Cheap French ski holidays barometer

Why have a barometer?

Founded in 2005, Ski Express has been offering a comparison service to help people choose their holidays from apartment rentals, hotels, all inclusive holidays and ski equipment hire. Their barometer aims to show people the cheapest times and places to go on holiday in France. Ski Express have around 30 professional partners which provide over 250,000 offers. The barometer is updated every Tuesday at http://www.ski-express.com/barometre-ski/ although it's currently only in French it is very easy to navigate.

When to go skiing?

The cheapest overall date to go skiing is on the 9^th of April at Chamrousse, Northern Alps for 99€/£84* for an all inclusive (apartment and ski lift pass) or you can find an apartment in Arreau, Northern Alps from 116€/£98**.

The school holidays have various offers from the Christmas holidays (18-26^th of December 2010) for 147€/£125 all inclusive in Risoul, Northern Alps or 165€/£140 in Arreau. The New Year's holidays from the 26^th of December to the 2^nd of January have offers from 170€/£144 all inclusive in Gresse en Vercors, Northern Alps or apartments in Jausiers for 321€/£272. The winter holidays (19-28^th of February) have holidays from 221€/£188 in Gresse en Vercors, all inclusive and 335€/£284 Chaillol for an apartment from the 19^th of February. The Easter holidays (8-26^th of April) are the last chance to go on holiday as it is late in the skiing season, however as there are two weeks there is more choice; All inclusive in Chamrousse for 99€/£84 or an apartment in La Norma 152€/£129 from the 9^th or all inclusive in Val Cenis for 159€/£135, apartments from 137€/£116 Valfréjus from the 16^th of April.

Where to go skiing?

Auvergne is the area with the cheapest average prices at 387€/£329, followed by the Pyrenees 390€/£331, Vosges Jura 391€/£332, Southern Alps 453€/£385 and finally the Northern Alps 584€/£496.

Here are the cheapest offers during school holidays:

Christmas (from the 18-26 of December 2010):

Cheapest apartment: 165€/£140 in Arreau

Cheapest package (accommodation and ski lift): 147€/£125 in Risoul

New Year's (from the 26^th of December 2010 to the 2^nd of January 2011):

Cheapest apartment: 321€/£272 in Jausiers

Cheapest package (accommodation and ski lift): 170€/£144 in Gresse en Vercors

Winter Holidays (19-28^th of February)

Cheapest apartment: 335€/£284 in Chaillol

Cheapest package (accommodation and ski lift): 221€/£188 in Gresse en Vercors,

Easter Holidays (8-26^th of April)

Cheapest apartment: La Norma 152€/£129 137€/£116 Valfréjus

Cheapest package (accommodation and ski lift): Chamrousse for 99€/£84 Val Cenis for 159€/£135

Every Tuesday you can find the updated SKI EXPRESS barometer with all the latest information on ski holidays at www.skiing.ski-express.com.

Karen Castelblanco

*All prices in £ are based on the exchange rate at time of writing (1€ around £0.85).

**All prices are per person per week based on 4 sharing.