Verbier will well-known for its exclusive crowd and its world-class ski slopes, but that doesn’t mean everyone can’t enjoy its renowned off-piste skiing and buzzing nightlife.
From transport to keeping yourself fuelled for big days on the mountain, there’s plenty of ways to do Verbier on a budget.
LIFT PASS
Televerbier offers a 10% discount on 4 Vallées ski passes ordered a minimum of 10 days before your trip. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Verbier has two lift ticket pricing systems throughout the season, with the busiest times attracting a premium price tag.
SKIP THE LIFT LINES
One excellent way to save money on a lift pass, is to bypass the lifts altogether. After renting just a few pieces of specialised gear, you can scope plenty of amazing lines under your own power. Verbier has loads of ski touring itineraries, mapped out to give touring rookies a taste of the wild side. You can find maps online or at the tourist information centre. However, if you want to venture off these resort itineraries, hiring a guide is your best bet.
EATING OUT
While cheap eats in ski resorts aren’t easy to come by, there are plenty of great spots in Verbier that won’t blow the budget.
On the mountain, the Le Break Dahu serves up quick meals, combined with an unbeatable view of the mighty Grand Combin from the deck chairs outside. Le Mayenzet offers more traditional mountain fare in a super-cosy atmosphere and with very reasonable prices.
Back in the town centre, the kiosk near the post office in Verbier offers huge sandwiches and chips that are the cheapest and best in town.
But the best way to save money on food on the slopes is to take a picnic. Grab some things from one of the supermarkets in town and pick a sunny spot on the mountain for a bite. There’s also a canteen at Ruinettes lift station where you can bring your own food if you’d prefer a break inside.
After dark, Pub Mont Fort is a classic for reasonably-priced pub fair and has a lively après-ski atmosphere to match.
THE ESSENTIALS
Get in early to book your train and gear for the best discounts
Put in the hard yards and earn your turns by spending a day or two ski touring
Pick off-peak periods for the best lift ticket and accommodation deals
Pack a picnic lunch to keep you going on the mountain
Getting to Verbier
Not just the most convenient and environmentally friendly way to get to Verbier, with a little forward planning Switzerland’s excellent rail system can also be the cheapest.
SBB offers huge discounts for loads of tickets bought online in advance. You can easily see whether ‘Supersaver’ tickets are available for your preferred train online from 60 days out. Each connection has a limited number available, so the earlier you buy, the more options you will have. Supersaver tickets from Geneva Airport to Le Châble could be as little as 23CHF one way, a discount of over 60% off the normal price.
Where to stay
While Verbier is famous for its exclusive accommodation, there are more and more modest options available. The cheapest accommodation in Verbier is MAP Hostel or Mt Gele Guesthouse. Staying in Le Chable, a 10-minute gondola ride down from Verbier, will give you even more options. Televerbier’s Base Camp in the Le Chable lift station is very economical if you’re travelling in a group, while there are a growing number of affordable Airbnbs available.
Verbier Lift pass
Televerbier offers a 10% discount on 4 Vallées ski passes ordered a minimum of 10 days before your trip. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Verbier has two lift ticket pricing systems throughout the season, with the busiest times attracting a premium price tag.
Skip the Lift lines
One excellent way to save money on a lift pass, is to bypass the lifts altogether. After renting just a few pieces of specialised gear, you can scope plenty of amazing lines under your own power. Verbier has loads of ski touring itineraries, mapped out to give touring rookies a taste of the wild side. You can find maps online or at the tourist information centre. However, if you want to venture off these resort itineraries, hiring a guide is your best bet.
If you want to experience the Verbier skiing but without the Verbier price tag then there are cheaper, alternative resorts within the 4 Vallées. Nendaz, for example is significantly cheaper from everything from accommodation to ski schools, for example a 3hr private lesson with Montagne Magique is 240 chf which is about 35% cheaper than the Verbier ski schools
Cheap ski hire
Hiring gear can be a big expense during a ski trip, but with a little forward planning you can nab quality gear with some big savings. Mountain Air offers a 10% discount for online bookings in advance, meaning you could potentially save over 10CHF a day for premium skis and boot hire.
Covered parking in Verbier
EATING OUT
While cheap eats in ski resorts aren’t easy to come by, there are plenty of great spots in Verbier that won’t blow the budget.
On the mountain, the Le Break Dahu serves up quick meals, combined with an unbeatable view of the mighty Grand Combin from the deck chairs outside. Le Mayenzet offers more traditional mountain fare in a super-cosy atmosphere and with very reasonable prices.
Back in the town centre, the kiosk near the post office in Verbier offers huge sandwiches and chips that are the cheapest and best in town.
But the best way to save money on food on the slopes is to take a picnic. Grab some things from one of the supermarkets in town and pick a sunny spot on the mountain for a bite. There’s also a canteen at Ruinettes lift station where you can bring your own food if you’d prefer a break inside.
After dark, Pub Mont Fort is a classic for reasonably-priced pub fair and has a lively après-ski atmosphere to match.
THE ESSENTIALS
Get in early to book your train and gear for the best discounts
Put in the hard yards and earn your turns by spending a day or two ski touring
Pick off-peak periods for the best lift ticket and accommodation deals
Pack a picnic lunch to keep you going on the mountain
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