Five of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe

Newsroom Best Of Topics Five of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe

If you’re savvy with your booking, cheap ski holidays are certainly possible! You can make great savings just by choosing the right ski resort. We’ve picked five of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe where epic skiing won’t break your bank account.

Cheapest ski resorts in Europe

There are other things to consider too, like not travelling during school holidays if you can help it. Also, check that supposedly cheap budget airlines aren’t charging expensive add-ons. If you’re a beginner consider smaller resorts as they often equal smaller prices. And get in touch with your chosen ski resort’s tourist office for recommendations of value-for-money accommodation. Read our five of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe . . .

Cheapest ski resorts in France

Cauterets, France: Spa town with a long, snowy season

Best for: Beginners & intermediates

Skiing in Cauterets

Relatively unknown to Brits, Cauterets is well-deserving of its place in our ‘cheapest ski resorts in Europe’ list. The resort has one of the best snow records and longest seasons in the Pyrenees.  Plus it offers prices at a snip of neighbouring resorts in the French Alps.

The pistes, located in the Lys area, are accessed via a 12-minute ride on the Telecabine du Lyse cable car. The skiing is best suited to beginners and intermediates and takes place in a high, open and treeless bowl. The cross-country skiing in the Pont d’Espagne area is particularly good and only 7km from the main base.

Cauterets is a lovely spa town so a tip would be to combine a couple of days’ skiing with a relaxing spa treatment. The Thermes Cesar, located in an historic Victorian building in the centre of town, offers a range of treatments to suit most budgets.

Apres-ski is chilled out and tends to be followed by some local French fare served at any one of the excellent restaurants. For lunch on the mountain try either Le Pont d’Espagne or Reine Hortense Hostelerie. As for where to stay, self-catering is a good value option here. There are plenty of well-stocked supermarkets and shops at which to pick up all the necessities.

Cauterets is in a spa town and the skiing and riding is affordable. © Cauterets

Cheapest ski resorts in Austria

Mayrhofen, Austria: Lively Tyrolean village with terrific freeriding

Best for: Everyone! Particularly freeriders & revellers

Skiing in Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen might seem like a surprising choice as one of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe, given that it should be on every skier/rider’s wish list. But in fact this freeriding mecca offers great deals at certain times of year – Keep an eye on the holiday deals page at mayrhofen.at There are particularly affordable self-catering apartments, enabling you save by cooking your own dinners and taking packed lunches up the mountain.

The local area covers a good 133km of pistes and the Ziller Valley covers even more. Along with the year-round Hintertux –just a half-hour bus ride away – the area has a total of 620km of pistes. As for the type of terrain on offer, there is of course the excellent Vans Penken Park for freestylers and plenty of untouched powder for freeriders. Zell am Ziller and Kaltenbach tend to be quieter spots with heaps of shreddable powder.

The village is attractive – all Tyrolean architecture and timbered balconies. For a place to rest your skied-out body there is a variety of accommodation to suit all budgets. It ranges from seriously luxurious to quality guesthouses and apartments.

A great value-for-money option is the Gasthof Edelweiss. Situated in the centre of Mayrhofen it is just a 10-minute walk to the Penken gondola. Guests can eat in the hotel’s Italian restaurant for very good prices too. Another option would be the Hotel Siegelerhof, a charming bed and breakfast set in an elegantly designed garden.

Nightlife is lively, however, if you fancy a more chilled-out night the resort more than caters for this. Mayrhofen is famed for its après-ski scene and there are a plethora of bars to suit all tastes.

Mayrhofen is a freerider’s heaven. © Majesty Freeride Camp

Ellmau, Austria: Relaxed, pretty village ideal for families

Best for: Families with young children

Skiing in Ellmau

Quaint Ellmau is a traditional village that forms part of the extensive SkiWelt area (284km), Austria’s biggest linked area of slopes. The other areas include Soll, Hopfgarten, and Brixen, all of which currently offer relatively low prices.

Those who enjoy cruising will get the most out of the terrain on offer. But advanced skiers will find their technical ability challenged too on the black runs atop Solls Hohe Salve (1830m).

There are some fantastic nursery slopes on either side of the village making it a perfect place for families, as well as easy areas up the mountain at Astberg and Brandstad.

Although Ellmau is one of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe, its downside is the low altitude. This means that a good snow dump is not a regular occurrence but to combat this, the resort has an efficient snowmaking system.

If you’re after a party then best to head elsewhere as Ellmau après is laid back and will most likely disappoint drunken revellers. The resort is most suited to those who will appreciate its relaxed vibe and is perfect for families with young children.

Take a sleigh ride beneath the Wilder Kaiser in Ellmau, Austria. © Ellmau Tourism

Cheapest ski resorts in Italy

Sestriere, Italy: High-altitude skiing on the Franco-Italian border

Best for: Intermediates

Skiing in Sestriere

Sestriere (2,035m) forms part of the vast Milky Way circuit (400km) so a good skier will get a lot of bang for their buck. This makes it well-deserving of its place on our ‘Cheapest ski resorts in Europe’ list. The resort has hosted FIS Ski World Cup races and was one of the main venues for the Torino Winter Olympics.

Thanks to its high-altitude, north-west facing slopes the resort is more snow-sure than its neighbours and has more challenging runs. The runs down into Sansicario are great for intermediate to advanced skiers and the Olympic Black is highly recommended.

Sestiere attracts an international set and as such nightlife is generally buzzing. You’ll find the Brits at the Hutel du Col bar at the base of the main piste. Otherwise head to Pinkies Pizzeria for a few drinks and Tabata for dancing at the weekend.

Any downside to Sestriere? Well, it’s a purpose-built resort and it looks like one too. Self-catering is a good move in Sestriere with nearly all of the major tour operators offering deals. If you can afford to spend a bit more The Miramonti and Savoy Edelweiss, both three-star, are in good locations.

Sestriere
Sestriere is a perfect place for a cheap skiing holiday. © Ezio Romano

Cheapest ski resorts in Slovenia

Vogel, Slovenia: Pretty tree-lined chutes above Lake Bohinj

Best for: Beginners & intermediates

Skiing in Vogel

We couldn’t talk about the cheapest ski resorts in Europe without mentioning skiing in Eastern Europe. If you’re with a group of beginners then it really is worth doing your homework because you could save hundreds of pounds.

One of the best, in terms of scenery and budget, is Slovenia. This tiny country, just half the size of Switzerland, has earned the nickname ‘Europe in Miniature’ such is the diversity of its stunning landscape. Vogel, one of the better-known ski resorts, is located in Triglav National Park above the tranquil Lake Bohinj. Peer into Slovenia’s largest natural lake and you’ll see glaciers and mountain peaks reflected in its aqua-blue waters.

As for the skiing, it is situated within two bowls, and is better suited to beginners and intermediates. There is a decent black run complete with steep drops and tree-lined chutes down from the top of Sija (1,800m). But confident skiers will conquer the majority of the terrain with ease.

There are a number of inns, chalets, and a hotel on the mountain to choose from, most of them cheap, cozy and with awesome views. The downside of this serene environment is the lack of infrastructure and a lack of convenience; lifts are outdated and restaurant choices are limited. Nightlife is not happening either. However a friendly family-owned restaurant worth a visit is the Gostilna Gombac, its venison is renowned and the gnocchi to die for.

Vogel in Slovenia is inexpensive and fun. © Mitjamavsar
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