hero-blog-banner-ski-skiing-snowboard-snowboarding-winter-sports-holiday

Travel & Days Out

Easy ways to save before hitting the ski slopes

Budget for food, stock up on sun cream and get clever with kit

Senior Writer – Deals & Features

Created 7 March 2024 | Edited 11 February 2025

Skiing and spending seem to go hand in hand – and even with cheap flight deals and packages, the cost of equipment and everything from a ski pass to a plate of chips seems to sky rocket when you're in the mountains. To save money, preparation is key – plan ahead and budget your spending so you hit the slopes and not your wallet.

The first few times I went skiing was as a teenager, and I can remember my dad 'making' us share chips at lunch. Oh, how we moaned! Fast forward a few decades and now I get it. Chips are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the mounting costs of a week on the slopes. When it came to paying for my own ski holidays, I realised just how the costs can add up, from lift passes and equipment to clothes and food.

In 2012 I took a career break and went to live in a ski resort in France, which is when my approach to MoneySaving and skiing really kicked in. As a so-called 'Seasonnaire', you're often on a fairly low wage working in a bar, restaurant, chalet or as a cleaner, relying on tips for your 'going out' money. Seasonnaires don't spend big on things like fondue every night or designer ski wear. They make picnic lunches and wear the same jacket every day.

Now working at MSE, I'm sharing a few things I've learned on how you can cut costs on your ski trip - my experiences have always been in France with one trip to Italy, but they would work if you're going somewhere a bit off the beaten piste such as Bulgaria.

Image shows a piggy bank on skis with a wooly hat - the skis and hat are red. The background is red and there are two pine trees made out of paper

Package hols vs DIY: Which is cheaper?

If you haven't booked, a quick word on package hols vs DIY winter sports holidays. Back in those family ski holiday days, we'd always get a package deal - it was by far the cheapest way to get to the slopes, as deals included transfer buses, and the company (we always went with Crystal Ski) sorted out your lift passes and equipment hire, too.

There would be a rep to tell you all about the resort, handing out piste maps on the coach transfer. They'd pick you up a week later and ferry you back to the airport, bruises and all.

In the 2000s, it became more popular to DIY your snowy trip. There was a flurry of new private transfer companies, which meant you could book flights and a transfer, then your own accommodation, passes and ski or board hire. This flexibility allowed people to go away for less than a week, something I still take advantage of.

The flipside of DIY is you have to keep a keen eye on the costs. Lift passes are expensive, and you might need to know the local lingo to do any haggling on your equipment. It's also then a lottery as to whether you choose the best restaurant(s) in town. You will also need to factor in the costs of transfers or hiring a car.

I've noticed a revival of ski package holiday companies in 2025 - for example there's a new one called Heidi. If you are considering a package deal, have a read of our Cheap Package Holidays guide.

Cheap(er) ski clothes

Snazzy magazines and instagrammers would have you believe you need to be head-to-toe in designer ski wear but it's just not the case. Rental sites Hurr and By Rotation have selected skiwear but it isn't the cheapest option and much is designer rather than sportswear.

Below are the key items you might need and where you can find some bargains:

Ski and Snowboarding Clothes

Clothing item	Need to know	Examples
Price Comparison
Base layers	Could use your own. There are a lot of clothes that are branded as 'ski base layers' which are actually not all that different to a second layer of sports clothing or a vest. Before you buy fancy ski undergarments, check your own wardrobe for thin workout leggings that might go under ski salopettes. Tops that work for yoga or running can also be a great base layer – and you can get them for bargain prices in regular clothing stores.	M&S does thermal vests, and Primark has thermals starting at £5. Read more about base layers in our guide to heating the human not the home. TK Maxx often stocks decent ski wear too.
Outer layers (Jacket, trousers or Salopettes)	Essential. A decent coat is necessary – that waterproof you use for dog walks won't be enough protection when you're on the mountain. If you're not a first-time skier or boarder and are thinking of investing in something that'll see you through a few seasons, you can shop sales for high-end performance clothing.	At the time of updating this blog in Feb 2025, there were sales on at Mountain Warehouse (up to 70%), Snow+Rock (up to 30%), and Absolute Snow (20% to 30% off) to name a few.
Socks	Essential. Corner-cutting isn't ideal as socks need to be a certain length to cover your calf and shin. Cheap socks can mean painful blisters. My rule (and not MSEs!) is it's better to have two decent pairs of socks than five lower quality pairs that will be uncomfortable and wear out sooner.	Merino wool ski socks can be pricey (some can be £30 or more a pair). Look for socks in the sales at the retailers above or TK Maxx.
Gloves or mittens	Essential. It's personal preference between gloves or mittens. When it's colder, I wear thin running gloves inside my mittens too. The key is to make sure your mittens or gloves cover your wrist and are waterproof.	Again, look for mittens or gloves in the sales at the retailers above.
Apres ski wardrobe	Not necessary! When it comes to clothes you wear off the slopes, don't be fooled into thinking you need a whole new wardrobe. It's perfectly normal and acceptable to wear your ski jacket to go out, and there really are no fashion police. You might want something cosy to wear for a night in or two, like tracksuit bottoms.	Not applicable
Footwear	Shoes or boots with a good grip. Step away from the fancy moonboots. Footwear is another money drain you can avoid. Some shoes with a good grip will usually do the trick. Many people wear walking boots. A word of warning – Ugg-style boots WILL slip and absorb a lot of snow.	Not applicable

Three MoneySaving ways to get ski clothes:

Go for pre-loved. For those shopping preloved, Vinted can be a good shout for skiing gear, but make sure you buy in time for it to arrive and ask lots of questions about the size and material, and whether there are any rips or damage. You might also get lucky in a charity shop - check for holes and damage to clothing and check all zips work before you buy.
Borrow from friends. If you're a first timer and don't want to fork out, you might be able to persuade a skiing mate to loan you some of their kit. They might get you to agree to replace or repair it if you damage or rip it.
Avoid shops at the resort. They'll be overpriced, and if you leave your shopping until you get there and they don't have what you want, you won't have what you need. It also takes up valuable holiday time.

