Planning a ski trip this winter? The cost can be shocking. Lift ticket prices have shot past $70 a day at some resorts. And the ritziest on-mountain lodges are asking $500 a night or more. But a trip doesn't have to break the bank. Even as they raise published rates, ski areas have been adding ways to save. Here are five ways to keep the cost manageable.
 
Tip 1: Go off-season.

Ski areas are getting savvier about pricing lift tickets. They're jacking up rates during peak times while offering more discounts off-season. Vail is charging $300 for a four-day pass during the December holidays, or $75 a day. But the early-season rate up until Nov. 23 is just $224, or $56 a day. And late-season skiing after April 17 drops to $184, or $46 a day.

The price of lodging sinks drastically during the off-season, too.

"The specific week that you choose can have a tremendous impact on what you pay," says Kendall Hamilton, editor in chief of Ski magazine, who cites the period just after New Year's week until just before Presidents Day in February as a prime time for value.

Case in point: At the Village Properties, a condo complex at Killington in Vermont, rates drop on Jan. 3 to $62 per person per night, including lift tickets. That's nearly half the starting price of $113 during the December holidays.

One of the best off-season deals is at Telluride in Colorado, where visitors who stay two nights or more at participating lodges through Dec. 19 get free lift tickets. Resorts with similar deals include Stratton in Vermont, which offers ski-free packages Nov. 28-Dec. 9 and March 27-April 10, and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Alberta, which offers free tickets for non-holiday visits before Jan. 31.

Afraid the early- and late-season snow won't be up to snuff? Colorado-based Hamilton says it's not the problem some people think it is — at least out West.

"Conditions can be just as good," he says. "We get some epic storms in November and April." But be careful when booking an early- or late-season trip in the East, where weather patterns are more iffy. "You're definitely taking more of a risk."

Tip 2: Lock in your tickets now.

A growing number of resorts are offering discounts to vacationers who buy tickets in advance. New this year at Beaver Creek in Colorado are discounts of up to $80 for a six-day pass to travelers who book online at least a week before arrival. Ditto at sister parks Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado. The resorts do plan to raise rates for bookings after Jan. 31.

One of the biggest recent trends is heavily discounted season passes. At some resorts, passes for an entire year cost less than $300. The catch: They must be booked early.

It's already too late to get the best deals at many resorts. But a few top areas are still offering early-booking discounts. New Hampshire resorts Cranmore, Loon and Waterville Valley offer a good-for-the-season Threedom Pass for all three mountains for as little as $199 for college students if booked by Nov. 30. Teenagers pay $249, and adults pay $459, or $269 for a Sunday-to-Thursday pass.

One of the best values this season is the All For One Pass from American Skiing Company, which owns six ski areas in the East: Killington, Mount Snow and Pico in Vermont; Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine; and Attitash in New Hampshire. The bronze version has 14 blackout days and starts at $379. A limited number still are available, but the silver pass is sold out. The gold pass for $699 with no blackout days is still available.

Tip 3: Stay off the main drag.

You'll pay dearly for the privilege of staying in a ski-in, ski-out condo right on the slopes. If you don't mind trudging a block or two to the lifts with your skis, you often can save 30% or more on lodging. At Crested Butte in Colorado, for instance, a slopeside, two-bedroom condo in February costs $407 a night, while a similar unit just 220 yards away costs $238 a night. "Proximity is in high demand," reservations director Jeff Moffett says.

For even better deals, stay in a nearby town or the closest big city. "Several major cities are within an hour of top ski areas," says Amy Bohutinsky, a vacation specialist at discount site Hotwire.com. "Some of your best bets for great hotel rates are Salt Lake City, Seattle, Denver and Santa Fe."

Salt Lake City, which is within 35 miles of top resorts such as Deer Valley, is particularly appealing. Because hotels are geared toward business travelers, rooms are plentiful and inexpensive on weekends and holidays. The Sheraton City-Centre offers a room, lift tickets and transportation to Alta, Brighton, Snowbird or Solitude for $109 per person per night. The Hotel Monaco recently was selling rooms for Christmas week for $99 a night, far below the $179 a night it was charging for a stay in October when it's filled with business travelers.

Tip 4: Book a package

Booking a package that includes air travel, lodging, a rental car and lift tickets is a great way to save hundreds of dollars.

Typical are the offerings from Park City in Utah, where vacationers can book packages by using a central reservation line. The resort's five-night Rider Weekend package, which includes lodging, lift tickets and transfers from the airport, costs $1,209 a person. Book the same elements separately and you'll pay $2,036 — 68% more.

At Big Sky in Montana, skiers who stay at the Summit Hotel during budget season can save 20% by booking a lodging and lift ticket package at $1,846 for two people. The price if booked separately is $2,204.

One of the best deals at many ski areas is a package that includes lessons, which are pricey if booked separately. Durango in Colorado offers packages that include lift tickets, lodging, lessons and gear starting at $85 per person per night. That's a 42% savings from booking the items separately.

Ski magazine's Kendall Hamilton says it's not impossible to find a better deal by shopping for each item separately, but it's probably not worth the effort. "If you put a premium on your time, go with a package."

Tip 5: Go north.

Canada isn't quite the bargain it was a couple of years ago, but it's still a great deal for American vacationers. Although the U.S. dollar has lost about 5% of its value against the Canadian dollar during the past year, ski areas remain 20% or more less expensive than U.S. resorts for lodging and lift tickets.

Consider the price difference between the best-known resorts in each country. A three-day pass to Vail in Colorado for mid-January costs $219. A three-day pass to Whistler in British Columbia costs $144 at current exchange rates. That's a 34% savings.

Lesser-known resorts in Canada are even less expensive. Up-and-coming Fernie in British Columbia costs just $134 for a three-day pass.

"You have to weigh the fact that you probably have to travel farther to get there," says Ski's Kendall Hamilton. "But Canada offers some terrific values."  

Posted 10/14/2004 6:41 PM
By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY