Where to ski for cheap: Eastern Europe

In some countries, the holiday season is highlighted by snow. Ushering in the festive season, snow makes the celebrations complete and sets the mood for some adventure-filled activities. Children, and even the young at heart, enjoy snow fights every now and then. There is also sled-riding and of course, skiing.

For the seasoned skiers, skiing is one great source of adrenaline rush. The slide down the slopes that starts slowly before gradually increasing is an experience that makes them appreciate the snow more. As such, more people, ski enthusiasts especially, make trips to ski spots and travel destinations like the Swiss and Austrian Alps yearly to experience the snow and the slopes.



These ski holidays are costly by far and with the recession, more and more people are in search of cheaper travel destinations to spend the holidays in. Where can you find a cheap ski holiday this winter? Try Eastern Europe and you might just get a great holiday experience minus the high cost.

The mountains in Eastern Europe may not be similar with those of the Swiss and the Austrian Alps but there are tourist attractions that offer equal fun for a much lower rate. More and more people are booking for a skiing holiday in places like Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania for the coming winter. These are the top three ski resorts in Eastern Europe that offer cheaper rates and all-day passes. Of course, there are others in the area that offer great deals which you might also want to check.

A ski holiday for one week in Europe this winter can only cost less than £300. What’s more, skiing, ski hire, dinner, and drinks are also included in the package. This is truly one great deal that is worth grabbing! You can avail these great offers in popular ski destinations and now popular travel attractions like Poiana Brasov in Romania, Bansko in Bulgaria, and Kanin in Slovenia.

Poiana Brasov in Romania is extremely popular among tourists from Switzerland, Germany, and France. With its summits fully accessible by car, bus, and shuttle, visitors will not have the need to travel far to look for a spot to ski. Nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels abound the area, providing the guests further entertainment to cap off their night.

A lift ticket in Poiana Brasova is usually estimated to 110lei/day (£22) while the ski rental is 45 lei/day (£9). Hotel accommodations are also cheap from €40/night (£30). In January, airfare flights are around £49. Locals advice tourists to avoid the weekends for it can get crowded during those days.

Bansko in Bulgaria lies between three mountains. Rhodopes is situated on the east, Pirin on the west, and Rila is on the north. Closest to the city is Pirin but a trek to the other two proves to be something worthwhile as well with a stop at Mt. Todorka with 2756m peak. Lift ticket in the area ranges from €28 per day (£24) to €159 for six days (£137). Ski rental comes cheaply at €36/day (£31) while accommodation doubles starting from €30/night (£26). Airfare rate when travelling in January costs £50. the most challenging slope in the area, which is 16km of uninterrupted descent, can be found from Todorka Peak to the Bansko lift station.

For those who are into more adventure, Bovec and Kanin offer 2000m slopes for skiing. A view of the Soča River Valley, the Alps, and the Adriatic Sea are visible as one speeds downwards. The area has 300km of slopes with 8 lifts to take you to the top. A very interesting feature of the place is that it offers people a chance to ski in three different slopes. There are 5 ski resorts in the Bovec and Kanin region with Sella Nevea and Tarvisio in Italy being the more popular ones, Amoldstein in Austria, and Kanin in Slovenia.

Lift tickets are sold at €28 (£24) per day, with discounts available. The ski rental is worth €20/day (£17) while accommodations double starting from €27.50/night (£24). For the airfare, rates start from £74 for travel in January.