The cheapest and most expensive places to ski in Europe
If you're craving some time on the slopes in Europe, there's still plenty of time left to fit in a trip this ski season. Or, if you're super organized and looking to next year's season, you may be wondering just how far your dollars will go. Ski trips can be expensive, even if you manage to find a cheap flight to your snow destination.
The U.K. Post Office publishes an annual survey of the most expensive and the most affordable ski resorts in Europe. It looks at the costs for a week of skiing across 30 popular European resorts, comparing the costs of items like lift passes, equipment hire and daily food and drinks on the slopes. Accommodation is excluded, as the costs can vary wildly even at the same resort. Flight costs are also excluded from the survey.
If you're looking to save some pennies, or splash out, here are the two ends of the spectrum when it comes to cost options for 2020 -- plus read how to plan your trip with points and miles here.
Most expensive
1. Zermatt, Switzerland
At a whopping $1,344 per person for a weeklong ski trip, you'll need deep pockets to enjoy a holiday in the notoriously expensive country of Switzerland. Depending on the cost of your accommodation, you could easily be doubling this amount for your week on the slopes.
What's all this money going toward? According to the survey, ski school lessons are exorbitantly expensive -- five to six half-day group lessons will set you back $569.
2. St Anton, Austria
Only slightly cheaper at $1,257 for your week, this resort is popular for its 88 cable cars and lifts as well as more than 186 miles of marked ski runs, with 124 miles off-piste.
Ski hire is by far the most expensive at St Anton of any resort surveyed.
3. Saas Fee, Switzerland
While still located in pricey Switzerland, the price for your week in Saas Fee will be noticeably cheaper than Zermatt, at $1,138 -- more than 15% less for the same items across the week. Ski lessons are less than half the price of Zermatt, according to the survey.
Saas Fee is close to the Italian border, so if you are looking in this region you may want to cast your search a bit wider as you're likely to receive a lot more value in Italy.
Rounding out the top-five most costly were Wengen, Switzerland, and Obergurgl, Austria.
Least expensive
1. Borovets, Bulgaria
You may be surprised at just how cheap Bulgaria can be for skiing. The same weekly items that can set you back more than $1,300 in Switzerland will be a cheap $578 in Borovets -- that's less than half the price. You can expect all the same facilities in Bulgaria that you would find in any European ski resort -- modern ski lifts, plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants both at the top and bottom of the mountain, and snow-making facilities, should there be insufficient snow.
Oh, and your accommodation is likely to be significantly cheaper than Western Europe ski resorts too.
2. Bansko, Bulgaria
The other major ski resort in Bulgaria, Bansko, is a similar low price to Borovets -- $584 for the weekly surveyed costs, excluding your flights and accommodation.
So what's the difference between Bansko and Borovets given the prices are almost identical? Borovets is closer to Sofia (SOF) Airport, meaning quicker, cheaper transfer times. Bansko is an existing town with a ski resort built around it meaning it has plenty of town infrastructure and facilities. Borovets is a purpose-built ski resort, without the existing town, so has fewer facilities than Bansko and may mean higher accommodation prices as there is less available.
Related: From Cyprus to Australia: 5 unusual skiing destinations
3. Bardonecchia, Italy
Only slightly more expensive at $623, Bardonecchia combines good value with delicious Italian cuisine. The Telegraph has even suggested it could be Italy's most underrated resort. You can expect fewer crowds on top of this decent value proposition, as well as 62 miles of mostly intermediate-level pistes.
Rounding out the top five least costly were Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, and Sestriere, Italy.
Bottom line
Ski trips can vary hugely in terms of costs, convenience and facilities. If you want your dollars to go further, consider looking beyond the usual hot spots of Switzerland, Austria and France.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.