Tour operators are reporting strong demand for December ski holidays driven, it seems, by a combination of low prices and empty slopes before Christmas, the fact that recent Decembers have delivered good snow conditions in the Alps and excitement from the big snowfalls to low elevations in early autumn.
Club Med recently surveyed 1,000 skiers and found that with consumer confidence bolstered by the strong snowfall at the beginning of last year’s season, December is now the most popular month for skiers, with 38% of those polled planning their holiday in the festive month (versus 32% in 2023), more than any other month of the season. Club Med have reported similar patterns with their own bookings, with December bookings currently up 23% year-on-year, and the festive weeks specifically seeing a 38% surge.
“December is over 20% up on last year and we’re hearing customers excited about the early snowstorms of last month. They might have little impact on the non-glacier resorts but definitely get the ski-thoughts flowing,” says Richard Sinclair of ski holiday agency SNO.co.uk, “New Year is almost sold out, especially if you want a group chalet but also getting sparse for hotels in high altitude resorts, whereas Christmas has some fantastic bargains still and is booking strongly.”
A Family Christmas in the Mountains CREDIT Sunday River
Christmas week appears to be performing especially well, with New Year close to sold out at higher resorts but early season pre-Christmas weeks also selling well.
“Generally, what we are seeing this year is December being extremely popular (we are up 48%). The last few years have seen excellent early snow and great December conditions so this is definitely having an impact,” says Xavier Schouller of French ski holiday specials Peak Retreats.
“The pre-Christmas week (14-21/12) is doing well because private school are off, prices are very low (we are talking less than half of the New Year week, more like 60% off for us), there won’t be anyone on the slopes (other European markets including big ones like France aren’t on holiday that week) and then it doesn’t ‘interfere’ with celebrating Christmas at home,” Schouller adds.
Most ski holiday companies also report that Christmas week (21-28/12) is doing very well too with bookings significantly up on last year. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are midweek in resort so it means that travel is well before and after Christmas itself. However, it is a very popular week with all the other European markets, driving up prices.
“The New Year week (28/12-4/1) is massively oversubscribed generally although there are still a few things left. Again, all European markets are on holiday that week, it leaves Christmas and Boxing Day clear at home without travelling too close to that,” Schouller concludes.
Andorra New Years
