Duck parmentier it is! At Le Blanchot, a slopeside restaurant in Méribel, southeastern France, Alex, Ryan and Zac (who did not wish to give their full names), all 27 years old, treated themselves to a lunch break in the sun after their first half-day of skiing or snowboarding. "We love it. The slopes are great. It's not too expensive. We're eating well. So far, it's been a really good experience," said Zac, fork in hand.

These three Americans, who arrived the day before from New York, work in finance or consulting in Manhattan. Taking advantage of a bank holiday Monday in the US to spend four days in Méribel, they landed in Geneva, Switzerland – and it's the first time they've skied in Europe. Usually, they go to Vermont or the Rockies. But after three years of soaring prices in the US, the balance has shifted.

"For us, it's become cheaper to come and ski in Europe, even with the price of the plane ticket. This winter, a one-day ski pass in Colorado costs $250 [€240]! Vermont is cheaper, but it's very cold, and the slopes aren't as good," said Alex. By comparison, the price of "Les 3 Vallées" ski pass (€79 per day), which includes access to Méribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens, seems cheap. Yet it's the most expensive in France.

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