New to booking a ski holiday? Don’t worry, Iglu Ski team member, Aimee, is on hand to guide you through all the key things you need to think about at every stage of booking your perfect trip to the mountains.
Having skied since she was twelve years old, and with over nine ski holidays, plus a ski season under her belt, she offers unparalleled knowledge on how to book your first trip.
1. Decide on your budget
The amount you’re prepared to spend on your ski holiday is one of the first things you should decide. Why? Because it’ll have a lot of influence on where you end up going and the kind of accommodation you choose.
Like any holiday, the location, type of accommodation and standard of accommodation play a huge part in the cost. While the majority of ski resorts cater to all types of budget, there are some ski resorts that are considered more expensive than others, meaning in some cases, you can expect to pay more for the same style and level of accommodation in one resort over another.
For example, Val d’Isère’s glamour, attractive Alpine architecture and reputation among high flyers means a four star chalet would likely cost more there than it would in the neighbouring resort of Tignes, which, while excellent in its own right, has its own accolades.
Don’t forget, though, that your budget needs to stretch across each element of your ski holiday, and you’ll also need some cash left over for spending money. Eating out, grocery shopping, and drinks tend to be that much more expensive in the mountains.
Val d’Isère is known for its quintessential Alpine architecture
Elements to consider when budgeting for your ski holiday*:
-
Accommodation (from around £250pp)
-
Flights (from around £100pp)
-
Transfers (shared from around £120pp)
(Choose a package ski holiday if you’d like these bulked into one cost. It could save money and the time and worry of arranging these elements yourself).
-
Ski lessons (group lessons from around £250pp)
-
Ski hire (from around £140pp)
-
Lift pass (from around £200pp)
(If you book your accommodation through Iglu Ski, we'll be able to help you add these elements to your booking, and you'll also be able to take advantage of favourable rates.)
*These from prices are a rough guide only - starting prices could be more or less.
What is the minimum amount of money I should set aside for a ski holiday?
If you’re looking to do a budget package ski holiday to one of the top ski resorts in the Alps, which would be outside of school holidays but in the main season, in a standard self-catered apartment, and include group ski lessons, basic level equipment hire, local lift pass, and spending money, you’d need to allow yourself at least £1,500pp (based on around £70/day spending money).
It could be less if there are special deals available, or you opt for a ski resort in Bulgaria or possibly Andorra, or a smaller, lesser known ski resort.
2. Decide on whether you’re booking a package ski holiday or arrange everything yourself
Below are some of the key differences and similarities between booking a package ski holiday versus booking a DIY ski holiday.
It’s also worth noting that Iglu Ski gives you the biggest choice of ski holidays (chalets, hotels, and apartments) on one platform, while also providing you with the flexibility and assistance to book your ski holiday as separate elements - accommodation, ski hire, lessons, and lift pass - when you book your accommodation through Iglu Ski.
| Element |
Package |
DIY |
Book though Iglu Ski |
| Accommodation |
Included in package |
Book yourself |
Packages and accommodation only |
| Departure days |
Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday |
Any day of the week |
All departure days available |
| Flights |
Included in package |
Book yourself |
Package holidays only |
| Transfers |
Included in package |
Book yourself |
Included in package + discounts for accom only bookers |
| Holiday protection |
ATOL and ABTA protected |
No protection |
Package holidays only |
| Holiday support |
Agent support and in-resort rep |
No support |
Agent support for packages and accom only holidays |
| Ski hire |
Optional extra |
Book yourself |
Can be included in package + discounts for accom only bookers |
| Ski lessons |
Optional extra |
Book yourself |
Can be included in package + discounts for accom only bookers |
| Lift pass |
Optional extra |
Book yourself |
Can be included in package + added to accom only bookings |
3. Decide on where you’d like to go
Once you’ve decided on whether you’d like to book a package ski holiday or arrange and book everything yourself, you’ll need to start thinking about the kind of resort you’d like to go to. The world is literally your oyster when it comes to ski resorts, which is great, but it also means it can be difficult to narrow down exactly which resort you’d like to go to.
Below we’ve provided some examples of the different types of resorts you can choose from:
Buzzing ski resorts
Buzzing resorts tend to have a very high energy atmosphere, thanks to the huge number of bars both on the slopes and in the resort centre. They tend to be really popular with the younger crowd, but also attract adults that are young at heart and want to enjoy the party atmosphere after a day on the slopes.
