It’s well known that ski properties can be one of the most expensive forms of real estate, however, don’t write off your dream of owning a ski home just yet. Move away from the big-name resorts and you’ll find some really affordable options without compromising on the skiing.
Here are 6 ski resorts where the only thing that’s sky-high is the mountains.
Les Houches, France
A large plot of land with private access and protected woodland, located right on the piste where the world cup downhill race takes place, offering uninterrupted panoramic views of the whole Chamonix valley.
Situated in the Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley, this resort is perfect for families and is an affordable alternative to Chamonix. With a top-altitude of 1,900 metres, 55km of tree-lined slopes and pistes aimed at beginners and intermediates, this resort would make a great holiday destination.
Les Houches enjoys dual-seasonality, meaning it is open in the summer as well as the winter, with lots of warm-weather activities such as hiking and biking. So, if you choose to rent out your ski home, you could potentially benefit from year-round occupancy.
La Plagne, France
This is the latest luxury development (5-star) at the heart of Paradiski 450kms area, situated in La Plagne Soleil.
La Plagne is another family-friendly resort in France, in the alpine valley of the Tarentaise. Along with Les Arcs, La Plagne is part of the remarkable Paradiski area. You can travel between the two using the handy Vanoise Express cable car.
One of the real draws of La Plagne is the variety of runs. Although there are several great slopes for beginners, the resort really comes into its own for more advanced skiers with over 225km of pistes.
And, with 11 distinct villages all at high altitudes, you will have no trouble finding a ski property, whether that be a chalet or apartment. The villages have a great selection of bars and restaurants and you can easily move between them using the free shuttle bus or the numerous ski lifts.
St Martin de Belleville, France
Pleasant studio, very bright, located in the beautiful area of Villarencel, in Saint Martin de Belleville
Slightly different to the other two French resorts, St Martin de Belleville is a pretty mountain village at the foot of the Three Valleys that has been turned into a ski resort. This traditional and homely resort offers quiet skiing with lengthy blue runs.
For those who seek more challenging skiing, St Martin’s fantastic location means you are just a chairlift or gondola away from the main Three Valley ski areas. The ski lift drops you at the top of Tougnete, from which you will have easy access to Meribel, Courchevel and Les Menuires.
Saalbach, Austria
The property is located in a pleasant residential area on the sunny slope with grandiose valley view in Hinterglemm.
The charming, lively and most importantly affordable town of Saalbach is at the heart of the Skicircus, Austria’s second-largest ski area. 270km of top-level slopes are connected by an excellent gondola between Saalbach and Fieberbrunn. As well as brilliant blue, red and black runs, the resort offers snow parks, freeride parks and toboggan runs. And after a long day on the slopes, you can relax with a drink or two at one of the many après-ski bars.
You won’t be bored in the summer either: the mountains allow for all sorts of adventure activities, from mountain biking to walking through the treetops via the “treetop path”. Six gondolas operate over the summer and take you from the town up into the mountains.
Limone Piemonte, Italy
Beautiful apartment a few steps from the historic town centre and snow shuttle stop.
Limone Piemonte is a picturesque village in Italy, not far from the French border. It is one of Italy’s oldest Alpine villages. The resort is situated at a height of 1,000 metres and there are 90km of runs. With reliable snowfall, 18 ski lifts and slopes that would suit intermediates skiers as well as snowboarders, Limone Piemonte is a beautiful and affordable Italian ski resort.
The resort is also just an hour from the coast, so you can really experience the best of Italy. It has a very traditional feel, but it is far from a sleepy Italian village – the nightlife is usually lively and there are plenty of restaurants to dine at.
San Martino di Castrozza, Italy
Not far from the village and liveable all year round, this wonderful house has been recently constructed and includes a garden.
This high-altitude resort in Italy has all the amenities you could need while being up in the Dolomite mountains; many people say it feels like you can touch the mountains with your fingers. The resort is made up of three ski areas with 60km of slopes to enjoy. There are a couple of ski lifts, with more being built in the coming years.
It would best suit intermediate skiers, but in recent years has acquired a reputation for freeride skiing. The après-ski is a little quieter than some other resorts, but that’s not always a bad thing!
Start looking for your ski property today
To get the process of buying your ski property underway, why not take a look at our handy ski property buying guides? They lay out the buying journey step by step to make the process as smooth and hassle-free as possible.