Utah Skiing

Old Aug 22nd, 2007, 10:45 AM
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Utah Skiing

We are a group of 6 already planning our 2008 ski trip and looking at Utah this year. We ski mainly blues, and have usually skied in Colorado, primarily Breckenridge and Keystone. We have less time available this trip, and have heard you can be on the slopes much faster in Utah, with lifts a short distance from SLC airport. Also, the altitude at Breck (base 9600') has become an issue, with so much time getting acclimated (even with medication) adding extra time to the vacation. Any recommendations from other moderate skiers re lodging and/or particular resorts? We would like to stay someplace close to the lifts---not necessarily ski-in, ski-out---but don't have an unlimited budget. We have always picked places in CO where we could get package deals, lift tickets and accommodations.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2007, 10:51 AM
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Park City is fantastic -- three ski areas (Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons), lots of intermediate skiing, a very developed base area (stores, restaurant, skating rink), Main Street (with all the restaurants and clubs) just a couple of miles or less down the road. It's 35 minutes from Salt Lake City airport to Park City. We rented a private house, but it only had one master suite, so I'm not sure it would work -- are you 6 adults, or a mix of adults and kids?
 
Old Aug 22nd, 2007, 10:57 AM
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We are 6 adults...one couple and 4 singles, so we would need a 2 bdrm with sofabed, or even better---a 3 bdrm. Also, will probably need 2 bathrooms. I like your descriptions of the mtns/resorts, though. Sound really neat. Is Park City more crowded than Deer Valley?
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Old Aug 22nd, 2007, 11:10 AM
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I'll send you a private message with a better description of the house we had (and if you send me back your email, I can include some pictures).

Yes, the skiing at Park City is more crowded than Deer Valley, but staying in Park City, you can ski at either (you can drive or shuttle).
 
Old Aug 22nd, 2007, 11:16 AM
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Well, I forgot there's no way to send private messages in Fodors, is there? Send me an email to [email protected] and I'll send you more info, including pictures.
 
Old Aug 22nd, 2007, 02:49 PM
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Hi phil,

There are plenty of condos and houses that would suit your group very well. Try checking out www.parkcityinfo.com for starters.

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Old Aug 22nd, 2007, 06:05 PM
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I can attest to the Park City area satisfying two of your concerns. I too have trouble with altitude when skiing in Colorado even though I love the scenery. (Have skied at Breck, Keystone, Winter Park.) We also have short trips (sometimes just 3 days) from the SE. I ski blues and my husband blues and blue/blacks.
Last 2 years we went skiing we went to Park City area instead and are very satisfied.

I have no trouble with the altitude, getting a good night's sleep, no headaches or nausea, and lots more energy.

It is a shorter/easier drive, though we still have not done the half day free lift ticket with plane ticket on day of arrival deal. Just less stressful and faster.

I cannot provide specific lodging recommendations for you. We have stayed at two different condo complexes in town then drove to Deer Valley to ski. Based our decision on price, but there were just two of us. I also never found the package deals better than purchasing separately for us as we rarely are staying enough nights to get a great discount. If you want me to look up the names of the places I will. Would require riding the shuttle or driving to any of the resorts.

We liked DV so much we haven't made it to Park City or the Canyons. Maybe next time.

We thought when staying near the intown lift the first time we might take it to Park City, but the walk to it was just too long from our condo to start the day.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 04:47 AM
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Suggest you check the Best Western at Park City --- we stayed there over MLK weekend and they sold us our tickets to the ski area of our choice (Park,DV,or Canyons). We skiied DV 2x and Park once -- you can get your tickets at the hotel the night before so you are assured of your DV ticket. DV is simply the best for groomed slopes and food, lodge ambience. Die hard skiers go to Alta.

I have posted some pictures -- most taken at DV..

http://www.camsoft.us/personal2/UtahWeb/index.htm
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 07:32 AM
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Thanks for all the info. I am getting excited already. Miss_Maple, thanks also for the pictures. As the temp approaches 100 again today, those views helped to cool me down. Since we have 6 people, it has been cheaper in the past to stay in condos rather than a hotel like Best Western, plus we can make some of our own meals that way. How long (time-wise) is the shuttle from Park City to Deer Valley? Is there much of an advantage to actually staying closer to the lifts at DV? Are there any spots to get discounts for the Deer Valley lift tickets? Are lift tickets good at more than one mountain? Has anyone used a website or particular agency in the past for reservations? I have read mixed reviews about the David Holland group---anyone with experience with them? We are not die hard skiers and stick strictly to blues and fun greens so Deer Valley sounds like our kind of place.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 09:42 AM
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Hi again Phil,

Did you check the website I gave you? It should answer most of your questions.

