Ski holidays aren’t exactly known for being cheap; especially with kids in tow. But after 25 years of skiing there myself, I can tell you that affordable family ski holidays to Les Arcs aren’t just a pipe dream. You just need to know where to look, when to book, and which costs are truly essential.
Whether you’re eyeing your first family ski trip or trying to make a family ski holiday an annual habit without it wiping out your yearly budget, Les Arcs is a solid choice. It’s big, flexible, and well-connected, and if you’re willing to step outside the classic packaged catered chalet mould, there are plenty of ways to bring the cost down.
This guide pulls together everything I’ve learned from years of DIY trips with kids: how to find cheap accommodation, when to book ski passes, what gear’s worth buying, and how to travel without getting fleeced. Entirely based on my own experience, this post lays out practical ways to make skiing in Les Arcs affordable without it feeling like you’re missing out.
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DIY your trip
If you’re trying to keep costs down, DIYing your ski holiday is usually your best bet. Yes, it takes a bit more planning, but it also gives you more control over your budget and how you travel. And with all the guides I’ve written here on the blog (see my Family Skiing in Les Arcs page), which links to every post in this series, you don’t have to figure it out from scratch.
My main tip for DIYing affordable family ski holidays to Les Arcs is timing, timing, timing! I book each aspect of the trip when it’s at it’s cheapest. For accommodation and travel, this is usually as early as possible – because once demand is high and spots are scarce, the prices ramp up. For ski passes and ski hire, I wait for the deals to be released; usually September and October.
The sections below break down each part of your trip, from transport to lessons, with clear, practical ways to save money without missing out on the good stuff.
Choose your Les Arcs base wisely
If you’re DIYing your ski trip – and let’s be honest, that’s usually the most affordable route – your biggest cost after travel is accommodation. And where you choose to stay can make a surprising difference to the overall budget.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice, at the bottom of the valley, is a solid option for families wanting space and savings. You’ll generally get more square metres for your money compared to staying up the mountain, plus access to cheaper supermarkets, more restaurant options, and the train station on your doorstep. That opens up possibilities for better-value transfers and no need to shell out for a hire car or mountain parking.
Read: Bourg Saint Maurice Skiing: Our Favourite Base for a Family Ski Holiday
The funicular to Arc 1600 takes 7 minutes, runs every 20 minutes (or more when it’s busy) and is included with your lift pass. We’ve done it for years; storing our skis at the top so there’s no daily lugging involved. Once the kids had the stamina for a short walk at the start and end of each day, it has become a smooth routine. When they were younger though (around six and under), staying up the mountain in one of the resorts was definitely easier.
If you find a good-value studio in Arc 1600 or 1800 (usually the cheapest Les Arcs villages), you’re closer to the action – particularly useful with younger children or if you want to be first on the slopes. Just keep in mind: you’ll get a much smaller space, higher food costs, and you’ll often pay extra for parking if you’ve driven.
You can read more about each Les Arcs base, and work out which suits you best here:
👉 Where to stay in Les Arcs? Which is the best Resort: Arc 1600, 1800, 1950, 2000, Peisey-Vallandry or Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Browse Booking.com for best value Les Arcs apartments
Book lessons and lift passes carefully
Lessons and lift passes are non-negotiables for most families, but they’re also where you can quietly lose a lot of money if you’re not careful.
For lessons, go for group options with Evolution 2 (my preferred option) or ESF. They’re the most affordable, especially if your kids are beginners or intermediates. We’ve used both over the years, and while they might not have the bells and whistles of a private instructor, they’re solid, professional, and the kids have always come away better skiers.
For a full review of all the Les Arcs ski schools (we’ve used them all!) read: Les Arcs Ski School Guide: What I’ve Learnt (and What I’d Do Differently)
When it comes to lift passes, if you’re a small family travelling with another family, there’s a lesser-known trick: buy all your passes together. We’ve done this with friends, and by pooling our purchase, we unlocked a family pack discount. You’ll get a small saving as a family of three, but the discounts are better with four or more people, so teaming up with another family really helps.
There are also regular seasonal offers on lift passes, usually released in October and November. These rarely apply to peak weeks in February, but often do for mid-December and Easter trips. Signing up to the Les Arcs newsletter is worth it – they’ll notify you of early bird deals and extra discounts usually for the Essential Pass, which includes perks like queue-jump lanes and activity discounts. I’ve got a blog post about whether the Les Arcs Essential Pass is worth it, coming soon.
