Planning a ski vacation? Planning a day trip? Skiing is not a cheap sport. So any discounts or savings you can manage help. Here's a few tips for finding a deal.
Travel between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Resorts that are open are looking for guests. The areas are typically not crowded and will offer good discounts, like 4 days of skiing and lodging for the price of 3. November and December months are filled with holiday obligations and many people do not think of traveling then. If you are willing to carve out time for yourself in December, skiing can be much less expensive. Eastern skiers might time it right to find the added bonus that snow has not thawed and rain has not fallen, meaning little or no ice. Those conditions are harder to find come January.
Watch the ski resort's web site. Many mountains offer an email sign up, where you can receive a notice of good deals. Some resorts offer you a discounted ticket if you book your skiing in advance on-line. That means a lower price and less standing in ticket lines. Not a bad deal at all!
Check out businesses within an hour or two drive. It is not uncommon for a grocery store, gas station, fast food restaurants or other business in a town an hour or two away from the ski hills to sell discounted tickets, or offer coupons. Resorts enter into these partnerships with merchants to draw day travelers. Chances are if you drive more than an hour to skiing, you are driving past a spot with a reduced ticket rate.
Ski during an off time. Mid week is a great time to ski if you aren't chained to a day job. Night skiing where lit trails are available is generally less expensive. Some areas will offer a special rate for a couple of hours, right when the lifts open, or when day skiing transitions to night.
Watch deal sites. Sign up for discounts. There are plenty of places where discounts are promoted. If you attend a movie on the Warren Miller tour, you typically receive discounts for ski tickets. If you buy several tickets at a time for one resort, or a group of resorts under the same ownership, you should reap some savings. Try a site like ski.com or liftopia, the "priceline" of skiing. If you try it. Let me know what you think. I have a few trips to book of my own this year.
