What does skiing cost? The sum made up!
From my own experience as a snowboarder and skiër
Hey there, fellow winter sports enthusiast! It’s great to see you’ve landed on my blog about everything regarding the costs of winter sports. Because what does something like that actually cost? And what should you consider if you want to go on a winter sports holiday with children? I’m going to tell you all about it below and divide it into several different parts. The lift pass and accommodation, your equipment, food and drinks, and ski & snowboard lessons. So after reading this information, you’ll have a clearer picture of what to expect when you head to the beautiful white slopes!
Lift pass and accommodation, the basics
Let’s get straight to the point: winter sports are a fantastic way to vacation, but they come with a price tag. The starting point of your trip begins with lift passes and accommodation. The costs of a lift pass vary greatly depending on the ski area and the duration of your stay. An adult should expect to pay €40 to €80 per day, and children about half of that. Taking Solden in Austria as an example, the ski pass here costs €417.50 for 6 days of skiing. This is one of the better ski areas, so the price is higher, but it gives you an idea. Accommodation prices also vary, from cozy mountain huts to luxury chalets, and can range from €100 to €300 per night, depending on the location and type of accommodation. Be sure to check out providers like Sunweb. These companies often offer package deals where the lift pass is included with the accommodation. This usually makes the costs much more attractive.
Equipment - quality comes at a price
When it comes to the equipment you wear, you’ll need the following components:
- Jacket €80-€300
- Trousers €80-€300
- Gloves €20-€80
- Helmet €40-€20
- Ski/snowboard base layers or thermals €20-€60
- Ski/snowboard boots €150-€400
- Skis/snowboard €300-€800
- Ski poles €20-€60
- Optional: backpack €20-€60
The above is an estimate of how the costs for your equipment can add up. It’s indeed a significant amount to pay all at once. That’s why many people choose to rent their ski/snowboard gear the first few times they go on a winter sports holiday. For perspective, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria, you can rent a complete set of skis/boots and poles for a week for €125. For children, it’s half that price, €65. So if you’re going for the first time and you’re not sure if winter sports is for you, it’s a good idea to rent your skis or snowboard initially. Then you can see if it’s right for you. However, in the long term, it’s interesting to have your own equipment. Typically, you’ll break even after about four rentals, and the gear lasts much longer since you usually use it only one or two weeks per year.
As expensive as you want with food and après-ski.
While food might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of winter sports, your stomach will certainly remind you after a day on the slopes. Dining options on the mountain vary widely, and the rule of thumb is that the higher you go on the slopes, the more expensive it gets. This is due to the costs for the restaurant to transport resources up the mountain. The higher the restaurant, the longer it takes and the more it costs. Expect to pay around €20 to €30 for a meal on the slopes, depending on what you eat, of course. It can also be very convenient to choose accommodation right by the slopes. This way, you can, for example, have a sandwich for lunch there instead of having to go back out on the slopes. And let’s not forget about après-ski. This is, of course, a wonderful thing, and especially if you’re in Austria, it’s highly recommended to experience it regularly. A beer in the après-ski costs around €3.50 at the time of writing, and a schnapps (local shot of liquor) costs around €2.20-2.50. So, if you and your friends indulge a bit, this can quickly become quite an expensive hobby. Keep this in mind when you go to Austria!
Ski and snowboard lessons
Don’t forget that you may need to add extra costs for ski lessons, snowboard lessons, or guides if you want to improve your skills or explore the mountains with more confidence. These costs can vary widely, but expect to pay around €50 to €100 for group lessons per day. It’s important to mention that I highly recommend everyone to take some lessons if you’re still at the beginning of your winter sports career. When I started snowboarding at the age of 6, it brought me tremendous benefits, and the techniques I learned then still help me a lot today. So, it’s really worth it, even though it’s an additional investment on top of the already quite expensive winter sports.
What does a family skiing trip cost?
You now have insight into the cost per person for skiing. You can divide all the costs for an adult by 2 for a child, and then you’ll roughly get the total amount you’ll spend for a skiing trip. Generally, a week of skiing costs around 600 euros per person. So, if you’re going with a family of 4, you should budget around 2400 euros in total for a week of skiing. Keep in mind that this is an average. It can be cheaper or more expensive. For instance, I’ve once gone off-season for only 300 euros. It all depends on how extravagant you want to make it! So, when booking your skiing trip, check out various providers online first. You’ll be surprised by the differences in offers and especially the differences in prices.
The balance between the perfect vacation and your wallet
With this blog at hand, you can now put together a realistic budget for your winter sports adventure. While the costs can be significant, it’s important to realize that you’re investing in moments of fun, challenge, and growth. Remember that passion and wise money management can intersect, allowing you to conquer the mountain while also achieving your financial goals. So, prepare yourself for a wintery experience and just go skiing! You certainly won’t regret it.
How much did your skiing trip cost?
And so we conclude the cost forecast for the ski trip. Have you been on a ski trip yourself and found that your cost estimate was very different? Or do you perhaps have tips to reduce costs while skiing? Please let us know in the comments below this blog! I learn from your tips and I’m happy to add new and additional information to the text. Thanks in advance for your effort and for sharing your thoughts!