Ski holidays can be expensive. Once you’ve added up the cost of the gear, the flights, the accommodation, plus all the little extras, you can be looking at a serious amount of cash.

Gear doesn’t have to break the bank

If you’ve ever taken a glance at skiing gear, you might realise that some people hit the piste wearing stuff that costs more than the average family car.

But just because they can, doesn’t mean they should.

Super expensive gear like this isn’t going to be any better than normal stuff, (unless you’re actually an Olympic athlete) and it’s probably going to be garish and wild, too.

Obviously, you get what you pay for, but there’s a line where the increased strength and quality you get by spending a little more just breaks down, and you’re paying almost entirely for the brand name.

There are two ways to get your hands on the decent budget gear.

First off, buy at the end of the skiing season. Yeah, this means preparing for your ski holidays in advance, but it’s so worth it. You’ll save crazy amounts of cash if this is something you can do, especially if your destination is sugarloaf ski resort.

Second, you could use outlet stores and major retailers like TK Maxx and Decathlon, who normally have great value options. You might get less choice when it comes to aesthetics, but who cares when you’re flying down a hill at 20mph.

Remember to bring all the standard stuff with you

One thing that’s common in ski resorts. Being a little bit out of the way. They have to be, by definition. You’re skiing down mountains, people.

So you’re either heading to a purpose-built skiing village or a town that most probably sees the skiing season as a huge part of its income.

Either way, the prices of standard sundries, even simple things like shampoo and toothpaste, is going to be way up.

Not just that, but things that you might actually need, like sunglasses, gloves, sun cream, are things you’ll pay an absolute premium for as soon as you step off that plane.

So make sure you buy in advance, and take extras.

Make sure you’re insured

It’s actually scary how many people go abroad to enjoy ski holidays without adequate insurance.

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people are comfortable with blasting headfirst down a hill between trees and over hilltops, with no real precaution should the worst happen and they pile headlong into something.

Even simple injuries can lead to hefty bills. As an example, people trip and twist their ankles all the time. You don’t even need to be skiing to do it.

But there are stories of people who have hurt themselves like this at the top of the mountain, not been able to get back down, and they’ve had to send a helicopter to grab them and bring them in.

Imagine the cost if you don’t have the travel insurance to cover that. It’s probably the single most important thing to do.  So make sure to ask for winter sports cover from your insurance provider before you start ski holidays. With AA you can know more about winter sports cover and find good holiday insurance quotes online to cover your ski holidays.

You don’t have to eat out every day

Skiing burns crazy amounts of calories, that’s true.

And after a long day on the slopes, you’re going to be looking forward to a well-deserved meal.

But heading out to restaurants for every lunch and dinner soon racks up the costs.

There’s nothing stopping you from doing it yourself. Grab some snacks and some food, and assemble a picnic for you and your family.

Also, remember to bring drinks when you’re heading out for the day. Nothing burns more than being needlessly overcharged when you’ve got bottles of water and pop sitting right there in the fridge.

Grab your currency before you go

Last but not least, make sure you get your currency before you fly.

Airports charge a premium over what you’d pay anywhere else, and it’s doubly expensive once you’ve touched the ground the other end.

Make sure to convert those Euros well in advance, and don’t be afraid to overbuy. You can always trade them in again when you get back, for pretty minimal loss.