Why Is Skiing Cheaper in Europe Than the US?

[@simontrudgen6539]

The double hit is that the Alpine resorts are far better, more varied and 10 times more stunning than the American resorts. Blessed every time I ski there.

[@mountain_sight]

What’s your favourite resort in the alps?

[@simontrudgen6539]

So far...Saalbach, Austria. The perfect mix of everything. France has become too expensive and Austria retains that all round Alpine holiday feeling so much more.

[@jacobbrassard2776]

We get better snow though...

[@Weerchris]

@@simontrudgen6539Package ski holidays in France are cheaper than in Austria. The accommodation especially is much cheaper but often also very basic.

[@benjamindelaney5650]

Great video! u guys are really underrated

[@mountain_sight]

Thank you. Appreciate your support!

[@marcodipietro8835]

I am Italian and I have been skiing in the Italian Alps for a long time, and I can say the food and lifts especially are amazing, high technology even with heated seats. The only problem with skiing in Europe is that it is warmer than in the US, so I think if one wants to have a proper winter with good snow the states are better. Here in Europe in a lot of places it's a constant battle between rain and snow

[@OtagesBringthemhome_NOW]

A huge difference is that most Europeans ski resorts don't have seasonal passes. But since most people with kids can only go during a few weeks a years, 2 weeks Christmas school holiday, 1 week I think in februari. Which mean the prices during those weeks are much higher. Personally I think Switzerland is most beautiful with highest mountain tops. I loved Zermatt but stayed in several placs in Swiss and France. Only twice in Austria which wasn't our favorite but they do have some exclusive resorts as well. We just prefer to stay in a resort at a high altitude so can ski and out of you appartment or hotel and don't have to spend much timeto get to a gondola or other lift to get to the top. Zermatt isn't that high, only around 1450 if I remember correctly, which is quite low for us. But staying in a resort at a loower altitude is often cheaper. Logical because driving all the needed goods for hotes, shops and retaurants up to resorts at an altitude of 2000 meter will make everything more expensive for consumers. Which is Not the case fo lower altitude exclusive resorts like Zermatt though (which iscomletely care free). Te choice of resort for most also depends if you go with (little) children who still need to learn to ski. Or if you are all excellent skiers and want to ski most difficult black runs. Also if you want there to b other fascilities in the resort at a walking distance like a swimmingpool, ice skating ring, (bob) sled etc. Or if you want extensive apres ski bars or just a good restarant. In France many ski resorts (Area's) have nowadays been connected with gondola's/lifts , so you can also buy more expensive ski passes for larger tange of areas (not needed for beginners). Like in La Pagne, Les Arcs etc. In Zermatt for example you can also buy a more expensive pass so you can cross over the mountain into Italy and use lifts and back. P.S. I don't think you will be able to find a hotel for $100 a night in Zermatt during high season. We rented a huge private Chalet with at least 15 beds in it, whilst we were only there with 6 ppl and it cost a fortune. And search if there is a children ski school with lessons given l in the lower resorts (there may not be enough snow ). In Zermatt you needed to take the Gornergrat train to half way up for the little kids lessons. Very international place. But since there is sadly much less snow than when we learned to ski, things have changed for the worse. We could have ski lessons in a lower Swiss resorts, many moons ago. You also really need to reserve far ahead in many good/exclusive (higher up) resorts epecially during school holidays. So for those not living in Europe, you need to look up their school holidays periods, they can be slightly different per EU country. Austria and Italy are on average probably still cheaper than France and Switzerland. Austria is in general more known for their typical apres ski (drinking) culture. Just a TIP : I read some comment about your prononciation of the resorts, try to listen before how to pronounce those places or ppl will have no clue which places you're talking about and how to find them if theyre interested in them after your vidds. Hope this info may be helpful for someone bc skiing in Swiss and France is still awesome.

[@kempfi1982]

In Austria you will find Season Passes for Almost all Ski Resorts. And Not only that: very often the areas are connected within a seaosnal pass.

[@ambientauras]

To all Americans, forget going to London or Paris save up and go to Val Thorens. In my opinion it is one of the best resorts in Europe for the money. It’s part of 3 valleys which gives you 600km of ski runs a tonnes of off piste for powder junkies and loads of runs whatever your ski ability. If you’re on a bit of a budget you can stay in les menuires. If you really want to the splash the cash and money is no object then I would recommend st Anton in Austria but only if you’re an intermediate to advanced skier

[@philipjones3599]

If you want to party and take drugs/ alcohol val thorens is right. But there are lots of alpine towns that you can stay in to access 3 valleys that are better suited to families or lower budgets.

[@pryykkar]

At my home ski resort i can get a season pass in the spring for less than 200€

[@suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu503]

in italy the skipass price is 40€-60€ on average

[@mountain_sight]

One of the reasons we love skiing in Italy

[@squirlhound]

Ski lessons are outrageously more expensive in the USA. Full day private lesson more than $1000 at Aspen! Easily half that at premier resorts in the Alps.

[@mountain_sight]

That’s crazy!

[@yv94684]

Come to Japan's ski resorts! Usually, a one-day pass is between USD 30 and 50 across Japan.

[@Jess-zf3ve]

At Val Gardena, we spent only 15 Euros on a Hugo spritz and TWO Jaeger bombs. That would be at least $40 on a US mountain 😂😅

[@mountain_sight]

Wow that’s crazy! 😅Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼

[@HamsterTMS]

As a snowboarder with limited employment, I can only hope that someday the prices will eventually decrease, very possible however also very unlikely

[@bensonr2]

I like this video. However I strongly disagree with your conclusion. Yes the US has less resorts. However I think there are more skiers in Europe then the US. The real reason for lift ticket cost in the US is liability cost. Liability costs are significant and they make it harder for small operations to be profitable and compete which further limits competition further increasing price.

[@racheltan7405]

so u r saying europe ski resort onwers dont need to pay as high liability costs?

[@OtagesBringthemhome_NOW]

Maybe also watch this video titled : Winter Sports: How Climate Change is Affecting Ski Resorts on the DW Travel channel I just saw it in the ecommendations list :(

[@Joozt112]

All that fun police at the US resorts must cost a ton of $$$.

[@stevewhiteley9249]

Interesting - here in the uk we used to get $2 to £1 and now it’s nearer to one to one so making USA less attractive to us from a cost point of view.

[@LiamL763]

Lol That happened for like a few months in the summer of 2007, I remember that distinctly cos we were on holiday in NY and lived like kings. suffice to say it was caused by unusual circumstances and didn't last very long.

[@derg6222]

Every price "fact" stated in this video is wrong. There obviously hasn't been done any research upfront. Horrible, wrong information and a sense- and faceless video. That channel should be striked.

[@PipinhoSnow]

:)

[@DanieleSegato]

I love how this video conclusion is completely off. In the US salaries are way higher than Italy ones, 3x to 30x. If the prices of skipass here were like the US nobody would go skying cause very few could afford it. Sure Demand / Offer, but that's a consequence of salaries differences.

[@belgiumhr3524]

the average in Italy is 31000 , in the USA it's 59000. In Italy, healthcare and education are basically free. Please inform yourself before posting nonsense. I love how Americans proof their ignorance with a tone of arrogance.

[@maurogoncalves807]

Salary in Norway or Switzerland are way higher than in the US, still the ski pas is only €70 per day.

[@marcodipietro8835]

good point