the TRUTH about why US Ski resorts have become so expensive. (and where to go instead!)

[@89itis]

I believe a lot of the ski resorts for example in Austria are owned by the cities or municipalities themselves, so they are not really trying to squeeze out every euro out of the visitors. It’s more to support the loca economy so tourists come and stay at local hotels and eat at local restaurants.

[@ShelbyChurch]

That makes a lot of sense. I read something about that too! It’s really cool because it keeps it more affordable and accessible for pretty more people

[@bradIeyyy]

the tourist come and stay at the US ones also lol they are just much more exclusive, all the celebs stay here in Aspen

[@mountainmoments]

Average lift ticket prices in the Alps are roughly 40-80 Eur. Zermatt is the most expensive. My local area is the size of Revelstoke with more modern infrastructure and same slackcountry potential is 45-50 Eur. It's a sport for the "middle class", with 650 ski areas in the Alps alone, that makes sense and there is lots of competition. Most areas are owned by a local/regional business consisting of local families with a few bigger players coming in slowly. In Austria especially the level of what you get per dollar is kinda the best worldwide. Excellent service for a fairly low cost for the average person. Once i was invited to a wellknown place in the US. We got services for roughly 1000 USD per day. The same quality we could have gottten for roughly 300-350 in Austria.

[@aviava7097]

Ticket prices in the U.S got absolutely insane. In Italy, France and Austria you can find pretty nice resorts for 50-65€ for a single day. From my limited experience + investigations online I think France has the cheapest tickets, (some would argue the best facilities) and a lot of accomodation options, but perhaps the towns are less 'picturesqe'. In Italy the food is probobly the cheapest (pizza ~10-12€, passta ~15€, meat ~20€), but accomodation might be more expensive as there are less options.

[@aviava7097]

Wrong place, sorry :)

[@FilBloc]

I'm from Switzerland and have seen many ski resorts here. For Swiss standards we consider Zermatt overpriced especially during holidays with kids. An average household can't afford it. But honestly you can't go anywhere more expensive than Zermatt in Europe with the exception of St. Moritz maybe. As a reference, this winter I was skiing 6 days with 2 kids in Hasliberg which is more of a typical "family resort" and I've spent about $520 on lift tickets because they have special family rates. Skiing with the family is one of the most typical swiss things to do, so it has become part of our cultural identity.

[@ppatin]

The best deal I ever got in skiing was in Arosa. My wife and I stayed in a hostel (with a private room) and paid about 140 CHF per night for a package that included accommodations, lift tickets as well as breakfast and dinner. Prices nowadays are a bit higher (looks like about 185 CHF per night) but deals like that simply don't exist in the US.

[@RUHappyATM]

May I know the full budget for your family of 4, 2 adults/2 kids, for 6 days skiing? Including food, accom, ski lifts +/- ski hires. Thanks.

[@geoffoakland]

Heree in the Pyrénées, sking is between 35 and 50 euros. I came from California, where it's 150 to 280 dollars!

[@schdom27]

What did you expect. American bricks coming to Swiss and saying its the Europe Ski experiance. Swiss ist not the real Europe. She should have go to Austria for the good European experiance.

[@FilBloc]

@@RUHappyATM : Depending on where you're going there are huge differences. Also keep in mind that hotel+restaurant are quite expensive in Switzerland compared to holiday homes where you can cook your food. Picking an average resort I would budget CHF/$ 4000 for a holiday home and CHF/$ 7000 for a hotel. You can go cheaper if you're willing to make sacrifices, but probably not below $3000

[@ado976]

I was in Austria with my teenage son. We skied there (ski Amadé) 8 full days. We paid €2000 including Hotel with breakfast, ski pass for 8 days (over 700km of slopes) and bus from Netherlands (1250 km). We only had to buy dinner every night. That costed us 25-40 euro per day. Lunch was more of a snack every day and costed us 10-15 euro per day. Total for the whole trip was about €2500 which is reasonable.

[@TonioDND]

Ski amadé is a resort network where you can choose one of the 25 resort they own through 5 regions, adding all of them makes the 700km of slopes but you cant access to the whole 700km at once. The biggest resort in the world is the 3 Vallées where you can actually ski through the entire 600km of slopes ( it's 3 big resorts connected to each other like if it was one single resort)

[@apsis963]

I hadn’t stumbled across your channel before this, but I just wanted to point out one thing. Zermatt is the MOST expensive resort in Europe. Hands down. No cars can easily access the town, meaning there are frequently freight trains that run to the resort bringing food, hence the even more inflated prices. And with the lift prices, Zermatt offers multiple attractions, both a beautiful cog railway and the highest lift in Europe, if the prices weren’t this high in the winter, it would be inundated with tourists who would have come in the summer instead. As beautiful as it is, there are other resorts which are cheaper but offer a similar level of skiing and dining, eg. Tignes/Val’d’isere, St Anton, Val Gardena…

[@fejban]

Hahaha, I was also thinking the exakt same thing. Zermatt is beautiful, but yes, you picked the MOST expensive resort in Europe. Picking an Austrian, Italian or French resort might have been better representation. I also feel that you could have pretty safe snow conditions if you go in-between mid January to mid March.

[@leangrypoulet7523]

Mmm, not sure I’d say Val d’Isere was much better value than Zermatt. But if you want Zermatt skiing for the fraction of the price, pop to the other side of the Matterhorn and use Cervinia. Night and day as far as prices are concerned, skiing is linked between the two, and Italian food is so much better.

[@LauriLaipio]

What is great about Zermatt is that you can book the hotel from the Cervinia side of the mountain in Italy and stay there with half the price and still ski in Zermatt if you want 😉

[@vitaliys]

All true. We were there twice and I am not sure when did this girl go there but in the middle of February I remember it took us 10-15 minutes to get on the gondola that's off the main road in the village. Also they are not completely electric, I remember some ambulance and other service vehicles with ICE

[@VTGGE]

@@LauriLaipio Yeah, but you see the ugly side of the Matterhorn from your hotel in Cervinia 😂

[@to-yg1tx]

growing up next to Okemo in Vermont in the 90's and 00's, it went from $40 to about $65 per day, until the mountain was sold to Vail. I wanted to go riding this past winter when I was home visiting and lift tickets were $190 per day. I did not go. It's outrageous and exploitative. Vail also cancelled all of the community pricing and local outreach initiatives. The Fridays I spent up on the mountain learning to ski and snowboard from Kindergarten to the 8th grade, courtesy of Okemo's learn to ski programs for kids going to local schools? Chopping block, immediately after Vail purchased the mountain. What local in Vermont can afford a season pass anymore? The doctors and lawyers, that's about it. It used to be a family activity people did on the weekends, now it's reserved almost exclusively for rich flatlanders coming in from Manhattan or Connecticut. A sad state of affairs. It seems like this is a common theme for a lot of formerly local ski areas too. I'm no stranger to expensive hobbies, racing motorcycles is not cheap, but I can't justify spending almost $200 per day on something that by all realistic standards should be $80 at most. I'm disgusted with the state of things in the ski industry right now.

[@timguillory6339]

Fuck vail. Been saying it for years and will never stop. They have ruined the northeast

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

100% agree. CA got stupidly expensive in 2012 ish. I stopped going then when it would cost me $500+ for a weekend of skiing. Just not worth it.

[@justforviewing2]

I don't know about doctors, but lawyers cannot afford sh*t unless they work in big law, which is a very SMALL minority of lawyers. It's a dying industry. This is the case for a lot of professions now :(

[@to-yg1tx]

@@justforviewing2 It's looking like in 10-15 years most small practices and firms will be replaced by AI anyway. Tough times ahead for everyone.

[@psalmsurfer1]

its Fing criminal and evil is what it is..let be honest

[@goeranbaeckblom1657]

The reasons for lift closures are often: 1. Strong winds at altitude. 2. After heavy snowfalls, time is needed to secure the slopes against avalanches. Just check the live ski map for the resort and you will often find all the necessary information

[@JessePlumGD]

Haha, yes. You're so right, I never thought I'd meet you here. How have you been doing?😊

[@TomBedlammusic]

I just spent $900 for a full season italian dolomite super ski pass. 4 months Unlimited skiing in 13 different ski areas. 1300 km of slopes. Some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Such a bargain.

[@angelakaiser3110]

Shelby, I would love to see you do a series on the most walk-able small towns in the U.S. and abroad with what amenities each place has. All age groups could benefit from this! Your vids are entertaining and educational. Thanks for your great content

[@KoreyThatcher]

Agreed!😊

[@rachelolsen3428]

This was so interesting! I moved from the US to France for grad school. I always wanted to learn to ski in the US, but it was way too expensive. So imagine my shock when my grad school classmates talked about going skiiing on some long weekend as a class - because it was nearby and actually affordable. It's neat to finally learn why.

