Travel east for the best ski deals

Costs may have tumbled in the USA but bargain-hunting skiers will find the best value by travelling east to Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia, according to the Ski Resort Report by Post Office Travel Services.

Borovets in Bulgaria emerges as the cheapest ski destination, half the price of ski equipment and living costs in the fashionable resort of Vail, Colorado. Romania (Poiana Brasov) and Slovenia (Kranjska Gora) are also significantly cheaper than long established resorts in the big three ski destinations - Switzerland, Austria and France.

But Canada, hit by an 9.5 per cent drop in its dollar value against sterling, was by far the most expensive ski destination of 12 surveyed by the Post Office. At £457.56 for the seven items compared, the resort of Banff was almost three times as expensive as Bulgaria and 27 per cent more than Vail - where the weak dollar has resulted in a price drop of 30 per cent in the past two years.

In the mainstream European market, the survey shows that Italy still offers best value for ski equipment and resort costs - well ahead of traditional favourites Austria, France and Switzerland. Germany, better known as a cross-country ski destination, is also good value this year - one of only two destinations where prices have dropped.

The Post Office found wide variations in the prices charged across Europe. Ski equipment hire varied by around £60 whilst a six day lift pass cost just £82 in Poiana Brasova, Romania but £144 in Soldeu, Andorra - no longer the bargain destination it was a decade ago.

And in its shopping basket of items regularly purchased by skiers, Post Office« Travel Services found the total cost to vary by almost £300.

Despite the cost variations between resorts, Post Office head of travel services Helen Warburton said that price is not the only issue when planning a ski holiday: "It's important for ski holidaymakers to pick a resort that suits their expertise and matches their expectations. Challenging ski runs and resort facilities are more likely to determine choice for experienced skiers, whereas first timers and families will be more concerned about sticking to a budget than about finding black runs. For those people and for bargain hunters, Bulgaria and Romania represent excellent value."