Holiday Costs

People often talk about winter sports holidays being too expensive and it's true that some ski and snowboard resorts can be very expensive. However, you can enjoy a week in the mountains for the same price as a week in the Med.

Accommodation and travel costs
Lift pass costs
Ski and snowboard equipment costs
Ski and snowboard clothing costs
Ski and snowboard tuition costs
Winter sports insurance costs

Accommodation and travel costs

The important point to remember is that your accommodation and travel costs make up only part of the overall cost of your skiing and snowboarding holiday so make sure you budget for all the extras.

If you decide on a package holiday, the price quoted in most ski and snowboarding holiday brochures should be seen as the starting point for the overall cost of the holiday.

If you are considering a package ski or snowboarding holiday you should check what the brochure price includes:

• Does it include air-travel from the UK or is it on a self-drive or accommodation only basis?
• Is there a supplement for air travel?
• Does the price include evening meal or is it on a B&B or self catering basis?
• Is there a supplement for en-suite facilities?
• Is the price based on full occupancy or will you have to pay a supplement?

Additional Travel Costs
Transfers – Airport or station transfers are usually included in the package deals offered by most of the larger tour operators.

However, if you are travelling independently you should always check transfer arrangements before your skiing or snowboarding trip.

Transfer specialists and taxis can be expensive so also check public transport websites or resort tourist office websites for details of transfer services available.

Ski/board carriage – If you are taking skis or snowboards on flights to and from the UK you may have to pay an additional carriage charge.

Charges vary but are likely to be at least £15.

Airlines, tour operators and travel agents all have different policies with regard to ski/board carriage so you should always check with them before you turn up at the airport.

Lift pass costs

The lift pass is a major expense of any winter sports holiday so you should always check the prices before you book.

By way of warning, the price of a 6-day, peak season, adult lift pass in Vail during 2007/8 was $552 per day - this is not a cost you want to overlook!

North American lift passes tend to be more expensive than European passes and it is certainly something you should factor into your holiday budget when choosing where to go.

Most tour operators advertise the prices of the resort lift passes in their brochures. Alternatively, check with the local tourist information office/website or the online discount lift pass providers.

If you are booking your skiing or snowboarding holiday well in advance it's worth checking resort websites and other discount lift pass providers before the season starts as you can sometimes pick up pre-season deals.

If you intend visiting a ski and snowboard resort several times during a season you might want to consider purchasing a season pass as this can sometimes be cheaper than buying several 6-day passes for example.

If you are travelling with children it's also advisable to check the prices and age limits for child passes as these can also vary enormously.

Ski and snowboard equipment costs

When budgeting for a winter sports holiday it is important to consider the costs associated with ski and snowboard equipment. One question you should ask yourself is: do I rent or do I buy?

If you are completely new to winter sports it's probably better to rent equipment to start with rather than spending a fortune on buying skis, board, boots etc.

After all, buying all the latest ski equipment before your first winter sports holiday could prove to be expensive if after a few days you decide you are better suited to snowboarding.

Brand new beginner's equipment will probably cost approximately:

• Ski boots - £120 - £180.
• Skis - in excess of £200.
• Ski Poles - approximately £20 -£35
• Snowboard boots - from £70 - £90
• Snowboard - in excess of £200.

Renting to start with, will not only allow you to try different disciplines it will also enable you to experiment with different types of equipment.

Also remember that as your skiing and boarding skills progress you will soon want to upgrade your beginner's equipment to match your ability.

As with lift passes, the cost of renting equipment varies a great deal between ski and snowboard resorts.

Renting a set of basic skis and boots, or snowboard and boots for 6 days varies between resorts but will probably cost approximately:

• £45 + in smaller European resorts
• £60 - £90+ in bigger European and North American resorts.

Check whether your tour operator or accommdation provider can offer equipment rental as an inclusive part of your package deal.

Most major tour operators will be able to offer equipment rental to their guests at a reasonable price.

Ski and snowboard clothing costs

If you are new to winter sports the chances are you will need to purchase some items of clothing before your skiing or snowboarding trip. However, there is now a wide range of clothing on the market to suit all budgets so making sure you have the right gear doesn't mean you will have to break the bank.

Good quality clothing is essential for your safety and comfort whilst in the mountains.

You should ensure that you have:

• Goggles or 'wrap-around' style sunglasses (from £20)
• Waterproof, breathable jacket (from £40)
• Waterproof, breathable ski/snowboard pants/trousers (from £30)
• Ski/Snowboard socks – it is advisable to wear just 1 pair at a time to avoid blisters (from £10)
• Warm, breathable base layers (from £15)
• Waterproof, breathable gloves (from £20)
• Warm hat (beanie or cap) or helmet (from £10)
• The prices indicated are just a guide and the quality of clothing varies with the price. Some high street shops now sell mass-produced clothing at very low prices.

However, you should always consider the quality of garments before making a purchase as you may be skiing or snowboarding in extreme weather conditions.

Good quality clothing will make use of fabric technologies to help the wearer remain warm and dry and therefore, comfortable and safe.

You should expect to pay slightly more for good quality clothing.

If you are unable to purchase all the necessary clothing for your trip, some sports shops in the UK and abroad offer a rental service.

You might also consider asking friends and family if you can borrow some of their winter sports clothing.

Whatever you do don't be tempted to compromise on your clothing - incorrect clothing is not only dangerous, it will also spoil your enjoyment.

See the Origin Sports shop for a range of quality winter sports clothing essentials.

Ski and snowboard tuition costs

Tuition should be viewed as an essential part of your skiing or snowboarding holiday if you are new to winter sports. Don't be tempted to skip lessons in favour of 'teaching' yourself.

You should see the price of lessons as a worthwhile investment because good tuition will allow you to enjoy the mountains safely for years to come.

Group ski or snowboard lessons are the cheapest option and if you enjoy socialising with others they can be great fun too.

Prices vary but in Europe a 2 or 3 hour group lessons will probably cost £12-£25. In North America you will probably pay £20-£40.

If you would prefer not to learn with others in group lessons you can pay extra for a private tuition.

Private 1-to-1 tuition varies a lot.

In Europe private tuition would be in the region of £25-£50 an hour.

In North America private tuition would be £40-£75 an hour.

As with equipment rental and lift-tickets, your tour operator or accommodation provider can often include the cost of tuition in the overall cost of your skiing and snowboarding holiday.

Alternatively contact the ski and snowboard schools directly for prices and availability.

Winter sports insurance costs

There is no getting away from the fact that skiing and snowboarding are physically demanding sports with an element of risk attached. No matter how fit you are or how confident you are in your abilities you should always take out specialist winter sports insurance before embarking on any skiing or snowboarding trip.

Most basic travel insurance policies will not cover you for participation in activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

It is vital you take out specialist winter sports insurance cover.

You should also make sure your policy covers you for mountain rescue and repatriation.

Check that your policy covers you for all the activities you intend taking part in as some basic winter sports insurance policies may require you to pay extra premiums if you intend taking part in activities such as:

• Rides on motorised snow vehicles such as snowmobiles or 'skidoos'
• Rides on bobsleigh runs
• Parascending
• Ski and snowboard racing
• 'Heliskiing' and Off-Piste skiing and boarding*

*You should only venture off-piste if you are an advanced skier or snowboarder accompanied by a qualified guide. Never go off-piste without appropriate training, equipment and insurance cover.

See the Origin Sports Links page for a range of winter sports insurance providers or click next for information on when to go on your ski or snowboard holiday.