That's La Plagne
How to book a cheap ski holiday
15 ways for YOU to save money and find the best cheap ski holiday for your family.
UPDATED: August 2023
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PLUS BONUS LA PLAGNE LIFT PASS INFORMATION
15 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT SKI HOLIDAY
All of these tips are tried and tested – and I recommend them regularly to my family and friends.
HOW YOU TRAVEL
You don't have to book peak season and you don't have to travel on weekends.
WHEN YOU BOOK
Find cheap ski holiday deals: last-minute, early bird booking, and off-peak weeks
ADDED EXTRAS
Always check what's included.
SALES & PROMOS
Be savvy and don't forget to check lift pass promos.
HOLIDAY STYLE
Check out self catered, hotels, hotels and other options.
RENT & SHOP SECONDHAND
There's no need to buy new all the time.
Join behind the scenes today and get the insider scoop
Are ski holidays expensive?
Luckily there are some simple ways to drop the cost of your holiday without reducing your enjoyment one bit. Read on for my 15 top ways to save money on your next ski or snowboard holiday.
How you travel to your ski holiday
So fuel prices are… well, let’s not get into that. And when you consider the cost of flights, baggage fees, and transfers to and from the airport, you might find that it’s cheaper to:
- Take the snow train – also much more eco-friendly that flying. Some great sites to compare train tickets praces are:
- Depending on your starting point, driving to your destination, especially if you’re traveling in a group and can split the costs between you.
- Car parking in La Plagne is more widely available than in other resorts, which can reduce the cost of having a car in a ski resort. Find out more here about the parking in La Plagne.
- When considering driving to your ski holiday or to La Plagne, it is also worth considering hiring a car, either all the way from the UK or from your airport. Have a look at this page to find out more about car rental for ski holidays.
Be flexible on when to book ski holidays
If you’re not set to rigid holiday dates, you can shop around different weeks and months and choose the best deals. For example, airlines and accommodation companies expect guests to travel from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday, so you can often bag cheaper deals by travelling midweek.
Plus, there’s no reason why you have to holiday for a week. Keep costs down and opt for a cheap ski holiday weekend by opting or five-day holiday instead.
Jen’s Top Tip: Check out Ski Weekends which specialise in shorter and mid-week breaks. But my go-to for finding cheap ski accommodation – or any cheap accommodation! – is booking.com.
Avoid peak ski holiday weeks
It’s an unfortunate fact that prices of family ski holidays skyrocket during the festive period and the kids’ school holidays. If you’re travelling without children, aim for the first or last weeks of the season or mid-January and March to find the cheapest ski weeks of the year.
If you are traveling with children, the Easter holidays are a cheaper option than Christmas or half-term weeks. Plus, the snow conditions are often excellent, with long sunny days for alfresco dining and quieter ski schools for the kids.
Jen’s Top Tip: Find out more about why La Plagne is one of the best family ski resorts for Christmas and other peak weeks and also for beginner ski families and first-time skiers.
Always check whats included in your ski holiday
One of the reasons ski holidays are so expensive is that there are a lot of different elements involved. You need to organise ski transfers to the resort and book accommodation and catering. You need the right clothes, equipment, ski lessons, and lift passes, and it all adds up.
So when you’re looking to try and book a cheap family ski holiday, it's worth remembering that all-inclusive ski holidays can be some of the cheapest.
Whilst the price of a package ski holiday or all-inclusive ski hotel accommodation might seem excessive if they include flights and transfers and lift passes and equipment rental and catering, then it’s maybe not so expensive after all. Plus, these are often the ski accommodations that are set up for families with childcare included in the ski holiday package.
Total up the cost of purchasing all the items individually and compare it with all-inclusive ski deals to ensure you’re choosing the best option.
Check ski holiday sales & promotions
Sales occur throughout the winter for all reasons: low snow weeks, last-minute cancellations, spring ski deals, Valentine’s Day promotions – there is no end to why companies might decide to throw out a discount. And not just on accommodation prices, they might offer packages that include a free lift pass or 2-4-1 equipment hire or a discount on ski school. So check their websites regularly, sign up for alerts and newsletters from resorts, tour companies, and flight providers, and pounce when you spot a good deal.
