Ski passes are tickets that allow skiers to use the tracks and lifts at a particular resort. Today the system of ski passes is one of the main sources of income of ski resorts in Europe, the USA and Canada. For ski passes is often used another definition - lift-pass. The essence remains unchanged.
There are various types of ski passes. Their price depends on the number of days that the tourist is going to spend on the tracks, on the age of the tourist, the size of the tourist group, season and region of skating. The common rule of all ski passes: the more days you spend the lower price is.
Ski resorts in Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy have in their arsenal wide selection of ski passes. Skier can buy a ticket to the particular resort, and also ski tracks of the region.
Ski region usually includes several resorts, combined by one lift system. Austria, France and Italy have at their disposal several ski areas each. Among the most famous are Ski Circus and Ski Amade in Austria, Three Valleys and the Portes du Soleil in France, as well as Val Gardena and Alta Badia in Italy. Buying ski pass for the certain region, the tourist is allowed to use ski lifts and tracks of all resorts of the region. Among the ski passes that are now available on the European ski market, the widest coverage of resorts is provided by the Dolomites Superski in Italy. It enables the tourist to use the tracks and lifts in 12 ski regions.
Today ski passes can be purchased at the resorts, as well as online. Many resorts regularly offer special discounts on ski passes. For example, ski resorts in Sweden and Finland try to attract family tourists. Therefore, discounts on ski passes are available for skiers with children. Rave resorts such as Courchevel in France, Verbier in Switzerland and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy often propose substantial discounts on group ski passes. The main season of discounts on ski passes in Europe is March and April.
