When you think of a cheap holiday, a skiing trip is rarely the first idea that springs to mind. Yet one resort in the French Alps is turning that notion on its head by offering something almost unthinkable: completely free skiing this winter.
A Drastic Financial Decision
The small resort of Saint-Colomban-des-Villards in the Savoie region has taken the unprecedented step of not charging for lift access. This isn't a generous gift to snow sports enthusiasts, but a necessary move born from severe financial pressure. The village, situated at 1,100 metres above sea level, has seen its financial deficit worsen over the last two years.
Mayor Pierre-Yves Bonnivard revealed the ski area has been running at a loss for nearly a quarter of a century. In 2025 alone, the operational deficit hit a staggering €1 million (approximately £872,740). A significant factor has been the increasingly unreliable snowfall in the area, which has hit visitor numbers and revenue hard.
The Cost of Charging Versus Free Access
Faced with a directive from the local prefecture to slash operating costs, and following the closure of the larger Les Sybelles ski area it was part of, the municipality had to think radically. After exploring options, they decided to drastically reduce the ski area rather than shut it down entirely. "Going from a connected ski area to nothing at all would have been too brutal," Mayor Bonnivard told Euronews.
The financial logic behind free skiing is compelling. The resort calculated that selling lift passes would require staffing a ticket office, costing between €36,000 and €41,000 (£31,000-£35,700) for the season. However, projected revenue from beginner passes was only around €18,000 (£15,700). "It actually costs us less not to charge," the mayor stated plainly.
What Free Skiing Will Look Like
This winter, Saint-Colomban-des-Villards will operate a minimal, free-to-use area consisting of two drag lifts and a children's conveyor belt. The municipality estimates the total cost of running this free service will be between €150,000 and €200,000 (£131,000 to £175,000). While still a significant sum, this is five times less than the cost of last winter's operations, making the overall deficit far more manageable.
The success of this bold experiment will be reviewed at the end of the season, with a decision on its future expected in April. For now, it offers a unique case study in how traditional ski resorts might adapt to mounting financial and environmental pressures.
