The Best Budget Ski resorts in Europe revealed
Ski resorts can be expensive; however, there are still opportunities to find bargains. A Balkan resort boasting wide pistes, beautiful mountain scenery and warming food served up in candlelit tavernas has topped a new easyJet index of best value ski resorts for last-minute bookings.
With boot hire at just £15 a day and £1 beers, Bansko’s cobbled lanes and old stone chimneys offer authentic yet affordable charm, with a UNESCO-protected old town, heartfelt hospitality and a feeling of infinite winter that is easily accessible at short notice.
Read: Ski guide to Bansko
This off-the-beaten-path resort at the foot of Bulgaria’s Pirin Mountains is just two hours from Sofia, and neighbours Borovets, which ranks closely behind in third place.
Białka Tatrzańska in Poland comes in second, while Italy’s Bardonecchia has been placed at fourth, with access to the slopes for under £50 a day.
In Borovets, Bulgaria’s oldest resort, skiers can glide through the ancient forests across over 58 kilometres of slopes. Divided between three main zones of the Rila Mountains – Sitnyajovo, Yastrebets and Markudjik – the well-groomed and broad slopes offer a perfect training ground for intermediates. And for those wishing to maximise slope time on a shorter break, Borovets is the only resort in Bulgaria for skiing into the night.
In at fourth, Bardonecchia often flies under the radar. Its panoramic, high-Alpine feel and perfect visibility on mountains like Colomion & Les Arnauds is lesser-known, despite having played host at the 2006 Winter Olympics, making it an underrated gem for late-season and last-minute bookings alike.
Białka Tatrzańska, a resort tucked away just a couple of hours south of Kraków, completes the ‘four B’s of budget ski’ quad. Perfect for beginners, families and social groups, Białka Tatrzańska is famous for its down-to-earth atmosphere and ability to make the pound – or złoty – stretch.
Ski-index ranked
Tucked away in a vibrant corner of Italy’s Via Lattea (the Milky Way) is sun-soaked Sauze d’Oulx. Recognised for its energetic mountain buzz Sauze is proudly Italian and has been welcoming Brits into its glittering amphitheatre of slopes for decades.
Reachable by flights to Barcelona or Toulouse, Pal-Arinsal is the Andorran resort for those wishing that the Alps came with cheaper après, and a touch of tapas. Offering up a tale of two resorts, the Pal side is a welcome sight for beginners with wide slopes and soft gradients, whilst Arinsal offers up more dramatic altitudes and lively red slopes for intermediates seeking a challenge.
The French resorts of Les Deux Alpes and Morzine will be more familiar to seasoned Alpine-inclined skiers and may come as a surprise on an index that pinpoints pocket-friendly destinations, however flexibility is at the heart of the deal. For those seeking a more mainstream Alpine experience without the luxury price tags, a day of skiing could set you back £80 here – a last-minute budget friendly alternative compared to some neighbouring resorts.
Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK country manager said:
“As people start to look at booking a break on the slopes, we hope that our new index spotlights just some of the resorts where equipment hire, hotels and hospitality can be found for fantastic value, so that Brits can comfortably experience the beauty of some of the most underrated mountain towns. With a flurry of snow set to dust Europe in the coming weeks, last minute ski getaways are sure to be top of mind for many.
Direct flights from 13 airports across the UK make all ten destinations easily accessible , offering more choice and connectivity for snow sports lovers across some of Europe’s best hidden-gem resorts.”
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