[@PAC-fp9hy]

Ironically you picked the most expensive ski resort in Europe (along with Gstad) but had you ventured onto the Italian side of the Matterhorn, you would have found a much cheaper experience in Cervinia. The comments about finding your way around the mountain will vary as in the large resorts in France you can stay high all day without having to come down to base in order to cross the mountain. If you ski the 3 vallees or Les Arcs or Val D'Isere, you will find an immense playground that is easy to cross without taking your skis off. As with a previous comment, the resorts are not owned by greedy Corporations. The towns give the lift companies a lease on providing transportation and prices have to be reasonable because they are often used by local schools. The lift companies do not own any of the accommodation or bars or restaurants. We simply do not have this corporate culture in Europe that is just killing the ski experience for the many in the US. It is a pity as I have enjoyed immensely Breckenridge, Vail, Copper Mountain and I don't remember this level of corporate greed in 1998.

[@yvesstocky9936]

agree!

[@leangrypoulet7523]

All true, with one caveat. Most expensive ski pass in France is Chamonix, which is arguably one of the worst run, worst funded, worst linked and most archaic ski systems in Europe, if not the world. As value for money goes (especially if you’re not inclined/able to benefit from all the off-piste) it’s rude. Five ski areas along the length of the valley, only two connected, no parking, not enough (and always overfilled) buses, queues galore, 14.5km of runs per sector, average restaurants owned by the Cham cabal serving canteen quality spag bol or rubbish tartiflette for 20€ a head, no atmosphere, no notable development (unless a ski lift burns down or becomes legally unsafe to use), etc etc etc. Complete joke. If you’re not an off-pister, a ski mountaineer or ski tourer, but are an everyday family skier, it’s the most overrated ski experience in the world. And why? Because it’s owned and managed (if you can call it that) by the Compagnie du Mont Blanc, which in turn is in large part owned by a hedge fund in Paris. Investment by the CDMB has been laughable over the past 20 years. Derisory. Yet they continue to charge the highest pass prices in the French Alps. And people, because of the town’s name, keep coming. It’s so bad it’s almost a scam. Embarrassing. They’ve just bought into Megeve, so expect investment on that half of Evasion to stop, whilst Saint Gervais continues to invest heavily (more €/Capita than any French resort over the past two decades) and Les Contamines continues to be its charming, independent little self. So it’s not a surprise that the most badly run ski resort, and most expensive ski pass in France is, in fact, owned by a greedy corporation. And ironically, the resort is linked with Aspen, so maybe the owners are taking their pricing advice from that side of the Atlantic?

[@PAC-fp9hy]

@@leangrypoulet7523 I have never skied in Chamonix for the very reasons that you mention. It is completely dislocated and you cannot ski from one end of the domain to another. You would spend too much time on a bus. I spent one month in Cervinia/Zermatt in 1997 and in those days you could bum around the big resorts. Now everything is far too expensive, but way off the price of Corporate America. Ironically the one domain that still remains 'reasonable' given its world class status is Espace Killy (Val D'Isere/Tignes). There are still some places where you can sleep and dine without losing your shirt.

[@guypigache2105]

You are being way too kind to Chamonix!! To be fair, it has two major plus points, 1 hour from Geneva and the town itself is lovely. I have heard they make more money from summer sport than winter sport.@@leangrypoulet7523

[@alexislegrand181]

I know a few people who went there, good snow is pretty much guaranteed at the top (+3600m) Snow isn't groomed on top but since I'm pretty good snowboarding this is pretty much ideal conditions to me. It's just a little bit hard for beguiners and verry annoying when you are on thin skis. Definely for at least good (or not bad) skiers (not affraid of black slopes), but you can't say chamonix is shit. If you want to ski in much cheaper resort with a part adapted for beguiners and anorther for experienced ones you should try to go to les karellis or arèches beaufort (last year it was bellow 30€ for a day in les karellis and I beleave around 30 too for arèches) These resorts are perfect for families since they are just small towns, and they are no discoteque/ment for families. I'm living in savoie so I'm lucky to try many of 'em ^^, there are like 50+ avaliable in less than 2 hours

[@PatrizioHauser]

Yes, well analyzed. Vail Resorts and Alterra play a wicked game in the US. Unfortunately has Vail Resorts now begun also in Switzerland to buy up a place called Andermatt (a very nice area with beautiful powder and slopes literally in the heart of the alps). It’s sad to see, what these two companies do to the market. I am worried, that they will continue to acquire further ski areas in Europe and foremost Switzerland for no other reason then to spike up ticket prices for their own profit.

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

Vail is big, but it's kind of dumb and it is consistent in it's desire to shove the epic pass down your throat. Alterra is strategic and its intentions are less consistent. Does it want to put the skiing population of Northern Colorado on the Ikon pass as it did with Eldora or does it want to force people to buy a nearly $2000 resort pass like with Crystal Mountain, WA?

[@thyslop1737]

Epic and Ikon are garbage. Nonstop marketing and spam. And have sent prices soaring

[@scottangle574]

I worked for Vail resorts back in 1990. The place was so different than but we did have a nickname for the company that really is true even more today. We called it Hail resort like Hell but worse..

[@HighDins]

european labor laws would never allow for these corporations operate how they do in america. also a lot of the ski town issues in america have no infrastructure for employees. pretty sure in chamonix you can take a bus or train which is different to every person who works at jackson but live in their car or in idaho. shame on us the chickens will come home to roost one day when they get a bad season and go bust.

[@HighDins]

@@hypothalapotamus5293 alterra employee here the objective is to keep the independence of each mountain which means just hr and useful departments are based on mountain versus in denver. as for the pass situation, they are specifically targeting the rich in coastal cities with it. Basically the idea is to split people into tiers. the younger more well off crowd in cities who will do weekend trips within 3 hour drives with maybe one big planned trip out west is the epic pass target. the mountain specific pass is catered to maybe a rich remote worker or retired local who will get unlimited skiing at that mountain for 2 grand to avoid holiday blackouts and we usually throw in an epic or an ikon to that as well, not saying its worth it. this is just the strategy oh and also throw in we want a diverse, equitable, inclusive environment in there to avoid the fact these are basically just enclaves for rich white people.

[@wolfgangdeschka8015]

Hi, maybe was already mentioned but Switzerland as well as France have seen a extraordinary „dry“ winterseason this year. So maybe a reason why not all slopes were open when you been there. Typically most / all slopes and lifts are opened througout the season except for bad weather conditions which can occur any time of course. But this should be the exception, not the rule.

[@djodjo77920]

exept in the southern alps in France where it's been the best season since 17/18 !! but no one talks about us in the media, but i ain't complaining ;p

[@Saba-lz2qg]

Right! But is has also to do with the Altitude. The higher You go the more reliable snow You get. In April You might usffer from not so much snow as in Januari and Februari.

[@st-ex8506]

Well! It is unfortunately true, but we had lots of late snow last month, and therefore could still do great skiing until the lifts closed for the season yesterday (4.23).

[@IStMl]

hum not at all. It was dry in the beginning but in march it constantly snowed

[@dolphinfan1493]

US rookies get way better snow then Europe

[@sonolanaty]

Hi Shelby, I live in the Italian speaking region of Switzerland🇨🇭 (known as Ticino Canton) I'm not much of a skii person, more when I was a kid. In our Canton we have "Bosco Gurin" where you'd pay 50/55 CHF for a day skipass. We also have "Airolo" where you would pay 20 CHF for a day. We also usually go to "Splugen" in Canton of Graübunden (also 260 CHF for 5 days ca). Or we go directly to Italy since it's very close for example to "Livigno" where it's very nice and high-end for tourists and you would only pay 280 euros for 5 days of skipass. You're so right about checking if there's going to be enough snow. In the recent years we have less and less snow due to the high temperatures. Especially here in Ticino. Also I saw that in the video clip you showed you went to Coop for grocery shopping. I'm not saying that inflation didn't hit here because it did. But Coop is one of the most expensive grocery stores here in Switzerland, it has always been and it's not very ideal for people that want to save money. I would suggest you to go to Denner, Lidl or Aldi. Anyways, nice video I enjoyed it, hope you'll come to Ticino to visit one day :)

[@Markandrachael]

Good to know. Thank you for sharing!❤

[@sonolanaty]

​@@Markandrachael 😊👍

[@Switzerleando]

I love Coop though, and their point system is great.

