After four decades of skiing the Alps I can confirm emphatically that turning 50 doesn’t mean hanging up your skis nor even skiing less. It means skiing smarter, often cheaper, (sometimes completely free) and actually taking a lot more ski holidays per winter.
We have hundreds of clients who are skiing regularly in their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s so let me share what I’ve learned about making the most of senior skiing holidays – from secret discounts to resorts where your non-skiing partner will be as happy off the slopes as you are on them.
Where Are There Free Senior Lift Passes in Europe?
It’s a bit annoying that, while North American resorts shower seniors with freebies (116+ resorts offer completely free skiing, typically from age 70), we Europeans must work harder for our perks. But the rewards are there if you know where to look, so here’s my recommendations:
France leads in the generosity stakes with Les 2 Alpes welcoming over-72s without charging a single Euro, while at 75 plus you can ski free in Val d’Isère, Tignes, Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Flaine, and the entire Grand Massif. What’s the catch? You’ll need your passport as proof, so looking younger than your years won’t help here.
I think the real gem for value-conscious seniors is Paradiski, where anyone over 75 pays just €10 to cover the cost of the physical lift pass card. Considering this you gives access to 425km of pistes linking La Plagne and Les Arcs, I’d say it’s arguably Europe’s biggest senior skiing bargain.
If you don’t need a massive ski area or snow-sure early/late season skiing, Spain’s Baqueira Beret charges those aged 70 and up just €3 for a day’s ski pass which is less than a mountain hot choc!
Austria’s clever incentive for older skiers
Austria’s Ski Amadé network deserves special mention because of its’ “sixty plus package” covering five fabulous areas (Salzburger Sportwelt, Schladming-Dachstein, Gastein, Großarltal and Hochkönig) totaling 760km. From age 65, you can get discounts across most Austrian resorts, with the “Ski plus City” Stubai Innsbruck pass offering 15% off for over-65s and 50% savings if you’re over 80.
Where to ski if your partner doesn’t want to ski anymore
Among our clients, it’s more common for the men to keep skiing, and we have a lot of groups of gents whose skiing changed dramatically when their partner very reasonably decided her knees preferred spa treatments to moguls. The solution, to ensure you can still visit the mountains with your better-half (not just with your pals) is to choose your resort wisely:
Zermatt is one of the top places to take a non-skier with you for the same reasons as Chamonix, because there’s so much to see and do off the slopes. The Gornergrat Railway for spectacular Matterhorn views (Montenvers to see the Mer de Glace), ride Europe’s highest cable cars to 3,883m (Aiguille du Midi is 3,842m), or explore 70km of winter walking trails. The car-free village has world-class shopping and restaurants accessible without ski boots.
La Plagne in France provides a more budget-friendly option with its Aquariaz tropical water park and 40+ mountain restaurants accessible by gondola, so your partner can meet you for lunch without strapping on skis.
Italy’s Livigno stands out with its duty-free shopping and the resort’s Aquagranda wellness centre features pools with a mountain view. The pedestrian-friendly village runs for 9km along a single street with over 250 shops and restaurants and a free resort bus. I recommend the Carosello cable car for lunch a view at 3,000m.
The equipment evolution helps older skiers
Even the rental shops will recommend shorter skis after 60 to gain more control and, to be honest, they’re much more relaxed to ski on. I recently tried 10cm shorter ski length gained confidence on icy mornings. If you’re still taking your own skis bought two decades ago, do yourself a favour and rent new ones – the modern technology makes turn initiation so much easier and reduces strain on aging knees.
Helmets have become non-negotiable in Italy from 2025/26 winter and very few people ski without one anywhere else (except famously the ESF instructors in France), and back protectors in comfortable vest styles are increasingly popular among my older skiing buddies. Heated insoles are the secret to old-age ski tech and can be a necessity for maintaining circulation in cold temperatures.
Is there ski travel insurance without the age penalty?
Finding affordable ski holiday insurance after 65 can be trickier but Saga has one designed exclusively for over-50s with no upper age limit. InsureandGo can provide similar age-unlimited coverage with winter sports included. As always it’s worth getting annual multi-trip policies if you’re planning more than one week’s skiing because the savings can really add up.
Premiums can typically jump 65% after age 75 but some allow you to consider a higher excesses to reduce costs.
The growth in ‘social skiing’ is led by senior skiers
Solo senior skiing has exploded and many of our single skiers choosing our all inclusive ski holidays which include lessons/guiding, because it’s the best way to meet people and make new friends. We’re able secure the best prices for single rooms with Club Med and have lots of older skiers booking because all-inclusive can save a fortune when it includes guided groups and a free bar!
Which resort and what time of year works for senior ski trips?
Forget fighting school holiday crowds (unless you’re taking the grand kids) because mid-January through early February offers the golden combination of excellent snow, minimal queues, and prices up to 50% lower than the peak weeks. If you’ve grown out of accepting wilder weather, March is a good compromise with warmer temperatures and longer days, but still decent snow.
Contrary to what you might guess, research shows elderly skiers actually experience much less altitude sickness than younger adults. But if you’re still worried consider resorts with lower villages like Kitzbühel (760m), Megève (1,113m), or Morzine (1,000m) with excellent skiing and a better (less breathless) night’s sleep.
Is the Eurostar ski train a good way to go skiing?
The Saturday Eurostar Snow Train has transformed Alpine access for seniors with no weight limits, no liquid restrictions, and you reach Bourg-Saint-Maurice by evening feeling relaxed (i.e. no airport misery). We have ski train holiday packages from London to 29 of the most popular resorts in Europe including Les Arcs, La Plagne, Tignes, and Val d’Isère
My fave’ less-well-known senior-savvy ski resorts
- La Plagne, France with 73 blue runs, modern lifts, free at 75+
- Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria has thermal spas, senior mornings with Franz Klammer
- Grandvalira, Andorra for Free passes at 70+, budget-friendly everything
- Avoriaz, France is true ski-in/ski-out, horse-drawn sleighs instead of cars
- Val Cenis, France is my hidden gem with free 75+ skiing, authentic atmos’
Senior skiing in Canada and USA
Yes, American resorts offer more free senior skiing. But factor in transatlantic flights, jet lag, and higher on-mountain prices, and that “free” skiing does cost a bit more than a discounted week in the Alps. But the lift pass is much more expensive over there, so a free one might tempt you to start exploring north America in retirement, especially if you’ve skied all the famous ones in Europe by now.
What’s the secret to skiing when you get older?
I think skiing smarter is the moniker of skiing into retirement and beyond, choosing resorts with terrrific mountain restaurants (Austria wins here), booking outside school holidays, and staying somewhere genuinely ski-in/ski-out (and always carry ID for those discounts).
I’m skiing much more than I did in my thirties and the mountains don’t care about your age – only that you’re there. The best ski run is the one that makes great memories and gest you excited about the next one!
NB: Remember that ski and lift pass offers (including free and age-related deals) can change, so be sure to confirm anything you’ve read in this article before relying on it to book your ski holiday. Speak to our friendly experts on 020 7770 6888.