Croatian ski slopes could be busy this winter

Skiers will abandon pricy mainstream resorts to go off the beaten track this winter, according to the Ski Club of Great Britain, which could make many consider a holiday in Croatia.

Traditional skiing locations such as the French Alps and Austria may be too expensive for many during the period of economic downturn, so a lower-cost alternative may be in demand. Even moving further down a particular valley can affect the cost of a ski holiday dramatically.

Vanessa Fisher, spokesperson for the club, said: "Resorts that are slightly off the beaten track are going to be popular as they are slightly cheaper. [They have] still got access to skiing and those are the types of resorts that skiers will be looking for." As the pound weakens against the euro, the price of ski holidays has risen by around six per cent. That could lead many skiers to seek out an up-and-coming ski destination such as Croatia.

Last week Tim Holmes, manager of the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, said that snow fans have too much passion for skiing to give up their winter break because of the credit crunch.

Cost of skiing holidays expected to soar

Skiers and snowboarders can expect to pay up to 20 per cent more for trips this winter as operators cut the number of holidays on offer.

Peak-season dates will be particularly expensive but even at other times there will be fewer heavily discounted holidays.Ski industry insiders say that, with operators cutting back on capacity by as much as a third, prices are unlikely to come down. Demand is already outstretching supply during February half-term, which for the second consecutive year will fall on the same week for most schools in England and Wales.

The increase in prices and a reduction in the number of holidays follows what was a particularly good winter for skiers – with heavy snowfall across the Alps – but a disastrous one for most operators. The collapse of the pound against the euro and the US dollar wiped out profit margins and left many smaller operators in debt. The main operators normally bring out their ski brochures in April – but this year they are still number-crunching in June. To the consternation of smaller operators who use their prices as a yardstick, the brochures are unlikely to be released until next month.

The outlook is brighter for skiers prepared to holiday in January or March, when prices will be up by around 10 per cent on average, rather than 20 per cent for peak-season dates. If you shop around carefully, it may even be possible to match last year's package costs. Airlines, hotels and even lift companies are beginning to realise that if they want to keep the pound-poor British market they must offer travel firms discounts or special deals. Wise skiers will pay for as many essential extras – such as lift passes and equipment rental – in pounds before they leave home