Ski resorts in Italy have emerged as the best value for money this winter.
Six appear in the top 10 rankings or both adult and family skiers in this year’s Post Office Travel Money ski resort report.
Bardonecchia has held on to the top spot for the second year running in the cost comparison of 36 resorts for adult skiers with a price of £543.82 for a six-day lift pass, ski and boot hire, ski tuition and drinks and lunches on the slopes.
Bardonecchia was found to be cheaper then its nearest competitor, the Bulgarian resort of Borovets (563.14), while the most expensive was Zermatt at £1,345.76.
Austria’s Saalbach has replaced Kitzbuhel to rate as the most expensive of 30 family ski resorts surveyed.
The Italian resort Passo Tonale was rated as the best value for families with a cost total of £1,571 for a family of two adults and two children aged 8 or under.
Bulgaria remains great value for cost-conscious British skiers, according to this year’s report, compiled in conjunction with Crystal Ski Holidays.
Norway appeared as an unexpected destination to feature in both the adult and family top ten ski resorts, thanks to competitive pricing for ski passes, equipment hire and tuition.
Norefjell in Norway’s Scandes mountain range is the only new entrant to the adult ski top 10, rising to ninth place from 14th last year on the back of a 2.6% fall in costs to £739.
Beitostollen and Geilo are fifth and sixth in the best value top ten family ski resorts with barometer totals of £2,026 and £2,245 for a family of four.
However, Post Office Travel Money warned British visitors to choose restaurants and bars carefully as the cost of meals and drinks can be much higher than in most other European resorts.
Resorts in Andorra and Spain were also ranked as among the best value for money.
Although the report found price rises in two-thirds of the adult resorts surveyed and in three-quarters of the family ones, the improving position of sterling, currently more than 4% stronger against the euro than a year ago, has helped to minimise those increases and most are rises of under 5%.
However, budget-conscious skiers were warned to choose their resort carefully as prices vary significantly across Europe.
Head of Post Office Travel Money Laura Plunkett said: “Although sterling is currently stronger against currencies for most European ski resorts compared with last year, our latest comparison of prices in leading destinations shows that the cost of lift passes, equipment hire and ski school continues to vary by hundreds of pounds.
“This makes it vitally important for skiers looking for a bargain break to do their homework before booking a ski holiday.
“Italy is again looking great value, but Bulgaria offers a good alternative to more expensive ski resorts in Switzerland, France and Austria.”
Crystal Ski Holidays confirmed that budget friendly ski resorts are proving popular for the coming season.
Managing director Chris Logan said: “With a wide choice of great value destinations on offer, Italy has continued to be a popular choice amongst our customers for the winter 2024-25 season – which is reflected for the second year running in this report among the top 10 best value European ski resorts.
“We’ve also seen strong demand for budget-friendly destinations including the Bulgarian resorts of Borovets and Bansko, as well as for France.”