Why You Should Skip the American Rockies and Ski the European Alps!

 

Skiing is an expensive sport.  I’ve been skiing since before I could remember, but my family almost always did so within the U.S. So when I studied abroad in Switzerland and got to ski the Alps, I was shocked to find it was actually more budget-friendly there than skiing in the U.S.!

Skiing the Alps always seemed like a distant dream. When I moved to Switzerland I feared that for the first time in my life I wouldn’t be able to ski because it would be too expensive in the Alps.

I was wrong.

Because…lift tickets in Europe are WAY less expensive than in the U.S.!!!

For example, my absolute favorite ski area to this day is in Zermatt, Switzerland. The place is massive, and after three days there I barely had the time to ski all the runs on the Swiss side. And I didn’t even get the chance to venture out to the Italian side of the ski area (Zermatt’s ski area lies on the Swiss-Italian border, so it’s possible to cross over to the Italian side for an extra fee).

It’s also definitely the most beautiful place I’ve ever skied at, with the famous Matterhorn mountain looming over the town of Zermatt and following you on your ski runs.

[Fun Fact: Matterhorn is the mountain featured on the Toblerone chocolate package!]

All around you is the endless expanse of breathtaking, jagged, snow covered mountains crowding the horizon for as far as the eye could see, even from the highest peaks. Also, parts of the mountain are actually a glacier. How cool is it to say that you skied on a glacier next to the Toblerone mountain!?

Another beautiful place to ski in Switzerland is Verbier, with similarly gorgeous mountain views and a day lift ticket is $72. This is a far cry cheaper than the $209 day lift ticket at Vail.

If I’ve convinced you to ski Switzerland, make sure to check out my tips for traveling Switzerland on a budget.

 

I also skied the Alps in Austria (I recommend St. Anton am Arlberg and Stubai Glacier, both close to Innsbruck) and France (Chamonix is only a $20 one hour bus ride away from Geneva Airport).

All these places are really easily accessible without a car.

Just fly in to Innsbruck or Geneva, and then take a cheap bus ride to your pick of a wide array of ski areas, all of which absolutely gorgeous.

And with more budget airlines gaining popularity, you will probably be able to find a cheap flight ticket out to Europe.

Accommodation can also be dirt cheap in the Alps if you play it right, too.

I stayed at an AirBnB in Innsbruck and in a hostel in Chamonix and Zermatt. All were super cheap and I was happy with all of them. The hostel in Chamonix even had a hot tub and sauna to enjoy after a long day of skiing!

So even if you can’t find a buddy to go skiing with you, you can’t use the excuse that it’s too expensive to go skiing alone in the Alps. It’s totally doable, even for a poor college student like I was!

Ski rental prices aren’t too bad either.

And the equipment was really good quality compared to what I was used to seeing in the U.S.

This means you won’t have to worry about lugging your ski gear with you or paying extra baggage fees on the plane.

I rented with Intersport since they had rentals everywhere I was skiing in Alps. The prices vary based on the locations and whether you want more premium equipment (which I opted for and recommend if you’re a more intermediate to advanced skier). But all of the prices were very affordable.

I also recommend booking online in advance, as I got an extra discount for doing so.

So to break it down:

Why should you pay extra to make the flight out to Europe for your next ski trip destination?

Because:

1. You will be saving on lift tickets (so it might come out to the same price or even cheaper than if you went skiing in the U.S.)

2. You will get views that are only possible to see in the Alps (and much more impressive from anything you’ll find in the U.S.)

3. You will get amazing skiing in, regardless of your skill level.

4. The Alps are much more massive and have higher elevation than mountains in the U.S. (this means better chance of snow, longer pistes and more terrain to ski on!)

5. And you will have an unforgettable adventure that you won’t regret going on!

I mean, come on—just look at this view!

Have I got you convinced to ski the Alps next year? Then make sure to book your flight today! Seems too soon? The earlier you book a flight, the better deal you’ll get!