Save on ski hire and gear
Ski and boot hire is one of those costs that sneaks up fast; especially when you’re kitting out an entire family. The key to keeping it under control? Book early, and look out for promo codes.
We usually book online through Skiset. Their early-bird discounts and regular offers can shave a good chunk off the in-resort prices, and they’ve got convenient locations in all the Les Arcs villages.
👉 Book your ski hire at Skiset well in advance
As far as ski clothing goes, it’s worth checking out second-hand gear or even borrowing from friends and family. We’ve had great luck with hand-me-downs and Facebook marketplace, and for anything you do need to buy, Decathlon is unbeatable for value. Their ski kit – thermals, salopettes, jackets and gloves punch well above their price tag.
👉 Grab affordable ski gear from Decathlon
Consider renting ski clothing instead of buying it all. Adventure Kit Hire lets you hire out full ski clothing sets for adults and kids; waterproof jackets, salopettes, gloves and more, delivered straight to your home. It’s ideal for fast-growing kids who’ll outgrow gear between seasons.
👉 Check out Adventure Kit Hire for ski clothing rentals
No need to fully kit everyone out either; hire the bulky stuff (boots, skis, helmets), and own the basics like gloves, thermals and socks that you’ll reuse year after year. You can find a full breakdown of what to bring – and where to buy it – in my ski trip packing list for families.
Eat like a local – with a view
Ski resort food is notoriously expensive; and not always worth the price tag, especially if the kids don’t eat half of it! But Les Arcs has something a lot of resorts don’t: dedicated indoor and outdoor picnic areas designed for people who bring their own packed lunch.
We almost always bring sandwiches onto the slopes with us, and we’re not talking dreary petrol station sandwiches here. You’re in France! Think freshly baked baguettes, filled with proper French cheese, charcuterie or pâté and crisp salad, and a few pastries picked up that morning. It saves a fortune, especially with kids, and means you’re not queuing up for overpriced spaghetti bolognese at altitude.
There are great dedicated indoor picnic spots at Arc 1950 and at the top of the Vallandry lift, which have tables to eat at and heating. Even better? These indoor picnic areas have vending machines inside, offering decent hot chocolate and coffee for a fraction of bar prices.
If the weather is good, there are also multiple outdoor picnic tables dotted around the resort, most of which have breathtaking views.
If you still want a little treat at a mountain restaurant without spending a daily fortune, we often treat ourselves to a mid-morning crepe or coffee / hot chocolate at a mountain bar – it feels like a treat, but costs a lot less than lunch (and means we skip the lunchtime queues).
👉 Read: Where to Eat a Picnic in Les Arcs Ski Resort (Without Breaking the Rules) (coming soon)
Go late season for sun and savings
Skiing at Easter is usually the cheapest time of the season, and Les Arcs is one of the better resorts for snow reliability at that time of year.
The slopes are quieter, prices drop (especially on accommodation and travel), you’ll often find lift pass discounts, and the warmer weather makes everything just that bit easier. We’ve skied at Easter many times, and Les Arcs generally holds its snow well into April.
You might not get bottomless powder, but you’re likely to get sunshine, blue skies, and more forgiving conditions for kids learning to ski (slush is much preferred by my kids to ice!). But sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of those late-season snow dumps that remind you it’s still very much winter in the Alps.
Plus: sunglasses, lighter layers, and the very real possibility of a deck chair session with a cold beer.
👉 Read: Les Arcs Skiing in April: Are Easter Ski Holidays Worth It?
Consider mid-December for a cheaper pre-Christmas trip
Mid-December – the first or second week of the ski season – is often one of the cheapest times to ski. Accommodation prices are noticeably lower, and both DIY bookings and packages can be excellent value at this time.
Lift passes are often discounted if booked in advance, and you’ll find better availability across the board, from trains to transfers to group lessons. Travel during this week can fall into UK school holidays, depending on the year, making it particularly appealing for families.
Of course, snow can be less reliable this early in the season. But we’ve skied that week many times, and it’s always been very skiable. You might not get waist-deep powder, but you will get quieter slopes and uncrowded lifts, and a Christmassy atmosphere that’s hard to beat.
