Bulgaria named the cheapest family ski holiday destination this half term

Half term is fast approaching and families across the UK will be planning a much needed getaway from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Now, new research from M&S Bank has revealed the destinations where families can head off for a winter break for less, with Bansko in Bulgaria taking the crown for the cheapest family ski holiday destination this half term.

Looking at the total cost of a family holiday for four to the ski resort, the research revealed a total holiday outlay of £2,880 - £154 (-5.1% less) than the cost for the same holiday in 2014.

Following Bansko's lead were the following resorts:

2. Italy (Central Piedmont Alps) - £4,144 (-£137 or -3.2%)

3. France (Meribel) - £4,816 (-£224 or -4.4%)

4. Switzerland (Grindelwald) - £6,232 (-£254 or -£3.9%)

5. USA (Vail) - £11,044 - (+650 or +6.3%)

Commenting on the figures, which also showed that USA (£2,136) and Switzerland (£1,538) topped the table for the most expensive ski hire costs for a family of four; Paul Stokes, head of products at M&S Bank, said:

“It’s great that favourable exchange rates have led to a reduction in cost for four out of five ski destinations over the past year. However, there is a significant variation in price between the cheapest and most expensive ski destinations, with ski passes, equipment hire and flights all impacting the total cost.”

Going on to offer a few words of money saving advice for holidaying families, he added:

“Families can achieve substantial savings by considering some of the less traditional ski destinations, while looking at local costs and exchange rates will help to ensure they get the most from their travel money.”

This is not the first time Bansko has been recognised in the value for money stakes, with research released by Tripadvisor last year revealing that the words Bulgaria and bargain ski break definitely sit in the same sentence.

Based on a cost of a one week skiing holiday for a family of four - including accommodation, ski hire, ski passes and more - its research showed that Bankso in Bulgaria emerged as the best value European ski destination. Here, total holiday costs came in at a wallet-friendly £1,631.

If you are heading off on a ski break, it's important to organise ski travel insurance in advance.

Date Created: 10/02/2015