Despite an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and tighter purse strings, Europeans are raring to hit ski slopes this winter. At the same time, they’re on the lookout for great deals and ways to avoid the crowds while on holiday.
While iconic ski destinations like St. Anton and Courchevel are still very popular, they have also become a lot more expensive and crowded over the years.
New research by ski tour operator, Ski Solutions, shows that this has led to the rise of niche ski destination dupes like Gastein and Cervinia recently, especially as avoiding holiday crowds and saving money take priority for tourists.
“Skiing doesn’t have to be expensive,” Ian McIlrath, managing director of Ski Solutions, says.
“Our research shows that these alternative destinations deliver everything a skier could desire, from pristine slopes and vibrant après-ski to family-friendly activities, all at affordable prices. It’s all about ensuring everyone can enjoy a memorable winter break.”
So where can you ski on a budget next year, without compromising on magnificent views, great slopes or quality?
Madonna di Campiglio, Italy: Chic, sophisticated vibe, immaculate pistes
Tucked away in the heart of the Brenta Dolomites, Italy’s Madonna di Campiglio has recently emerged as a worthy dupe for France’s beloved Courchevel. With similar sophistication, but at much better prices, Madonna also has excellent snow reliability due to its Dolomites location.
According to Ski Solutions, a week in Madonna di Campiglio costs around €1,983.60, versus approximately €3,185 in Courchevel. Also known as the “Pearl of the Dolomites”, it is highly suited for intermediate skiers who prefer long, scenic runs and well-groomed slopes for a stylish and luxuriously authentic Italian experience.
With some of the most immaculate pistes in the Alps, its chic vibe, contrasting with Courchevel’s more international and ultra-exclusive feel, and stunning Dolomite views attract a range of Italian celebrities.
Apart from price, the sheer quantity and variety of easier runs, perfect for relaxed confidence building, is what works in its favour, as compared to Courchevel, which has more challenging terrains in some parts.
It also has an excellent lift system, which very conveniently connects directly from the town centre. With 150km of slopes, it also has a vibrant and elegant après-ski scene, along with the famous Ursus snow park.
There’s a charming postcard-like village with easy ski-in/ski-out access, with cosy cafes, trendy lounges, stylish hotels and designer shops. Visitors can enjoy authentic gourmet Italian food like cheese fondue and polenta at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Il Gallo Cedrone, which uses local mountain ingredients.
Kitzbühel, Austria: All the St. Anton thrill without the crowds
A real hidden Austrian gem, Kitzbühel is now increasingly drawing the St. Anton ski crowds. Visitors who skip St. Anton for this niche destination can save around €890 per week, Ski Solutions estimates.
While St. Anton leans heavily into hard-core, expert skiing with challenging and extensive off-piste terrains and advanced skiers, Kitzbühel offers a mix of slopes, with plenty of easier ones, extensive cruising and a huge linked ski area.
This includes SkiWelt, Austria’s largest interconnected ski area, which holds mountain theme parks and villages as well. Kitzbühel also has the famous Streif racehouse, and a glamorous historic town, offering an upscale and cosmopolitan vibe, as compared to St. Anton’s much more purpose-built ski resort vibe and intense, party-focused après-ski scene.
If you prefer low-key casinos and elegant shops over dancing in ski boots at St. Anton’s Mooserwirt, Kitzbühel could be more your speed.
Trysil, Norway: Scandinavian flair and family skiing
Trysil, Norway’s biggest ski resort, has emerged as an out-of-the-box alternative to France’s Avoriaz in recent years.
With scenic, tree-lined runs, it is especially prized for its exceptionally long snow-sure season from November to May.
While Norway is not as well-known for skiing as some other European destinations, Trysil is a great option for families looking for a Scandinavian vibe but a quieter ski experience.
Here, travellers can save about €870 per week, compared to Avoriaz, according to Ski Solutions.
With a range of designated family areas, child-friendly, heated lifts and wide, well-connected slopes, Trysil prioritises navigation and convenience, perfect for younger and beginner-level skiers.
While Trysil’s 75km of runs are much smaller in scale than Avoriaz’s extensive 600km, they are far more efficiently planned, decreasing the risk of getting overwhelmed or lost.
This Norwegian spot also has more stable weather than Avoriaz, allowing for reliable skiing throughout the entire season. This makes it another very convenient option for travellers looking to avoid the crowds and snag a few sweet deals at the beginning and end of every season.
Visitors can also ski at night here, due to floodlit pistes. Not only that, but they can also ski in the sun all day, courtesy of slopes on all sides of Trysilfjellet.
Arinsal, Andorra: Ski schools and duty-free
Arinsal has recently emerged on ski radars as a great alternative to France’s Les Arcs, due to its excellent English-speaking ski schools, duty-free status and compact layout.
Visitors to Arinsal can end up saving around €556 per week, according to Ski Solutions, compared to Les Arcs. Perfect for beginners and families, Arinsal offers a variety of both easy and challenging runs, as well as high-altitude nursery slopes.
All runs return to the village, Comallemple, reducing the chances of getting lost. In contrast, Les Arcs has extensive, linked terrain more suited for intermediate and expert skiers and higher snow reliability, but it can be much more expensive with larger crowds.
As such, Arinsal can be a good option for people wanting to dip their toes into skiing to see how they like it, without having to shell out for an expensive holiday right off the bat.
