Major resorts have reported bookings are down for the 2008 - 2009 ski season. With snow already falling in Colorado and other parts of the country, snowbirds are itching to hit the slopes. Skiing is not known as an inexpensive pastime, but this year it's a buyer's market and chances are you're going to pay a lot less for the snowy getaway. Here are a few tips for saving $600 on your next ski vacation.
- Book a package. A Travelocity study shows that booking air + hotel saves an average of $315 when compared to booking the components of your trip separately.
- Take advantage of every promotion. With the difficult economy, destinations and online travel agencies are teaming up to attract customers. For example, Travelocity will offer a $100 off flight + four-night hotel in Colorado starting December 1.
- Get reimbursed for bags. Airlines will charge you to check your skis, but the new trend from ski resorts is to reimburse their visitors for those charges as an incentive to get on a plane and come for vacation. For example -- $50 off per person at Vail, $25 off from Steamboat; $30 from Crested Butte.
- Ski for free. Mountains resorts all over the country have various promotions that include free ski passes. For example, in Park City, you can convert your boarding pass to a free-same day lift ticket -- about $80 in savings per person. In Crested Butte, a free lift ticket for every night stay for one person – about $60 per day in savings.
- Skip the rental car. Ground transportation to the mountain can often be had at a fraction of the cost. For example, two people on the shuttle from Denver Airport to Beaver Creek, Colorado: $350 RT. SUV five-day rental, about $400 plus gas. Savings: more than $100.
And a few deals to save you even more:
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member NSXEatr
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November 20, 2008