8 Ways to Cut the Cost of Your Next Ski Holiday

Skiing is a favourite hobby for the Royal family, with Prince William and Harry learning to ski as soon as they could walk. And we’re sure they love the privacy that a full ski suit and big goggles gives them as they carve up the slopes. But skiing is a luxury holiday to most of us, so how can we enjoy the same sport as the Royals, without breaking the bank? We’ve asked the experts to share their advice on ways to save money and still keep warm on your next ski holiday.

1. Look for reduced Jackets and Ski Pants

Everybody needs a good quality ski jacket and ski pants set as you need to stay warm and dry while you’re on the slopes. It can be tempting to pick up the cheapest items available or shop second hand for these items but you still need to be a little careful. You won’t be pleased if you end up with a poor quality jacket that soaks up moisture or doesn’t keep you warm on the cold days.

Jane Bolton, MD of ski holiday company Ernalow.co.uk, comments: “You can still find high quality and good looking gear without breaking the bank if you look in the right place. TKMaxx has a great selection of jackets from well known brands. Plus if you have a dig around for long enough you’ll even find a selection of ski pants heavily reduced from over £100 to less than £40 – bargain! And don’t miss out on bargains to grab on second hand online market places too.”

Nike Ski Pants https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/women/activewear/ski+snowboarding/ski+snowboarding-clothing/multicoloured-patterned-ski-trousers/p/07311922

Should you put your coat on before going outside? Not if you want to feel the benefit. Mark Ward from outdoor clothing company, TOG24, says: “If you keep your coat on indoors, it makes it harder for your body to shed heat from your core. Warm blood is then pumped from your core to your skin to compensate which causes your skin temperature to rise. When you then go outside, the air will feel colder on the exposed skin than it would otherwise have done, since the difference in temperature is now greater.”

2. Plan ahead for cheaper rental costs

The debate of renting equipment versus buying rages on every ski season. As you can imagine, there are a lot of factors to consider especially when it comes to price. If you’re renting then make sure to book in advance either via your tour operator like Erna Low who have long standing deals with ski shops in the resort. This is going to save you a bundle compared to walking in off the street when you arrive and paying full price.

Jane comments: “If you’re looking to buy equipment then think about looking second hand. You can find absolute gems on groups and forums like ‘Skibay’ on Facebook. Or plan well in advance for next winter and pick up huge discounts towards the end of the season as retailers slash prices to get rid of stock before the summer.”

3. Some things you need to invest in

While it is tempting to buy a second hand ski helmet for cheap, this is a bad idea. Mainly because you don’t know what impacts the helmet has gone through with its previous owner which can damage the structural integrity. If there is one piece of equipment to invest in and choose carefully then it’s your helmet. It is quite literally life saving.

Jane comments: “You can still find amazing deals if you know where to look. For example, you can signup as a free member on Sport Pursuit https://www.sportpursuit.com/ to gain access to thousands of money saving deals. And best of all, you’ll find industry leading kit from reputable brands like POC and Sweet Protection. Prices are very attractive with top quality items often reduced to well under £100.”

4. Know your layers

You don’t want to buy used socks, thermals and gloves if you can help it. It’s the equivalent of second hand shopping for underwear, unpleasant at the best of times! But when you take a look at the price of ski socks it can be shocking – £30 or more for a single pair! Again you can avoid these sky high prices with a little savvy shopping.

Jane comments: “Retailers like Lidl and Aldi often fill their middle isles with reasonably priced socks and thermals for all the family. And you can find warm winter layers in H&M too. Adding to this, if you’re buying ski boots then try negotiating with the ski boot shop, quite often they’ll happily throw in socks or discounts on other products to secure the sale on the bigger ticket items.”

H&M Ski Socks https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1106206001.html

Mark Ward, from TOG24, comments: “You may think that the more socks the better, but this actually isn’t the case. If you wear two pairs of socks the second pair compresses your feet, cutting off circulation and making your feet colder than they would be with a single pair. When in extreme cold temperatures, this impaired body flow makes your feet even more vulnerable to frostbite. It’s an important thing to understand, as from our research we found that 70% of Brits wrongly believed that two pairs of socks are better than one.

“We’ve all heard the old wives’ tale from when we were younger. That most of the human body’s heat is lost through your head. This isn’t true, as the head is just 10% of the body’s total surface area. If it were true it means you would need to lose about 40 times as much heat per square inch of your head as every other part of your body, just to lose 75% of your body’s heat through the head. It simply isn’t the case. So, whilst it’s still important to wear a hat, this shouldn’t stop you appropriately layering everywhere else. We also found through our research, that 70% of people do still believe this old wives’ tale.”

5. Go Retro for Apres Ski Wear

Jane adds: “If you’re an apres ski addict then you’ll likely be planning your party outfit for your afternoons. The good news is you don’t need to splash out on a brand new outfit. Thankfully, apres ski style has a strong retro vibe so it’s time to raid your loft for 80s ski wear you forgot about. Or fire up the latest vintage shopping app, like Vinted, to start collecting your unique outfit.”

ASOS Borg Jacket in Apres Ski Print https://www.asos.com/asos-4505/asos-4505-borg-jacket-in-apres-ski-print/prd/203171337?clr=lilac&colourWayId=203171338&SearchQuery=apres+ski

When it comes to a tipple or two on the slopes, will it warm us up? Mark Ward from TOG24 shares the facts: “We’ve all been there when we’re trying to warm up. And 40% of Brits believe that drinking alcohol will warm the cockles, whilst 70% think this is the case with a good old cup of tea or coffee. In fact, neither work. Alcohol opens up the blood vessels below the skin with more blood and heat flowing into them. This then takes heat away from the core of your body – it might make you feel warm in the short term as your skin is warm, but your vital organs won’t be getting enough blood to work normally. Hot drinks may also cool you down. When you drink hot drinks, a receptor in your tongue tells your brain it’s getting hot. This then causes your body to sweat which will cool you down.”

6. Pack your own Suncream

Whatever the weather, you’ll need to break out the suncream. Even on a cloudy day, the UV rays are strong in the mountains as the light bounces off the surrounding blanket of white snow. Don’t forget to pack your suncream or you’ll be left paying excruciating prices in the ski resort. Before you leave home, take a rummage through your summer beach bag for your sunblock.

7. Save by going green

In recent years there’s been a growth in organisations looking to reduce the environmental impact of the ski industry. The beauty of companies like One Tree at a Time, in The Three Valleys, and Montagne Verte, in Morzine, is that they refurbish ski equipment and resell it at a fraction of the cost. They encourage individuals and companies to hand over excess kit like ski jackets that would otherwise go unused.

Much of this equipment is in great condition having been returned to a brand by a customer because of a faulty zip or used only for one season by a ski instructor. They then fix it up like new and resell it for amazing prices. You can find almost brand new £300 or £400 ski jackets at a fraction of the cost.

8. Repair Your Kit

Jane comments: “Don’t be too quick to throw out your old kit. It’s likely that you can extend its life with a small bit of maintenance. Try some specialist waterproofing spray, available from most ‘outdoor’ shops, on your outwear to keep melting snow out for another year. Need a new zip? Find a local zip repair shop or a seamstress who can replace the fastenings for just a few pounds.”