Top Ten Tips for Serious Savings on Ski Vacations

Cash Money

$avings on the $lopes and $urroundings

Book Direct with a local company, they are the area experts and can frequently bundle your savings with connections to other local deals.

Lodging: Book Direct, book early and book local.  Local lodging companies know the territory! If you book directly with a local lodging company, you will avoid third-party fees, while working with people that are members of the community and are best able to accommodate particulars in regards to budget, property specifics, and connections to local specials, in-house and reciprocal discount packages, and current events. Quality lodging companies are expert at taking care of details. At the time of booking your lodging, always ask about any reciprocal deals that they may be able to set up for you concerning the other provisions for your upcoming vacation: lift tickets, equipment rentals, event discounts, etc. Lower rates on lodging are most obtainable during mid-week, non-holiday periods. Consider booking a vacation rental right at the resort.  Though it would seem that ski-in/ski-out properties would be more costly, there are great savings to be had when you have easy access to food and drink at your place of lodging.    

Make advanced bookings—for every component:  from lodging to car rentals, to lift tickets, to gear packages.

Lift Tickets—the reason you’re headed up to Winter Park Resort and Mary Jane during the snow season is to spend some prime time on those legendary ski trails.  When planning ahead, there are methods to save more and ski more.  The two best means of ski vacation savings are to utilize advance online purchasing and to ski multiple days.  Walk-up window rates can cost up to $159 for a day on the slopes.  However, when you make your plans more than a week in advance, you can save up to $35.00 a day, by going to the Winter Park Resort site and purchasing your lift tickets on-line.  Additionally, when you are skiing more than a single day, and who isn’t, your savings are even higher: at least seven days in advance, buy a QuickTrax Card online. Click below for more info on how we can help with lift tickets.  

Gear-up: Snow and recreation in the snow requires lots of equipment.  If you already own all of your own equipment and are coming from out-of-state, check into the possibility of pre-shipping some of your gear to your destination ahead of time.  This is often more cost-effective than the airline over-size bagging fees. Plus, it relieves some of the hassles of travel days, you just need to get yourselves to the land of snow. When renting, online advance equipment and clothing rental is going to save you time, money and stress.  The cost savings could be up to 40%! See below in the “partner company reciprocal budget deals” section
for ways to save up to 25% on ski rentals through Winter Park Lodging Company.  Another popular option for budget-savvy travelers are consignment shops and other used-clothing retailers.

Invest in trip insurance.

You are booking early; life is full of surprises.  Insurance can save you thousands of dollars.  Should illness, an accident, or a host other unexpected misfortune come your way, good travel insurance can help one calamity not erupt into a financial disaster, as well.  Click below to learn more about trip insurance.

Always ask about age-related, job-related, and military discounts that may apply.

Ski resorts often offer college, military, and senior discounts.  Generally, all you need is documentation of your status and you receive a nice discount on lift passes.  If you work in a related industry it could be worth calling ahead and stating your name and business.  They might just offer you a special discount.  If you have a large group, call group sales at any resort and most of the time they will negotiate a price that is fair to you and them.Teddy Bear Illness

Local lodging companies will do the same if you book direct with them.  Click below to see what we offer at Winter Park Lodging Company.

Ask about partner company reciprocal budget deals—for lessons, equipment, car rental, etc.

Not only will a local lodging company have the insider information on what the best thing happening is at the time, they will also have connections with other local businesses and provide reciprocating discounts with them. For example, if it’s rafting season, we provide 10% off with the local whitewater rafting outfit.  We provide discounts on everything ranging from outdoor experiences to retail savings in Winter Park and even car rentals!

Take advantage of multi-day lift tickets or passes.

Lift ticket deals exist all the time.

Multi-day pass—flexibility to choose a 2-out-of 3-days pass, or better, ski 7-out-of-10 days pass.  Savings vary and there is a limited inventory of these specially priced tickets.  Winter Park Resort offers discounts to seniors (70 years plus), children, students, and Military.  Notice, those little guys (kids 5 and under) can ski for $10, what a great ski deal!  Also, be on the lookout for “first-timers” deals.  You can often get lessons and learners slopes’ access for reduced pricing.

