitchen, I can save incredible amounts of money by simply preparing my own meals. Don’t believe me? Add up the costs for your lunch this week and see how much you’ve spent…