Something I always have set up as well is a price alert on Skyscanner. Basically, you can flag a route, e.g., Bristol to Geneva airport, and Skyscanner will notify you when there is a drop or increase in flight prices. This is a sure-fire way to bag yourself a cheap ski holiday flight.
When is the cheapest time to book a ski holiday?
Most people are familiar with the fact that you can find cheap ski holidays last minute. Ski companies don’t want their accommodation standing empty during the season, so if they’ve got empty rooms or cancellations, they’ll try to fill them by dropping the price. So keep an eye on those websites for cheap skiing packages, and they will often bundle together ski pass discounts or transfer options at reduced rates.
However, the opposite is also true, and booking a ski holiday early is also a good way to find a cheap ski deal. Booking for the next ski season usually opens in April, and you can often lock in great ski deals by being organised. When you are travelling with kids or trying to book a family ski holiday, I would always recommend booking early to find the best family ski holiday accommodation. Your requirements are usually more specific
Ski holiday loyalty booking
Many ski holiday and chalet companies offer loyalty deals for repeat customers. If you had a great experience on your last holiday, look at booking with the same ski company again for the chance to get a discount. This is particularly popular for family ski holidays with childcare providers.
Jen’s Top Tip: If you are on holiday and want to book the same week/chalet again next winter, then contact them whilst you’re still in the resort. Tell them you’ll book right now if they can give you the same price you paid this year. Often, companies will commit to this and you will maintain your price without the year’s inflation. I have friends who have done this for over a decade and are now still paying the price they paid 10 years ago..!
Where to ski cheap
When it comes to finding the best cheap ski holidays, it's all about location, location, location! Choosing to stay down the mountain at a lower altitude village than in a high-altitude resort can save you a lot of money on your family ski holiday. Many resort-adjacent towns have lively après ski scenes, plenty of shops and restaurants, and shuttle buses or transport to the resorts.
For instance, if you stay in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, you can get the Funicular train to the Les Arcs ski area in less than seven minutes. Plus, you could ski at a different resort every day – La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes, Val D’Isere, La Rosiere and St Foy are all within driving distance of the town.
The La Plagne lower-level villages are MontChavin, Les Coches, Montalbert, and Champagny. These 4 villages have some of the most beautiful accommodations in La Plagne. You can often rent a 12-bed chalet in Champagny for the price of a 4-bed apartment in one of the altitude villages. The lower villages also often provide the best family ski holidays for beginners when high-altitude and back-country skiing is not what you are looking for. Have a look at SkiYodl who have some fab Champagny La Plagne accommodation. And I have a discount code: Jen50 that you can use to get a discount of your holiday booking.
Food & drink: how to eat on a budget
Self-catering accommodation is much cheaper, and cooking for yourself can save you a lot of money. If you’re driving, stop at the supermarkets in the valleys for supplies before heading up the mountain because resort grocery stores are not cheap!
And remember to pick up lunch supplies. Making yourself a sandwich to enjoy on the mountain saves you from buying an expensive slope-side meal every day. Definitely also check out the bakeries for lunch options. They make daily delicious sandwiches, pizza, and cakes for a fraction of the rates charged in restaurants. There is a reason why the French opts for self-catering.
If you do still want a catered experience, look for a freelance, private chef to cater your holiday. Or why not try a meal delivery service like Huski? They deliver to your door gourmet, frozen meals, ready to cook, and you can choose vegetarian, vegan, kids menus, and more.
Travel in a group to save money
Group travel can save you money in many areas of your ski holiday. You can split the cost of driving to the resort or a private transfer from the airport. It means you can book an entire chalet which often works out cheaper – and more enjoyable – than multiple hotel rooms. Also, tour companies often offer discounts for group travel. Travelling with kids and grouping together with other ski families also means that you have built-in childcare for your children to avoid those moments of boredom, even on a family ski holiday!
Jen’s Top Tip: Often, the group organiser travels for free! So if you are in charge of the planning make sure to ask about such discounts. Or other things like is the equipment rental is included if 10+ people book? So get your mates together and grab a bargain.
