Kope, Slovenia
Lift tickets at many of the most popular ski resorts throughout the U.S. cost more than $100 per day. That can be the most expensive part of any ski vacation if you’re traveling with family or friends who can spread out the cost of lodging among the group. But if you can seek out the “locals” mountains, the smaller ski areas that aren’t attached to fancy resorts and which are often further away from areas tourists can reach easily, you can find relative steals. And if you’re willing to travel elsewhere in the world, you can get a lot more for your money. Slovenia, for example, has many affordable ski resorts you’ve almost definitely never heard of, including Kope in the northern town of Razborca. Lift tickets here start around $32. Slovenia is far more affordable than Western Europe, so you can plan a ski trip here on a budget. Just watch for flight deals to Ljubljana — Skyscanner says they start around $440 roundtrip from U.S. cities.