Why is Italy much cheaper than France, Austria or Switzerland?, snowHeads ski forum (2024)

Flights and car hire are often cheaper for Italy than France, but France is usually cheaper for all the other bits.

Also make sure you are comparing like with like - e.g. two similarly sized ski areas.

I'm not sure Italy is "much" cheaper than France. As said above probably depends what you are looking for along with a whole host of other things (e.g. where you are flying from/to can make a big difference).

For somethings and some parts of Italy it is indeed cheeper in Italy, for other things such as accommodation more expensive - have a look how much a room in Wolkenstein will cost during the summer. It's eye watering.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/ski-report

Bardonecchia comes in at 2nd (Italy has 5 resorts in the top 10)

The same as any country "exporting" any commodity, digging coal, oil, gold to ship globally etc. Just that you go to any place of tourism to use the commodity offered, here it's piles of granite/other and covered in snow. Still an infrastructure plus labour and all the elements of payment, direct wages, ongoing social support for workers, extended risk in financing capital expenditure to provide that infrastructure for you to use.
The safe design and ongoing liabilities for those lift etc, training investment of those supply companies along with forward research and development to most effectively supply and update these engineering facilities.

Each country visited for whatever reason is going to have an embedded scale. Are hugely cheap destination (for whichever a chosen leisure activity) able to claim reasonable community support for the people working within it.

I’d be a bit sceptical of a report that reckons a holiday in Les Menuires costs more than the equivalent in Val Thorens or Meribel

All mountains are lovely but the best of the Italian Dolomites surpasses almost all of them. As does the coffee and hot chocolate. And the sheer style of the Italians, who always like to "fare la bella figura".

Austrian accommodation may generally be of a pretty high standard, but the places I've been to it wasn't, but they were budget places and UK operated chalets. You pays your money and takes your choice.

Such a pity that in my experience France has become unnecessarily over-priced, and despite world-class skiing, world class resorts, and top rated pistes/ski areas. Over-price for a simple reason .... greed. France has become the "ski factory" destination. It's now all about numbers, numbers of beds in resort, numbers of lift passes bought, numbers going to ski school, numbers hiring skis, numbers buying beers in bars. IMHO France has lost its cachet (great skiing, close to UK, food, wine, ambiance, varied resorts) of 30 years ago when Meribel/Val/Courche were actually great ski destinations. Now they are just cash cows for international investors staffed by "seasonnaires". Not to mention the "Russki" annexation of Courch 1850.

Austria for the past couple of decades and more has made ground on the French resorts and invested locally in areas like the Arlberg and Tirol to create their own world class skiing destinations that have world class infrastructure, world class ski resorts, and generally being staffed by locals offer a more genuine welcome. Big HOWEVER, the recent investments in Austrian resorts means that prices have jumped, with a knock-on effect, so that in resort prices are less than tempting in places like St Anton/Lech/Kitz.

Italy on the other hand has never sought to compete with the mega-miles of les stations de ski. Brilliant little resorts with their own character and charm stand out for me, especially in the Aosta Valley. Courmayeur - smallish resort with skiing attached in the shadow of Monte Bianco. Great on mountain experience with superb foodie options. Champoluc - interesting and rewarding skiing in Monte Rosa ski area, outstanding accommodations (Frantze Rascard/Hostellerie de Mascognaz), La Thuile - really under-valued ski area Petit St Bernard, great on/off piste skiing. Then there's Cervinia, and Valtournenche/Zermatt. I'm out there in January staying in Valtournenche, treating my self to a Junior Suite with private sauna in Boutique hotel 50 yards from the lifts. Priced at half the amount of something similar in Austria and France for like for like.

*jumps off soap box*

Agreed.
I think in all elements of business you can see examples of where the desire for profit has come to dominate.
Many PLCs exibit this.
The danger comes when there is a disconnect between the service and the investors ... when the drive is overwhelmingly for profit.
The only reason I posted, was the sudden realisation that I had become numb to this 'modus operandi' in large European resorts. I discovered something different elsewhere.
Of course you need money for infrastructure etc ... that's why an appropriate balance is desirable.
There seems to be a big difference between places that have a natural love of their environment and their ski area, who create a healthy, successful business model that doesn't over- exploit either the land or the punters, and resorts where the investors don't care if you are selling skiing or fridges as long as the return is high.

Maybe I'm just too idealistic and naive ... but while they still exist ... I'm going to the places that still seem to care.

Well yes, or put more simply, it's down to skewed exchange rates.

Which is, I suppose, down to the relatively poor economies of many surrounding countries. Blame it on the EU, or the Euro, or whatever. It's not our fault!

This. In the 16 years since we moved out, the price of a decent steak and chips in a modest restaurant in Geneva has barely changed.

And I I am not convinced tht Italy is all that much cheaper in the round. Quality food and wine on the mountain, yes. But that's been the case for a very long time. Accomodation, not so much.

Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 20-12-22 15:11; edited 1 time in total

In general I would say Switzerland is the most expensive and agree this is mostly driven by exchange rates. I have always found it quite good value though as you tend to get higher standards. We ski there a lot but for sure you have to accept it is expensive.

is that for the season?

Oh come on… not half as much fun as on the Swiss side
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cl7wZHmjY7k/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Doesn't say how many children they have. I suspect you can do it much cheaper, likely the TO just don't really run trips there and are outsourcing to someone else and putting their fees on top.

But yes, I'm amazed at how much people spend on family trips. Even with the increased prices I'd easily do 2 months, perhaps even 3, in BC for 2800euro. But I'm a solo ski bum happy to take all the cheapest options.

I'd say you are a little idealistic and naive. Spent summer working in Central Asia, and Autumn in Nepal. While many westerners were amazed at relative value for money, the markups were actually greater than Europe. Perhaps there are some family owned guesthouses that want to offer good value for money, but I'm sure even they know what they can charge and how much profit they can realistically get away with.

Possibly a trip to Chez Vrony is in order, but that's going to add 200 Euros to the lift passes for 2.

BTW, ... loved the hahahaboys.

Same with Selva, Wolkenstein etc for those punters.

In reality consumers really take what is on offer and most of Italy and Austria is not on “offer” to Brits due to marketing and established players.

Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 20-12-22 19:42; edited 1 time in total

You need resorts that cover all budgets & Aosta valley has that.

TBH, with 2x young kids, there is no need to pay more.
Some people like big areas to clock up KMs & not run the same piste twice. Not me. If I find a piste I like, then I will happily do a few laps on it.

It is also a proper village & not a built to order resort, So as non skiers you have the opportunity to wonder around the town. Plus it is modestly prices where you wont be paying €7 for a beer!
There are not many places like that in France at the budget end. Val Cenis & Valloire jump out at the cheaper end - but getting there is another story due to difficulty/expense in transfers.

Crystal only bother with a small selection of resorts. If you can DIY a trip, then you can save a fair whack. Probably €500 off your original booking is quite easy to achieve if you know where to look & lock in cheap flights early!

Austria has lots of options. Most resorts are low level villages, so easy to get around on foot. It is well served by public transport if you dont mind taking a train/bus.
However it can be more expensive in equipment hire, lessons, lift pass, etc.

From Bardonecchia you can try other resorts for around the same cost of living. La Thuile, Sesterie, Saux d olux, etc. as the kids progress and outgrow Bardonecchia

Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Wed 21-12-22 8:04; edited 1 time in total