[@sonolanaty]

@@Switzerleando Yeah I agree, plus even tho it's more expensive than the other stores their quality is amazing I must say. Very worth it👍 Love Coop

[@millmoormichael6630]

Why not drive up to Engelberg? Shouldn’t be too far

[@casualoverwatcher2283]

I felt the same when I visited Sapporo, Japan for snowboarding this season. The Kiroro resort package I purchased which included a round trip bus ride from Sapporo + full rental + a day ticket was only 9900JPY which is about $75. The snow quality was pristine and there was no line on any lifts. US ski resorts are just ripping us off and they won't cool it down since there are a lot of people that would buy those expensive tickets anyway. Not to mention about disgusting AirBnb prices.

[@justforviewing2]

Yes!! I used to live in Sapporo for almost 6 years before the Australians bought out and destroyed Niseko. We would go snowboarding every week/weekend, and you didn't need a pass- you can buy tickets by 4/6/8 hours, and a 4 hours tickets was like $40! I went back in 2017, and things at even Teine Highlands had become more expensive (for Japan), but it was still waaaaaay cheaper than any single place in the US.

[@M123Xoxo]

That's the difference between government run infrastructure (as most resorts in Europe and Japan are) and private companies. Imagine if our tax dollars went to building trains to vacation destinations instead of funding endless wars and enriching CEOs like Elon Musk?

[@psalmsurfer1]

@@justforviewing2 how much is Hokkaido right now would you say?

[@takeoffyourjacket]

Ski tickets and accommodation is so much cheaper in Poland. It’s not as glamorous as Switzerland and for sure the paths are shorter, but if you’re in Europe and don’t want to spend a lot of money skiing this is for sure a good option. I spent just 200 £ (GBP) for 3 nights for accommodation and a ski ticket per day was 30 £. Especially recommended for beginners, because also instructors are more affordable there :)

[@martaborkowska8168]

And Slovakia with much better resorts (still afordable) is just on the other side of the mountain!

[@TheJase8566]

Bulgaria is awesome for learning. £500-£650 for a week half board, with flights, lift pass, gear and lessons a few years ago

[@Mark-vn7et]

30 pounds a day? I spend 210 euros in Tirol for 5 days and 300 euros for 6 days accommodation with breakfast (granted i shared the room with 2 friends) So Poland doesn’t seems so much cheaper. And I’m betting ski lifts and such are not as up to date and such. My biggest cost every year is the apres-ski and seeing as that is non existing in Poland I would guess for me it would be a lot cheaper

[@velotill]

I was thinking the the whole time :) when is someone gonna tell her about Middle European Mountains. Maybe best this way

[@theojaquenoud419]

Super interesting video. I'm from Switzerland but I've been living in the US for most of my life. One thing I'll add, which contributes to ski trips being expensive in the US, is that most people in the U.S. don't own skis/snowboards and don't live close to good ski resorts (Rockies or Sierra Nevada). This means that on top of the expensive lift tickets, most Americans have to factor in the cost (money and time) of flights and rentals. In Europe, due to the geography, most people live relatively close to skiable mountains, which they can access by train or car. This allows many Europeans to own their ski equipment even if they only ski a couple times a year. So on top of saving on lift tickets, most Europeans will also be saving on equipment costs and transportations costs. Another thing is that when you go to Vail or Alterra, everything you touch is owned by the corporation, from the lifts, to the hotels, to the transportation, to the restaurants. In Switzerland, and the rest of Europe I believe, this won't be the case. A lot of restaurants and hotels are still family owned, or at least family run. While Zermatt does look a bit like Disneyland like you mentioned, it operates a lot less like Disneyland than Vail does.

[@quAdxify]

Let’s call it what it is, corrupt regulations forcing a duopoly (because nobody else could compete with the ludicrous regulations). Rentals and flights are obvious and not really part of the difference, paying $500 for 2 day (just the tickets) is what is different or buying an even more expensive pass.

[@amblincork]

In fact a lot of skiers in Europe do not live near ski areas and hire skis etc when they ski.For many of us who fly and use Carry on luggage, the difference in cost and convenience mean hiring skis is a better option. So right now I would budget for say 90 to 100 euro a day for ski hire and ski lift pass and fly using very cheap Ryanair flights

[@rubispandaria]

you should try Val Thorens in the French Alps. It was amazingg. Its part of the biggest ski resort complex in the world and the best part is that you can ski to the nearby towns on ski highways which was sooo much fun. Also its way cheaper than Zermatt

[@willsonj]

I’m biased as I did a season there, but Val Thorens is the best resort in the world imo. The skiing is great and the nightlife is so much fun. It’s expensive compared to normal life in Europe, but I have never enjoyed my life more than when I lived there. The three valleys is an incredible ski area, and VT is much better value than Meribel or Courchevel. In Europe your best bet for good snow is booking a resort at a high altitude/with a glacier.

[@perakojot6524]

@@willsonj Val Thorens is nice but there are at least 3 better resorts/ski areas in France only (Espace Killy, Les2Alpes and Chamonix) and in terms of nightlife you should really go to Austria.

[@willsonj]

@@perakojot6524 I’ve skied in Tignes a few times, it’s v good but not as good as VT imo. Being spread over multiple resorts is just less convenient than having everything based around one small centre, especially for season living. It’s so easy to walk to the fitness centre or bars without waiting in the cold for buses. I know people really rate Chamonix for off piste, but for on piste ski area and pass value you can’t beat the 500km of the 3 Valleys. A good DJ set at 360, then a live gig at the Frog is just as much fun as anything in Austria I’m sure.

[@chrissoubibi]

@@perakojot6524 les 2 Alpes better than Val Thorens? You must be joking! Espace Killy is not better either. I don't know Chamonix.

[@robskiing]

@@perakojot6524 your having a giraffe about deux alpes , VT is a magical place with great backcountry

[@Daz555Daz]

I go to France most often. Lots of amazing terrain and there are loads of good value resorts. Typical trip for my family znd friends is to drive from the UK, stop at a French hypermarket on the way to resort to stock up on all the food wine and beer we need for the week and then head to a self-catered apartment. We eat and drink in the early evening in the apartment and then head out later for drinks - the bars in French ski resorts only get lively late in the evening.

[@xdarialovesbeautyx]

I went skiing in the Italian Alps in 2015 and I remember the total price of skiing for 5 days to be roughly $800 per person (for lift tickets and ski rentals)! Definitely cheaper than anything you can find in the US. The mountain really was SO big like you mentioned too! We skied for five days on this mountain and we still didn't get to go on every run. There were runs facing every direction and the views were stunning. Highly highly recommend :)

[@spicytango]

Dolomites?

[@Nordicjumper]

Arapahoe Basin in Colorado (probably the best ski resort in Colorado especially if you’re an experienced skier) has a 5 days pass for around $300 dollars! Why spend an astronomical amount of money at Breck or Vail when you get the same, if not, better quality at Arapahoe Basin. $800 for 5 days is pretty steep still.

[@guypigache2105]

He probably means the WHOLE trip. I am about to do 5 nights, 4 days skiing in Val Gardena, Italy for £1800 which covers flights, transfers, ski passes, ski hire, and accommodation. Extra is food / drink.@@Nordicjumper

[@Line-vw5io]

BS!!! I go to the Dolomites more then 25y. Superdolomiti skipas (1200km) for 6 days skiing around €300 in 2023

[@felity1773]

​​@@Line-vw5iothey probably paid a shit ton for renting then...

[@dhowe5180]

The main difference between North American (not just American) and euro resorts is the ownership structure and this had a lot to do with lift ticket prices. In Europe, ski infrastructure (lifts, snow making equipment, etc) is owned by a lift company which in turn is owned by all the businesses in town (hotels, ski rental, restaurants, shops). The lift tickets are almost sold at cost to bring in the tourists and the local businesses make their money on rooms, meals, souvenirs, etc. When the lift company wants to put in a new lift the local business owners have to cough up some cash to pay for it. Totally different model in North America where the on-mountain infrastructure is a standalone business (along with the base lodge stuff) and has to make their money mostly from lift tickets. There are a couple of resorts in North America that follow the euro model, Panorama in BC being one of them. This is also why American ski conglomerates like Vail Resorts will never establish themselves in the Alps. The ownership of the lifts is too dispersed and mostly owned by the locals and there’s no way they’re going to give up control.

[@psalmsurfer1]

good..hope Vail goes bankrupt

[@davidmartin1012]

Gott sei Dank, or 'thank God' as they would say in Switzerland, Austria or Germany!.

