Skiing in France for Less

[Velimira Velikova]

Skiing on the cheap has always been a serious challenge. When we start booking your holiday and calculate the prices for accommodation, flights, equipment and lift passes, you may well start to wonder whether all this is seriously worthwhile. However,  if you are prepared to make your own travel arrangements, cut the accommodation expenses in half by renting a self-catered ski accommodation, shop around, avoid eating out three times a day and stay in the lesser-known resort, you can still get fantastic ski holiday in France at the best possible rates. For those who need to keep the spend on their ski holiday as low as possible, here are our picks on the French favorite resorts, among the cheaper options.

 

#1. Champagny-en-Vanoise, France

 

A budget back-door into the La Plagne and Paradiski skiing area, linked directly by a cable car. What you miss out on is, basically, the party crowd from the Bacardi commercials and snow at village level.

Apartment — sleeps 4 guests, €14 per person per night (weekly from €383 – high season rates)  

 #2. Cauterets, France

 

A spa town in the Pyrenees with a cable-car that will take you to a 15-lift ski area best suited to beginners and intermediates.

Apartment, sleeps 4 guests – €16 per person per night (weekly from €438 - high season rates)
 

 #3. St-Gervais, France

 

Traditional French spa town linked by gondola and piste to the 110-lift Megeve ski area. From the other side of town you can also ride the Mont Blanc Tramway to get to the top of the neighboring ski area of Les Houches.

Apartment, sleeps 6 guests – €12 per person per night (weekly from €491 - high season rates) 

#4. Les Gets, France

 

Les Gets Ski Resort shares the Portes du Soleil Ski area with famous resorts such as Morzine, Avoriaz, Chatel, Les Crozets and others. Les Gets is an 800 year old farming village with charm and charator throughout. The Skiing in the resort of Les Gets is at world-class, and the lovely village offers good Family Skiing.

Chalet — sleeps 10 guests – €29 per person per night (weekly from €2,082 - high season rates)

#5. Tignes, France

 

Can you still ski the best of the Alps if your budget is tight? The answer is yes. Tignes lies in the better half of one of the world’s best ski areas — the Espace Killy — and offers a vast array of top-class slopes at every level. What’s more, the majority of private ski apartments here offer ski-in, ski-out opportunities – just walk out of the back door, clicked into your skis and take off. Even luxury ski hotels cannot offer that.

Apartment, sleeps 2 – €22 per person per night (weekly from €309 – high season rates) 

 

[David Lawrence]

too late for me to act on this for this winter but I am saving this page url for the fall.