It's also worth noting that while these resorts have a strong party scene, they shouldn't be dismissed as an option for a quieter ski holiday. The party scene is only one aspect of the resort - and the facilities, family-friendly activities, and accommodation across all these resorts are some of the best in the Alps.
Examples of these resorts include:
Read more:
Check out the top ski resorts in France for après ski
Check out the top ski resorts in Italy for après ski
Check out the top ski resorts in Austria for après ski
St Anton is party paradise in Austria
Large ski area resorts
Resorts with a large ski area (around 250km or more) tend to attract experienced skiers who want to cover lots of miles during their trip.
They’re not particularly necessary for beginners (as you’ll be taking your lessons on the learner slopes closest to the resort centre), however they usually have excellent facilities, non-ski activities, and plenty of bars and restaurants, so should definitely be considered for a first ski trip - even if you’re just sticking to the local area.
Examples of these resorts include:
Read more:
Check out the biggest ski areas in France
Check out the biggest ski areas in Austria
Check out the biggest ski areas in Italy
.jpg)
Val Thorens is part of a 600km ski area called The Three Valleys
Smaller, well-rounded and family-friendly resorts
These resorts have fantastic ski areas that offer a good variety of slopes, a good number of bars but nothing too raucous, and established resort centres offering everything you need in terms of restaurants, supermarkets, and non-ski activities.
Because these resorts are more low-key, lift passes tend to be cheaper, and the atmosphere more calm and family-friendly.
Examples include:
Read more:
Take a look at the top family ski resorts in France
Flaine is part of the Grand Massif ski area and just over an hour from Geneva
Budget-friendly ski resorts
Budget-friendly resorts span across both large ski areas and smaller ski areas, with the budget-friendliness mainly down to how many self-catered apartments the area has to offer, the 'mainstreamness' of the ski area or resort village, and the country in which it is situated.
For example, in resorts like La Plagne and Tignes, where there are lots of different satellite villages around the resort centre, you’ll find the smaller or further out satellite villages are often cheaper than the main resort, but they still give you access to the same ski area.
Accommodation also tends to be cheaper in less popular countries with Bulgaria, Andorra, and Italy generally coming up cheaper than the more popular French and Austrian ski resorts.
Examples include:
Bansko in Bulgaria is a popular budget option
4. Decide on the type of accommodation you’d like to stay in
When it comes to the type of accommodation, the first thing you need to think about is how many meals (if any) you'd like prepared for you. There are several types of board options available, including:
Room only
This is the most basic form of accommodation, which is usually just a hotel room. There isn’t likely to be any cooking facilities, so you’ll need to be prepared to eat out for every meal.
Self catered accommodation
Self catered accommodation comes in the form of both apartments and chalets. Both will come with all the facilities you need to prepare your own meals while you’re in resort. Cheaper self-catered apartments tend to have more basic cooking facilities, such as a two hob ring stove.
Your resort will have a well-stocked supermarket where you’ll be able to get all the essentials you need, however some people choose to pack basic food items in their luggage (such as pasta, rice, and tins) to further save money.
Bed and breakfast
If you choose bed and breakfast board, your hotel will prepare for you each morning a continental breakfast, which includes bread, pastries, cured meats, cheese, fruit, yogurt and cereal, with most bed and breakfast hotels also offering a hot option - usually eggs and bacon.
Half board hotels
When you choose a half board hotel, you’ll have your breakfast prepared for you, which is usually the same as above, plus an evening meal. What your evening meal will look like differs from hotel to hotel.
Your hotel may have a buffet service, or a limited or full a la carte menu. While some hotels offer a three course dinner, others may offer a four course dinner, which usually includes a cheese board as the final course.
All inclusive hotels
An all inclusive hotel will include all of the above, plus lunch and drinks (usually house wine, beer, and spirits, soft drinks, and hot drinks). Some all inclusive hotels will also offer an afternoon tea service (around 4pm).
Read more:
Club Med is one of the most popular all inclusive options, with accommodation, all meals, snacks, and drinks, flights, transfers, ski lessons, lift pass, and childcare for children aged 4-17 included. Find out what all the fuss is about in our guide: Is a Club Med Ski Holiday Worth It?
Chalet Board
When you choose to stay in a catered ski chalet, you’ll have breakfast, afternoon tea, and a three or four course dinner prepared for you by your chalet host. Breakfast options are similar to what you’d have in a hotel but often the chalet host will take special requests for cooked breakfast options.
And, because they’re preparing for a smaller group of people, chalet board tends to be a better option for those with specific dietary requirements.