[@catkin-z8g]

In innsbruck you can get lift pass for free. Not for skiing tho but you can get 20% off on that. It is pretty good card with free public transport. You can take the lift hiking or toboganing for free included in the welcome card when you stay 3 or more nights. There is 50% off on swimming pools and lakes.

[@Nicole.Sisson]

Lift ticket prices have definitely gotten out of hand in Washington. Crystal is crazy expensive! We usually stick to night skiing and bring our own food to cut down on costs. Switzerland looks absolutely incredible. I would love to visit one day. 😍

[@bb5242]

I took my son to Colorado for the first time this season. I had not been in a few years, our 2020 spring break trip was killed by the lockdowns, our trip was literally the week the whole damn country shut down. We're fairly well off, but seriously, these resorts are pushing the outer limits of affordability. I'd just as soon fly to Europe because it's truly the real deal. Gotta break the corporatized ski resort cartel, it's totally at odds with what skiing is all about.

[@davidmartin1012]

Aren't duopolies view very dimly by gov't competition legislation and agencies?? Hello!

[@larailie5255]

I really appreciate your analytical thinking. You made videos on topics I knew very well and thought you were spot on. Because I trust your impartial take on things I can now watch something like this I know nothing about and feel I have an informed opinion. Good job!

[@holymonitor89]

I’m in Rome, Italy for a study abroad and stumbled on your video. We went skiing at Kronplatz mountain in the Italian alps. The prices for ski rentals were 65€ for two days (skis, polls, boots and helmet). The lift ticket was 100-150€ for two days but was paid for in our trip cost (we had to pay for rentals). I actually learned how to ski there and my instructor took me from falling every 30’ to skiing an intermediate the next day (I do water ski and wakeboard). Overall the experience was amazing, so much that I want to ski more in the US when I get back. Also the town we stayed in was the prettiest little ski town and there were many buses that took you anywhere you needed. On Kronplatz mountain the food restaurants were also great prices. Food was around 10€ for a burger and fries. Beers were 5€. I would recommend you go to Kronplatz for your next trip, warning many of the US skiers we were with did comment how their blue runs (easiest) were more like intermediate.

[@Stefejan]

I also learned to ski there! Went there with my parents basically every year of my childhood, and still now I try to go there once in a while! Some people argue that's too much of a touristic place and not so much a "mountain experience", but I just find it the best place to ski. The slopes are great and of all possible levels of difficulty! I'm now living in switzerland and still haven't found a better place to ski!

[@samuelfaust7194]

I live in Austria and go skiing here twice a year and it’s often a lot cheaper then switzerland. And while it’s true that in some years we don’t have that much snow you can probably still always ski as long as you are in on of the ski resorts higher up like söleden, st.anton or ischgel.

[@luciex5066]

For us Europeans, skiing also got super expensive. I switched to cross-country skiing because it’s cheaper. However, we had a huge lack of snow this year, and this will obviously continue to happen:(

[@Line-vw5io]

Continue to happen???? The last few years has been the best snow ever (been skiing for over 40Y) in Europe, 2 times a year. The last 25y always Dolomites.

[@Philip05932]

Shelby you have to come to Europe more often. We love having you here!!

[@NormanF62]

With her videographer skills, Shelby could easily make a second income stream doing nothing but sightseeing videos!

[@bobforward5658]

We skied Tignes-Val d'Isere in France three and a half decades ago, staying in Tignes around 2000 meters altitude. We found the time of year impacts prices greatly. We went two weeks before the three weeks of rotating French school breaks. Few locals ski then (last week of January & first week of February) because it is so cold, maybe down to -10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) so we were able to get good deals. We also found you can buy very reasonable and really good meals at the deli to eat back in your room.

[@sjorsdw]

Go to Austria. Arguably the best après ski. Something I missed in this video. Ischgl and St Anton are notoriously fun

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

When I was a kid in the 70's, my whole family skied. We were very middle-class, didn't have a lot of money, but my parents could afford the family season pass. We skied all winter and had a ball as a family activity. Fast-forward to today. There is no way a family of our income could afford to ski. It has become a hobby for the wealthy, which I'm sure suits the resort owners just fine. Just like Disney, they have no interest in serving the masses, but would rather cater to a smaller number of high-income customers.

[@blueberry1856]

I live in Austria and I would recommend the county of Salzburg and Tirol. The previous comments mentioning Ischgl in Tirol, would probably be my last choice because it is manly for the target group who like to party, although they have an amazing view and would be one of the most expensive areas in Austria. Overall a very accurate video and also enjoyable, Thanks!

[@readgildner-blinn1710]

Don’t know if anyone’s mentioned this, but the reason day passes are so expensive in the US, particularly at Vail resorts, but also at Alterra, is that the companies prefer you buy their season passes so they can count on the revenue before the season starts. My Epic Local pass cost $525 last season. I skied 34 days (a low number - the season was bad in the East), so I paid about $15/day. If you only ski a few days, well, you pay a lot. Not that cheap passes don’t create other problems - overcrowding, for instance, especially weekends and holidays - but they do reduce cost if you ski enough (7 days of skiing last season, average for most folks, would cost $75/day). It’s a complicated issue, but you can’t discount the good side.

[@NursesToRiches]

I still think the best thing you can do is get an Epic local season pass for $676 and you get access to resorts in the US, Canada, Switzerland, and Japan. If you want to only ski or snowboard once in Switzerland without the epic pass you still have to pay for the flight to get there just so you can save money on a cheaper lift ticket.

[@ShelbyChurch]

Totally that’s a great deal if you ski a lot! Personally I’ve always wanted to go skiing in the alps so I was stoked to see that lift tickets were not as expensive!

[@anthonyc8499]

@@ShelbyChurch Europeans ski resorts are ginormous! One French ski resort we visited had free beginner lifts that was as big as Snoqualmie (Summit West).

[@NormanF62]

The point is an all season pass would make most sense if you’ll go a couple times a year. If you’re not an avid skier, it would probably be a waste of money. Europe is cheaper for a lot of reasons: lots of ski resort towns, geography, climate and excellent infrastructure. That’s much more limited here in the US.

[@luigifranceschi2350]

You should really try the Dolomites region in the Italian Alps . Not only you have a much larger ski area, but also food and accommodations are half price or less compared to Zermatt. On top of that good food and lot of sun are practically guaranteed. I fly there every year. Way better than anywhere in North America.

[@cyclewise6926]

Do you have a recommendation for a good spot in the Dollomites to go with kids?

[@lorenzomonti2277]

@@cyclewise6926 kronplatz if you say in german, or plan de corones if you say it in italian.

[@luigifranceschi2350]

@@cyclewise6926 if you stick to any location along the Sellaronda you’ll have a huge skiarea that would be impossible to cover in weeks.

[@jeffreyheister3803]

I skied twice in Austria and I’ll be going there every year. It’s allot cheaper like you said, but the people are also allot nicer and relaxed. The towns are just as small and pretty to look at and skiing is a real pleasure there. In the past skiin was even cheaper, 5 years ago you could ski 7 days for 60 euro total, unreal.

[@zero2blur]

In Seattle at Stevens Pass, I remember when it was $29 dollars, Skiers were furious!

[@anthonyc8499]

It was cheaper for us to fly from the West Coast into Geneva, hire a driver and mini-bus, stay in a slopeside 3 bedroom apartment in the French Alps, and eat some of the most amazing food ever than to fly out to Colorado and ski for 5 days in Vail.

[@ShelbyChurch]

and it was probably such a cool experience!!

[@NormanF62]

I live in Colorado and Vail and Aspen struck me as preppy, glitzy and overpriced. You can’t live there without a good income. They’re usually mote like summer getaways for rich people and the reason for that its much cooler than in the lowlands when you’re having to get through a heat wave.

[@robertramsay88]

Excellent video Shelby. One thing that is happening now in some resorts in the USA is called dynamic pricing. This boosts the prices of skiing when conditions are optimal. I saw an article this winter where the price got to $300 usd for 1 day of skiing. I love skiing in France; my 2 favs are 3 valleys and Tignes. These resorts have a 60Euro day pass and accommodations @ 800Euros per week per person. Food is amazing and skiing is high enough that there is snow all the time. I would recommend the town of Val D'Isere or Val Claret . Love your videos, have fun.

[@georgedixon9863]

great video per usual / you make some of the very best, a balance between entertainment and information

[@awakentheheretics]

SHELBY THIS IS AN AWESOME TOPIC. PLEASE do more of these. Maybe winter trips to test different mountains???

