If you are happy to fly low cost airlines they can take you very close to the slopes for under €100 per person. Watch out for the ski carriage costs if you are taking your own skis though.
If you are booking with an operator always ask for a discount. Come to think of it ask for a discount whatever you are doing.
Compare the cost of booking on the telephone and online. You will usually get a big saving if you book online, in some cases up to 10%.
Book early for free child places and extras such as free childcare. Then again there are such good bargains out there for late offers at the moment you might do well to also book late. It is a tricky one in this topsy turvy time!
Watch your timing as the cheapest deals are in shoulder periods just before the Christmas rush and just after New Year, before half term and Easter. Have a look at out school holiday calender for dates for the next few years.
Think about playing the currency game. With near parity with sterling at the moment look at booking in sterling as there are huge savings to be made. This goes for accommodation as well as buying and renting ski gear and equipment online.
Shop around for winter sports insurance and compare rates you get with any offered by your operator. We have seen a family of four covered for a year including winter cover for the cost of a week in the sun with an operator.
Stay in a self catering property. The bigger the better and there are some good bargains out there at the moment on larger ski chalets. The cost per bed goes down the more you have in the property. Good options include Pierre and Vacances. You can also have the option of bringing a packed lunch up the mountain where prices are exhorbidant.
Surrender the hot tub and the pool unless there are any non skiers with you who really need theses. You will spend so much time on the slopes anyway or will want to jump into bed early as you will be so tired with all the exercise of the day and possibly some apres ski.
If you are going self catering shop in the valley on the way up as prices are very high up in the resorts on products and food.
Do not be too swayed by star ratings. Sometimes a good quality B and B or three star guest house will have more personality and be cosier than a five star hotel.
Consider an all inclusive option in a chalet where you get a great mix of good accommodation and quality food and often wines included. Good options include Highlife from Ireland and Mark Warner from the UK.
Have a look at Italy if you are not quite ready to quit the Alps in the interests of saving money. The costs of food, eating out, accommodation and ski hire and tuition can often be a fraction of that in France, Austria and Switzerland.
Look at some Freshers week packages which can offer great savings including free lift passes and ski hire. This year it is 17 January and 24 January ( see www.freshersskiweek.com)
Look at bigger resorts rather than smaller ones as there is a better range of accommodation and this may well bring prices down.
Stay in the town next to the big name rather than the big name resort itself.
If you are beginner stay in a smaller ski area rather than a famous one as there will be a better range of beginner slopes.
Look into getting free child ski passes where possible through the operator or the tourist board.
Ski pass prices will vary from resort to resort so only buy what you need as you may be able to get a local pass and then extend it for a day or two if you need to explore a bit further.
Compare ski lessons and their prices and ask for discounts if there are going to be a few of you. Group lessons will invariably be cheaper than individual lessons.
Eat in the town and not up the mountain. Better still bring a packed lunch and avoid the mountain restaurants altogether if you are on a budget.
Look at booking early on equipment rental as there can be discounts early on in the season. Book online as well as there can be discounts of up to 40% on boot rental on some websites and offers of two for one.If there are a group of you again ask for a group discount.