| If the credit crunch is threatening your ski holiday this | | | | Brides Les Bains in France which is only a 25 minute |
| winter, you are not alone. More and more dedicated | | | | gondola ride from Meribel, giving you access to the 3 |
| skiers, unwilling to give up their annual appointment | | | | Valleys ski area and Bourg Saint Maurice, also in |
| with the snow are looking for ways to cut the cost | | | | France which is linked by funicular railway to Les Arcs |
| of their holiday and bring it back within budget. Here | | | | and the Paradiski area. |
| are a few ideas to make your money go a little | | | | Accommodation.Eating out can use up a lot of holiday |
| further. | | | | cash so to save money, think about booking a |
| Timing. | | | | Catered Chalet or Chalet hotel which both offer very |
| Try to be flexible about when you take your holiday | | | | good value for money. The holiday cost includes |
| and avoid the school holiday periods of Christmas, | | | | breakfast, afternoon tea and evening meal with wine |
| New Year, Half Term and Easter. However, if you | | | | on 6 days out of 7, so you only have to pay for |
| are willing to wait until the last minute to book, you | | | | lunches and 1 evening meal. For a really budget |
| can pick up some good last minute deals at | | | | holiday, try self-catering accommodation. This is |
| Christmas. Late deals can be a great way to really | | | | readily available in most resorts and if you book |
| cut the cost of your holiday. There is usually plenty | | | | independently rather than through a tour operator |
| of last minute availability in January, traditionally the | | | | can be a really cheap option. |
| cheapest month in the season, as well as in late | | | | Equipment and Clothes. |
| March and early April, depending on how Easter falls. | | | | Hiring equipment can be very expensive if you wait |
| Location. | | | | until you get to the resort. There are a number of |
| With a weak pound, the popular resorts in the Euro | | | | companies offering on-line discounted ski hire for |
| zone, as well as those in North America, are going to | | | | resorts throughout Europe. You book and pay before |
| feel even more expensive this winter. So it may be | | | | you go and just pick it up at the ski hire shop when |
| time to think about some less popular locations which | | | | you get there. If it's your first ski holiday and you're |
| tend to offer better value for money. If you are a | | | | not sure if it will be your last, don't spend a lot of |
| beginner or lower intermediate skier, or are skiing | | | | money buying clothes. If you can't find anyone to |
| with young children, there are plenty of value resorts | | | | borrow from, you can hire clothing on-line or check |
| to choose from in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Romania and | | | | out the local free-ads or ebay for cheap second hand |
| Andorra. Good choices for more experienced skiers | | | | ski clothes. |
| would be Canazei in Italy which is on the Sella Ronda | | | | With the season almost upon us, I hope these ideas |
| circuit, one of the biggest ski areas in the world, | | | | help you to make it on to the slopes this winter. |