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The downhill slide of the pound against the euro means British skiing trips to European resorts will be more expensive across the board this year than in 2024.
A week-long continental skiing holiday for one adult has risen by an average of 10.2 per cent year-on-year, according to a ranking by Post Office Travel Money that compared the cost of ski passes, equipment hire, lessons and refreshments, but excluding flights and accommodation.
The rises at the 32 surveyed resorts have been driven by sterling’s fall against a basket of continental currencies, principally the euro, and local price increases.
The pound has slumped to its lowest level against the euro since 2023, having neared its highest point since the 2016 Brexit vote during the skiing season last year.
Holidaymakers will therefore suffer less favourable exchange rates as they travel abroad this winter with the pound at €1.14, down 5.8 per cent from €1.21 last December.
Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: “As a result of sterling’s fall in value against European currencies in recent weeks, costs in ski resorts are likely to play a big part in destination choice this year.
“The weaker pound makes it vitally important for skiers to do their homework before booking and factor in the higher cost of ski passes, equipment and ski school in resorts to the package price.”
The main driver of local price increases was higher costs for lift passes, which rose an average of 10.7 per cent for a six-day pass compared with last year.
Italian and Bulgarian resorts remained the best value for individual skiers, though the Balkan country’s prices rose more than any other.
Bardonecchia in the Piedmont region of Italy retained its spot as the best-value resort for individual adult skiers for a third year running, despite a 10.5 per cent increase, with a week’s skiing at the resort priced at £601 per person.
Relative unknown Geilo in Norway shot up the value for money ranking to third, despite high food and drink costs, due to its competitive equipment, passes and tuition costs.
Guests at Geilo could pay £704 for a week, the third best value for money and up just 0.1 per cent compared with 2024, though six 250ml bottles of beer would set you back £49.32, the highest of any resort.
No Swiss or Austrian resorts made the top 10 cheapest holidays, though Le Corbier in France returned with a price for an adult of £784. Wengen in Switzerland remained the most expensive at £1,372.
Meanwhile, for a family of four, price increases were largely driven by pricier ski tuition, with increases of up to 67 per cent. Only Andorra’s Soldeu resort reported a price fall for a family, down 3.7 per cent to £2,602.
Passo Tonale between Trentino and Lombardy was the cheapest option for families for the second year in a row, despite a price increase of 14 per cent to £1,797. The price was kept down due to the resort’s offer of a free lift pass for children aged eight and below.
Norwegian resorts Geilo and Beitostølen and Finland’s Pyhä appeared on the family top 10 for the first time, offering prices between £2,179 and £2,404.
The most expensive for a family of four was Austrian resort Saalbach at £4,060 for a week, a 20.5 per cent increase.
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