Travel midweek and plan ahead to cut costs
One of the most reliable ways to save on a ski holiday – especially when going DIY – is to dodge the Saturday-to-Saturday trap.
French resorts still mostly turn over on Saturdays, which means prices for travel peak on that day. But if you can shift your trip to start midweek, or even just Sunday, you’ll often find:
- Cheaper train and flight tickets
- Less traffic on the roads (and shorter queues at check-in)
- Because Saturday is changeover day, you’ll have a quieter day on the slopes if you’re skiing that day instead of travelling!
It can sometimes be harder to find accommodation which doesn’t run Saturday to Saturday, but we’ve done plenty of Sunday and mid-week arrivals, and never had an issue finding a good deal. This is particularly the case later in the season when resorts are quieter, and owners are more flexible with changeover days.
My top value travel option is the train – specifically Eurostar via Paris followed by a TGV to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. It’s cost-effective, comfortable, and straightforward.
Eurostar tickets usually open around 11 months in advance, but SNCF (for the TGV to Bourg) releases theirs only 3–4 months before travel. You’ll need to book your Eurostar as soon as tickets are released to get the lowest fares, and then set an alert on Rail Europe for when the SNCF tickets (TGV leg) go on sale.
Taking the train also means you can skip the hassle of costly and time-consuming transfers, or the added faff and expense of car hire – which comes with fuel, tolls, and parking fees in resort. Bourg is at the foot of the funicular line, which whisks you straight up to Arc 1600 in 7 minutes. Easy, fast, and free with the presentation of your train ticket.
You can also choose to spend a night in Paris en route! I have some great value hotel options and free things to do in my post: Paris with Kids: Where to Stay, Eat and Sightsee on a One Night Eurostar Stopover.
🚆 Book trains via Rail Europe
The direct Ski Train via Lille, which is my favourite for sheer convenience, only runs at the weekends, but the Paris route runs multiple times a day, all week long, usually comes out much cheaper, and doesn’t take much longer.
Read more at: Getting to Les Arcs: the best ways to travel from the UK
Don’t overspend on insurance
Ski insurance is essential, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Before buying a standalone policy, check whether your bank account already includes winter sports cover. Many banks offer annual insurance policies via packaged bank accounts, and it can be a big cost saver for families.
If you’re travelling more than once a year, a multi-trip annual policy with winter sports cover included is usually better value than buying single trip cover every time. And if your kids are under 18, they’re often included for free.
And don’t forget your GHIC card; it won’t replace travel insurance, but it does give you access to state healthcare across the EU, and it’s free.
Compare package deals and DIY trips
Going DIY is usually the cheapest route, especially if you’re booking early, staying in Bourg, and planning your own train travel. But don’t rule out package holidays completely. Sometimes the big operators have the buying power and can bundle things in ways that are genuinely good value.
We’ve found SkiWorld is often worth a look – especially if:
- You’re flying from regional airports like Birmingham, which can be cheaper than London
- You want to go all-inclusive or full board, to keep costs predictable
- You book your lift pass and ski hire together at checkout to unlock their Ski-All-In discounts
Just be aware: charter flight packages sometimes mean very early or late flight times, and long coach transfers, which aren’t ideal, especially with kids.
It’s also worth checking Erna Low, who specialise in fully customisable ski holidays across the Alps; so you can choose the full package, including accommodation, flights, transfers and a ski pass, or a mixture of those elements, or just accommodation alone. This is particularly handy if you want to take the train, but would like the rest of the trip taken care of.
👉 Check package deals at SkiWorld
👉 Explore flexible Les Arcs packages at Erna Low
Make it a shorter break
Not every ski holiday has to be a full week. In fact, if you’re booking everything yourself, a 3- or 4-day ski trip can make a lot of sense; especially when you’re travelling with kids, trying out skiing for the first time, or just looking to cut costs.
French resorts like Les Arcs sell lift passes in set durations, from 1 to 8 consecutive days. You don’t have to ski every day, of course, but you’ll still be paying for those days, as passes can’t be paused. The per-day cost gets cheaper the more days you buy, but a 3-day pass is still significantly cheaper than a 6-day one; so if you’re doing a shorter break, it’s a good way to keep costs down.
