A ski-pass is a subscription that entitles skiers and snowboarders to use the lifts of ski resorts or regions. It is sometimes also called the lift pass. In fact, this is a pass to the highways, which means it is the main source of income for resorts and, accordingly, expenses for tourists.

A ski pass looks like a magnetic card that must be applied to the terminal when entering the lifts, or a paper ticket with a barcode (most often one-day passes are such).

Where to buy a ski pass

There are two options for where to buy a ski pass: buy directly at the resort or online on its official website.

If you want to save money, follow the promotions with discounts. Most often, they are held during the low season – in March-April, when the weather is unpredictable and the tourist flow subsides (but you can still ride).

Also, various resorts give discounts on those types of ski passes in which they are most interested. So, most of the ski resorts in Finland are family-oriented, and therefore they sell cheap ski passes for skiers with children (family). Young people and hangouts, such as French Courchevel, Swiss Verbier and Italian Cortina d’Ampezzo, sell discount ski passes for large groups. So it is better to find out in advance about all types of passes at the resort where you are going on vacation.

Types of ski passes

Ski passes are ranked according to several criteria: the number of days, the age of the skier, the number of people and the season.

The more days, the cheaper the ski pass. Traditionally, a six-day ski pass is the most optimal, since most Europeans go on a ski vacation for a week. But you can, if you wish, buy a pass for the number of climbs, and one-day. True, their cost will be extremely unprofitable. The cheapest ski passes are passes for the whole season. But these are worth buying only if you are going to regularly visit the resort.

There is even a so-called “epic pass” from the American chain of ski resorts Vail Resorts. It operates throughout the season at 12 American resorts and Verbier, Switzerland. It costs only $ 809 for adults and $ 419 for children (prices are relevant for the beginning of the 2019/2020 season).

The standard division of the cost of the pass is for adults and children, but in many European resorts you can also find discounted student ski passes for retirees. As we already said, some resorts provide group and family ski passes, which are much cheaper.

Prices for ski passes at popular resorts in the 2019/2020 season

To help you calculate your budget for your trip, tripmydream has compiled up-to-date prices for six-day ski passes in the most popular European resorts:

Austria

• Sölden – € 302 for adults, € 166.50 for children
• Innsbruck – € 268 for adults, € 134 for children
• Mayerhofen – € 266 for adults, € 120 for children
• Ischgl – € 307.50 for adults, € 264.50 for children
• Kitzbuhel – € 286 for adults, € 143 for children

Italy

• Bormio – € 144 for adults, € 93 for children
• Cortina d’Ampezzo – € 233 for adults, € 163 for children
• Breuil-Cervinia – € 243 for adults, € 170.75 for children

Switzerland

• Zermatt – € 357 for adults, € 178 for children
• Verbier – € 318 for adults, € 159 for children
• Gstaad – € 378 for adults, € 208 for children

France

• Courchevel – € 297 for adults, € 196 for children
• Meribel – € 312 for adults, € 249.60 for children
• Chamonix Mont Blanc – € 275 for adults, € 233.80 for children

Prices are for high season.