Italy overtakes Bulgaria for best-value ski trips

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Bardonecchia has been named the best-value skiing resort in Europe, knocking Bulgaria’s Borovets off the top spot for the first time since 2019.

The survey, carried out by Post Office Travel Money and Crystal Ski Holidays, compares the costs of lift passes, ski and boot hire, ski tuition and food and drinks over a one-week holiday.

Although inflation and increased living costs are squeezing families’ holiday budgets, tourist demand for trips and experiences remains high. According to the Post Office and Crystal Ski Holidays’ survey of 2,001 adults, 12 per cent are planning a ski holiday between December 2023 and April 2024.

Prices in the Italian ski resort for an adult rose just 1.4 per cent year on year to £532.

While still making the top 10, prices in Borovets rose 8.2 per cent to £554, while another Bulgarian resort, Bansko, saw prices rise by 18.1 per cent to £642, having been rated best value in 2018.

A French resort appeared in the top three of the best-value ranking for the first time. Le Corbier, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, charges £611 for a week’s adult ski pass, equipment, tuition and food and drinks.

“Ski resort costs are likely to play an important part in destination choice this year as the rising cost of living in the UK puts pressure on the amount of money ski enthusiasts have available for their annual winter sports holiday,” Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, said.

Prices have fallen in nine of the 31 resorts surveyed last year and risen in 22. However, only two of those recorded increases are more than 10 per cent.

A new entry, Jahorina in Bosnia and Herzegovina, offers the best value for families of four at £1,657. Passo Tonale at £1,678 and Bardonecchia at £1,752, both in Italy, took second and third place.

Bansko lost its top spot for families due to a steep increase in ski school prices. Ski school for two adults and two children aged six and eight now costs £815, compared with £465 in Jahorina.

“Many parents taking their children skiing will want them to attend ski school and the cost of this can add considerably to a ski holiday,” said Plunkett.