Cheap Travel to Europe Cheap Skiing

Hi everybody,

I probably shouldn't call myself a cheapskate. But cheap ski, now there's a label to be worn like a badge!

I would have written sooner but I went skiing (actually it's been a few days now). I know that you want cheap travel to Europe and I don't blame you. I don't know how long you're staying and what you'll be doing in Europe, but I like to ski. I'm not that good at it, but it's great to just be out there in creation and enjoy the mountains, forests and snow. So if you like winter sports and you are looking for cheap travel in Europe in the winter (which is a cheap time to look), you might want to check out some (downhill) skiing. But skiing is not a poor person's sport, right? Well, it can actually be pretty affordable. I have a three or four year old pair of skies that I bought used from a ski shop owner's dad in Maribor, Slovenia (just south of Graz, Austria), so I usually don't have to rent. But keep reading if you have to rent, the principles apply.

Here are a couple quick tips for you if you are a cheap travel to Europe freak who skis:
before we start, Disclaimer: If you are an awesome skier who needs REALLY challenging slopes, you may have to pay the big bucks to get them.

1. Stay away from the really big resorts! If you are like me and just enjoy the ride (and aren't in Olympic shape either), look for a smaller ski center that is adequate. It will be cheaper for everything from lift ticket to ski rental. Even in parts of Europe that I would usually avoid because of the expense (see tip 2 below), there are little resorts, often very family friendly (baby lift, sled runs on one side, ski on the other) that will suit you fine and save you beacoup Euros! I may have more details on this soon. I am going to do some cheap travel in Europe of my own and go to a little place in Austria and I'll try to let you know how it goes.
2. Go EAST, young person. Yes. Your cheap travel to Europe may start you in London, but if you want to ski, go EAST! Yes, go past France and Andorra, and definitely Switzerland and probably even Austria and Italy (haven't researched Italian prices too much). Poland has a ski area at Zakopane, which is on the border with Slovakia. Slovenia has amazing mountains at better prices, just an hour or two south of Salzburg and the Alps. There are some real steals in Croatia, usually better known for its' amazing Adriatic Coast with good reason. Did you know that Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted the 1984 Olympics? Sarajevo, baby. Yes, though they had a war in the 1990's, the ski resorts are getting back up on their feet and have a rather impressive local ski culture at very good rates. Getting there by air for cheap might be tricky, but there are other ways. Macedonia and Bulgaria also have great mountains, as well as young Montenegro. I even recently read about a tall mountain (top is 2500 metres, bottom 1100) ski resort in Kosovo (Brezovica) which might be a little more challenging and adventurous, but if you don't want that, what are you still doing here? You want the "Expensive travel to Europe" blogs... This is Cheap Travel to Europe and once you get there, we are going to stay cheap... and SKI cheap!
3. If you are a really really cheap skate--oops, ski, just show up a little late. Maybe like noon. Look for people leaving and ask for their lift tickets. If they are one day people, they usually don't care and just give you one. The later in the day it gets, the more likely you will find people heading out. You can also get cheaper tickets from like noon or 13:00 on, too, though hour for hour, you get a better deal to ski the whole day... By 14:00 or so, you'll surely find somebody, but alot of places close by 16:30, so it's up to you. You should be able to find cheap places to stay at these Eastern European neighbors, also, because the 7.50 EURO for a whopper "value" meal that grips Western Europe hasn't seemed to catch on here. This is maybe an already known not-so-secret of cheap travel in Europe, but there you go.

So holler at me on the comments or by email if you have some good experiences and or suggestions about Cheap Travel to Europe, Cheap Travel in Europe or Cheap Skiing. I'll be in touch. Gotta' check out the snow report...