Do a deal on your one-use equipment such as helmets and skis

The final pieces of kit are the one-off things you would hire – skis or snowboards, boots and a helmet. A few things to consider here:

Haggle for a helmet: Many ski/board hire shops now include a helmet in a weekly hire package, and if they don't, haggle to see if they'll include one for no extra cost.
Hire before you arrive: Hiring equipment in advance can also save you money – if you are travelling with a package deal, it's likely they'll offer to do the ski or board hire for you as part of the deal. You could always haggle to see if they'll do a deal if you pay in advance for the kit.
Pre-hire from a shop via their website: You can also pre-order from hire shops. On a recent trip in March 2024, I saved 10% by booking my skis and poles in advance with Intersport. Pre-ordering helps you beat the queues too, as they'll have already put your stuff aside for the order.
See if a friend will lend: If you have friends who ski, they may lend you a helmet, but don't be offended if they won't – a beginner's fall might crack a helmet and leave you with the cost of a replacement, so mountain regulars can be a bit cautious to let them out of our sight. Also, beware buying second-hand helmets, as you don't know what's happened to them previously.

Budget for food and drink before you go

There's no avoiding the fact that food on the mountain can be extortionately expensive. So you need to be clever with the where and when of your spending.

Take some time to find out where you might eat and drink, both during the day and in the evening. Many package-arranged chalet stays don't cater for guests on a Wednesday (so the chalet staff can have a night off), so company reps will make suggestions of where you can go instead. A bit of advance research might mean you can choose a budget-friendly option before you're bamboozled by the offers of fondue for 10.

MSE Jenny H, who wrote this blog, holds up a plate of cheesy bread and salad in a mountain restaurant.

Make your own sarnies. There's a classic cliché that you either pay a lot of money to eat 'on the mountain' or you're eating a frozen cereal bar on the chair lift. If you are self-catering, making your own lunch is the cheapest way to eat.

If you're staying in a hotel, of course you should take the opportunity to fill up on good energy-giving food at breakfast time so you're not tempted by expensive mid-morning hot chocolates on the slopes. Ask if they offer packed lunch options, too.
Bringing some snacks with you from the UK, especially if you have young children, is an easy win.
Choose big supermarket over mini mart. If you're driving to your resort, head to a hypermarket or major supermarket before you get too high up the mountain, as the smaller supermarkets in-resort will be a lot more expensive and have way less choice.

Better still, if you're self catering, take basics with you from home such as pasta and baked beans.

Get winter sports cover ASAB (as soon as you book)

Hopefully you have already booked your travel insurance (if not, see our Travel insurance guide pronto, and also read up on GHICs and EHICs). If you have an annual policy already, make sure it includes Winter Sports Cover.

There is also another small insurance fee to pay that you want to budget for if you're going to France – it's called Carré Neige and covers you for being taken down the mountain if something happens, which isn't always covered by regular insurance. You can usually add the extra on when you buy a lift pass. Check with local lift pass offices if this is something they offer in that area or country.

Paying an extra 10 euros or so (usually via the hire shop) to insure your ski or snowboard hire is also well worth it. It's so easy for someone to pick up your skis instead of theirs when they're all piled together at lunch. For real peace of mind, you could take a small chain lock to wrap around all your group's skis and boards.

Beware data roaming - try and rely on free wifi

It's so tempting to take a photo or video of every skiing moment and you'll want to stay in touch with mates or family if you're travelling with different abilities. Read up on data roaming and eSims before you go in our guide to cheap mobile and data roaming.

Many resorts now have Wi-Fi you can log into all over the slopes (they'll expect you to share an email or phone number to sign up) and it tends to kick in around major chair lift entry and exit areas or designated picnic spots. But in my experience, the best way to save cash is to turn off roaming, rely on Wi-Fi and enjoy the view.

Make sure you've got the right plastic

Taking the right cards with you is essential. See our top travel cards for our top picks.

Buy beauty and health essentials before you travel

An in-store Boots display of different types of Soltan sun cream. It's below a sign reading: "Travel miniatures. Four for three from this display."

Sun cream is an essential, and while we're not usually fans of buying the less MoneySaving travel minis, those ski jacket pockets require small bottles and it's not recommended you decant sun cream out of its original packaging. Your local pharmacy or the duty free shop will often have 3for2 deals or 4for3. Read our full guide to sun cream for more info.
Take medicines from home. Medicines can be very expensive in mountain pharmacies (and asking for them is also confusing if you don't speak the lingo). Buy any medicines you might need (such as ibuprofen) at home, as the prices will be a lot higher in the mountain pharmacy.
Sanitary and baby items are also worth buying before you go if you think you'll need them. Again, these can be more expensive in a mountain supermarket and you won't find the range you do in your local shops.
Lip balms are a must-take in my experience, as the cold days will chap your lips, and the warm ones will dehydrate them. I've paid nearly a tenner for a lip balm in a shop at a ski resort in the past, so my advice is to take one with you.