A shorter trip also means savings on:
- Lift passes (a big win)
- Equipment rental
- Ski lessons
- Accommodation and food
We’ve often done long weekends or four-day breaks when time (or budget) was tight, and it’s still completely worth the journey! If you travel by train, you can even add a couple of days in Paris to turn a 4 day ski trip into a full weeks’ holiday.
Quickfire bonus tips for budget skiing
🏘️ Stay down in Bourg-Saint-Maurice for better value accommodation, easy access to the funicular, and cheaper everything.
🛒 Stop at the Lidl or Super U in Bourg-Saint-Maurice to stock up on food and essentials – it’s far cheaper than resort supermarkets.
🚫 Skip Arc 1950 if you want to stay up the mountain in resort; it’s beautiful, but more expensive than Arc 1600 or 1800.
⏳ Book your travel and accommodation as early as possible; especially if you want to grab train tickets or good-value apartments.
🎟️ Buy your lift passes early; look out for October/November deals and consider buying as a group to access better discounts.
📬 Sign up for the Les Arcs newsletter – they’ll send you early-bird pass offers and information on free events and entertainment.
💳 Bring your GHIC card; it’s free, and while it won’t replace insurance, it covers state healthcare in France.
📆 Look beyond Saturdays – avoid traditional changeover days to unlock better prices on travel.
🚄 Check train options via Paris; often cheaper than flying, especially if you book early, no faff with expensive airport transfers, and far more civilised.
🧤 Rent or borrow ski clothing, from places like Adventure Kit Hire or hand-me-downs. For anything you have to buy, consider Decathlon’s budget-friendly gear section.
🧩 Mix and match strategies – DIY some elements, book packages where it makes sense, and take the time to price up your options. Sometimes the convenience of a package deal is worth the extra; sometimes the DIY route works out far cheaper.
The real secret to an affordable Les Arcs ski trip
There’s no single trick to ensure a really affordable family ski holiday to Les Arcs. But when you stack the right choices; travel midweek, stay in Bourg, book early, bring your own lunch, skip the car hire; the savings add up fast.
After 25 years skiing in Les Arcs with and without kids, I’ve figured out what works and what’s not worth considering.
Hopefully this guide gives you a solid place to start; whether that’s saving on gear, choosing lessons, or working out the best way to get to Les Arcs.
If you want to go deeper, my Les Arcs Family Skiing hub links out to every post I’ve written about skiing in Les Arcs to help you get the best value for your trip.
So go on. Pick the bits that suit your family, and ignore the rest. That’s the real benefit of DIYing your holiday – you get to call the shots.
FAQs: Affordable Family Ski Holidays to Les Arcs
How to get a cheaper ski pass?
Book when the offers are released (usually September and October), buy as a group if possible, and sign up to the Les Arcs newsletter for seasonal offers. Avoid February half-term if you want the best prices.
What’s the cheapest way to ski?
DIY it; book your own travel, accommodation, passes, and gear. It takes more planning, but usually saves you the most.
Can you ski on a budget?
Yes, especially if you book travel early, avoid peak weeks, stay in Bourg, buy your own lunch, and skip the extras. It’s not luxury, but it’s still skiing.
When is the cheapest time to ski in Les Arcs?
Mid-December and Easter are your best bets. Quieter slopes, better deals, and often discounts on lift passes and accommodation.
What is the cheapest month to go skiing?
Usually mid-December or April. Early April usually offers the best combination of price, sunshine, and decent conditions.
What is the cheapest way to book a ski holiday?
Plan it yourself. Use booking.com for self catering accommodation, buy passes in advance, and consider the train over flights.
Is Les Arcs good for budget-conscious families?
Absolutely. With so many different villages, Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the valley, good transport options, and family discounts, it’s a flexible choice that doesn’t have to break the bank.
Can you ski Les Arcs without staying in resort?
Yes – staying in Bourg-Saint-Maurice gives you funicular access to the slopes, more affordable food, and better accommodation deals.
Is train travel really cheaper than flying?
Usually, yes; especially when booked early. Flights may appear cheaper, but once you take into account the cost of getting from an airport to the resort (at least 3 hours by most transport options), the train comes in cheaper AND more enjoyable.
Where can I find budget-friendly ski gear for kids?
Try Decathlon, second-hand sites, or rental services like Adventure Kit Hire. Borrow from friends if you can; kids will grow out of gear fast.
