Get a great ski deal - Tip # 3

Find a Chain hotel – If you can stay at a mid-range brand hotel you can save money over the cost of a condominium. By being in a hotel you’ll miss out on the additional space and often slope side accommodations and kitchen facilities, but your accommodation will be at a fraction of the price.

When you call Central Reservations they'll typically offer Condominium style accomodation, but ask what hotels are availabel so that you can explore all of your options.

Aspen or Snowmass CO?

I checked out Aspen....Hotel Aspen – 2 queens - 6 nights with one free $1,878.00…I asked, is there a cheaper option…that was the cheapest option!


We looked at Snowmass, CO too…it’s about 10 miles from Aspen…6 nights with one night free was $961.88. Back in our price range!

When you buy a 5-day lift ticket you get one day free, so it works out at $67.00 per day for adults and $41.00 for kids. The lift tickets are good for all four mountains (so Snowmass and Aspen).

Most skiers fly into Vail, as Denver is 4 hours away. The shuttle from Vail is included with the lodging in a lot of packages.

Great ski deal at Breckenridge CO

A small hotel room with a Queen and 2 bunks is $109.56 a night including tax....she kept saying there are no amenities, no hot tub...but, it's a 2 minute walk from the slopes.

Breckenridge has a deal right now where you ski 4 days and get the 5th free, so an adult lift ticket works out to be $66.40 per day if you ski 5 days.

The ground transit works out to be $36.00 round trip each for the 4 of us, from Denver Intl to Breckenridge.

Just FYI...Car rental taxes are 25 % at Denver International...no wonder the rental car cost us so much last year!

Tip # 2 - How to get a great deal on a ski vacation

Tip # 2 is to avoid renting a car if you have to fly to the resort – Car rental can easily cost a thousand dollars for a week; you need a large enough car to carry the gear (not a compact - kaching$$$), probably 4WD or All Wheel Drive (kaching$$$ again) and you might need a roofrack (another kaching$$$).  To avoid renting a car, ensure that a shuttle is available from the airport to your hotel – this is also known as ‘ground transit’. Make sure that your hotel or condo is on the bus route to the slopes. Free buses run in many resorts.  You can rent a locker at many resorts so that you can avoid additional trips back to your hotel.

Tip # 3 follows tomorrow...unless I can find a resort with an open reservations center and can post some up to date pricing!

Five tips to get a great deal on a ski package

Tip # 1 - Look for Package deals - Buy two get one free type deals on things like airfares, ski/board rental and on ski school. So far this year I’ve found a kids ski and rent free at Steamboat, CO and a 20 per cent off deal for staying 5 days. Because of the discounts it’s actually the same price to ski for 5 days as it is to ski for 3!  Jackson Hole, WY is buying the 3rd airfare.  The deals are out there.  Look for opportunities to book air travel, hotel and lift tickets together to get the maximum discount.
Tip # 2 tomorrow...

Ski package at Snowbird, UT

Today's search for a great ski deal takes us to Snowbird. UT.
Snowbird, UT is offering a hotel room at The Lodge at Snowbird, 6 night stay, 2 adult 5-day lift passes with Kids Ski Free (my favorite) for $1,941.86. Hotel room has 2 queen beds and is a 3 to 5 minute walk from the lifts.
Groung transit from Salt Lake City is $68.00 (roundtrip) for adults and $46.00 for kids.

Ski package at Jackson Hole, WY

So, what kind of deal can you get on a ski trip to jackson Hole? The two main lodging options are staying at Teton Village (at the base of the slope) or in the town of Jackson, about 12 miles away. The spend less option is staying in Jackson! There are some great deals on lodging. For example, the Best Western Lodge in Jackson is offering buy one night, get one free.

Here’s the scoop.
Best Western Lodge – 2 Queens and a sleeper sofa, Breakfast, Fridge, Pool. On the free shuttle bus route. 6 nights (for the price of 3) -$404.00.
5 days Lift Tickets - $367.00/adult and $218/child. This reflects a 20% discount.
Rentals are $35.00/day
Ground transit from airport at Jackson Hole, WY to hotel - $33.00/adult and $17.00/child.

The lodging sounds like a great price for a ski town. The lift tickets work out to $73.00 a day, so not a great deal. So, I'm still looking for a great price on a ski package!