Post #11 compliments of Mr. Deals…
So I hope those of you that are covered in snow because of the storms this past week and weekend are having a great time with the fluffy stuff. Personally, I love it. And sometimes, I know that you traveling types absolutely hate it because of the havoc it creates when trying to get somewhere.
But lets go back to those that love it (sorry business travelers). With the snow falling it means that the mountains are getting covered, and those of you looking to get away to the mountains are well aware that these trips can end up draining the wallet. Fear not folks, there are plenty of ways to save some dough and enjoy the mountains.
I’ll skip the bag fees when flying because lets face it, all of you probably have status and don’t have to worry about paying for a checked bag. And if you don’t, ski/snowboard gear is not considered oversized, so you don’t have to worry about any excess fees beyond what they airline typically charges. And you can toss in your boots too because it counts as one item.
Now lodging I can probably also skip, because again, you all probably have enough points or free nights to stay at some of the fanciest resorts slope-side. Now I’m wondering why I am writing this blog post to begin with…
Ok, lets pretend there’s no chain hotel at one of these mountains (gasp). My first recommendation is find a friend to crash with. Ok, the wife doesn’t want to couch surf, I get it. A good option is to always check the deals that the mountain websites are offering. Depending on your dates, you may be able to snag an early week lift/lodging deal like what Snowbird offers – starting at $99pp lift/lodging right at the mountain during peak season early week. I’ve also had a lot of success on Priceline, snagging a room for under $100 right in a mountain village. If it’s a big resort you are going to there’s a good chance they offer shuttles from the nearby villages so you never really have to worry about a mode of transportation to and from the mountain.
Now, lift tickets. This is where it can really get expensive. For every trip I go on, the first thing I do is check out Liftopia.com. Often times you can get deals that are 3 of 7 days (for use any 3 days, consecutive or non-consecutive) that are a real savings against paying at a ticket window. Check Liftopia.com early and often as they are always adding deals as they negotiate with the mountains. If you work for a company that offers Working Advantage, make sure you check out their offers before leaving for your trip. You can often save $20 or more on single day tickets. Even your local Costco or the one in the area that you are going to may offer deals on tickets. Our Costco in NYC often has 5 lift ticket packages for Park City available for sale at a discount.
For those of you lucky enough to have a season pass somewhere and are traveling to another region to ski/snowboard, definitely check the mountain policy on season pass holders. Often mountains will offer discounts to those that have a season pass elsewhere. It’s a nice perk that I think a lot of folks don’t necessarily know about.
My last recommendation is to check out ski shops in the area you are visiting. Call ahead and ask if they sell lift tickets as it may be worth popping in before heading up to the mountain to buy a few tickets. Many times you can save yourself $10 a day just by buying from a local shop. Sometimes even the gas stations offer deals for filling up with gas.
Make no mistake about it; ski/snowboard trips are not cheap vacations. But on a good powder day, the last thing on your mind is how much money you spent on a lift ticket. And to me there is nothing better than a bowl of chili in a bread bowl in the lodge after a day in knee-deep snow.
If you have any other tips and tricks, feel free to share them in the comments.
Let it snow!!
Previous Mr. Deals posts:
- Post #1: My Wife The Travel Blogger
- Post #2: When Mrs. Deals Forgets About Mr. Deals
- Post #3: Deals I’m Thankful For
- Post #4: The Influence of Mrs. Deals
- Post #5: Does Your Significant Other Hijack Your Work Trips?
- Post #6:Â The Spouse and Upgrades Debate
- Post #7:Â Middle Seats?! Really Mrs. Deals?
- Post #8: A Powerless Mrs. Deals
- Post #9: When Mrs. Deals Splurges
- Post #10: Mr. Deals Got a Status Mrs. Deals Doesn’t HaveÂ
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