Famous ski resorts are all well and good, but like capital cities, you often pay above the odds just for the name. Many people trying to find a cheaper ski holiday immediately opt for an apparently ‘low cost’ alternative like Eastern Europe, but then often have to dramatically compromise on the skiing they find on arrival – along with the travel experience, the accommodation, the food, the rental gear...

Fortunately you can often visit a famous ski area with world class skiing at your doorstep, and check out all of the attractions of the main resort, but stay nearby instead at a fraction of the cost. That’s because most of the best known ski areas in the Alps share their slopes with smaller villages nearby, their relatively unknown neighbours. 

They normally share the same ski pass too, and often an area ski bus or even a rail connection down in the valley (frequently provided free of charge to pass holders) so you can ski in to town in the day, and return for a drink or meal in the evening.

More often than not though you may actually find you don’t want to bother with the famous-name resort after you’ve had a look round and checked out the shops.  Because the smaller village you’re staying in is probably friendlier and more service-oriented, the queues shorter, probably non-existent and everything will be cheaper.

There are still more benefits.  You will almost always get a better standard of accommodation for less money, because you’re not paying  for the name, and you’re also likely to be able to reach the best parts of the ski area first, while those staying in the famous-name resort are still queuing to get on the lift and out on to the slopes.

4 Vallées, Switzerland
A recent report claimed you could have a cheaper ski holiday flying to North America from the UK rather than pay to stay in Verbier.

The solution is to stay in one of the nearby resorts that are fully linked in to the 4 Valleys such as Nendaz or its smaller neighbour Siviez.

Both are well-designed modern resorts offering mostly family orientated apartment accommodation at a dramatic saving on the cost in Verbier.  The resorts also offer the fastest access route to the Mont-Fort glacier ski area at the top of the "4 Vallées".

Nendaz is by far the larger of the two and has actually grown in to quite a large village now, with accommodation for more than 15,000, but has kept its traditional Swiss wooden chalet architectural style and the heart of the Haute Nendaz village dates back to the 16th century.
Siviez remains a largely undiscovered gem which will appeal to those looking for a quiet spot and fast access to some of the best skiing in the 4 Vallées.  Much smaller than Nendaz, it’s one of Europe’s highest resorts at 1730m. There’s fast access to almost all parts of the sprawling 4 Valleys from here including the Mont Fort glacier, from which a descent of a vertical mile is possible back down to the village. The perfect spot for serious skiers not looking for a lively nightlife.

The resorts have their own extensive local ski slopes, which although connected to the 4 Vallées may well be enough for your needs for much of your stay. Unlike some better known areas of the region, the slopes here are north facing so the snow lasts longer.

Check out some amazing ski deals for Nendaz for Easter...

Grande Rousses, France
Although Alpe d’Huez is the best known resort in this giant French ski region, this small hamlet of Vaujany, below, is a more attractive option for those in the know.

The village derives much of its income from having a major (but unobtrusive) hydro-electric dam nearby and the funds from that have been invested in exceptionally good lift-infrastructure including what was until recently the world's largest cable-car which whisks you quickly and efficiently up to the heart of the ski area.

Although it is now growing quite quickly, Vaujany remains a relatively unspoilt village with an intimate feel and a small but good selection of shops, cafes and restaurants. As well as ski lifts, the village elders have also spent this money on an excellent sports centre which is also available for village guests to use and has the same advantages of high quality facilities with a small resort population around to use it, which equals no queues. 
Grand Massif, France

Check out some amazing ski deals for Vaujany at Easter...

The best known resort in the Grand Massif, one of the easiest areas to reach from Geneva and with one of the snowiest reputations in the Alps, is the 1960s concrete-blocks ski resort of Flaine.

Fewer people are aware that there are four traditional villages surrounding the modern resort, all fully connected to the lift network.  Last to be fully linked in, just a few year ago, is the stunning old village of Samoens, from which residents used to need to take a ski bus a mile or so to the nearest lift, but now has a state-of-the-art gondola running right from the heart of the village to the centre of the action on the slopes.

Nestled at the heart of a great glacial valley, surrounded by seven dramatic peaks, Samoëns has for centuries been the focus of important historical events.  Older and larger than neighbouring Morillon, Samoëns retains the friendly charm of an ancient market town, still strongly influenced by its farming and masonry traditions.  There's a generally peaceful, timeless feel to the resort, although lively night spots can be found.
Mont Blanc, France

The Mont Blanc valley around Chamonix differs from the three earlier areas in that the individual ski areas are not linked by ski lifts and pistes, only by ski buses, but it has the same issue with accommodation and après ski in Chamonix tending to cost much more than in the smaller villages surrounding it.

Les Houches is one of these, with its own popular ski areas that people staying in Chamonix will take the bus to visit, especially in bad weather when the tree lined runs provide shelter that the Valley’s other areas don’t have.  It’s a small traditional village with an old architectural heart and some of the best views of Mont Blanc in the whole valley. 
Les Houches is home to 1962 ski champion Emile Allais, and is also the place where downhill racing from Chamonix showed on television each winter actually takes place, as the valley’s famous World Cup downhill run is here.

So with 17 lifts and more than 35 miles of runs, many skiers will be happy to spend all or most of their winter holiday here (Les Houches ski area is actually the largest single ski area in the Valley) and just venture in to Chamonix for occasional shopping and apres ski.  There are three levels of lift ticket available depending on how many of the neighbouring ski areas you wish to visit.

So to sum up, if you’re looking to save money on your ski holiday don't go to Eastern Europe and don’t compromise on your quality, just think and look laterally from the famous name resorts and you’ll find you can have a better holiday, for less money, on the same ski slopes!