The weak Euro looks set to make skiing in most of Europe more affordable as the double-dip-recession hit Brits this winter, potentially making in-resort costs the lowest they’ve been since the economic downturn began 4 years ago.
With the official exchange rate passing €1.25 to the pound, and currency exchange bureaus offering Euros for £0.80 each in recent weeks, the cost of skiing in the Eurozone will be down more than one-fifth on recent seasons. It’s a great improvement on last winter, when the exchange rate reached almost €1 equalling £1.
Lock In Savings Now
Of course, the current situation may not last until next winter – or it may get better still with rumours of a potential €1.40 to the pound by the year-end from the most optimistic pundits – but in some cases, for those who don’t want to risk waiting to find out, it may be possible to make purchases of ski rental, ski school and lift tickets in advance in Euros at the current exchange rate, for those who already have their 2012–13 ski season holiday booked.
“Yes it is possible to book and pay now on Ski Republic and the prices are in Euros” confirmed a spokesperson from the leading equipment rental chain.
Many ski resorts already have their lift ticket pricing up online for 2012–13 (or if not, will do so in the next few weeks), with advance purchase in Euros and immediate payment offered by some.
Most of these are accessible via the resort’s website, usually redirecting to a secure site. At Les Deux Alpes, for example, passes can be purchased via a dedicated site: 2alpes-skipass.com – with many other resorts now offering similar advance online purchase options.
Depending on the resort, passes may be mailed to you after purchase so you have them ready before you get to the resort, or may be ready for collection on arrival, or delivered to your accommodation. Regular visitors to a resort may find their old pass can be ”recharged”. In any event it saves time queuing in resort, as well as money.
Set against the reducing cost of the Euro are price increases in ski resorts. Early indications are that these will vary tremendously, with most resorts holding lift ticket increases to 2% or less, although Les 3 Vallées is bucking that trend with a cost increase of more than 6% on a 6-day ticket – but in all cases the stronger Euro means far greater savings than any price increases can nullify.
Europe Cheaper All-Round
In-resort costs are looking better across Europe and in resorts outside the Euro, although the price drops are not so dramatic.
The Zermatt pass, which includes skiing in Cervinia and a rail link to the satellite resort village of Tasch, had become the world’s most expensive 6-day pass price a year ago as the Swiss Franc hit record highs. However, changes to currency exchange rates has seen lift ticket price at Tasch, Switzerland, drop outside the world top 10 for the most expensive 6-day pass price.
Before Swiss officials moved to limit its rise, it had been the first time a European lift pass had been known to top the lift ticket price chart in at least a decade, if ever, albeit with a pass type that very few people (only those based in Tasch) would ever need.
Swiss resorts are continuing their efforts, as last winter, to make skiing there more affordable, with new deals like the St Moritz ”Hotel Ski Pass Inclusive”, whereby booking at a participating hotel enables you to purchase a lift pass for just CHF25pp per day (£16.70), or £100 for a 6-day pass at current exchange rates.
Price Comparison
Tignes Lift Pass
2011–12: €195 = £195
2012–13: €197 = £156
Kitzbuhel Lift Pass
2011–12: €209 = £209
2012–13: €225 = £179
Les 3 Vallées Lift Pass
2011–12: €244 = £244
2012–13: €260 = £206