The 20 Best Budget Ski Resorts Around the World

In the depths of a Canadian winter, many people dream of tropical beaches. But not all. Others dream of hitting the slopes. However, with the price of some resorts, it can seem as if skiing and snowboarding are exclusively for the rich. The good news is that there are plenty of great ski resorts that are budget friendly, even with a weak loonie. Lifestyle magazine Jebiga found the best of them.

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1. London Ski Club at Boler Mountain, Ontario

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1. London Ski Club at Boler Mountain, Ontario

Located in London, Ontario, the London Ski Club at Boler Mountain is small but has great bargains for families. There’s a snow school where you can learn to ski and snowboard and you’ll find plenty of cheap accommodation options only a few blocks away.

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2. Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta

The Lake Louise Ski Resort near Banff is one of North America’s biggest ski areas and is perfect for families. It’s not the cheapest but you can find very affordable packages that include accommodation and lift tickets. You can also get discounts on dining, Lake Louise merchandise, lessons and other extras if you have a Lake Louise Plus Card.

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3. RED Mountain Resort, Rossland, BC

Located in Rossland, BC, RED Mountain is the oldest ski resort in Canada. In addition to special packages, you can also save quite a bit if you have a Lake Louise Plus Card – it gives you 15% off on accommodation at RED Mountain.

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4. Killington, Vermont

Its Vermont location means that if you’re in Eastern Canada, you can drive to Killington instead of paying airfare for the whole family and extra fees for your skiing gear. Montreal is about three hours away and the drive from Toronto takes about eight hours.

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5. Big Bear Mountain Resort, California

Located about three hours east of Los Angeles, Bear Mountain’s ski area is huge and especially suited to intermediate-level skiers. There are several budget accommodation options in the Bear Lake area.

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6. Snowbird, Utah

Snowbird is located just east of Salt Lake City, Utah and with a variety of runs, it’s a good option for families with skiers of different levels. There are several non-ski activities and childcare services too.

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7. Copper Mountain, Colorado

About an hour and a half west of Denver, Copper Mountain doesn’t look like the best deal at first glance. However, you can cut costs with special packages and by using services like SkiCarpool.

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8. Kopaonik, Serbia

The Balkans are still relatively cheap compared to the more traditional European ski destinations and Kopaonik is the prime resort in the area. You can find some good package deals and with several low-cost airlines flying to nearby destinations, you can cut travel costs too.

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9. Popova Sapka, Macedonia

Just over an hour west of Skopje, Popova Sapka is one of Macedonia’s largest ski resorts. It boasts open faces and forest runs with many opportunities for freeriding.

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10. Kolasin 1450 Ski Resort, Montenegro

The Kolasin 1450 Ski Resort has runs ranging from easy to difficult as well as a cafe and restaurant. Some hotels in the town of Kolasin, 10 km away, offer free shuttles to the ski area if you book your ski pass through them.

11. Olympic Center Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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11. Olympic Center Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jahorina hosted some of the skiing events of the 1984 Winter Olympics and is still the most popular ski resort in the country. You can get hotel deals that offer discounts on ski passes or you can book packages that include accommodation in Sarajevo, about 40 minutes away.

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12. Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

Near Slovenia’s borders with Italy and Austria, Kranjska Gora lets you ski in the Alps without the hefty price tag. There are 18 slopes to choose from and the resort is a good option for families. Most hotels are within walking distance of the slopes.

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13. Monterosa Ski, Italy

The Monterosa ski area with its three valleys takes its name from the Monte Rosa massif. There are several villages with good accommodation deals in the area and if you book your ski pass through some of these hotels, it'll be free.

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14. Livigno, Italy

Near the Swiss border, Livigno boasts a ski season that starts earlier than most and there are slopes suited to all skill levels. There are free bus services to get you from your accommodation to the slopes. The quickest airport transfers are from Innsbruck in Austria rather than from Italian airports.

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15. Ellmau, Austria

Part of the huge SkiWelt area, Ellmau is roughly halfway between Innsbruck and Salzburg. The village is a favourite with families and it’s one of the cheaper ski destinations in the country.

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16. Les Carroz, France

Les Carroz is located in France’s Grand Massif ski area and is particularly popular with families. You can get family deals on lift passes and there are many accommodation options, from hotels to self-catering apartments.

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17. Shiga Kogen, Japan

If you live on the West Coast and want to go skiing abroad, Japan can be a more affordable option than flying to Europe. Shiga Kogen is the country’s largest ski resort and has a series of interlinked ski areas of varying difficulty.

You can find good deals that include accommodation and transfers too.

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18. La Hoya, Argentina

If you’ve left it too late to get great early-bird deals, South America comes to the rescue. Ski season there coincides with the Canadian summer, so there’s still plenty of time to book. La Hoya in Patagonia is popular for its powder snow.

19. Cerro Catedral Alta Patagonia, Argentina

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19. Cerro Catedral Alta Patagonia, Argentina

Only minutes from Bariloche, Cerro Catedral is South America’s largest ski resorts. It’s also one of the most popular and well-developed resorts on the continent, with July the busiest month.

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20. Ski Portillo, Chile

High up in the Andes, Portillo is about two hours northeast of Santiago and near Chile’s border with Argentina. The steep slopes are mainly suited for intermediate to expert skiers but there is a ski school where you can work on your skills. Lodging includes several options on site.