We all tend to zoom to the big names when it comes to planning ski holidays, but what if someone told you there was an easy way to discover some of the lesser-known ski resorts? Enter Snowpass, the biggest ski pass in the world. Started by a father-and-son team from Portugal, the Snowpass is the newest way to branch out into smaller ski resorts in the Alps and the rest of Europe.
As part of its celebratory launch, Snowpass is offering the first 50 000 lift passes for just €395, after which the price will go up to €895 for adults and €695 for children (born between 2007-2015). The lift pass currently grants access to more than 100 ski resorts in 9 countries, including well-known skiing destinations like France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy as well as off-the-beaten-path ski resorts in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Slovenia and Poland. The Snowpass allows for up to ten days of skiing (whether consecutive or interpolated) at each partner resort throughout the entire 2019-2020 winter ski season, according to season opening and closing dates at each ski area. There are no blackout dates. The first passes went on sale on May 12 and they're getting snapped up fast, so don't wait!
Most of the ski resorts offered by the Snowpass are smaller resorts characterised by quiet slopes, peaceful ski villages and amenities that are friendly on the wallet. This makes the pass particularly well-suited to families and beginners, although there are options for challenging skiing at some ski areas. While some relatively famous skiing destinations are on the list, such as the Almenwelt Lofer, Les Orres and the Sierra Nevada, the real allure of the pass lies in all the secret ski resorts that are just waiting to be discovered.
In addition to the ski resorts already on the list, Snowpass has confirmed it is in negotiation with more resorts and hopes to add up to 300 other ski resorts plus one more country to its collection. Because many of the ski areas are close to each other, the Snowpass is a fantastic way to string together a series of resorts on one ski holiday. You can see the full list of ski resorts, plus detailed practical info, on the Snowpass website.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
