We may all be last-minute, bargain basement travel experts, but if you're planning a winter holiday it's easy to blow thousands, rather than hundreds, on a week in the snow.

Overspending Is Snow Joke!
Vanessa Haines of the Ski Club of Great Britain gives this advice for preventing your hard earned cash going adrift in the snow:

Beg or borrow, don't buy
Scrounge ski suits and hire boots and skis when you get there. Do not buy new ski gear for children, you'll get two weeks' wear out of it at most.

Don't go mad on lift passes
If it's your - or your child's - first time, a local lift pass, rather than one which covers the whole mountain range will do fine. You can save about £35 per person a week that way.

Altitude equals expense
The further up the mountain you go, the higher the price of a can of Coke. If you don't want to spend £5 for a plate of chips, ski before lunch or pack a picnic.

Avoid the man...
..who meets you at the foot of the ski lift with a camera. Do you really want to spend £10 on a snapshot?

Be adventurous
Take advantage of the daft flight prices and go for resorts served by some of the budget airlines. EasyJet, Flybe, Ryanair, BMI Baby and Jet2 all fly to Geneva, a natural hub for ski resorts.

Disclaimer While every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy at time of publication, this information may be subject to change. Always consult your financial advisor.

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