Winter sports are often associated with glamourous resorts, glitzy gear and expensive ski passes. But for most people, the joys of a day on the slopes are much less pretentious: feeling the fresh, cold wind on your face, taking in the breathtaking views and enjoying the adrenaline rush of mostly-controlled gliding.
Booking.com compared pricing data for over 300 destinations that travelers endorse the most for ‘downhill skiing’, to present some of the best places and most affordable times to go. Whether a beginner looking for a friendly fur-lined mountain village with good après ski, or a pro looking for the longest stretch of slopes to schuss down, there are affordable options for everyone.
Niseko, Japan
Recent Booking.com research reveals that more than half (52%) of travelers are seeking new experiences as opposed to material possessions. That being said, get ready for the experience of a lifetime in Niseko! Famous around the world for its abundance of powder snow, this hot spot caters to every level of skier. It also offers amazing views on Mt. Yōtei, also known as Yezo Fuji for its resemblance to Japan’s highest mountain. While the resort is still lively in the shoulder season (February and March), lift prices drop and accommodation is roughly 50% more affordable in mid-March than during the most expensive part of the season, in mid to late December.
Solden, Austria
Solden is so scenic that it was featured as the backdrop to the 24th James Bond movie, and its legendary Rettenbach Glacier has for years been the kick-off location for the Alpine Ski World Cup. However, what a lot of people don’t realize is that the skiing season starts earlier, in mid-November, for non-professional skiers as well. Accommodation prices in late November and early December are around 40% more affordable than the peak of the winter season in January.
Kopaonik, Serbia
Kopaonik is the largest ski resort in Serbia, and even in Southeast Europe. The resort includes about 55 km of runs for alpine skiing and 12 km of runs for cross country skiing. The official opening of the ski season is the first week of December, and prices in the first two weeks of December are between 40% – 50% more affordable than when the season is in full swing in January.
Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Czech Republic
According to a Booking.com survey, 55% of Canadian travelers would consider taking a trip in order to learn a new skill. So why not learn to ski? Rokytnice (pronounce “ro-keet-neet-se”) is a great place for beginner skiers due to the wide slopes and moderate inclines. The wider area of the Krkonoše Mountains (Giant Mountains) is particularly popular with cross-country skiers, as all the resorts and municipalities work together to regularly groom a combined 600 kilometers of signposted trails. Although skiing in the Czech Republic is relatively affordable in the first place, prices are around 40 percent more affordable in early March.
Killington, Vermont, USA
As the largest ski resort in the eastern part of the US, Killington is known as the “Beast of the East” and is the birthplace of the once revolutionary “ticket wicket”. As such, it is an established name for winter sports. The resort usually opens in November or even as early as the end of October, depending on weather conditions. Lift availability will vary depending on the amount of snowfall, but prices can be 50% more affordable all the way up until mid-December.
Stoneham, Canada
If you’re part of the 38% of Canadian travelers who seek to take more weekend trips, Stoneham is less than half an hour from Quebec City and makes the perfect, quick getaway. Set in the stunning nature of the Laurentian Mountains, you’ll be able to indulge not just the great ski, but Quebec’s rich and nourishing cuisine – perfect for after a long day on the slopes. The lifts open in late November and some great discounts can be found in early December, with prices around 40 percent more affordable at the beginning of the season than in the end of December or early January.