[@davidshipp7363]

I went to Zermatt last January and everything you said is true. I have also skied in Colorado and Utah and skiing itself in Europe is definitely cheaper. In Zermatt it was most cost effective to stay at an AirBnb. The hotels there are much more expensive than the Airbnbs. If you are cost conscious I would recommend booking an Airbnb with a kitchen and cooking your meals. Like you mentioned I found the prices at the grocery store to be quite reasonable and in my opinion they were actually cheaper than in the US. Overall in Switzerland you can expect to spend $50 a person eating out although that’s not always the case. One thing that’s particularly shocking is if you want water at a restaurant you have to buy a bottle that’s $9 that is only 1 liter. In the German speaking parts of the country it is unusual to find restaurants that offer complementary tap water however it is common in the French speaking parts of the country and the Swiss order it as well. Overall food in Zermatt probably costs the same as a ski town in the US. Ironically I did not feel that prices in Zermatt were inflated in comparison to the rest of the country. Like you mentioned about the snow I was there in January and many ski resorts in Switzerland were not open yet. The ski seasons prime month is February in Europe. There is an app for Zermatt that will tell you in real time open lifts and runs. I would recommend renting ski equipment rather than brining your own. One reason is you likely will take the train from Zurich or Geneva to Zermatt. While there is room to store your skis on the train to Zermatt there is no place to store your skis on the train you take to Visp where you transfer trains. However if the train isn’t busy there is plenty of room onboard. I’d recommend against renting a car because it’s much more expensive than the train. Additionally most cars that are available to rent won’t realistically fit skis and you will have to park your car near Zermatt and take the train into town anyways as Zermatt is car free. I especially wouldn’t recommend it if you’ve never been to Europe before to see how the roads work there. Another issue with brining your own equipment is most European airlines do not treat skis as regular checked luggage. While delta for example doesn’t charge additional fees for checking skis. Swiss, Lufthansa, Airfrance, and KLM will. The fees can also be quite expensive.

[@mattiasdahlstrom2024]

FYI if you are in France its the law (from Napoleon!) that a restaurant HAS to offer tap water for free, and its perfectly fine to drink, especially in the Alps!

[@snoopypanza]

Hey Shelby, love this video! I’m an avid skier and right up my alley. I live in Europe and have skied for years in France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. You will be surprised how much less expensive it is to ski in the other countries. Switzerland is the most expensive esp Zermatt (im surprised you didn’t ski over the border to Italy as the Zermatt is directly connected to Cervinia where you can ski over and sample authentic Italian for lunch! If you want to try other resorts I’d recommend Val d’isere-Tignes (great for apres ski) or 3 Vallees (one of the largest connected ski areas in Europe - 6 resorts combined) in France. The Dolomites in Italy or St Anton or Sölden in Austria. They are snow sure (except for St Anton) meaning you wouldn’t have to worry about lack of cover. Usually Europe is pretty snow sure except for the last couple of years bc of climate change so those pictures you showed are highly unusual. Hope this helps and wish you make more! Even if it’s about North American resorts… I’ve been to Aspen, Breckenridge, Vail and Whistler and would love for you to take us there to see how it compares… Nat xx

[@vitaliys]

American resorts are better, specifically when you get injured. In my family we experienced it on both sides of Atlantic and it's day and night. In America we have ski patrols all over the mountain all the time and if anything happens they will bring you down almost immediately, I also suspect they have some sort of paramedic training. On the other hand once in Verbier my wife was hit and lost consciousness for a breath moment, we had to wait for about an hour for someone to show up to help her come down the hill

[@thainsworth67]

@@vitaliys Was it Gwyneth?

[@vitaliys]

@@thainsworth67 not funny, but for the record it was a blue slope, you do the math

[@alexanderschwarm7755]

Damn the production quality on this one is amazing ,good job girl !

[@francoutah]

Now I want to book a flight to Switzerland. Thank you for sharing this. I feel encouraged to go somewhere I never would have considered if it weren't for you guys. BTW I vividly remember when Brighton Ski Resort raised it's prices to $18.00 per day back in 1990. I remember so well because my parents said that I was too expensive. So, if I wanted to snowboard, I had to get a job. At 15 years old, I landed my first job as a dishwasher at the local steakhouse. Every weekend, I would ride until my legs fell off and then, I'd go work my butt off in a rockin' restaurant kitchen. My mountain family were badass fun athletes. All through my teens and 20's I continued to work nights in kitchens at the resorts so I could ride every day. Some of the best days in my life. Pure freedom and connection with Mother Earth. YOLO!!!

[@stephanmahler4671]

I live in south Germany and we usually go to Austria as it is still a little cheaper than Switzerland. The Problem of not enough snow is usually not there in February and early March, so just try and book in those months. Great Video btw :)

[@ShelbyChurch]

Good to know!! I definitely want to go to Austria to ski sometime!

[@fedegoma3597]

Yes come visit Shelby! I offer you a beer ahah🍺 (Not creepy in any way LOL 😅)

[@you2bevsgoogle]

I living in south Germany too 😅 How long follow you Shelby Church,Stephan ?

[@sullfolife]

I’m French, from the French alps, growing up in the biggest or second biggest resort in the world. Les portes du soleil is a 12 ski ressort connected altogether with Switzerland and France stunning views great food possibilities to witness concerts on the slopes etc you could be eating traditional French cuisine on the slopes as well as traditional French alps cuisine or traditional Swiss cuisine. Day pass 55€ you can even pay less if you take only a portion of the whole resort. We have great little walkable towns, and super vivid apres ski too. We may casually have lines here and there at the entry point of the resorts or certain connections you want to check when you visit us as the vacation in February may get crowded with the Parisian folks. But beside that we are not that known so you will be having a cheaper experience 2h driving from Geneva. As it has been said on some comments we do have some drought here and there in europe now. This year that showed as lack of snow at Christmas time and February vacation but in between we had pretty big dumps too. I hope to guys will realize that skiing shouldn’t be an expensive sport and I cannot wait to meet more of my American friends in my French alps

[@Switzerleando]

Here in Switzerland, you just hop on the train for one or two hours then you go to ski and come back home the same day. That's why you see so many people in the train with their equipment. I would say also that Austria has also some quality ski resorts. This activity here is for everyone, and I mean everyone goes to ski, probably is more widespread than in United States. BTW, in 2019 you were in Basel! My channel is about Switzerland there's just so much to talk about this country!

[@HighDins]

meanwhile in the us the one train line that goes to a mountain want $400 for a ticket to it

[@gwbaker]

The main reason for the cost of lift tickets being so high in the US is because the companies that own these resorts want skiers to buy their pass products - either the Ikon Pass or the Epic Pass. If the per day charge at any one resort is high enough they can push the skier to buy the pass instead. They now have the fee up front and the skier's data which, in itself, is valuable to them. The other underlying reason lift tickets in the US are higher is the tariff the operator's insurance company puts on each ticket. The US is very litigious and skiing is a relatively high risk sport. Resorts get sued by lawyers on contingency all the time and their insurance company foots the legal bills and whatever the settlements are. In Europe, and elsewhere, it is much harder to bring an action against a resort/mountain, so those costs are not passed along in higher lift ticket prices.

[@lorimiller2369]

In Canada, I get either ikon or epic pass. This covers my local hill Whistler or Interior options and a nice trip to Colorado. The exercise, lifestyle, enjoyment with friends and family makes it all worth it! It requires advance planning but we make it fun. Can’t replace the time and in the summer it’s kayaking and hiking 😊. A healthy lifestyle is a lifelong mindset.

[@vladicgrabot6019]

i live in tahoe and same here

[@Gary-np7hl]

i spent 200 for a local mid day ski pass and 750 for an ikon base. i have 27 days on the local and 24 days on the ikon. that comes out to 18.67 per day and the season isn't over for me yet. that's at a combination of mammoth, solitude, brighton, steamboat, snowbird, snowbowl, a-basin, copper and taos. europe can't beat that.

[@gregvogel9859]

Lodging in Europe is so much cheaper than at US Ski resorts. The average hotel price in Zermatt is about half of what you would pay at a ski resort like Vail. That being said, you can also by the epic day pass if you by in advance and you can get a pass to any Vail resorts for $99 a day.

[@DavidGetling]

I've skied Vail, Mammoth and Lake Louise. Go to one of these in March and you stand a far better chance of getting both good weather and good snow. Nothing sucks more than having bad weather on your short skiing holiday. I also love the fact that North American resorts seem to have a lot more runs with trees either side and fewer cat walks.