The shuttle ride between Park City Mtn Resort and Deer Valley is only about 10 minutes. The ride between the base of PCMR to Main Street is only about 5 min.

I would stay nearer to Park City or Main Street, DV is DEAD at night and a long drive if you are staying in upper DV at Silver Lake area.

Park City Mtn Resort has PLENTY of very fun greens and blues and they do great grooming too, if that's what you need.

I personally prefer PC over DV. DV is developed to the point where you are sking in between high rise condos and mega mansions, mostly. I prefer to ski mountains, chutes and bowls.

On mountain food at DV is best, PC food is basic.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 10:01 AM
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You should also check out sites like vrbo.com, A1vacations.com, cyberrentals.com. They have tons of condos listed.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 10:37 AM
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phil, send me that email so I can send you info on the house we rented. It was really wonderful, and might work for you.
 
Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 10:53 AM
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We were also a similarly-sized group who mainly preferred groomed blues. We found Park City's 3 resorts to be perfect for us. PCMR and Deer Valley both have tons of groomed blues, long greens and some easier blacks that your group will love. As another poster indicated, it is easy to get from one to the other (and to the Canyons -- which our group found more challenging than the other 2 resorts), so no need to limit yourself to just one resort.

Stay in or near Park City, especially on the city bus line. The town has lots of good restaurants, cute shops, a spa, etc for those who don't want to ski day in and day out.
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Old Aug 25th, 2007, 07:50 AM
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I searched for my old posts--can't remember anything these days.
Just two of us and we rented a car each time.

2005-
We didn't know which resort(s) we wanted to ski at so didn't stop for discount lift tickets in SLC. We paid higher price at the resort for the ability to choose each day. Only half-day afternoon tickets available at DV and PC.

We reserved through David Holland and stayed at the Park Station Condos in a one-bedroom hotel room, which is the locked off second bedroom of a condo. Fine except the room held two beds, dresser, bedstand, and TV--no chairs. The vertical blinds didn't quite cover the entire window, so not exactly private! Otherwise, clean, quiet.

We did not use the Town Lift. We had to get out of our 3rd floor unit, across the property, up a flight of stairs, cross street, and walk about 150 yards uphill, then up another staircase to access. Maybe if we rented from the ski shop right at the base and left our skis there each night my husband would have agreed.

We drove to Precision to get and return skis. Just OK--the fellow doing my paperwork tried to tell me the insurance wasn't optional, that it was all bundled in the $31 price, yet I was getting 20% off that for reservation. Told other clerk who waited on my husband and he seemed unsurprised. Todd seemed nice--manager? Liked the long hours. Equipment fine though well used.

We decided to drive over to Deer Valley the first day since we weren't using the town lift. Parked in second lot and walked rather than wait for the tram, but it looked convenient. We really enjoyed DV. People were nice; mountain hosts appeared to answer questions almost everytime we paused at top of a lift to examine our map; lift operators were friendly yet attentive (I kind of liked how they would guide traffic into the lift line rather than using the cattle guards like at Breckenridge); skiers were generally safe (I really noticed the difference with no snowboards); lodges quite lovely; food in cafeterias only $1-2 more than we've paid at other on-mountain restaurants with some more interesting choices; and some enjoyable runs for us intermediates. We liked it so much, we decided to use the free ski check and come back the next day. People were mobbing the tram, though no one had to wait for more than one tram, so we just walked back to car. Next day we arrived before 9am and parked in the second row so easy to walk, even went back to car in early afternoon to drop off some layers as it warmed up.

2006-
We went back to the Park City area for our short ski trip again this year. The convenience to SLC airport and the lower elevation than the Colorado resorts made an easy decision. (I have a lot of trouble sleeping and get nose bleeds and headaches at high elevation.)

Stayed at Prospector Square Hotel condo this time. Better room than Park Station. Two hard chairs with table, small frig and microwave, sink. Close to bagel shop and grocery store.

