Ski Vacations on the Cheap Side

If you are a ski-enthusiast or just thinking about trying your luck on the slopes for the first time, here are some great pointers for cutting down the costs of your next ski vacation.

Title: Ski Vacations on the Cheap Side
Author: Shari Hearn

Let's face it; skiing is not one of your more inexpensive hobbies. It's not like hiking where you can buy a pair of hikingshoes, perhaps a walking stick, and just start hiking a trail. With skiing you have your special clothes, your special equipment, lessons, accommodations, lift tickets, etc. It can get quite pricey. But, you'd be amazed at what a little scalingback or research can save you. What are some of the ways you can cut down on the cost of your ski vacation?
Location

Let's start with the location. You don't have to go Aspen. You
don't have to go to Park City. You don't have to go to Tahoe. If
skiing's what you really want to do, try skiing in your own back
yard and save some change. There are numerous lesser-known ski
areas in many states that don't have the bells and whistles or
the status attached to them, thus they're cheaper. And, if you
can drive to them you can save yourself costly airfare.

For example, if you live in Southern California, save money by
going to one of the fine ski areas within driving distance, such
as Mountain High in Wrightwood, just a 90-minute drive from
downtown Los Angeles, or just over 2 hours from San Diego.
That's right; you can ski all day in the mountains, and have
dinner on the beach. Another close ski area is Mt. Baldy. And
that's just a 45-minute drive from Los Angeles.

Packages

Scour the internet for ski vacation packages that include your
lodging, lift tickets, lessons, rentals, and, if possible, some meals.

Meals

Yes, it's really nice to ski all day and feast at night on filet
mignon and a nice bottle of Cabernet. However, if you're on a
budget and you just gotta ski, skip the expensive meal and go
for a cheaper diner or fast-food restaurant. You can probably
pick up a tasty burger for the cost of the tip at the fancy
restaurant. And, if you want an inexpensive bottle of red wine
to go with that burger, try picking up a less-expensive bottle
of wine at home and bringing it with you.

Lodging

Yes, there's nothing like a condo at the ski resort where you
can practically begin skiing from your back door. But, talk
about sticker shock! Lodging at ski resorts can be expensive.
Try staying at a hotel or motel a few-minutes-drive away. Or,
cheaper yet, consider staying at a ski hostel.

There's an abundance of hostels across America near popular ski
resorts at incredibly low prices. While it's true many of the
rooms are dorm rooms with shared bathrooms, if it's a cheap ski
vacation you want, hostels are the way to go. And, with many
hostels, you can have family rooms or private rooms for a few
extra dollars.

Hostels allow you to go to the prime ski areas on the cheap. For
example, if you want to take a Ski Vacation to Breckenridge in
Colorado, but can't afford the expensive lodging, you can stay
in the dormitory at the Fireside Inn Bed & Breakfast
(970-453-6456) for only $36 per person. You're only 5 minutes
from the Breckenridge ski area, and 20 minutes to Keystone. And,
during ski season, the bus to Breckenridge peaks stops at their
front door. Not bad for $36 a night. If dormitory life's not for
you, you can spend $80 for a private room with bunk bed.

How about a ski trip to Taos? You might want to consider the
Abominable SnowMansion, a 60-year-old adobe lodge with dorm
rooms, private rooms with shared baths and private rooms with
private baths. You can have a bunk and a breakfast for only $20
per person or $36 per couple. A private room with a shared bath
can be had for only $45 per couple or $33 for a single person,
while a private room with private bath goes for $52 per couple
or $45 for a single person. You can call them at 505-776-8298
for more information.

These are just two examples of hostels near great ski areas.
There's sure to be one near your favorite ski resort. A quick
search of "ski hostels" will reveal many inexpensive lodging
choices.

Taking an inexpensive ski vacation often times requires a little
thinking and a little sacrifice. But, the experience of skiing
down a mountain makes it all worth it.
 

About the author:
Shari Hearn is a writer and creator of Ski Vacations , where you can learn more about ski vacations, including Family Skiing Holidays

We hope you enjoyed this article about cost saving tips for ski vacations.  Feel free to share your comments with us.

ski areas ski hostel ski packages ski resorts Ski vacation