Italian resorts offer British skiers the best value in Europe, according to Post Office Travel Money.
Its latest Ski Resort Report shows Bardonecchia has retained its place as the best value spot, with a list of items – including lift pass, equipment hire, ski school, lunches and drinks – coming in at just under £544 per person for a week. The pricing is based on mid-season travel and entry level skis and boots.
Despite the fact prices have risen 1.5% in Bardonecchia since last year, the resort has beaten the Bulgarian ski resorts of Borovets and Bansko for the second year running. Borovets came in second, with the same list of items costing £563pp for a week. Bansko is third on the list, with the items costing £573pp.
Other Italian resorts Livigno, Sauze d’ Oulx, Sestriere, La Thuile and Cervinia also made the top 10.
Norefjell in Norway is the only new entrant in the Ski Resort Report top 10, with prices at £739.40pp, 2.6% lower than last year.
The 18th Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort Report compares 36 European resorts for adult skiers and 30 for families, and is published in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays.
The report found prices had increased in two-thirds of adult resorts surveyed and in three-quarters of family resorts year-on-year, but with the strength of the pound against the euro, most increases have been below 5%.
Swiss resorts are again the most expensive, where skiers will pay over £1,300 for the basket of items. Zermatt came in as the priciest at £1,346, followed by Wengen, at £1,309.
For families, Passo Tonale in Italy was rated best value, with in-resort prices for a family of two adults and two children aged under eight at £1,571. This is largely due to free children’s equipment hire when purchased with adult equipment.
Meanwhile, Saalbach in Austria replaced Kitzbühel as the most expensive of the 30 family ski resorts, at £3,368 for a family of four.
Crystal Ski Holidays Managing Director Chris Logan said: “With a wide choice of great value destinations on offer, Italy has continued to be a popular choice amongst our customers for the winter 2024-25 season, which is reflected for the second year running in this report among the top 10 best value European ski resorts.
“We’ve also seen strong demand for budget-friendly destinations including the Bulgarian resorts of Borovets and Bansko, as well as for France.”
Head of Post Office Travel Money Laura Plunkett said: “Although sterling is currently stronger against currencies for most European ski resorts compared with last year, our latest comparison of prices in leading destinations shows that the cost of lift passes, equipment hire and ski school continues to vary by hundreds of pounds.
“This makes it vitally important for skiers looking for a bargain break to do their homework before booking a ski holiday. Italy is again looking great value, but Bulgaria offers a good alternative to more expensive ski resorts in Switzerland, France and Austria.”
Top 10 best value resorts for adult skiers
Bardonecchia, Italy
Borovets, Bulgaria
Bansko, Bulgaria
Livigno, Italy
Sauze, Italy
Sestriere, Italy
La Thuile, Italy
Baqueira Beret, Spain
Norefjell, Spain
Cervinia, Italy
Top 10 best value resorts for families
Passo Tonale, Italy
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Bardonecchia, Italy
Bansko, Bulgaria
Beitostollen, Norway
Geilo, Norway
La Thuile, Italy
Arinsal, Andorra
Sestriere, Italy
Cervinia, Italy
