Trip Advice: Plan Your Ski/Snowboard Vacation

This blog isn't just about trips to watch sports events.  It's also about advice to take your own sports trip.  With ski season coming up I thought I'd give some advice on how to save some money on ski/snowboard trips.

1. “SKI WITH FRIENDS. Tip: Take a ski apartment for 6 or more and the cost per person tumbles. Fill it with friends, set up a Facebook page or ask around for people to share.”

2. “PLAN EARLY. Tip: Booking now will save you money on your travel.  Waiting until the last minute may cost you hundreds of dollars.”

3. “SKI WITH A GRANNY. Tip: Bring a relative to look after kids as it’s often cheaper to take an extra person than to use local nannies and kindergartens.”

4. “DIY MOUNTAIN LUNCH. Tip: Pop into the local supermarket or bakery for an inexpensive alternative to mountain restaurants. (Of course we wouldn’t suggest you snaffle from the hotel’s breakfast buffet).”

5. “PAY AS YOU GO. Tip: Book early and pay in installments to break up the cost into affordable chunks.”

6. “SKI AN UPCOMING DESTINATION. Tip: Ski a less well-known, less expensive ski destination.”

7. “BOOK ONLINE. Tip: Avoid tour operator’s brochure marketing costs and travel agents’ commission and book online with an internet-only ski company.”

8. “PRE-BOOK SKI EQUIPMENT HIRE. Tip: Pre-book ski tuition and equipment to save time in resort and get a fixed price on skis, boots, sticks and lift passes.”

9. “THINK SMALL, SKI BIG. Tip: Choose a less well-known resort that rubs shoulders with the glitzy, big ski areas.”

10. “BEGINNERS’ BARGAINS. Tip: Learn to ski away from the bright lights of a top resort. Pick somewhere smaller for cheaper equipment and learn to ski packages.”