In Europe, skiing is cheaper than in the United States – here’s how to make it more affordable using your perspective and miles

The views and snow themselves are fascinating from the high altitudes of the French Alps, and when you enter it they gently lie on your back and grab the skis.

This is the beauty of European skiing: the epic scenery and delicious conditions are complemented by delicious food and a welcoming hotel – which are what many skiers think is more affordable than traveling to make travelers return to the United States.

And major ski brands are paying attention. This year, Ikon Pass added five neo-mountain ranges in the Valle d’Aosta region of the Italian Alps as well as the Austrian ski resorts and the ISCHGL’s Austrian ski resorts, expanding access to small countries that have provided Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Switzerland and the Andorra in the eastern Bilinas Mountains. Similarly, Indy Pass has added more than a dozen new European resorts, including in Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Slovenia and beyond.

Vail Resorts also added a handful of Austrian mountains to the epic pass for the 2025-2026 season. The company offers unlimited access to two resorts in Switzerland and offers up to a week for several others in Switzerland, Italy, France and Austria.

“The dynamics in the European skiing industry are certainly different from North America, and as we expand the impact of our presence there, we focus on listening and learning because it relates to every aspect of the guest experience,” Laura Bonfiglio, director of global media relations at Vail Resorts, told TPG. “Currently, the pricing model in Europe is different. That said, the beauty of the epic pass is that it makes skiing and riding at home and traveling abroad easier.”

Here is what travelers need to know about planning a ski trip to Europe, from getting lift tickets and booking hotels, which airports to which skiers expect along the way are cooler benefits.

Related: Why Flying to Skiing May Be Cheaper

Knowledge about elevator tickets

Skiing in Europe ends up being cheaper than almost anywhere in North America, mainly due to the cost of elevators. Epic passes, Ikon Pass, Indy Pass and The Mountain Collective offer multiple passes to various resorts across popular mountains such as Dolomiti Superski in Italy, St. St. Moritz and Crans-Montana in Switzerland, France’s Chamonix, and more.

Passes for these seasons can be as high as $1,000, which may make sense if you plan to ski in multiple locations in the U.S. or abroad. But while the daily lift pass in the popular West Coast Mountains might get you back a few hundred dollars, it is much cheaper in Europe.

For example, the one-day weightlifting pass held in Tignes and Val d’Isere in France is just 75 euros ($88) in the adult season in winter, while the one-day pass for adults is the one-day pass for the Les 3 Vallees, the world’s largest ski resort, with a price of only 81.80 euros ($96) ($96) – still less than $100. Switzerland tends to be a little more expensive, but for example, the one-day pass for Zermatt still starts at 88 Swiss francs ($110).

Rent is cheap, too. For example, in Val d’Asere, in several stores, travelers can rent skis and boots ($59) for about €50.

Outside of Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland, travelers can also plan to travel to several other European countries, including Finland, Norway and Georgia.

Where to live

There are many great hotels on European ski resorts, and loyal travelers can earn money and redeem points.

Members of the Marriott Hotel should consider accommodation in W Verbier. The property has 123 rooms and suites, each with its own fireplace, just a few steps from the Swiss ski resort. The property starts at $1,403 or 162,000 million times and is available for accommodation in January each night.

A reward for fans of IHG can indulge in the six senses of Crans-Montana, which has ski, ski-range access and mountain aesthetics and comes with natural materials such as quartz rock, local larch and oak forests, oak forests and slate roofs. Rooms start at $1,476 or 221,000 IHG, with one bonus point per night for accommodation in January and is part of the editors of Chase Travel, which offers stipends like daily breakfast, property credit and room upgrades.

Although both are expensive cash rates, if you use points, your income is reliable based on TPG’s September 2025 Bonvoy and IHG valuations.

In Switzerland, travelers can book properties using the world of Hyatt Points and all hotels (ME and all hotels). The hotel offers skiing, ski access and moody modern design and is a category 5 hotel. Prices for January are $304 or 23,000 per night.

Hilton Honors fans will appreciate the comfort and convenience of Hilton Garden Inn in Davos, Switzerland. Rooms there include a balcony with views of the Alps, while the hotel has a wellness area with a sauna and steam bath for perfect post-ski recovery. The price for a stay in January is USD 213 or 60,000 per night.

Travelers who are reluctant to plan all the small details and prefer to book everything in packaging should consider Club Med, which operates a large number of all-inclusive ski resorts in the Alps in France, Switzerland and Italy. Accommodation on these properties usually includes lift tickets, group skiing classes, children’s classes and programming, and of course all the food and drinks (as there is what will happen every day on the hillside without Apres?).

Related: 9 best skiing locations in the world

Best Flying Airports

Knowing where to go for a ski trip in Europe depends on which resort you are going to and how far you are willing to drive.

Zurich Airport (ZRH) is ideal for entering the most popular ski resorts in the Swiss Alps by car or train (such as Engelberg, Titlis and Andermatt). Switzerland’s Geneva Airport (GVA) is better for many resorts in the French Alps, including Megeve and Chamonix.

Travelers can also reach many of France’s top ski resorts from Lyon. Chamonix and Val Thorens, for example, are each less than three hours’ drive from Lyon-Saint-Estuper Airport.

Skiers can fly to Milan Marpanza Airport (MXP) to the Italian Alps and Dolomites, but it’s better on car or buses at these resorts. Many of the best Austrian mountains (such as Kitzbuhel and Mayrhofen) can be accessed by flying to Munich Airport (MUC).

However, it is easier to get to others from the smaller Innsbruck Airport (Inn) and others, such as St. Anton Am Arlberg, which serves Austrian Airlines, British Airways, EasyJet, Finnair, Icelandair, Icelandair, Lufthansa and others.

Upgraded technology

There are a large number of cable cars and high-speed lifts throughout the United States, but Europe takes it to the next level. Elevator tickets may be cheaper, but European resorts are investing in cooler technologies that will surely impress any skier.

In Switzerland, for example, you will find the Titlis Rotair, a gondola that rotates 360 degrees while you climb snowy mountains and deep cracks. In France, you can board the Vanoise Express, a two-stage cable car that can transport up to 200 people between La Plagne and Les Arcs.

There are also some moving sidewalks that take skiers directly from the lift line to the chair, making the lift easier.

Bottom line

Skiing in Europe is a unique experience with views of the mountains, amazing food (Hello, hot pot and Raclette) and incredible runs. Most importantly, it tends to be cheaper than resorts heading to a US resort, which makes planning a vacation in less ways. Travelers can also find many advantages and miles redemptions in some of Europe’s best resorts and can easily get there by flying to major airports throughout the continent.