The insiders' guide to affordable ski: From Megeve, France to Åre, Sweden
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Think skiing and you’ll probably picture the millionaire’s playground that is the Alps. Take Courchevel 1850 — part of the exclusive 3 Valleys ski area — where you can fly onto the private airstrip off the piste, ride an Hermés horse-drawn carriage at the hotel Airelles and shop at Chanel in your ski boots. I once spent 30 euros on a crepe and a soft drink there. And if you didn’t go to the type of school that hosted annual ski trips, it can be easy to think that this is an exclusive world that doesn’t belong to you. However so long as you pick the right resort and take advantage of a wave of new apps or organised trips, it is possible to take a 0 off of your total bill, without sacrificing on style (or the volume of melted cheese consumed).
Remember, it’s never too late to learn from scratch. I first set foot in ski boots in my late 20s, taught by my now husband, who didn’t grow up visiting the slopes either, but was hooked after embarking on a five-month ski season aged 21. Thanks to my new hobby I no longer dread winter, and have been surprised by how meditative I find a week in the mountains — focusing on your next turn quietens all other thoughts and screen time instantly plummets.
I’m not the only one discovering the joy of winter sports as an adult — there is a wave of communities and groups that are working hard to make skiing more accessible, affordable and remove some of the snobbery that surrounds it. Organised trips can also be a great option for novices, with a set cost outlined for the entire week — Mount Noire (a travel community dedicated to increasing diversity in winter sports) organises a luxury trip to Morzine for £2,599 and a more budget-friendly trip to Bankso for £1,116. While Gals Who Travel offers several female-only trips a season, with a week trip to Andorra in Spain from £1,495.
