RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

Families could save £3,000 on a ski break by heading to Bulgaria

29th January 2014 Print

Research from M&S Bank reveals that Bulgaria is the best value ski destination this February half term, with a week’s holiday for a family of four costing £6,225. This is £3,000 cheaper than the most expensive destination, Switzerland, at a cost of £9,499.
 
Italy closely follows Bulgaria as the second best value ski destination, costing £6,553 for a family of four. While the USA is the second most expensive destination (£8,149), followed by France (£7,746), both destinations are more than £1,000 cheaper than Switzerland.

Four out of the five ski destinations researched have increased in cost on last year, largely due to a weaker pound and less favourable exchange rates. Prices in France (up £217.47 or 2.89%) and Italy (up £182.70 or 2.87%) are the only two destinations where prices have risen faster than UK inflation.
 
Despite being the most expensive ski destination, prices in Switzerland are largely level on 2013, with a 0.12% (£11.67) increase, mainly due to the stability of the Swiss franc and low rate of inflation.
 
The only ski destination to see a decline in cost compared to last year is the USA, which has gone down over £100 (-1.23%), highlighting the strength of the pound against the dollar.
 
Fraser Millar, Head of Travel Money at M&S Bank, said: “The cost of a ski holiday can quickly add up, especially when taking into account the cost of specialist clothing, equipment hire, and ski passes. However, there’s a significant variation in price between the cheapest and most expensive destinations, so it’s important for families to do their research.
 
“It is worth considering some of the less traditional ski destinations as well as looking at local costs and exchange rates to establish where they’ll get the most for their travel money, which can lead to substantial savings.”
 
Follow Fraser’s travel money tips:

Plan your holiday budget so you know how much your holiday is going to cost and how much travel money you need, remembering to factor in currency to cover taxis, tipping and any extras, even if you’re going half board or all inclusive

Do some research to find out whether tickets for any of the activities you’re planning, such as ski passes, are cheaper if bought in advance

Don’t rely on internet rates if buying travel money in-store, many providers have different rates online and some change their rate throughout the day

Don’t leave your holiday money until the last minute, airport bureaux often offer less competitive rates and may not have a wide variety of note denominations

Always take both travel money and a credit/ debit card, to ensure you’ve got multiple methods of payment