Expensive, more expensive, skiing: Great ski holiday report

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In the 1960s, Vico Torriani (1920–1998) sang “Everything goes with skiing”. The song was the secret anthem of the Swiss ski country last century. But in a current remix the chorus should be: Who should pay for this, who has so much money?

Because ski holidays in Switzerland are becoming increasingly expensive, as a study by Bank Cler and BAK Economics shows. Compared to last year, a week-long ski holiday in February 2024 is on average a quarter more expensive. Families are particularly hard hit, having to pay a third more. Childless couples get it “cheaper” with a 15 percent surcharge. Students have to dig 22 percent deeper into their pockets for snow fun.

Expensive Valais

“There is nothing more beautiful than sunshine, mountains and snow,” says Torriani. If only there were no holiday apartments or hotel rooms, ski passes for the whole family, ski and snowboard rental, catering on the slopes, ski school and other expenses encountered during a ski holiday. This quickly becomes very expensive, especially in Valais. A week of Saas-Fee for a family of four costs 8,470 francs with all the trimmings. The family pays only slightly less in Verbier (6,967 francs) or Zermatt (6,764 francs).

The family skis at Airolo for much less. A week on the south bank of Gotthard costs just 3,543 francs. You can also make snow turns in Adelboden-Lenk (4,404 francs) or Engelberg (4,926 francs) much cheaper than in Valais.

But: Even in the small but beautiful ski paradise of Airolo, a week-long ski holiday for a family is not possible for the 3,000 francs that lift boss Berno Stoffel (53) expects.

expensive accommodation

In a two-year comparison, the increases in accommodation prices are particularly large. These increased by up to 41 percent. This is partly due to the lack of offers during the February ski holiday. At the time of the investigation in November, many cheaper hotels or holiday apartments were already fully occupied.

If you want it to be cheaper, you should book well in advance and ideally outside school holidays; However, this is impossible for families with school-age children.

The prices of ski passes also increased by an average of 9 percent. When it comes to ski schools, the picture is inconsistent. Prices increased by an average of 3.4 percent. With large regional differences. St. Ski lessons in St. Moritz are actually much cheaper than they were two years ago. Interesting: ski schools are cheap in Airolo and in Saas-Fee, which is super expensive.

Even cheaper at Airolo

So lessons cannot be the reason why Saas-Fee has the highest price increase ever: The price of a week-long ski holiday at the foot of Alalin-Horn has increased by over 60 percent, according to the research. For many winter destinations, surcharges range from 20 to 30 percent. This can blow up many budgets. In Airolo alone, ski holidays become 5.5 percent cheaper.

Not everyone goes skiing anymore, partly because many people can’t afford it or don’t want to go. Fortunately, there was “Gigi von Arosa” by Ines Torelli (1931–2019). This playboy and ski instructor was “paid” by clients, mostly women, with not only a lot of heartbreak, but they also got the sun, the mountains, and the snow for free.

Source :Blick