Can You Ski Resorts Like Cervinia, Mayrhofen or Sauze d’Oulx on a Budget?
The Top Ten Ski Resorts Lists are always full of the usual suspects, and for good reason. The terrain offers something for everyone, from beginner skier to advanced level. Then there’s the activities for non-skiers. The best ski resorts offer activities, après and off-piste fun for everyone. But often, they’ve got price tags to match, especially if you stay in the centre of town.
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But by staying in smaller, neighbouring resorts that still have access to the same ski areas, you can ski Europe’s top resorts, without the hefty price tag.
Here are our top tips for accessing the biggest ski areas without paying the highest prices. By swerving the most famous resorts, you get quieter lift lines, lower prices and often, a more authentic experience.
Zermatt – Cervinia – Valtournenche (Italy)
I’d always recommend staying in Cervinia over Zermatt. The price difference is huge, but the ski area is the same. You’ll notice even when you stop for lunch which country you’re in based on if you leave feeling like you’ve had a reasonably priced meal, or if you’re crying.
For even cheaper costs, stay ten minutes down the Italian valley in Valtournenche. You might be pushed for time exploring all of the Zermatt side from there, but there are 100s of kms of pistes and it’s a million times cheaper than the Swiss resort over the other side of the Matterhorn.
Val d’Isere – La Daille (France)
The French care so little about La Daille, they put a logo over half of it on the piste map. There is next to nothing going on here, and there’s not a night bus to get you home if you do stay late in Val d’Isere and I wouldn’t recommend the 30-40 minute walk. But, if you’re happy to get back to your apartment immediately after your final run of the day home from Folie, La Daille is a cheaper option than the town centre, and most of the accommodation down that end of town is self-catered apartments or budget hotels.
Saalbach – Fieberbrunn (Austria)
Everyone loves the Saalbach ski area and, as a resort, it’s not too pricey. But, to cut costs further, it’s a fairly quick ski over from Fieberbrunn if you’re happy with red runs. It’s well signposted so you’ll always know which way you’re going, but you will need to be quick if you want to cover the whole area without relying on a bus home from the other side of the mountain.
Sauze d’Oulx – Jouvenceaux (Italy)
A few turns before the road reaches the Sauze town itself, Jouvenceaux has some great hotels and a lift straight up into the Via Lattea ski area. Added bonus, because the centre of Sauze d’Oulx doesn’t allow coaches, you won’t have to drag your ski bag for 10 minutes from the coach park if you stay slightly out of resort. At the start and end of the season, the home run can be closed due to lack to snow. But if you’re going during peak season, it’s a great place to find a hotel on a budget.
Bonus Points for staying at The Hideaway Holiday Apartments just below Jovenceaux.
Mayrhofen – Hippach (Austria)
The Horbergbahn will link you up straight away with the main Mayrhofen ski area, but you’re even closer to the Zillertal arena and Kaltenbach, too. A lot of people don’t bother going further down the valley if they’re only on holiday for a week, but it’s well worth it.
