Skiing is an undeniably expensive sport, from high gear costs to the rising prices of lift tickets around the world, but there are ways to make it more affordable beyond convincing ski resort management to lower ticket costs. Whether it’s on-mountain habits that take a smaller hit to your wallet or specific vacation locations where skiers and snowboarders tend to pay less, the American Automobile Association (AAA) sat down with travel journalist and lifelong skier Melissa McGibbon to discuss affordability and cost savings in the ski world.
Ski Cost Savings Tips:
Melissa handed out quite a few tips, including skiing during off-peak times, as resorts often charge more during busier weeks, and opting for multi-resort passes, as they tend to offer access to a handful of resorts for a lower price. Additionally she mentions staying off-resort in a nearby town, like downtown Salt Lake City if you’re skiing in the Wasatch area. Staying on resort is usually quite a bit more expensive than staying a distance away, even if it’s just 15 minutes.
She also mentions things like bringing your own food to the mountain or choosing the more affordable dining options on resort. While ski lodge food is often unbelievably expensive, there are typically options to eat for a low cost, or at least get food that’s worth the price, if you’re willing to look. You can also choose to rent gear off-site, lowering rental costs. At the same time, however, booking directly through the resort for package deals like ski & stay options is usually cheaper than going through a third-party website.
Budget-Friendly Ski Destinations
Budget-friendly ski destinations are available around the world, from the United States into Europe and Asia. Melissa specifically mentions several smaller resorts with good lift ticket deals like Brian Head Resort in Utah or Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Vermont. She points out smaller destinations in the Midwest or on the East that provide plenty of terrain for a significantly lower price and high savings.
Outside of the United States, she mentions areas in Eastern Europe like Slovakia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Georgia, where resorts are still up-and-coming and tend to charge around $50 or less for a day ticket. In Japan, many resorts charge around $50 as well, with incredible snow and fantastic cultural experiences making it more than worth it. There are plenty of places around the world that tend to be much more affordable than locations in the United States.
