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Will sterling's tailspin spell disaster for the ski season?

Will this be a winter when skiing becomes an unnecessary luxury? - Fredheim Fotos
Will this be a winter when skiing becomes an unnecessary luxury? - Fredheim Fotos

First the bad news. Earlier in the year I was putting a relatively positive gloss on the value of the pound against the euro. Even though sterling was languishing around 1.15, it was still about the same as it had been for five of the past 10 years. But the last few weeks have seen another dip – with the pound buying fewer than 1.10 euros – and that makes things as bad as they have been since 2009.

Sterling to euro / forex one year
Sterling to euro / forex one year

The good news is that the dip in 2009 lasted only a year or so – and, despite the uncertainties of Brexit, the pound will surely recover some ground before too long. In the short term, we may, however, be in for one of those winters when skiing in particular seems like more of a luxury. 

Again, there is some good news. Even if the pound stays weak right through to next spring and prices on the ground look high for British skiers this winter, most major tour operators have already priced their packages. And they did so when the pound was nearer 1.20. So if you pay for as much of your ski holiday as you can in sterling in advance, you can benefit.

If you buy a full-board package with all extras included, the only expense in the resort may be a few lunches. Chalet holidays which offer these arrangements, and often include wine at meal times, look attractive this season.

Chalet accommodation looks a good bet this winter
Chalet accommodation looks a good bet this winter

Should you therefore book now and take advantage of incentives advertised by some operators? For example, Crystal (crystalski.co.uk) is offering a third off lift prices and ski packs in some European resorts for bookings made before Monday. Or should you wait until the snow falls and see what last-minute deals are available instead?

I’m always tempted by the latter option, because you can at least be confident of choosing a resort or a week with decent conditions. But such strategy only works for a few weeks in the season when demand is relatively low and availability likely. This winter, there will be fewer of those weeks than usual. The timing of Christmas and Easter means that only one departure weekend at the beginning of the season (December 9/10), the four January weeks, and the first three weeks in March can be considered mid or low season. This is good news for families, because it makes the last week in March a feasible and cheaper alternative to the mania of February half-term. But it is not so promising for last-minute bargain hunters, because there is likely to be more pressure than usual during the off-peak weeks, and therefore fewer late deals.

Skiers might get a better deal if they book at the last minute - Credit: getty
Skiers might get a better deal if they book at the last minute Credit: getty

Skiers who are flexible about when they take time off will still find some good options by booking a week or two ahead of departure. For those who need to plan further in advance – and certainly for the school holidays – this is probably a season when it’s a good idea to take what’s on offer now. And either way, to pay for as much as possible upfront and in sterling.

10 ski holiday hacks that can save you money this season
10 ski holiday hacks that can save you money this season