Opodo.co.uk survey shows how ski-mad Brits are coping with the economic troubles

Nov 20, 08 | 1:52 am

Ski enthusiasts are defying the credit crunch and continuing with their holiday plans for the coming year, a recent survey of customers by Opodo.co.uk has found. Ninety-seven per cent (97%) of skiers said that they are still planning holidays on the slopes in 2009 despite the economic gloom.

Interestingly, despite the turbulent exchange rates, nobody is looking outside the euro-zone for their fix. However, aware of the financial pressures a skiing holiday can bring, travellers are finding alternative ways to cut costs whilst still enjoying a white Christmas break.

For instance, 14% of people will forgo the latest season's ski-wear to save themselves big bucks, whilst 20% will wait until the last minute to book in the hope of securing the best deals. Self-catering was seen as an option by some (6%) but, more inventively, 9% of people admitted they are planning to revert to the bygone era of lunchboxes by taking their own sandwiches up the mountains with them, thus avoiding the costs as well as the queues at restaurants and bars.

Caroline Noble, UK Director at Opodo UK, commented, "Whilst the current economic climate means that many people are more aware than ever of the cost of skiing holidays, it is encouraging to see people are not feeling forced to simply cancel their plans.

"It is interesting to note that people are not heading over to the USA and other non-euro destinations but instead are showing true British resourcefulness and ingenuity to find alternative ways to keep costs low."


About Opodo

Opodo was created in 2001 by nine of Europe's leading airlines - Aer Lingus, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa. Amadeus, the travel technology company took a controlling interest in the company in June 2004. Opodo addresses the real needs of today's traveller by offering an unbiased and competitively priced online travel service for world travel.  Customers can enjoy excellent offers from 500 airlines, 65,000 hotel properties, car hire, city breaks, lifestyle holidays, ski deals, tailor made and dynamically packaged holidays, comprehensive travel insurance and value added services such as airport parking.