Bulgaria is best for bargain-hunting skiers, according to a winter sports price comparison table.
Switzerland has the highest prices among the European resorts surveyed by the British Post Office’s travel money section.
The survey showed that, based on ski prices and the cost of living in ski resorts, the best-value break was in Bansko, Bulgaria.
Lift passes, equipment hire and instruction on a six-day trip to Bansko totalled€1,139, while the cost of basic items such as a cup of coffee, a family meal and drinks came to €32.75.
This overall total of €1,172 was less than half that for Wengen in Switzerland (€2,356) and very much less than the most expensive resort in the survey – Winter Park in Colorado, US, where the total cost was €3,086.
Overall, ski resort prices in Europe and North America have risen by 15 per cent since last year, the Post Office said.
After Bansko, the next-best bargain resort was Kranjska Gora in Slovenia (€1, 287), followed by Ellmau in Austria (€1, 611).
Almost as expensive as Winter Park was Fernie in British Colombia, Canada (€2,723).
Post Office travel money head Sarah Munro said: “Families who want to save money should look hard at exchange rates before booking their skiing trip.
“For example, sterling’s weakness will make Swiss ski trips an expensive choice this year, compared with its main competitors, France, Austria and Italy, where the euro’s value has dipped.” She went on: “Although resort prices have risen across the board this year, there is still good value to be found if parents plan trips carefully.
“Resort-switching to cheaper options like Bansko or Kranjska Gora, which have benefited from heavy investment in ski facilities, can have a massively beneficial impact on the family purse.”
Resort cost
The total costs of ski prices and basic commodities at the 10 resorts surveyed are:
1. Bansko, Bulgaria €1,172
2.Kranjska Gora, Slovenia €1,287
3. Ellmau, Austria €1,611
4.Baqueira-Beret, Spain €1,857
5. Soldeu, Andorra €1,860
6. Les Menuires, France €1,965
7. Selva, Italy €2,165
8. Wengen, Switzerland €2,357
9. Fernie, Canada €2,724
10. Winter Park, US €3,086