Skiing is hardly the trip that comes to mind when considering a budget-friendly holiday.
But in reality, there are plenty of ways to make the often expensive sporty holiday easier on your finances – with purse-friendly resorts in countries such as Bulgaria.
Now, one ski resort has taken cheap trips to the next level – with free skiing.
The Saint-Colomban-des-Villards resort in the Alps has taken the unprecedented decision to make skiing free this winter.
The French ski resort has made the decision out of financial necessity, however, rather than a magnanimous decision for the benefit of snow sport lovers.
The small village in the Savoie region, located at 1,100 metres above sea level, has faced a worsening financial deficit over the past two years.
In order to avoid further financial damage, it has decided not to sell lift passes at all this winter – with the aim of saving money.
The town’s mayor Pierre-Yves Bonnivard said the Saint-Colomban-des-Villards ski area has been running a deficit for nearly 25 years.
Saint-Colomban-des-Villards has taken drastic measures to save money – including free skiing
In 2025, the operational deficit alone reached €1 million (£872,740) – with the growing deficit largely a result of uncertain snowfall in the area.
The mayor told Euronews: ‘Almost 40 per cent of the town’s budget was being used to cover a loss-making activity.’
The prefecture ordered the municipality to drastically reduce operating costs.
The situation was worsened when Les Sybelles, France’s fourth-largest ski area, closed – Saint-Colomban-des-Villards had been part of it since 2003.
After many attempts to find solutions, it was decided the ski area would be reduced.
The mayor said: ‘Going from a connected ski area to nothing at all would have been too brutal.’
As such, it was decided part of the ski area would become free of charge. The resort will operate a mini ski area of two drag lifts and a children’s belt.
Selling lift passes would need staff to run the office ticketing system, costing an estimated €36,000-€41,000 (£31,000-£35,700) for the season.
The resort is a small village in the Savoie region in France – and has faced financial issues
But projected revenue from beginner passes would be only €18,000 (£15,700) – so the resort will allow people to ski for free.
‘It actually costs us less not to charge,’ the mayor said.
Overall, the municipality estimates the cost of offering free skiing this season to be €150,000 to €200,000 (£131,000 to £175,000), five times less than last winter – making the deficit more manageable.
The results of the free skiing experiment will be examined at the end of the season, with the decision as to whether the system continues to be made in April.
