Tuesday Travel Tip: How to cut costs on your annual ski trip

Ski holidays are an Australian favourite, but they sure don't come cheap. Many opt to head overseas to Japan or to the States to chase more affordable deals, others wince once they look at local prices and decide to 'leave it for another year'.

If it feels like it's just you, think again, says Bessie Hassan, money expert at finder.com.au. "Taking a family on a ski holiday locally can end up being as expensive as going interstate, or even overseas in some cases once you factor in lift passes, equipment hire and lessons."

Fortunately, there are ways to save serious cash when it comes to such trips, with new research from finder.com.au showing skiers could potentially save an average of $420 and a maximum of $752 on their ski trip by being savvier than the average bear.

The research compared the price of lift passes, ski lessons and travel insurance across Australia's six biggest ski resorts – Thredbo, Perisher, Falls Creek, Charlotte Pass, Mount Hotham and Mount Buller – and found joining group ski lessons instead of undertaking solo missions could save up to $514 on the price of a lesson for just one or two hours.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of lift pass discounts for booking early or online also allowed for an average of $85 to be shaved off the total price. In Perisher, where a 7-day adult lift pass can be purchased for $989, buying a pass online a week in advance will gift you a 20 percent discount

Other ways you could look at slashing the cost of your domestic ski trip this year include:

• Steering clear of the aforementioned premium resorts and opting for cheaper options such as Mount Baw Baw, which not only offers cheaper lift passes, but more affordable accommodation.
• Hiring your snow gear from online retailers such as BP Skihire or Snow Skiers Warehouse. You can even buy outfits cheaply from ASOS or if you can brave it, during the annual Aldi Ski Gear Sale. Good luck to you.
• Choosing accommodation well away from the snow where you'll be charged a premium for the sheer convenience of being able to ski straight into your digs.
• Opting for an all-inclusive package that covers accommodation, ski gear hire, park entry and lifts. This will prevent delicate hand injuries that can only come with constantly pulling your wallet out to pay for (more) things. Check out Jindabyne Sports and Recreation Camp locally, and one of Club Med's Japanese ski resorts if you'd like to try something different.
• Bringing as many snacks and home-cooked goodies as you can. The cost of eating out can quickly add up in the ski fields so you'll be grateful for those bags of nuts, muesli bars, fruit and sneaky treats you just happen to have on you at all times.

And remember, no matter where you go and how cheap you want to make your holiday, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to go at all.

"Ski insurance is always worth considering, especially for those who book their holidays well in advance as there's a higher chance of something unexpected getting in the way," says Hassan. "Policies start from as low as $41 a week – it really is amazing how much money you can save when you do your research."