Resorts are starting a new ski season. Many of them are coming with improvements, but also higher prices.
The winter season is approaching. About two and a quarter million Czechs head to the mountains each year to enjoy some good skiing. Are you interested in which places are the most visited, what new things are waiting for you and how much you will spend on a ski pass?
Improvements awaiting skiers at domestic resorts include new cable cars, modernization of technical snowmaking systems, and even connection of some slopes.
The new four-seat cable car will transport visitors to Tanvaldský Špičák in the Jizera Mountains and the Karolinka Ski Resort in the Beskydy Mountains. SkiResort Černá Hora-Pec has prepared the Panorama Park at the upper station of the Černá Hora cable car, which will be especially enjoyed by children and beginners. The dominant feature here is a 150-meter-long covered conveyor belt, the only one of its kind in our country.
In Spindleruv Mlyn, they are working on connecting Saint Peter and Medvedin so that skiers could take advantage of the offers of both places from the next season.
Mild price increase
And what about ski pass prices? In the upcoming season, they should increase by an average of two to three percent according to the Association of Mountain Resorts. The main reason is the increase in energy costs, staff or further development of the resorts.
More and more domestic ski resorts are introducing floating prices. This can sometimes save a significant amount when purchasing online. According to the association, savings can be 20 to 30 percent of the total price. Experts therefore also claim that early purchase from home saves visitors time and money. Operators can also better regulate the number of skiers on the slopes.
Skiing will again cost the most at the Svatý Petr ski resort in Špindlerův Mlýn, where a full-day ski pass for an adult will cost 1,690 crowns. Through online shopping, this can be much less, in some cases, reportedly only 820 crowns.
The Alps beckon
In Austria, where according to data from Statistik Austria we form the third largest foreign group of skiers, it is expected that ski passes will become more expensive by three to five percent for the upcoming winter. Whereas in smaller resorts, you should prepare around 70 euros per day for a ski pass, in the larger ones, like Schladming or Dachstein, it will be up to around 80 euros.
The winter season in Schladming, which is within driving distance of our borders, will be opened on Saturday 6th December by the legendary American band Backstreet Boys. The resort will thus also become the only European stop of their current Millennium 2.0 tour.
In Italy, skipass prices will increase mostly up to 10 euros, according to consumer association Assoutenti. For example, in the Dolomites, you will pay 86 euros for a daily skipass. In Livigno 72 and in Bormio 60 euros.
Since November in Italy, it is mandatory for all skiers to wear a helmet without exception. If you don't have one, you risk a fine of up to 200 euros or even the taking away of ski passes for several days. Experts warn not to travel to the country in February, when the Winter Olympics will be held there. Although they will technically only take place in two places, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the whole country will live the event. This will affect not only the prices of services in February, but also the local accommodation capacity.
Slovakia and Poland
Also in Slovakia, which is well accessible for us and where we can easily communicate, ski pass prices are rising. The main reason is that the VAT rate on ski passes has increased this year from the original 10 to 23 percent. According to the statement by Tatry Mountain Resorts, which operates resorts in Jasna, at Strbske Pleso or Stary Smokovec, their price is expected to be around 70 euros per day. Would you appreciate a tip on where to go to our eastern neighbours? In Jasna, the longest illuminated ski slope in Central Europe, measuring 2.7 kilometers, has been in operation since last year.
A welcoming opportunity might be - mainly for less demanding skiers - Poland. Local resorts are not that expensive. The advantage, however, is that they offer infrastructure and services comparable to ours. Some of the largest and most famous ski areas include for example Szczyrk Mountain Resort. A ski pass for 37 kilometers of ski slopes costs about a thousand crowns in conversion here.
From Prague, the nearest is the Krkonoše area Ski Arena Szrenica. It has 12 kilometers of ski slopes. Thanks to the higher altitude and extensive snowmaking, the area maintains good snow conditions for most of the winter season. Also here you will pay about a thousand crowns for a ski pass.
From the given overview, it is clear that there are quite a lot of places worth going skiing. However, it will definitely not be a completely cheap thing. However, most of our people already take this into account in advance. According to this year's survey by Visa, it follows that more than half of Czechs plan to spend on average one to 3 thousand crowns per day on their winter holiday. Most want to go to our mountains. To Austria, it is less than one-fifth and to Slovakia and Italy then about 8 percent of us.
Sources: author's article, ČTK, Association of Mountain Resorts of the Czech Republic, Statistics Austria, Assountenti