[@hojnikb]

U gotta come to Slovenia as well! Some very good ski resorts and very cheap (for US standards) too. And plenty more to see all in the area of a bigger US city :D

[@bradIeyyy]

nothing comes close to Aspen or Vail

[@vitkrivan9380]

@@bradIeyyy you clearly haven't been to Europe, some ski resorts have 300kms or 190 miles of ski slopes. European ski resorts are way better

[@geraldherrmann787]

In Austria, we have among the best skiing-areas in the world. You pay inbetween € 30,- to 55,- for half a day, up to € 66,- for a whole day. We pay € 900,- for a whole season, ALL skiing areas included. In Salzburg and Tyrol you can book skiing areas for next winter even now, because we have skiing areas so high in the Alps that they have enough snow every year, some even all around the year.

[@dyoutubechannel8218]

I don't ski, but with the Canadian dollar exchange (which is 35% less than US dollar), I would wonder if it would be way cheaper. You could go on the west coat, in British Columbia, or on the east coast (yes, the mountains are smaller) where you find the Appalachians, like near Québec city. You would also find a different culture, since the province is French speaking. It's maybe an idea for another video.;) Great video btw!🙂

[@karalewis8654]

Oh ya! Whistler day pass is $110 CAN, Lake Luise in Alberta has surge pricing maxes out at $154 CAN, and Massif Du Sud is Quebec is $79.99 CAN.

[@johnsmeith3913]

If only Quebecers didn’t openly discriminate against English speakers and treat them horribly

[@devdroid9606]

@@johnsmeith3913 i live in Quebec and they do not. French is not a second language. It is the official language of Quebec. No different than Swedish in Sweden. If you come for a vacation in Quebec at an Altera resort you most definitely can speak and be served entirely in English. In fact, I'd say English is likely the main language at the resort.

[@dyoutubechannel8218]

@@devdroid9606 I agree with you. I live in Québec city and I can tell you that most business will have an employee that can serve you in English. My first language is French, but I went to an English College, and always try to help tourists whenever I can, so there are bilingual individuals more than you know @john smeith.

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

The American system is about forcing you to consume more. Once you consume a certain amount, price per day becomes more reasonable. BC is good skiing, but Vail's tentacles are in place. Let's say that you want a week long spring break ski vacation at Whistler (which is owned by Vail), but want a few days (two or three) at a US resort that season as well. The way the pricing works out, you'd probably want to buy an epic local ($676, 10 days distributed between whistler, Vail, and Beaver creek, edit: unlimited nonholiday skiing at other Vail resorts) or epic ($900... If you want holidays and unlimited access to the more restrictive Vail resorts). The full epic pass also gets you 7 days at some random Canadian Rockies ski areas like kicking horse... So, I just explained how they get you if you're an American who likes to plan ahead.

[@Vii_DT]

Chiming in from Japan here. The lift tickets for Happou-One and Okushigakougen, both of which were venues of 1998 Olympics, go for 6,500 JPY/65 CAD/50 USD/45 EUR per day, with free shuttle buses to nearby hotels and train stations in case of Happou, or any other resorts in Hakuba Village. I brought up these two because they are massively popular and are huge. Smaller resorts with few lines and few lifts can be enjoyed at 3,000-4,000 JPY per day.

[@mariushilse3498]

I usually book my trips to Austria a year in advance (Im from Germany) and i was never without snow. Maybe in the valley everything was green but on the slopes which were higher snow is almost guaranteed. Though when i go for weekend trips, i usuallydrive to the Czech Republic (Spindleruv Mlyn, Klinovec). They are very cheap and have a very good quality, though u have to check if there is enough snow, especially in December or March

[@christopherbroers167]

Great Vid Shelby thanks! Zermatt is my favourite and I've skied quite a few! If you are self catering try and find the supermarket where the locals shop and then this also keeps cost down. If you book the train to the resort online you can also sometimes get a discount on your ski ticket.

[@thatsitthatsall70]

Great video, I think Swiss prices are becoming by more digestible because of the relatively low inflation rate. Ive done seasons in New Zealand, Australia, Tahoe and done short holidays in Austria and Germany (now living in central Switzerland) and what I’ve noticed in Europe is there’s typically less staff operating the lifts, off piste isn’t controlled as much on mountain restaurants, bars, ski schools, ski rental shop etc are independent from the mountain. All in all it has it pros and cons but I prefer much more here it’s more genuine it’s often polished but you’re not bubble wrapped. If you have a family or a novice skier do your research before coming many resorts might not be right for you

[@TurambarRO]

Of all the places in Europe, perhaps Austria is the best choice when you make a price - benefit analysis. They have so many great places, high enough to be snow-sure. Try Zillertal, for instance, or Soelden. Any place with a glacier in the area is a sure thing. Italy is also good, in the Dolomites area. Sella Ronda is a must for all of us having a skiing bucket list. Great piece of content. Thank you! Mirel, Romania

[@CedricMurillo]

In Spain we have a lot of ski resorts as well! The biggest ones are about 50$ a day for ski pass, but there are some small ones that can cost about 25$ a day. I went on a ski weekend two months ago and it cost me 250$ for everything (ski pass, skis, hotel and gas).

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

I had no idea. I would have thought Spain was too warm.

[@PaulTaylor2424]

Pre-pandemic we use to travel to Japan to ski in fresh power from Australia. Lift Tickets about $50-$70US on the day food was excellent on the mountain $8-$12 for a Raman lunch.

[@alisonforbes222]

Thanks for your very interesting and informative video! My husband and I are British and live in the Netherlands. We first went skiing in Colorado in 1997 and since then we have skied many times in Lake Tahoe and Colorado. Excluding air fares, it was no more expensive than France and we loved the different resorts and hospitality. We would love to be able to go again but it's just too ridiculously expensive. The last 2 years we went to the Dolomites in Italy (Dolomiti Superski) and had a fantastic time. The Dolomites is a World Heritage site and probably the most beautiful place we have ever skied. It has over 1200 km of groomed pistes and is fantastic value for money in every respect. Highly recommended!

[@guypigache2105]

Totally agree about the beauty of the Dolomites. Simply stunning. Main cons: The skiing is a bit average and the snow can disappear earlier than higher European resorts. But as I am going again in 2024 (3rd time in 4 years) it cant be all bad.

[@JackGD1991]

As a European I can’t believe you went to *Zermatt* and it worked out good value compared to the US - must be crazy expensive in America. Most of the skiing I’ve done has been in France and I really like it. Lots of the resorts are ski in/ski out and you just feel like you’re surrounded by skiing. There are also several interconnected groups of resorts (3 Valleys, Espace Killy, Paradiski, etc) which can hugely add to the skiable area available to you. I’m going to Chamonix with some friends next month and the hotel has worked out about €390 per person (£335/$430). If you’re worried about booking too far in advance and there not being enough snow then booking one of the higher elevation resorts like Val Thorens can be a bit of an insurance policy against bad snow.

[@Jsthappytobehere]

I don’t even ski but I love your videos so I had to watch 😂

[@astrsksvowels]

Thank you for sharing! It’s wild how the most expensive resort in Europe is still affordable compared to what we have available in North America. I’d love to learn more about Val d’Isere and Alpes d’Huez.

[@guypigache2105]

They are both very high, modern (1960's +) French resorts. Expect generally ugly architecture, a vast ski area (way way larger than the many tiny resorts in USA), reliable snow (height), good food (but not always) and they get very busy during school holiday times. The other thing you tend to get in Europe is "night life". I have found US resorts rather tame. In Europe drinking (including on the slopes - beware) is seen as a core part of the ski experience. The skiing, for many, is only part of the holiday, partying is a big draw. Especially in Austria.

[@syncacct8576]

@@guypigache2105 Val d'Isère is old, the church was built in 1664. It is anything but ugly even though most of it has been rebuilt. You have places in Espace Killy like La Daille or Tignes, that are bit of an eyesore, but not Val d'Isère.

[@corentinphilippon8689]

Hey ! I'm living in France, and going to ski in the french alps 2 or 3 weeks every year ! I would recommand to go to Val Thorens or Courchevel or La Plagne which are the highest resorts (3000m approximately) and take all inclusive trips with Club Med or UCPA if you want something funnier and cheaper than Club Med ! A week all inclusive (really everything except from transport) at UCPA is around 1000/1200€/person.

[@ZZZ35431]

Hi from Switzerland, so proud to see people love to ski in Switzerland.

[@StefanR112]

I'm from Holland and my family has always gone skiing in Switzerland (Portes du Soleil area). It has definately gotten a lot more expensive over the years and yes the snow has become a problem especially if you want to ski in early season (like Christmas). Day passes are about 40-55 depending, but generally you'd buy a 1-2 week ticket which brings that down a bit. The food i'll say is good especially if you like melted cheese of all kinds. Austria, Italy definately is less expensive though and can also be great. One tip is that generally you'll be fine mid Jan-late March, and the higher the better. Roughly speaking 2000 meters guarantees snow. Never been to the US for skiing though, 150 for a day ticket seems insane...

