Alpenrider is the best youth hostel in the Alps bar none. Nothing like the stale YHA hostels in Switzerland. This has all the things a good hostel should have - ridiculously friendly staff, lively bar, mixed punters from all over the world, great breakfast - but in the Alps.
Cheap as chips and everyday a guided group leaves the chalet together for a group trip to the nearby (glorious) slopes of Kitzbuhel. When the snow closed the railway link to the airport the legendary owner Shevvy, was out of bed on New Years Day with a lift to the airport. Why are there not more places like this?

www.alpenrider.com
Möselgasse 19, 6365 Kirchberg in Tirol, Austria
+43 664 2842551
e-mail: paul@alpenrider.com
Google map: bit.ly/dtGDRR

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Hovfjallet is small family-friendly ski resort located about four hours drive north from Gothenburg. Great for budget skiing. I recommend staying at the Gammelbyn village in a wooden cabin that sleeps up to six for around £250 for a week. Ice skating lake, Finnish smoke fired sauna and a pub that has horse saddle bar stools and a roaring fire.

www.gammelbyn.eu/1-1-Home.html
+ 46 (0) 570 140 20
Google map: bit.ly/cLF7CY

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Wasteland Ski is a website which offers last minute accommodation in the French Alps during the winter season.
For the most part the accommodation deals includes lift pass for the duration of the stay but not alot else. It is ideal for groups of people looking to get on the slopes together for relatively little money, with a week's accommodation and lift pass being available from under £300. Depending on location of the chosen resort, as well as group size, you may find that the cheapest option of travel is to drive - splitting the costs of fuel and toll roads between the party.
As an example of how cheap this can be a friend of mine used the site in December of last year and stayed in Les Deux Alps. The package cost him £160 for a week's accommodation and lift pass. Upon arriving at the lifts he inquired as to the price of a weeks pass if he were to buy on arrival - it was £160 for pass alone!

www.wastelandski.co.uk

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The words Meribel and budget do not go hand in hand. Meribel is renowned for its luxury chalets and extensive ski area rather than budget ski holidays. However there is a wonderful way to stay in the Meribel valley for next to nothing. Club Alpin Francais is a refuge in Les Allues, in the Meribel Valley. It is not out of the way, not in some unknown area or small hamlet and offers excellent budget accommodation for skiers and snowboarders. There are two dormitories which cost just 16 euros per person per night which means you could get a week self catered for less than £100pp (at the current exchange rate.)

www.ffcam.fr/
Club Alpin Francais, Les Allues, Meribel, 73550
0033 (0) 385 93 10 21
Nearest train staion - Moutiers
Nearest airport - Chambery
Nearest bus station - Les Allues
Nearest ski resort - Les Allues(3 valley ski region with over 650kmlinked skiing)
Nearest supermarket - Les Allues (5 min walk)
Nearest Bar - Les Allues (10 min walk)
Nearest Restaurant - Les Allues (5 min walk)
Nearest Lift - Les Allues ( 10 min walk)

Google map: bit.ly/cCCZuq

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We had a fun cheap ski holiday in Zakopane over new year. I would recommend it more if you are keen for a fun experience and less if you are a pro skier, but for something different it's great. It's very atmospheric with cute wooden houses and sleighs driving about the streets. And best of all, on New Year's Eve they have a great street party on the main street, with fireworks and mulled wine. Just make sure you dodge some of the precariously-fired fireworks!

We found our accommodation on www.discoverzakopane.com/accommodation.html and booked with Altius Zakopane, who were very friendly and helpful.
Google map: bit.ly/dBoOZF

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Amazing value for money, self catering, backs on to the pistes of Courchevel 1650 which still retains all the charms of Courchevel.

www.courchevelski.co.uk/
+44 (0)1822 614253
Google map: bit.ly/aHTEPE

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For NZ$820 (less than £400) you get a seven day liftpass, six nights accommodation, meals from Sunday night to Saturday lunch, NZ's highest hot tub, access to the fancy dress box and night skiing on a Tuesday when I was there in September. This was crazy, a whole day on the hill, a couple of beers apres ski by the fire while watching the sunset over the peak of Mt. Olympus, followed by a communal dinner, then out came the fancy dress box to much amusement and then at 8.30pm the massive floodlights came on and everyone headed out for a couple of hours night skiing in the main bowl with the tunes from the sound system echoing out across the mountains. Totally surreal and amazing!
A genuine club field experience like no other.

