DIY vs Package Ski Holidays. Which One Is Actually Cheaper?

For the longest time I was convinced that a DIY ski trip was the cheaper option. It feels more budget friendly at first glance. The road trip, a simple self catered apartment (especially if you can share a bigger one with another family or friends), easy home cooked meals, and the satisfaction of having planned it all yourself. I genuinely thought that putting the pieces together on my own would always save money. After doing so many versions of both DIY and package ski holidays, I can say with confidence that this is not always the case. In fact, more often than you would expect, we've found package deals come out cheaper (and always easier!)

Why DIY Seems Cheaper

DIY holidays feel affordable because the costs are spread out. You book your accommodation, then later your lift passes, then your equipment hire, your travel, your transfers, your insurance, ski lessons and finally your food for the week. It all happens in steps, so the total price never hits you all at once.

But when you sit down and calculate every single item, the price climbs quickly. Lift passes are one of the biggest costs and they are unavoidable (althoguh there are a number of ways to save on these!). Equipment hire is not far behind. If you are flying, you need airport parking, luggage, transfers, and sometimes extra charges just for carrying ski gear. If you are driving, there are motorway tolls, fuel, snow chains, and possibly winter tyres. DIY also costs you time. That is something people forget to factor in. The hours of planning, the admin, the comparison shopping, the juggling of dates and locations. It does not seem like much at the start, but it adds up.

Why Package Deals Often Win

I used to think package holidays were the luxury version. The easier route. Something you booked when you were willing to pay more for convenience. Then I started paying attention to what was actually included. Flights, luggage, accommodation, transfers, lift passes, equipment deals, and sometimes even special offers like two for one ski passes or free ski hire.

The big tour operators have buying power. They negotiate rates that individuals simply cannot get. So when they run early bird deals, seasonal promotions, or Black Friday sales, the value can be incredible. When you compare like for like, a package often includes the costs that make DIY so much more expensive than it appears at first. And the convenience is real. Everything is booked in one go. There's is no admin. No questions about whether you have accidentally booked the wrong lift pass zone. It saves a lot of stress, especially if you are travelling as a family.

The Companies We Genuinely Recommend

We have tried a lot of options over the years, and these are the companies we keep returning to because the value and the ease are consistently great.

Sunweb has become a favourite because of how straightforward the pricing is and our favourite thing - they always include lift passes in every package, which is such a huge saving. They offer holidays for every budget and we have had excellent value ski trips through them.

Heidi is brilliant if you want flexibility. You can build the trip exactly how you want it. We booked a Christmas break in Serre Chevalier with them last year and it was such a good deal we kept double checking the booking. Everything was simple and the price was genuinely impressive.

Crystal Ski Holidays is one of the bigger companies in the ski world and that shows in what they are able to offer. We have had deals with them that included two for one lift passes, free kids places and free ski hire. One year we were even offered a refund for lack of snow! Those are the kinds of offers that make packages extremely competitive when compared with DIY.

When DIY Still Works

DIY definitely has its place, we absolutely still book both options. If you are travelling outside peak season, are looking at a less well known resort that big tour operators don't yet operate in or you manage to find a great deal on an apartment, it can come out cheaper. If you enjoy planning and you like the idea of making the journey part of the experience, DIY can be great. Driving gives you more freedom and you can take as much as you want in the car. But it only works out cheaper when you have done the maths honestly and you have not underestimated the real cost of all the extras.

The Bottom Line

The idea that DIY automatically equals cheaper is not always true. Sometimes it is, sometimes it absolutely is not. Package ski holidays often win on value because so many of the expensive items are already included. They also win on convenience and on peace of mind, which becomes more important when you are travelling with kids.

The best thing you can do is compare properly. Add up every DIY cost. Look at what is included in the package. Check the deals running at the time. You might be surprised at which one comes out on top.

Save this blog post for your next ski holiday and keep an eye on those early bird, those last minute and seasonal deals. They can make a huge difference to the final cost.