[@dacat8171]

It all depends on the currency ratio US$/€. I remember 2010 when the ratio was 1.5 and made holidays in the USA relatively affordable.

[@radekotczyk4605]

Holland does not exist. It's the Netherlands now! :)

[@dacat8171]

@@radekotczyk4605 🤔

[@ontheroadwithpsl]

I live in Germany and for day trips we go skiing in Germany and for longer trips we usually go to Austria. The food is amazing and not as expensive as in Switzerland. 🤗

[@khrystynashevchenko]

Since I live in Switzerland, your choice of the ski resort is impeccable. Zermatt for me is the best resort! I would compare it to skiing in Aspen, Colorado which was incredible. Aspen was just super impressive, amazing people and awesome ambiance. Zermatt is humongous so you really get to be in nature while the resort is huge. This year in Zermatt they did not even have enough snow to do their yearly ski competition opening in October which doesn’t usually happen so I really appreciate your recommendation to check the weather. If you will be making more videos about Switzerland especially the French part I would love to share my favourite spots to visit!

[@karinavoggel5741]

Aspen was amazing? Lol I went there for a science conference (they have a physics center) and never in my life have I felt disrespected more than in Aspen. You are not a Millionaire? -> Well we give zero shits about you. It was insane and I hated it.

[@OrdinaryMech]

American living in Germany near the Austrian border with the Tirol area. And I love this topic so I’ll write a novel: Cost: Snow Card ski pass was 946eur for 90+ resorts. Ended up with 25 ski days across 16 different resorts. So about 38 eur per day but average price at the window is 55 so not that different unless you go more than 15 days. Accommodations: mostly day trips but several weekend trips to Ischgl, Stubai, etc and always able to find nice places for ~100per night for 2 people even last minute (see Crowds section later) Snow quality: Was great in Tirol this season with a couple strong exceptions…about 20 of my days were powder days including early and late season. Perks of living close by is being able to pick the days. Quantity: with nearly 100 resorts included in the Tirol Snow Card I was able to just pick the places with the best chance of producing a good day (new snow, base, open lifts, open runs, weather, elevation, crowds, etc). Crowds: (no one ever talks about European school holidays!!!) so November through late January you basically have massive ski resorts to yourself and then school holidays come and the crowds descend on the Alps. Pick your timing carefully….that being said, even on the most crowded school holiday days the lift lines aren’t anything like what you see in places like Whistler so usually just a few minutes wait. The issue is really only traffic and parking which can get rough… Terrain: last but not least is the terrain. In the alps it is just more easy to get into trouble compared to NA resorts. The mountains are big and you don’t always have safety ropes or signs telling you every danger. It is your job to know how to operate in the mountains even while in-bounds. You’ve got some resorts with massive vertical (700m base to 3500m top) so the weather can be extremely different, difficult, and dangerous at locations within the resort area. Can be the case anywhere but I see it much more here. Anyway…that’s all

[@annapolivkova9280]

Hi Shelby! I’m from Czechia and even though we have ski resorts here I mainly ski in Italy and Austria as they have longer slopes and bigger resorts. For five days of skiing, food, diesel for the round trip and accommodation, my husband and I would pay like 1200-1400 dollars total (with current exchange rate - Czech crown). It can easily be less or more depending whether you choose to go in a group which can get cheaper or whether you spend more on accommodation or food. The price is okay I would say - not great not terrible. For context - the average monthly salary here is about 1850$. You can probably ski for the same amount in Czechia for about 7 days depending on location, however the slopes and resorts are not as big so that’s why we usually drive elsewhere. Honestly skiing in the USA would be waaaay out of our budget and although I love skiing I wouldn’t justify 150$ for one day of skiing 😅

[@Mauganxylon]

Could go to Italy and probably spend half. Only problem is the snow is less consistent but if you get some good snow it’s the best for food and cheapest wine ;)

[@ladystarlight1528]

As far as budget friendly options in the US go, I’ve always liked Wolf Creek in Colorado. It’s smaller than other ski resorts, and you can’t stay on the mountain, but it still offers a good variety of trails and gets the most snow in Colorado. Lots of powder! I think they’re able to keep it more affordable because it’s family owned. It’s always been a go-to for me!

[@scottangle574]

Wolf Creek is the bomb! great skiing awesome snow and Pagosa Springs is a great town to stay in. I highly recommend it.

[@PeterNeumeier-j9y]

I’m a student in Germany and we found a great deal to ski in France. We had an apartment in the ski resort and paid 205€ for 7 days accommodation AND the Skipass for 6 days was INCLUDED. Was it the nicest apartment, no; was it the best ski resort, no. But the apartment was alright and the ski resort had a good size and a reasonable amount of lifts which were all open. We went grocery shopping in advance and brought everything with us. With all expenses included, I spent a total of 250€ for a 7 day ski vacation, which is absolutely mind blowing and it shows how far little money can get you even in Europe.

[@micheleciaramicoli7139]

You should try dolomiti Superski resort in italy, it is 1200km of slopes and most of them are connected to each other through lifts, Best part is that is it 70 euro/day more or less and it was even cheaper before inflation, also amazing food for relatively cheap (like 20 euro)

[@brijnich]

You can do Switzerland cheaper with the magic pass, which covers a whole bunch of ski resorts, including Saas Fee, next door to Zermatt, another car-free town. With insurance and if you buy it early pre-season it's around $500 for the year, including summer. My annual pass for Verbier is about the same as a week's skiing in the US. For sure, Europe has had some weak ski seasons for snow in the last few years compared to the US, but a few weeks back, I was talking to a couple from NYC who had come to Verbier instead of Colorado because it was cheaper, and Verbier is pretty expensive. You can enjoy skiing in Europe at a relatively affordable price in smaller less exclusive resorts with some real local small mountains. In the mountains, people understand the importance of a healthy attitude to good fitness and well-being, and that shouldn't be exlusive.

[@ChristianRunsNY]

10 years ago I was paying over $1000 for a single resort season pass. Now, as much as I can dislike Vail at times it hasn't come close to that price for Epic Passes, especially the Local (about $650 for a year). So passes in my eyes are cheaper for the season now in the US, but I do see big big increases in single and multi-day prices for the average one trip skier. If you actually ski or snowboard throughout the winter the prices are not really the issue. The reason Vail and Ikon push the season passes is for the shareholders as a publicly traded company. There is a guaranteed and more regular revenue stream if they can sell a season pass and not worry about a warm winter, lack of snow, bad weather etc, which impact day to day ticket sales. IMO this is the real reason the daily tickets have gone up. They want to gouge you into a season pass to normalize their revenue and better plan out expenses each season. So to me that is more of the "real" reason between the two US giants. One day at Vail for $250 doesn't make sense because if you take a trip for a few days you will just get a season pass. The season passes here even do include many overseas locations as well.

[@ChristianRunsNY]

Good timing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWWZmn1_oJinbZI

[@kasparnickborn6682]

I am Swiss and I went skiing to Lauchernalp for most of my life, which is a tiny resort around 50 miles away from Zermatt. It's one of the most "snow-secure" resorts in all of the alps because the slopes start at 2000m over sea and goes up to 3500m over sea. The village is way smaller than Zermatt and only has a tiny grocery store and a bakery in the neighbour village. But there are a few really good restaurants. I would recommend it to everyone (even though one has to consider, that the slopes are not really made for beginners (most of them are quite steep)). And in addition, it's not a good idea to go around Christmas/new year... Then it's overcrowded...

[@jiaminzhu406]

I live in Zurich and I consider zermatt ski resort being extremely expensive. 60CHF/day for me is about normal. Definitely possible to find 40, 50CHF/day. And lots of the time we can opt for a half day ticket as well.

[@mvrius.mvximus]

For beginners, Poland also has ski resorts that are incredibly cheap and do not have steep hills

[@MisterTMH]

Plus excellent XC skiing .

[@DosAussieThai]

Since Vail bought three of our five ski resorts in Australia, the lift pass price has doubled. We used to have online one-day ticket for Aud$89. Now all resorts start from Aud$179 even during low seasons.

[@thyslop1737]

Vai Resorts/Epic pass SUCKS.

[@DosAussieThai]

@@thyslop1737 Well since they own 3 of our 5 resorts in Australia, we are kinda stuck with them or Mountain Collective.

