Produced in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays, this year’s report by the UK’s leading provider of foreign currency has found that prices are down in three-quarters of the 22 European resorts surveyed¹.

One of the resorts where prices have plunged since last winter is Kranjska Gora, which emerges as cheapest in the Post Office Ski Resort Report for the first time². While prices for ski equipment, lift passes, ski school, meals and drinks have dropped six per cent to £325, the low cost of ski tuition – under half that in nine other resorts – was the key factor enabling the Slovenian resort to power past Bulgaria’s Bansko (£352), a six time winner in the annual report.

Bansko was pushed into third place by runner-up Bardonecchia (£347), a new inclusion in the cost comparison of resorts rated among the most popular with UK skiers.  Not only is this the highest position ever achieved by an Italian resort, but three others – Sestriere (£410, 5^th), Cervinia (£443, 7^th) and La Thuile (£454, 10^th) feature in the best value top 10 as well.  This signals a strong challenge to Eastern Europe from one of the ‘Big Four’ ski countries (Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland).

With prices down two per cent, Sestriere was also easily the best value of nine world class resorts surveyed for the report (Cervinia, Selva Val Gardena, Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Kitzbühel, St Anton, Wengen and Zermatt).  UK skiers choosing Zermatt (£839) can expect to pay over twice as much.  But, although Swiss resorts – also including Wengen (£712) and Saas Fee (£688) - were again the most expensive in Europe, Crystal researchers found price falls of five-six per cent.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Moneysaid: “With increasing pressure on the pocket, resort costs will be a key factor in determining where to ski this year.  Prices are down in most resorts but the best savings to be struck are where the improved exchange rate combines with falling local prices.  This makes Kranjska Gora a great bet for a bargain ski break – but there’s a great choice of low cost Italian resorts and price falls in France are greater than in other destinations.  The clear message is to do your homework before booking this year’s ski trip.”

The biggest price fall has been in fourth-placed Morzine, the only French resort of five surveyed to make it into the top 10.  At £400, prices have plummeted 13 per cent since last season.  Overall, France is the ski destination to register the biggest drop in costs: Les Deux Alpes (£462) down 11 per cent, Serre Chevalier (£470) down 9.3 per cent and Val d’Isère (£606) down 7.6 per cent.

By contrast, the report reveals that UK skiers visiting some popular Austrian resorts face increased costs.  The biggest rise is in Ellmau – up 4.5 per cent to £432, pushing the Tyrolean resort down to sixth place from fifth a year ago.  There have also been small rises of 3.2 per cent in Kaprun (£588) and 2.7 per cent in Kitzbühel (£647).     Set against this, skiers can expect to pay marginally less (1 per cent) in both Mayrhofen (£499) and St Anton (£676).

In North America the price gap has widened between Canadian and US ski resorts. Even though sterling has risen against the US dollar in recent weeks and is around five per cent stronger year-on-year, increases in local prices made the US ski resorts surveyed more expensive than their Canadian competitors.  Canada’s Banff (£807) was best value of six transatlantic ski resorts, followed by Whistler (£954) and Tremblant (£967). The US prices were almost £500 higher: Breckenridge (£1,418), Park City (£1,426) and Vail (£1,431).

Chris Logan, Crystal Ski Holidays Managing Director, said: “It is great news that prices faced by skiers will be lower than last year in so many resorts.  France and Italy are already in hot demand this season and we expect this to strengthen when savvy skiers check out prices and find they can pay less if they pick resorts like Morzine or Sestriere, where both prices and snow are likely to be falling!  There are other ways to reduce costs including pre-booking ski passes and equipment at a discounted price.”   

Andrew Brownsaid: “Once the ski trip is booked, it is crucial to plan carefully to ensure the ski budget does not go ‘off piste’.  Take enough foreign currency to cover all the costs you are likely to incur in addition to ski passes and equipment but avoid wasting cash through last minute airport currency purchases.  Once abroad, paying on plastic can incur transaction charges so consider carrying cash on a prepaid Travel Money Card which avoids this pitfall.”

Further details of our barometer can be found by visiting www.postoffice.co.uk/skireport2017

Skiers can purchase euros over the counter at more than 10,000 Post Office branches while over 4,000 stock US dollars.  Both currencies can also be ordered online at postoffice.co.uk for same day ‘click and collect’ at almost 3,000 branches, next day collection at any branch or for home delivery.  Currencies for the other Ski Resort Report destinations - Swiss francs, Canadian dollars and Bulgarian lev - are available on demand at over 1,600 branches or online at postoffice.co.uk, where travel insurance policies suitable for ski trips are also available.