Stay in a ski hostel
Hostels are not a feature of every ski resort, but they are becoming more common as people look for more ways to save money and find budget skiing and snowboarding options. Ski hostels are much cheaper than hotels and have fun, friendly atmospheres, kitchens for self-catering, and often offer private or family rooms for groups. Solo travellers can save even more by opting for a bunk room where you might also find some ski buddies to hit the slopes with.
Checkout Hostelworld to see if there are any ski hostels available in the ski resort you are looking at.
How to après ski for free
Ski resorts are often packed with expensive bucket-list activities like heli-skiing or husky dog sledding. But there are plenty of other ways to enjoy yourself that don’t cost a fortune.
Just wandering the snowy trails and slopes after the lifts shut is a magical experience, and all the best winter activities like snowball fights, sledging and snowman building are free. During busy weeks, ski resorts will put on free shows, ski displays, torchlight descents and fireworks for your entertainment.
Late in the season, many of the après ski bars have live music sessions out on their terraces. Check out La Bergerie on the Bergerie piste and the Hotel Carlina in Belle Plagne for great daily après ski on the snow. Pack a hip flask, grab a seat on the snow, and watch the show for free.
Rent your ski gear or buy secondhand
To ski comfortably, you need the right clothes and equipment to keep you warm and safe while you ski or snowboard. But you don’t have to pay a fortune for it. Instead, why not borrow ski clothing from friends or family members, or consider renting rather than buying your gear? I've created some go-to checklists for ski holiday packing success. From toiletries to ski equipment and kids' gear, have a look and make sure you don't forget the ski essentials!
Jen’s Top Tip: There are some excellent ski clothing rental and secondhand options worth having a look at. Check out :
Eco Ski – actually post your rental clothing to you before you fly!
WhoSki.com – a dedicated marketplace for buying and selling used ski gear
REI co-op – sell high quality ski and outdoor adventure clothing and gear. But htey also have a secondhand market place to pick up some great bargains. YOu do have to join the REI Co-Op market place, but it can be well worth it.
AlleyOops La Plagne – this isn't ski gear, but kids and baby equipment. You can rent in the resort everything from baby slings, pushchairs, baby baths, and potties to sleds, books, and age-appropriate toys.
If you do need to buy, check second-hand shops and vintage sites to find retro bargains, shop for your thermals and ski socks in budget shops like Sports Direct or Aldi, and hit up TK Maxx for brilliant old-season bargains on outerwear.
For your equipment, shop around for rentals to ensure you get the best deal. Look for group discounts and bundles that make things cheaper and if you’re a beginner, don’t pay extra for high-end equipment – you don’t need it.
If you do a lot of ski trips, start picking up your own gear when it’s on sale at the end of the season – start with a helmet, then boots – to save you having to rent them every time.
BONUS: Look at your ski pass
Lift passes are one of the most significant expenses of a ski holiday. But there are ways of cutting costs a little. Again look out for sales and accommodation deals that include lift passes. And if you’ve got children, find the discounts that fit your family. It's not easy to understand! Here is a quick La Plagne lift pass breakdown:
- La Plagne passes – cover the La Plagne site the resort
- Paradiski passes – over the entire Paradiski area i.e. La Plagne and Les Arcs
- Family passes – 2 adults, 2 children ages 5 – 17 years.
- You can add in extra children
- AGE RATES
- Under 5 = free
- 5 – 13 child rates
- Senior: 65 – 74
- Senior plus: 75+
Jen’s Top Tip: Have a look at my recent article on lift pass options and prices for this winter. Now UPDATED for winter 2023/24.
Lift Pass FAQs
- Family passes DON'T have to be family members.
Family passes can be made up of friends and non-relations to combine together to get the discounted rates.
- Also, do you need a whole week’s pass?
Are you a dedicated skier who’s going to be out every day, or would you like a day off mid-week to rest your legs or nurse a massive après hangover?
- Do you need the whole ski area, or would a local area pass suit your skills?
If you’re an absolute beginner, chances are you won’t even need a lift pass for the first few days as the nursery slopes are often free. So only purchase the days you need.
And that's it!
Hopefully this’ll help you save a few euros on your next ski holiday. But what do you think? Did I miss any of your favourite money-saving tips? Tell me in the comments below your best wallet-friendly ski holiday or La Plagne hack!
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