How to get the best value ski break this Easter

Friday, 01 March 2013 08:26

If you're thinking of booking a winter sports break to get away this Easter, you might be wondering how you can stick to a budget and ensure you get the best value for money from your break. Follow our top tips to keep your costs down and enjoy a skiing getaway with friends or family during the Easter holidays.

Book at the last minute – A tried and tested method when it comes to keeping holiday costs down is to arrange a getaway at the last minute. If you can travel with just a few weeks' notice, you'll often find holiday firms slash their prices, keen to fill up any remaining places.

Don't go for the cheapest holiday – It's a myth that choosing all the elements of a skiing break separately often works out cheaper than a package where everything is included, so take a look at the all inclusive Easter ski offers from companies like Sno. Once you take into account the cost of your flights, accommodation, meals and extras like ski rental and boot hire, you could well find that an inclusive holiday will see you save money on the total cost of your break, even if it seems like a significant initial outlay.

Consider catered accommodation – In the same vein as the previous tip, you could find that by paying upfront for your meals, you make savings. Catered chalets, for example, will see breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner laid on for you at your accommodation, and could easily cost less than you might pay if you eat out every day.

…Or choose self-catering – If you want to ensure you stick to a tight budget, an alternative to catered accommodation is opting for somewhere with self-catering facilities, such as an apartment with a kitchenette. This will allow you to stock up on fresh ingredients and create your own meals from scratch as and when you want them, so there's no need to rush back from the slopes to ensure you're in time for tea.

Book out of the peak season – It's well-known that holiday prices rise significantly for peak seasons but, if you can book outside of the busiest periods, you could make savings. Most ski resorts are busy between December and March, but some places have longer winter seasons, and if you can arrange a break at the very start or very end you might end up paying less.

Organise extras in advance – Even if you're not choosing an all inclusive winter sports break, it's still a good idea to book things like boot hire in advance. By doing so, you'll avoid having to stand in queues when you arrive at your location. You can even sometime arrange for your boots or skis to be waiting for you at your accommodation when you arrive.

Take advantage of special offers – Before you settle on a specific package, do some research on the internet – you'll often find special deals available, like three for two on ski hire if you book online before you travel. Some companies also offer a percentage off the total price, or special group rates if you're travelling with friends or family. Even if there aren't any perks advertised, there's no harm in asking the travel firm you speak to whether they'll throw in some extras to sweeten the deal.

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