Ski the World's Best Slopes for as Little as $60 a Day
Dreaming of hitting the slopes without breaking the bank? It's possible to ski world-class destinations for surprisingly affordable prices. Planning ahead and taking advantage of special offers can drastically reduce the cost of your next ski trip, whether you're heading to Aspen or exploring resorts further afield.
Advance Booking and the Ski30 Pass
The key to affordable skiing often lies in advance planning. Booking your trip well before the winter season can unlock significant savings. For example, the little-known Ski30 pass, exclusive to Australians booking lodging packages in Aspen, allows up to 30 consecutive days of skiing for the equivalent of just $60 per day. This drastically undercuts the price of walk-up day tickets, which can cost around $280 at popular resorts like Aspen Snowmass.
Even skiing for just two weeks with the Ski30 pass results in a daily rate of $120, still significantly cheaper than a single day at Australian resorts like Perisher or Thredbo, where day tickets average around $250. Plus, families can benefit from free skiing for children 12 and under when renting skis from Aspen’s Four Mountain Sports.
Package Deals and Strategic Timing
Consider booking package deals through companies like Sno’N’Ski, Travelplan, SkiMax, or Ski Aspen to secure accommodation discounts ranging from 20-30% at various ski destinations worldwide. These companies often have access to industry rates that are difficult to match when booking independently.
Timing is also crucial. Avoid school holidays and be aware of blackout dates to get the best prices and avoid crowds. The sweet spot for optimal conditions and affordable rates often falls after Australia Day, aiming for the period between January 30 and February 14. This avoids the peak of the northern hemisphere holidays, including President's Day Weekend in the USA.
Alternatively, spring skiing in March and April can offer even cheaper rates with similar or even better snow quality compared to peak season in Australia. For instance, Big Sky Resort in Montana reduces ticket prices by up to 50% during these months, while still providing excellent snow coverage and longer daylight hours.
Leveraging Multi-Resort Passes: Epic and Ikon
If you skied at Hotham, Perisher, or Falls Creek in 2025 with an Epic Australia Pass, you can enjoy lift ticket-free access to over 90 resorts worldwide. The Epic Pass covers renowned destinations like Hakuba, Verbier, Whistler, and Vail. Purchasing next year's pass before October 15 offers the best rates, allowing access to overseas resorts in the 2026-27 winter season. The pass costs $1045, which can work out to a daily rate of $149 if you ski for seven days, with the daily cost decreasing the more you ski.
Thredbo and Mt Buller are covered by the Ikon Pass, priced around $1600 when bought in May. While it only provides seven days of skiing at each resort, it includes access to unique ski areas such as Aspen Snowmass, Revelstoke, Chamonix, St Moritz, and Niseko.
Exploring Alternatives and Hidden Gems
Consider a ski road trip around Colorado to maximize the value of your Epic or Ikon pass, with access to over 30 ski areas in a single state. If driving isn't your preference, settle in a location with free shuttle buses to the slopes, like Banff in Canada, which provides access to the "big three" of the Canadian Rockies: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt Norquay, all on the Ikon Pass.
For budget-friendly options, explore local gems like Myoko Kogen in Japan. Despite its smaller mountains, it often boasts deserted slopes and day lift tickets as low as $40, with free shuttle buses connecting to five nearby ski areas and nine resorts in the greater region.