Read more:
Read our guide on what to expect on a catered ski chalet holiday for more insights into how chalet ski holidays work!
Accommodation facilities and services
Ski accommodation can come with a whole range of different facilities, from hot tubs and saunas to soothe aching muscles, to games rooms and bowling alleys for some fun evening entertainment.
The facilities vary from accommodation to accommodation, but you tend to find hot tubs and saunas in hotels and higher end chalets. Games rooms are commonly found in large chalets and in hotels, and you’ll find some hotels and chalets even have a swimming pool.
If you’re leaning more towards a self-catered apartment, you’ll find some high end apartment blocks have spa facilities for the residents to use.
Discover more:
Discover our ski chalets with hot tubs
Discover hotels with spa facilities
Discover self catered apartments with spa facilities
Organising childcare
Childcare may also play a part in choosing the right accommodation. Many hotels offer a kids club for children aged four up to 16. Children are usually split out into age groups so they can do age-appropriate activities.
You’ll also find that some chalets also come with childcare with providers offering a nanny service as an optional extra, freeing up some of your time to go out and explore what the resort has to offer.
If your accommodation doesn’t have childcare, you’ll find that many resorts have their own in-resort childcare and nannying businesses that you can contact ahead of time - just bear in mind that availability on peak dates will fill up quickly.
Be aware of your accommodation location
When booking your accommodation, it’s good to get an idea of the location of it in the resort. While a lot of accommodation is centrally located, you may find your preferred type of accommodation is cheaper a little outside of the resort - the pay off being that you’ll either need to walk or grab the ski bus (often free with your lift pass) to the slopes.
You can see where a property is in a resort on an Iglu Ski property by clicking on the little property location on our property pages.
Click on the location symbol to see where the property is in the ski resort
You may also find that the chalet or hotel runs a free shuttle service to the slopes and back for its guests, but it’s best to check this detail before you book.
Walking in ski boots can be a pain, however many people argue that it’s part and parcel (and part of the fun) of a ski holiday. You may also find that your ski hire shop allows you to store your skis and boots in a locker, meaning you can walk to the resort centre and back in your regular shoes.
Look at your accommodation on a map, and make sure you’re within a short walking distance to the lifts (or ski in ski out) if the above doesn’t sound like your cup of tea.
5. Deciding on how to get to the resort
While the majority of people will opt to fly to their ski destination of choice, both driving and the train are becoming increasingly popular.
If you choose a ski holiday package, flights and transfers from the airport to the resort are included, however you can now also find package ski holidays where you travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras, rather than air.
According to research carried out by Iglu Ski, in many cases, travelling by Eurostar to some of France’s most popular ski resorts doesn’t take any longer or cost any more than flying - door to door (and it’s much more relaxing and comfortable).
Meanwhile, if you like a road trip, many ski resorts are driveable in around ten to twelve hours once you reach Calais (either by ferry or the tunnel).
Arranging flights and transfers
If you’re booking a package ski holiday, there’s no need to worry about flights and transfers, as they’ll already be arranged for you as part of your package.
If you’re booking the elements of your ski holiday separately, you’ll need to make sure that you arrange your flights and transfers so the time of your arrival matches up with when the transfer is due to depart from the airport.
Also, make sure to check the transfer time to your chosen resort before you book any accommodation. There are often quite large differences in transfer times depending on how close the resort is to the nearest airport, with some transfers being around three hours long, while others being little more than an hour.
This is a particularly important factor for families, where already tired children may find it hard to sit in a transfer bus for several hours.
It’s also a good idea to purchase travel sickness medication for your journey, as the windy, steep inclines up the mountain can test even the hardiest of stomachs.
Read more:
Don't wish to have a long transfer from the airport to the resort? These resorts have some of the shortest transfer times.
Shared transfers versus private transfers
There are two types of transfer - shared transfers and private transfers. Shared transfers often work out cheaper than private transfers, particularly if there are only two of you heading to the mountains.
If you choose a package ski holiday, the basic package includes a shared transfer (some tour operators allow you to upgrade to private), and the tour operator will have already ensured that flight arrival times and transfer departures match up, making that part of your holiday seamless.
If you're booking your ski holiday yourself, the drawback is the transfer timetable is already organised, so you may have to wait around in the airport for a while, depending on your flight arrival time and when the transfer is due to leave. The same goes for the journey back - you may need to leave the resort early and wait a while in the airport for your flight.
