Bulgaria cheapest ski destination for 2008

The resort of Borovets in Bulgaria is the cheapest place to have a ski holiday, research out today reveals.

Figures from Post Office Travel Services show a six-day pass, equipment hire, ski lessons, plus the prices of food and drink were cheapest at the Bulgarian resort.

Following close behind was the resort of Poiana Brasov in Romania and Kranjska Gora in Slovenia.

The fourth and fifth cheapest ski destinations were Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany, and La Thuile in Italy.

At the other end of the scale are some of the best known resorts in the US, Canada, Austria and France.

Most expensive was Banff in Canada, followed by the US resort of Vail, Austria's Obergurgl resort, Verbier in Switzerland and the Courchevel/Three Valleys ski area in France.

However, the Post Office is warning holidaymakers not choose their ski holidays based on price alone.

"It's important for ski holidaymakers to pick a resort that suits their expertise and matches their expectations. Challenging ski runs and resort facilities are more likely to determine choice for experienced skiers, whereas first timers and families will be more concerned about sticking to a budget than about finding black runs," commented Helen Warburton, head of Post Office travel services.

"For those people and for bargain hunters, Bulgaria and Romania represent excellent value."

The Post Office findings also reveal destinations such as Andorra's Soldeu resort have changed from being bargain ski destinations in the late 90s to being one of the most expensive in 2007 for a lift pass.

A six day ski pass costs around £144 for the Andorra resort, compared with £121 for Courchevel/Three valleys, £132 for Verbier and £139 for Obergurgl.