45km drive from Windwhistle, which in turn is an easy one hour ten minute drive from Christchurch, NZ
www.mtolympus.co.nz/getting_here.asp
Google map: bit.ly/aNcx5u

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I stayed here last year which was their first year of operation. It's one of the most affordable chalets I have found with great accommodation in a traditional chalet with good food and hospitality. It is just by the centre of the village and the main ski lift up to the Three Valleys is only about 200 metres away which can either be skied or walked to. The lift links you to the whole of the Three Valleys area which offers excellent and varied skiing of a huge area.

www.snowretreat.co.uk/
+33(0)642832598
Google map: bit.ly/9FMmeB

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UCPA, with centres in most of the big name French ski resorts, provides amazing value, all inclusive, outdoor activity packages.

In winter, you can ski, snowboard or even learn to speed ride. In summer, you can try mountaineering and other activities.

Most packages include full-time coaching, the technical equipment you require, lift passes and full board accommodation.

The centres are basic, but clean and adequate as a base, while the food is outstanding and plentiful. Beer and wine is also far cheaper than in most bars or hotels.

As an introduction to an activity, the courses are ideal. Better yet, for off-piste guiding, nothing compares for value. A week will typically cost about £600 plus transport, but you needn't spend a penny more in resort.

The cheapest transport option for a group may be to drive from the UK, but bus operators also link up to London. Outside of school half-term weeks, flights to gateway cities like Geneva can also be obtained cheaply from the usual budget operators.

All information can be obtained from UCPA directly (www.ucpa.co.uk) or via Action Outdoors (www.action-outdoors.co.uk).

If flying to Geneva, try Alpybus for airport transfers: www.alpybus.com

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BSM is the end of the line for Eurostar trains, plus TGVs from Paris.
It's a real, working town, not just a ski resort - and compared to resorts higher up the mountains it's really dead cheap to stay, eat and drink.
After a day's skiing, have a pastis in a bar with reasonable prices and get to know the pisteurs and ski instructors who live in the town rather than warding off beery Brits in an overpriced mountain establishment.
There's a funiculaire (included in Les Arcs lift pass) from just behind the BSM rail station to Arc 1600 - you can be on the slopes in less than 15 minutes from the town.
If you have your own transport, all the ski stations off the Isere valley (Val d'Isere itself, Tignes, La Rosiere, St Foy, Les Arcs, La Plagne and all the Trois Vallees resorts) are under an hour away - some only a few minutes.
Can't think of anywhere else where you can stay at such a reasonable price, see a bit of 'real' France and access so many top resorts.

www.lesarcs.com/Bourg-Saint-Maurice,191.html
www.bourgsaintmaurice.fr/
Google map: bit.ly/cwMw9c

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Highly affordable hostel which manages to still be conveniently located near the centre of town. A simple, but excellent, breakfast is included in the price. The bar (stocked with an impressive selection of scotch) is a seasonaires favourite, especially in spring when the enormous patio with breathtaking views of Mont Blanc really comes into its own. The New Years Eve party, the Boss des Bosses race weekend and the end of season party in early May are the best possible times to stay there and enjoy the atmosphere.

365 Ave Ravanel le Rouge, 74400 Chamonix Mont-Blanc
www.gitevagabond.com/
+33 450 531 543
Google map: bit.ly/b3QkRm

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A Hostelling International hostel, in one of the most snow-sure ski resorts in the Alps, you can get a bed in peak season for less than €20/night.

www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Les-Deux-Alpes-020115.en.htm
AJ - 'Les Brûleurs de Loups'
34, Avenue de la Muzelle
38860 Les Deux Alpes, (Isère), France
+33-476792280
Google map: bit.ly/awjsbU

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This unsuspecting gem of a deli must be one of the best places in Rusholme to get delicious Gujrati, Punjabi and South Indian food. Family-run, so cheap you will probably buy more than you can carry away with you and with very friendly staff happy to help you decide between their extensive savouries and chaat selection, there is no reason why you shouldn't be at their counter right now.