Private transfers are a lot more flexible, in that you can arrange with the transfer company exactly when they need to pick you up from the airport and drop you back at the end of the holiday. It can be more cost-effective to organise a private transfer if you have enough people to fill a five or seven seater taxi or a minibus.
6.Organising your lift passes
Lift passes are an essential part of your ski holiday - they’re your ticket to the slopes and you won't be able to get on the ski lifts without one. They’re usually available as a local lift pass (the immediate ski area) or a full area lift pass (the ski region).
You’ll be able to add your lift pass as an optional extra when you book a package ski holiday or add a lift pass post-booking when you book an accommodation only holiday through a travel agent like Iglu Ski.
Your lift pass will then be given to you either on the transfer bus or when you arrive at your accommodation (package), or you’ll need to pick them up from the lift pass office once you arrive at the resort (accommodation only).
Resorts sell lift passes by day and by multi-day and it’s usually more cost-effective to get a multi-day lift pass, unless you’re an absolute beginner… read the next section for more information on this.
You may also find that some resorts do a group or family discount, which means if you buy all of your lift passes at the same time, you’ll save a few pennies - it can be around 10 euros per person.
Resorts also tend to offer discounts when you book your lift pass in advance online, for children under a certain age (usually under 15) and adults over a certain age (usually 65).
Lift passes for beginners
Before you purchase your lift pass, you may want to check if your resort has a local learner slope with a free lift for you to use, as you’ll likely be on the learner slope for the first day or two, while you get a handle on the basics.
You may also find that your resort does a heavily discounted lift pass for beginners, which gives you access to a handful of lifts to easy slopes within the immediate resort area. You’ll be able to check this kind of information on the ski resort’s website.
Make sure to check the age required for needing a lift pass at your chosen ski resort, as a lot of resorts offer free lift passes to children under the age of five or six - great if you have little ones trying their hand at skiing for the first time.
Read more:
Read our beginner ski resort guides to compare stats like beginner-friendly slopes, lift pass prices, free lift passes, transfer time and more!
Top ski resorts for beginners in France
Top ski resorts for beginners in Austria
Top ski resorts for beginners in Italy
7. Hiring ski equipment
You can arrange your ski hire when you book your ski holiday, as it can be added to your package ski holiday as an optional extra, or organised post-booking when you book an accommodation only holiday through Iglu Ski.
You can also sort your ski hire out independently. Either way, it’s best to reserve your ski or snowboard equipment ahead of time, so you know the shop has your size equipment available (particularly during peak dates).
Top tip:
You'll qualify for a special discount with our ski hire partner when you book your ski holiday through Iglu Ski.
As part of the equipment hire, you’ll be able to borrow skis, ski boots, and poles or snowboard boots and snowboards, in addition to a helmet (many ski schools won’t teach you unless you’re wearing a helmet and it’s generally frowned upon in Europe if you’re not wearing one!).
Equipment is available to hire in different standards:
-
Bronze equipment is perfectly fine for beginners
-
Silver equipment is good for intermediates
-
Advanced and expert skiers should go for the gold or platinum equipment hire
You’ll be able to go to the equipment hire shop once you arrive in the resort. There, you’ll be able to try a multitude of ski or snowboard boots until you find the right fit. Ask the person fitting you to describe how a good fitting boot should feel.
Once you have your boots sorted, you’ll then get your skis adjusted. If you’ve booked your ski hire in advance, you’ll likely have already filled out a form which asks you about your height and weight.
This is so the person fitting your skis can adjust the mechanism that allows your skis to pop off when you fall over. It also means they can give you the right length of skis for your height and ability.
And that’s it! Need help booking your ski holiday?
If you feel informed and ready to start searching for your ski holiday, you don’t need to go anywhere else, as Iglu Ski is home to the biggest choice of ski holidays anywhere online.
We have more ski holiday packages, more deals, more chalets, more hotels, more apartments, and more accommodation only options than any other agent, meaning you can find and compare thousands of holiday options for your chosen ski resort.
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or need help, we have a team of excellent, expert ski specialists on the phone ready to assist you in any way they can. Their resort and accommodation knowledge is unparalleled, and we won’t be beaten on price.
Our reviews speak for themselves, so get in touch with us today!
Booking a group ski holiday?
If you're looking to book a big group ski holiday, there are some additional factors to consider which we've explained in our guide to booking a group ski holiday.
We've been getting large groups to the slopes for more than 26 years, so if you need a hand, give us a call, and our ski specialists will ensure you book an incredible first group trip to the mountains.