Passesextended vacations. You have the time, you have the desire—you are ready to spend where to buy priligy in Nigeria more than seven days on the slopes.  A season pass is the way to go, even when buying midseason!  Take a look at the Winter Park Resort online site for unlimited lift passes, such as The Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus (also includes six days at Steamboat) or all Winter Park/Mary Jane Pass for unlimited skiing for the rest of the season. There is a variety of ski options available, some which incorporate lift tickets for other resort areas; and other choices that are spring skiing specific.  For truly savvy savers, look at the upcoming year’s ski season pass in April or May: you will surprise yourself with how budget-friendly a ski pass can be!

Public transportation is most often the lowest cost, or even free.

Amtrak Winter Park Express: this unique experience train ride to Winter Park Resort is available January through March, on weekends.  Tickets range between $39 and $59; though, there are a limited number of early booking discount tickets avail for as low as $29. www.amtrak.com

Home James Transportation: Denver to Winter Park shuttle company.  Two hour trip in well-equipped shuttle vans.  $70-$100 per adult ticket.  Adjust pricing for groups. Half-price for children.  Deals and specials are often available online. 

Once you are up in Winter Park, the free, fun, and convenient shuttle service at your disposal is The Lift.  This public transportation will get you all around the resort, and the towns of Winter Park and Fraser, with multiple stops and extended hours.  Download the RideHop app.  Use access code: lift.

Stay during mid-week, non-holiday periods.

If you have the luxury of being able to get away during the week you will not only deal with a lower number of people on the slopes and on the roads, you will find lower prices on lodging, activities, and dining.  Most businesses offer great mid-week deals and specials.  At Winter Park Lodging Company our prices average $50-$100 less per night from Sunday through Wednesday.

Fresh Corduroy Winter Park
Mid Week Ski Slopes
Groceries and DIY meals and snack are the cheapest way to go.

Food: For cheap eats, the same tricks apply when on vacation that you practice at home.  Groceries always cost less than restaurants. If you’re coming up from Denver, pick up your food-stuff in the city, it is more economical than in the mountains.  Though, there are several moderately priced grocery stores in town, too.  Liquor stores are going to be significantly cheaper than bar service.  So, stock your vacation kitchen with convenient food and beverage supplies, and have greater control over the budget. There is even a local company, the Grocery Guys, that will shop for you if you’re wanting groceries waiting at your property.  You can still choose those times for indulging in culinary splurges.  Another tip for less money, additional fun, is to ‘pocket pack.’  Whether you put a backpack to work or use your parka’s pockets, there is a lot of portable nourishment that can keep you on the slopes while others are spending prime time and a chunk of change on the slope-side fare. Make it a meal on the go, and you’ll be in the dough!

Check out the free events calendars, before you go and upon arrival.

Activities & Events: Ski towns are vacation towns—they know how to radiate hospitality.  Free events and activities abound: concerts, classes, recreation, and discovery are the standard inviting happenings in Winter Park.  Once you know your travel dates, get online to access the resort, the town, and the Chamber of Commerce’s calendar of events. Check out the Winter Park Resort site for upcoming events on the mountain; and, for the town of Winter Park: http://www.playwinterpark.com/ .  Your vacation stay may need to be prolonged just to attend the fun and free specials!

Get Creative.

Another popular option for budget-savvy travelers are consignment shops and other used-clothing retailers.  Ski towns generally have great selections of gently used clothing and equipment available in these shops.  For kids that are quickly out-growing their garb, this is an especially appealing option. This last budget-smart option may present major savings but is relationship specific. Should you have friends or family living in Colorado, have a look at end-of-season bargains on equipment at the rental shops.  Pick up a pair of skis, boots, a snowboard, at incredible mark-down prices.Then, have your friend or family member store that equipment for your yearly trip.  A fun possibility–you and the friend go in together on a high-end pair of skis, and the friend can ski on them during times when you’re not using them.  We have a few friend groups for which this has actually been a wise financial success.  It saves the vacationers money and rental worries, and the keeper of the goods gets some time on shared equipment that may offer different thrills than their primary equipment.  The idea has been tested— it is worth consideration.Fire and Wine

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Get the best Bang For Your Buck With Winter Park Lodging Company

Winter Park Lodging Company has a great lineup of properties located throughout the Fraser Valley :

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1-23-2018—by Anne-Marie & Larry