217 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, Manchester
M14 5AG
Opening times: tues-sun 12.30-8.30pm
+44(0)161 225 6742
Google map: bit.ly/9VsMTX

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Vancouver's metro. The subway from Airport to downtown just opened in 2010, quick and easy from terminal to the heart of Vancouver. The fare in October 2010 was $3.75 Canadian. Riders are polite and cars are clean.

Just outside terminal, Skytrain, Canada Line www.translink.bc.ca
Google map: bit.ly/c9Rqjq

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If you like your skiing without queuing, try cross country (Langlaufen) in Ramsau, a southerly alp above Schladming, crowned by the Dachstein massif.
And the best place to stay is Bacherhof, an organic farm hotel. Sigrid and Herwig welcome you like family, everyone has half board and soon makes friends. It is not meant to be luxurious but it is comfortable, there is a sauna ready as the sun goes down, and the food is fantastic.
Now one person's "budget" is not another's, but with prices from 53 Euros per person for half board (children under 2 free, 5-10yrs half price), it is excellent value.

www.bacherhof.at
8972 Ramsau am Dachstein
Österreich
+43|0|3687 81377
Google map: bit.ly/ceOgHf

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Standard fare but cheap and popular with locals. Ideal for people on a budget wanting to have a sit down meal with some drinks.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjlP0MMpOQ

At the far end of the Riva (Marjan peninsula end)
Trumbiceva obala 11
Open 7am - midnight daily
Google map: bit.ly/ddrl65

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The best restaurant we found in Split. Very nice setting and friendly staff.
Great quality Croatian/Mediterranean food at very reasonable prices.
Cost us 245 KN (£30) for 1 starter, 2 mains, 1L of wine & cappucinos to finish.

On left hand side of Sperun (as you come up from waterfront).
Sperun 3, Split, Croatia
Google map: bit.ly/9C4pw1

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Austins, the world's oldest department store, is a stunning building located in the Diamond, square at the very heart of the city centre.
It is well worth popping into. It is a quaint, in many ways, old fashioned kind of store but with top of the range goods in every department.
Best of all is the Roof Top Restaurant on the third floor with wonderful views over the city. I had a gigantic scone, butter, jam and a mug of coffee for an amazing £1.60!
Later I went back for lunch and had the lunchtime special. A main course, pudding, and a pot of tea or a coffee for £4.95, with good big portions. It was very busy! A wonderful mix of Derry ladies of a certain age, businessmen, mothers and toddlers. I staggered out after lunch and managed to cross to the benches in the square where I sat in the sun to let it all digest before tackling the walls of the city!

www.austinsstore.com/
Austins Department Store
2 The Diamond, Derry, BT48 6HR
Tel: +44 (0)28 7126 1817
Google map: bit.ly/aqvRIc

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Great restaurant serving Indian and Singaporean fusion cuisine.
The portion sizes are absolutely huge.
We had two starters and two mains one night and could not finish half the food. We should have watched the locals as they shared starters and mains.
Excellent value and excellent food.
There are two Mirchi restaurants in Berlin. Additionally the sister restaurant Amirt serving Indian food is also one we'd recommend.

Oranienstraße 204, 10999 Berlin, Deutschland
+30 61629993
www.mirchi.de‎
Nearest metro - Oranienburger Tor
Google map: bit.ly/cmYzlo

Amirt:
Oranienburger Straße 45
10117 Berlin, Deutschland
+30 2888484-0
www.amrit.de‎
Google map: bit.ly/a7XiGA
Nearest metro - Oranienburger Tor

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This is a very uniquely decorated 'hotel' which is more like a hostel, but is particularly cheap for New York accommodation and the artwork is like no other.

www.carltonarms.com/
160 East 25th Street, New York NY 10010
+1 212 679 0680 or +1212684 8337
Google map: bit.ly/aRmiic

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