For decent value on the slopes, experience tells us that we should head to Bulgaria – to the likes of Borovets and Bansko, renowned for their budget-friendly hotels and après ski. But not necessarily anymore, says the Post Office: Italy now tops its table of Europe’s cheapest ski spots, namely the resort of Bardonecchia, on the border with France about an hour west of Turin.
Visiting in winter yields fewer crowds and a more intimate, cozy experience, but also offers activities that showcase the country’s natural beauty and culture.
The French don’t call British skiers “Le Rosbif” for nothing. When it comes to ski holidays, just like our roast dinners, we know what we like. For a long time, that has involved choosing the same ski resorts year in and year out. But after a wallet-squeezing couple of years, increasingly unpredictable snow conditions and a desire to avoid long lift queues, skiers are looking for alternative resorts away from the tried-and-tested favourites.
An hour after taking the 8.15am train out of Bergen I was hopping onto the platform at Voss, my train carriage equidistant from the Scandic Hotel, where I would be spending the night, and the cable car that would whisk me up to the resort’s slopes.