Ski holiday companies are reporting very strong bookings for Christmas and New Year, but so far not so much for Easter, when there are currently far better priced deals available.
December tends to rise and fall in popularity, in part depending on how the previous Christmas was (pretty good) as well as Christmas and New Year dates (whether or not they’re at weekends, clashing with transfer dates). This year they’re a convenient mid-week. Reports of heavy snowfall in the Alps as early as September this autumn also boosted sales.
The UK’s largest ski holiday operator Crystal say that they have seen a great start to the year, with December currently standing as the most popular month for their customers travelling to the mountains. They report bookings up more than 10% year-on-year, particularly around the New Year period.
Easter has risen in popularity in recent years with a perception of the snow arriving later and lasting longer, which is partially borne out by the stats. It’s booking popularity is also strongly affected by the timing of the Easter holidays, and this time they’re well into April, towards the end of Easter’s range.
Whilst there are still December holidays available, the seasonal factor all impacts demand and thus price – particularly at New Year.
“With Easter falling incredibly late next year – in the second half of April – we’re not seeing the normal spring skiing rush around school holidays. As a result, if you’re not tied to the traditional set holiday dates, you’ll find some great value skiing available in quieter resorts later in the season,” says Chris Thompson, director of chalet company OVO Network, who adds: “Winter demand has far exceeded industry expectations this year, with bookings from December through to February well up on the last couple of years. To help meet this demand we’re excited to be launching more properties – with 14 added since mid September alone – including our first ever property in the beautiful Pyrenees, as well as a new property in the Swiss Alps.”
For ski holiday travel agency SNO.co.uk its families that in particularly that are opting for Easter trips.
“We’re finding that many more families are choosing Easter this winter, as most of the other peak school-holiday weeks are nearly sold out, and the spring skiing conditions are perfect for kids, with more sunshine and milder weather,” said SNO’s Richard Sinclair.
Other ski holiday companies report similar levels of Easter interest whilst travel agency IGLU.com stress they do still have Christmas deals too and notes that whilst Easter Sunday is late, school holidays are mostly for the fortnight before it, so aren’t actually much later than usual.
“Whilst we are being inundated for late festive ski trips right now, many of which are reduced in price, we are monitoring the interest in Easter trips. In fact, although Easter is late, many schools are off from the end of the first week of April, and therefore the impact of the late Easter is less significant that it might at first appear. Good snow late in the season last April is really helping encourage sales too,” an IGLU spokesperson said.
French chalet holiday specialists Ski Beat also stress they still have Christmas deals going, but note that their best value Easter holiday departures this season are on 12th April 2025, for most schools that’s the second week of the holidays just before the Easter weekend, giving extra recovery time back home.
“Spring is my favourite time to travel, with more blue-sky days, a kinder climate, shorter lift queues and more space on the pistes and on restaurant terraces, and at these prices, it is ideal for a second or third ski holiday too!” says Ski Beat’s Laura Hazell, adding, “New Year has been very popular this year, many resorts light up the skies with parties and fireworks and the sociable atmosphere in a ski chalet is a party just waiting to happen. Many of our chalets are fully booked for New Year, though Ski Beat does still have some chalets available for Christmas, at very reasonable prices.”
It’s an ever-changing picture as the season progresses. The heavy snowfall this week in the Alps and Pyrenees led to around a 30% jump in booking, ski holiday company Inghams reported on Monday, noting they’re currently seeing the strongest demand for January holidays.