Long weekend ski breaks are surging in popularity as Britons flock to Europe’s slopes – but are back at their desks by Monday.
Travel companies are reporting a rise in the number of Alpine warriors who are heading to the mountains for a quick weekend getaway.
Many catch the first flight out on Thursday, or perhaps Friday, and are on the slopes by lunchtime.
The biggest ski company in the UK, Crystal Ski Holidays, has recently introduced a new range of flexible mountain getaways for those wanting a shorter trip.
Keen skiers can now nip to France, Austria, Bulgaria, Norway and Switzerland for three or four nights with flights, transfers and accommodation all included.
A spokesperson for Crystal Ski Holidays told The Times: ‘While customers are still opting for seven-night holiday packages, shorter duration breaks are performing well and attracting interest from new customers.’
‘This new programme not only makes more accessible but also provides an appealing option for seasoned skiers who may prefer to book multiple winter trips throughout the season,’ the spokesperson added.
Crystal Ski Holidays said their bookings for short breaks are up ten percent year- on-year since the pandemic.
Long weekend ski breaks are surging in popularity as Britons flock to Europe’s slopes – but are back at their desks by Monday (stock photo)
Pictured: Zermatt – the most expensive ski resort (£1,346) in Switzerland
Travel companies are reporting a rise in the number of Alpine warriors who are heading to the mountains for a quick weekend getaway (stock photo)
Meanwhile, another ski holiday operator Heidi, not ed a 58 per cent rise in long weekend ski trip bookings over the past year.
The surge in popularity for weekend ski trips comes as Britons have started to loosen their purse strings now mortgage rates have settled.
According to the Ski Club of Great Britain’s latest consumer research 21 per cent of skiers went away for four nights or fewer last season.
This is compared to just 14 per cent who took a trip of the same length during the 2022-23 winter.
It comes as the best and worst places to go skiing for this season have been revealed with Bardonecchia in Italy, the cheapest for the second year running.
Bardonecchia has been rated best value for adult skiing in the Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort Report 2025, well ahead of its nearest rival, Borovets in Bulgaria.
The most expensive resort, the study reveals, is Zermatt in Switzerland, once again.
The ranking, produced in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays, was compiled by comparing the total cost across 36 resorts of a basket of essentials – a six-day ski pass and ski/boot hire for one person, plus ski school (five to six half days), and a range of drinks and lunch on the slopes.
The total for Bardonecchia is £543 per person (a rise of 1.5 per cent), with the total in second-place Borovets coming to £563.
The best and worst value places to go skiing in Europe for the 2024/25 season have been revealed – and it’s Bardonecchia (above) in Italy that’s cheapest for the second year running
An aerial winter view of Rila Mountain near ski resort of Borovets, Sofia Region, Bulgaria
Bardonecchia is one of six Italian ski resorts to feature in the best-value top ten for adult skiers.
The others are Livigno (fourth, £637), Sauze (fifth, £664), Sestriere (sixth, £709), La Thuile (seventh, £723) and Cervinia (10th, £739).
Past best-value holder Bansko comes third (£573), up from sixth last season.
Post Office Travel Money notes that Norway is an ‘unexpected destination to feature in the adult top 10 ski resorts’, thanks to ‘competitive pricing for ski passes, equipment hire and tuition’.
Norefjell in Norway’s Scandes Mountain range is the only new entrant to the adult ski top ten, rising to ninth place from 14th last year on the back of a 2.6 per cent fall in costs to £739, the report explains.
Cost-conscious skiers could also consider resorts in Andorra and Spain, the study suggests, explaining that the Spanish resort of Baquiera Beret has retained its place in the adult ski top ten in eighth place, although prices have risen by 4.9 per cent to £738.
There are no top-ten places for French or Austrian ski resorts.
Le Corbier is highest placed in the adult table in 11th position, but prices in the French resort have risen by 9.9 per cent to £744, the most significant increase recorded for adult skiers, according to Post Office Travel Money.
Ellmau (12th, £752) offers the lowest prices of the nine Austrian resorts surveyed.
At the other end of the table, Zermatt is ranked priciest thanks to a ski basket total of £1,346, with the Swiss resort of Wengen just behind in 35th place (£1,308).