With much more affordable food and drink than many other European ski spots, travellers can tuck into hearty Andorran mountain food like traditional stews (escudella), grilled meats with chimichurri and drinks like granizado (fruit slush).
Après-ski in Arinsal is also relaxed and low-key. Go for cocktails and themed nights to Cisco’s, or pop into The Derby Irish Pub, for the classic après-ski beer and sports watching.
Sierra Nevada, Spain: Hit the slopes under the Spanish sun
While Spain is generally not associated with skiing, Sierra Nevada has become another surprising, but very unique dupe for St. Anton in the last few years.
Offering potential savings of €328 per week, it has unbeatable sun, with more than 300 sunny days, perfect for spring skiing. It also has a long season from November to May and proximity to the Mediterranean.
Despite the sunny weather, Sierra Nevada has excellent high-altitude skiing and snow reliability, due to high peaks and sophisticated snow-making abilities. This makes it a clear winner for sun-lovers, looking for a laid-back spring experience, compared to St. Anton’s challenging terrain, wild àpres-ski, deep snow and steep runs more suited for expert skiers.
It’s also only an hour from the Costa del Sol, offering the best of both worlds by combining beach and skiing adventures. However, it still attracts far fewer crowds than St.Anton and other similar Alpine resorts, ensuring a quieter, but still fun-filled holiday.
Sierra Nevada’s après-ski is also much more low-key than St. Anton, highlighting Spanish terrace culture at a much affordable price than Alpine alternatives. Enjoy tapas and drinks in the plazas of Pradollano for a lively evening, or head to bars like La Bodeguita Bar and clubs like Jaleo Pub-Gintoneria, if you’re in the mood for a more happening night.
Cervinia, Italy: Swiss-style skiing with Italian charm
Cervinia is another compelling luxury Italian gem, which gives Switzerland’s Zermatt a run for its money. With challenging runs, extensive pistes and a vibrant après-ski scene, it offers similar vibes to Zermatt at a fraction of the cost.
While Zermatt boasts classic Swiss charm, challenging terrain and seamless lift-linked access, it is also much more expensive and preferred by more advanced skiers.
Skiers in Cervinia can save approximately €1,136 per week, compared to Zermatt, Ski Solutions estimates.
Like Sierra Nevada, Cervinia has snow-sure, high-altitude skiing with vast, sunny and wide slopes. Best suited for intermediates, it offers an affordable, authentic Italian experience, with long cruising runs like the famous Ventina, perfect for budget-conscious skiers, as well as those who prefer Italy and gentler terrain.
The best part? You basically get access to Zermatt’s terrain with the ski pass, practically getting two resorts in one.
Located high up in the Italian Alps, Cervinia also has guaranteed snow and a long season which lasts well into spring, perfect for those who prefer later-season holidays. It also has magnificent views of the Matterhorn from the Italian side.
Travellers can save on lift passes, hotels, food and wine in Cervinia, while tucking into delicious Italian fare like fonduta and local, curated meats like lardo, paired with regional wines.
While not quite as high-end as Zermatt, skiers can still enjoy an exciting après-ski scene, with plenty of slope-side parties, pubs like Thistles, stylish clubs like Bianconiglio and cosy village spots.
Gastein, Austria: Luxury slopes minus the Lech price tag
Skip Lech for Gastein this ski season, to enjoy similarly excellent and stylish skiing and a range of après-ski options without breaking the bank.
With a chic Alpine charm, beautiful Belle Èpoque architecture and luxury hotels, Gastein boasts a number of thermal spas as well, perfect for relaxing after a full day on the slopes.
Travellers can save around €883 per week in Gastein, according to Ski Solutions, but still have access to highly snow-sure skiing ensured by modern snowmaking facilities. This allows for great ski conditions through the season, with significant freeride potential.
The Sportsgastein area has deep powder and huge vertical drops, along with long, sweeping runs, while the Ski amadé area offers access to multiple ski areas like Stubnerkogel and Schlossalm.
Enjoy unique historic spa town charm in Bad Gastein, with a number of traditional wellness options, such as relaxation spas, adventure spas, outdoor thermal areas and saunas. These are mainly based around Gastein’s radon-rich thermal springs.
This makes Gastein perfect for those looking to combine a traditional Austrian wellness experience with skiing, rather than the mainly luxury and premium vibe found in Lech.
Apart from spas, Gastein has a wide variety of après-ski options, such as casinos, sophisticated lounges, mountain huts like Bellevue Alm and live music bars like the Silver Bullet.
Samoëns, France: Charming village slopes and stress-free skiing
Samoëns is another relatively little-known ski dupe, perfect for travellers who want to avoid sticker shock and crowds in La Plagne. With beautiful village slopes and access to the huge Grand Massif ski area, Samoëns makes for a much quieter, authentic French alpine experience.
Compared to La Plagne, visitors can save up to €341 per week in Samoëns. While both La Plagne and Samoëns are well-suited for beginners, the latter also has high-quality ski schools and fewer tourists, making for an ideal, relaxed skiing holiday.
Travellers can also enjoy Samoëns’ charming village, holding historic stone buildings and beautiful chalets, for a more wholesome and scenic experience, compared with La Plagne’s purpose-built ski resort.
Enjoy cosy pubs like Covey’s Irish Pub for a great selection of beers and whiskies, and wine bars like Vin sur Vin for tasty tapas and regional wines.
Local food shops offer specialised hams and cheeses, with travellers also able to ice skate or take a guided tour around the village, exploring historic streets.
Read the full article here
