(BPT) – With the Olympics right around the corner, skiing is on a lot of people’s minds. While ski trips can get pricey quickly, there are ways to give your budget a lift. This article provides seven simple tips and tricks that can stretch your dollar and get you slopeside for a fraction of the price.
“It’s not unusual for ’ski vacation’ to be synonymous with ‘expensive getaway,’” says Jeanenne Tornatore, senior editor for the travel booking website Orbitz.com. “But it doesn’t have to be that way. These seven simple tips and tricks can stretch your dollar and get you slopeside for a fraction of the price.”
* Borrow your ski equipment. One of the big expenses of a ski vacation – especially for new skiers – can be gearing up. Tap friends and family to borrow ski gear for your trip – from coats and ski pants to ski boots and snowboards.
* Travel’s new rule: Pack light. Most airlines let you travel with a ski bag as one of your checked bags. Just be conscious of the weight allowance and take as much as you can in a carry-on bag to avoid extra fees.
* Choose an easily reachable resort. Flying into to smaller airports can mean heftier prices and inconvenient connections. Look for ski resorts that are within close proximity of major airports where there is more airline competition. Ski destinations like Keystone and Breckenridge are both family-friendly and an easy drive or shuttle ride from Denver International Airport.
* Location, location, location. While slopeside hotels let you walk out your door and hop on the lift, opting for lodging a little farther from the mountain can save you cash. And most ski resorts offer free shuttle services with stops throughout town, so getting to the lifts is not a hassle.
* Discount lift tickets. If you’re a student or a senior, be sure to bring identification to take advantage of any discounts available. And for those who enjoy sleeping in, you can opt for half-day or evening lift tickets that are discounted compared to full-day passes.
* Timing is everything. Many travelers end uppaying too much for a ski vacation simply because they choose to vacation wheneveryone else does. In general, lift tickets and lodging will be most expensiveover Christmas and New Year’s, MLK weekend, the President’s Day holiday andspring break during the month of March. Prices are relatively low in the earlyseason, which occurs November through mid-December. They will often drop againin April, after spring break. The month of January is perhaps one of thebest-kept secrets to skiing on a budget. After the December holidays, you’llfind plenty of snow without the crowds, typically resulting in lower lodgingrates.