[@mlml8018]

Monopoly + the fact that many locals/tourists in aus have $$$to spend. If there weren't so much money around Vail would not have been able to get away with jacking up prices like that

[@DosAussieThai]

​@@mlml8018 Most people can't take long overseas holidays during northern winter so they are stuck in Australia, bitching about how expensive it is while sucking it up.

[@DosAussieThai]

@@mlml8018 ​ Most people can't take long overseas holidays during northern winter so they are stuck in Australia, bitching about how expensive it is while sucking it up. I started skiing in 2011. Back then a season pass for one of the two biggest resorts was only A$599 which was good for 365 days of the year - they run winter and summer activities. There are one or two lift/gondola open all year round. Now this resort charges $1799 for the same pass.

[@danstoye3902]

Lived in Europe 13yrs. Skied Germany Austria Switz and Italy. Next time you go Google Sella Ronda in Italy. A unique experience of linked ski runs that circle the Sella massif. You can start at any of the lifts and then ski clockwise or counterclockwise all day without hitting the same run. Takes approx 6 hrs to complete at a relaxed pace. Incredible scenery and end up where you started at the end of the day. At the height of winter in Europe you will find the Italian resorts have a lot more sunshine. Enjoy!

[@ChristianWenger-u4c]

You can't expect in April much snow in Europe, it's Spring and besides that we had a bad Winter 22/23 in the Swiss Alps

[@zunedog31]

One of your best videos. Perfect length, editing, and subject matter

[@MillaExplores]

Oh wow I didn't know that the ski passes are so expensive in the US. I lived in SLC, Utah in 2013/2014 and went skiing a few times during winter and probably spent like $50 for a day pass, but I guess the prices have increased since 😆 Inflation in the US is unreal. I'm from Finland and currently live here and the ski passes are like $40 ish a day right now. Lapland is great for skiing even though there are not any big mountains like Austria etc. 😄

[@thyslop1737]

Prices for everything with travel, accomodations and lift tickets could easily be $500 a nite if you average it out and that is not even being luxurious by any means. The skiing experience price wise if you are not a local to a ski area is unreal.

[@otrx5642]

I ski both Europe and the US. Well analyzed video, I loved it! But: buying a restricted season pass early (like the Epic Local pass) will greatly reduce your average daypass costs. Last year it cost something like 650$, meaning go skiing three days and you start saving tremendously. By the way, I can’t decide which skiing is better, EU or US. Gotta love ‘em both!

[@DrMichellePonder]

this was such a great video, I didn’t know any of this and feel like I need to go to switzerland and ski next! I wonder if maybe US resorts are more expensive (in part) because all the resorts have the ability to make snow so they never go without like how you mentioned happens at the europe ones? i’m sure the process is expensive! PS you missed an opportunity for a Gwyneth paltrow reference with a ski video 😂

[@apsis963]

Hi. Yeah, certainly compared to the US, Europe has lower amounts of overall snow, however, unless there is an extended period of warm weather (like this year), there will generally always be a solid base of over 1-2 metres. Most larger resorts in Europe have the majority of their runs protected by snow cannons, with certain resorts, such as Kitzbühel, almost having 100% in case of emergencies. However, fortunately ski prices aren’t astronomical here, as the larger resorts still compete with smaller ones over the market. Switzerland is definitely beautiful, but incredibly expensive relative to the rest of Europe.

[@Jane-ev5fx]

Not having snow is an issue for all ski resorts, even the ones in the US!!! I used to work at one and they had to make a ton of snow!!! Lots of trails are closed early season and at the end of the season due to lack of now 😂😂 that’s just how it works! Love you Shelby!

[@asajayunknown6290]

As you mentioned, for the casual 3-5 day per season skier, the US prices are expensive. On the other hand, I ski basically every Saturday here in Colorado and this year's per day cost is just over $40 per day

[@markosilhard2326]

Exactly nobody pays day ticket price except super casuals…Epic local is actually a great price for what you get!

[@Mark-vn7et]

You try skiing every other Saturday when it’s a 10-12 hour drive one way.

[@asajayunknown6290]

@@Mark-vn7et I understand. That's one reason I moved to Colorado years ago. The job didn't pay great. But I had access to the mountains. Also, mid-Season (jan-mar) I'm awake at 3:45 am every Saturday to make it doable, and not sit in traffic for hours each way.

[@asajayunknown6290]

@@Mark-vn7et The other solution to the high prices is to go to one of the smaller areas. I myself have enjoyed Monarch, Sunlight, Loveland, and Ski Cooper. They all have lift tickets closer to $100/day or less.

[@Mark-vn7et]

@@asajayunknown6290 yeah but I kinda wanna stay close to my friends and family. Also I should mention I’m from holland so I’m used to Austrian prices. Buddys of mine who are instructors over there pay like 600,- euros for the entire season. Last month I paid like 210 euro for a 5-day pass in Tirol, not the most expensive place (7.5/10) but still good to excellent amenities with I think around 350km of piste. It’s the apres-ski that kills your budget over there. I never knew the US would be so expensive for skiing

[@michaelsutherland9069]

ive skied Zermatt recently. I spent way less than it costs me to ski in Co, Ut, Mt ect.. All runs and lifts were open and it was amazing. We stayed in a remarkable hotel with an indoor spa, saunas, steam rooms, ect literally 10 feet from the slopes. It was about $300 per night in Usd. That same level hotel would have been $500 per night in the US and not near the customer service we received. Food was expensive but no more than any ski town in the US and it was soooooo much better. You can go to the top lift and ski down the backside into cervinia Italy into another resort. You can stop and eat lunch at restaurants in the Alps that are mom and pop owned family Italian restaurants for very reasonable prices. The place is huge, people from the US that have never been cant imagine how many runs there are. You do not have to go into town to catch buses, trains, ect to get to other areas as long as the lifts are open. Its truly a magical place. By far the most enjoyable trip Ive ever been on and nothing is even close to be honest. Ive had better snow in the US probably but thats hit or miss and just dependent on the weather.

[@dianeschmiane]

Interesting comparison, thanks for doing all the research. We're lucky to have a pretty good local ski hill with Lake Tahoe views that's only $25/day for residents. Although I'd love to ski elsewhere around the lake, as a casual skier, it's hard to justify the incredibly high day rates. Europe looks like a bargain!

[@Rommer2258]

There are still a few smaller ski resorts that are still good deals in the western US. My personal favorite is Angel fire. But even in California alta Sierra and mountain high are decent deals as well.

[@eipip1ez]

I skied in Val D’Isere/Tignes in March 2023 and there were tons of snow. It was breathtaking. The method I used was to get a place where the ski patrol stays…They come with kitchens and I went to the grocery store and cooked my own food. I bought a ski pass online before I went and used Alps2Alps limos to get from and to Geneva. It was a freaking blast. The mountain is humongous

[@JessePlumGD]

Haha, yes. You're so right, I never thought I'd meet you here. How have you been doing?😊

[@LeRune_]

A big difference between EU vs NA ski resorts is what the ski resorts maintain. In EU anything off piste can be seen as back country / unmaintained. They are not responsible for anything that goes off piste ... In NA anything off piste and within the ski boundary is well maintained and the resorts are responsible to maintain it all .

[@Readit4Life_2Chron7_14]

Excellent, pretty accurate & honest review. Thank you. (We all know Zermatt is beautiful but the most expensive. It's a bucket list kind of a place).

[@douglaskaye1395]

Great video and extremely well done. The US ski corps are putting themselves in peril. Replenishing the next generation of riders and skiers might be impossible.

[@TheSwissHiker]

Hey Shelby, glad you enjoyed Switzerland. Zermatt is actually the most expensive Ski resort in Switzerland and also one of the more expensive towns. Always a good idea especially for young persons is to try couchsurfing, saves you a lot of money if you don't need a luxery place to sleep. And the best thing about Switzerland is that you do not need a car. The public transportation is so good and brings you to every ski place. My favorit one for one day trips in Pizol-Bad Ragaz, which is also a lot cheaper. The reason that ski lifts are closed are usually safty reasons, because the wind can get very strong. If the weater is cold enought the snow is often not a problem as the most ski places have snow canons to produce snow. But with climate change the winter get warmer and warmer. This winter was especially warm and there wasn't a lof of snow which might cause problems in the summer when if it is also dry. Greetings, Benjamin

[@goat6383]

50€ a night ,5-10€ for the lift,2€ for a burger Welcome to southeastern Europe .

[@themadvolunteer]

Im in.

[@SurfAndTravel]

yeah but no exclusivity, Aspen and Vail are 5 star resorts much better

[@aviava7097]

Only in Turkey (maybe)..

[@sunrey1938]

30% higher restaurant price, but tip included. Servers are paid appropriately.