Went back to Deer Valley and made it to some runs we missed last year. Didn't make it down to gondola--staff said running slow because of wind so discouraged going down that run.
Went early enough to park in first lot and used free overnight ski check for second day. Ate lunch before 11:30 as as slopes and lodge getting crowded, then crowds disappeared from slopes by 1:00. Returned to car first day to find rear side bumper scraped evidently by the huge SUV that was parked next to us when we had arrived that morning but was now gone.

Rented skis from Utah, picking up in SLC and returning in Park City. They had lost our reservation, offered me wet boots, and my husband different size skis than requested. We worked it out. Didn't mark our names on skis so best remember what they look like.
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Old Aug 26th, 2007, 05:53 PM
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I would also reccommend staying in Park City even if you ski at Deer Valley. There are so many shops and restaurants within walking distance of most places in Park City (or you can use the city bus) and Deer Valley is not far away. I have stayed at a few David Holland condos. David Holland is a management company renting out private owner condos so there's no guarantee on their condition. Some units have been very nice and others were tired.
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Old Aug 26th, 2007, 11:27 PM
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My BIL has a condo..right in front of the ice skating rink. Can't remember name but the location is good ski lodging, near the lifts.
Also last couple of years Park City teamed up with the airlines and if showed an airline ticket could ski free...same day you fly ...that's how close you are to the airport.
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Old Aug 27th, 2007, 06:30 AM
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It sounds like you're pretty much set on Park City, but I have to put in a vote for my favorite Utah mountain: Alta.

Alta is a ski-only mountain - you said "ski", but do some of you snowboard? In that case, Alta isn't for you - but it's neighbor Snowbird is. The two are connected and skiers can go between the two.

We had a package deal at the very reasonable Alta Peruvian Lodge (it's been around forever!). The Peruvian is a short, skiable distance to the lifts at Alta; they have a range of rooms at different price points (ours had a sink in the room and shared bathroom across the hall); heated outdoor pool, jacuzzi, etc. The lodge also has its own bar: remember, Utah is rather restrictive when it comes to alcohol.

The package included lift tickets and three meals a day - you could go back to the lodge for lunch or they'd give you a box meal to take on the slopes, and the food was good. It also included a van to and from the airport, which is a 45 minute ride.

I'm a solid "blue" skier, and I think the slopes at Alta are great. And as a skier not a snowboarder, it's a refreshing change to be back on a ski-only mountain!
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Old Aug 27th, 2007, 07:30 AM
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Thanks all for the great information. We will have to do some searching for a good ski rental place, as we have been spoiled by Blue River Sports Rental in Breck---they have been excellent.
ggreen, we aren't totally biased for Park City---in fact we have never been to SLC so we are newbies---I am just going by things that I have read that say Alta and Snowbird are more oriented toward better skiers, and Deer Valley and Park City had more greens and blues. We are flexible.
We are hoping to take advantage of the half-day-lift-ticket-with-boarding-pass if they have it. We are timing our trip to be in the less expensive period between Sundance FF and when the rates go up after President's Day.
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Old Aug 27th, 2007, 08:25 AM
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Philsbert 1, let me rain on or at least drizzle a little on the parade. But you need to know where I stand. Currently live in Colorado and have skied there since 62 and for the past ten years have skied in Park City for a week each year with a group that prefers the SLC airport. Park City, Deer Valley, etc. has some advantages for access (45 mins to SLC airport) and lower altitude) but the slopes, ski terrin are very different. Obviously the mountains are not as high so the runs are shorter and good parts of the runs are even shorter. I feel that you spend more time waiting in line and riding chairs than sking. There is a lot of ridge sking. You exit a chair have a gentle run down a ridge with options left or right to drop into a small gulley. The drop to the gully can be very good ranging from big mogals to groomed green but it is a short run that drops you to the gulley between ridges and becomes a green trail with LOTs of skiers working their way back to the lift. That is very common at Park City and Canyons less so at Deer Valley. You will not find the long blue runs from the top of the mountain to the base that is characterist of Breck, Keytstone. All three areas are pretty tame and my preference is DV, PC, and Canyons in that order. There are no significant discounts for the three areas. The food in the mountain lodges at DV are far superior to anywhere -- including Colorado.

Ggreen mentioned Alta and Snowbird. I support his recommendations. Much better sking, great runs, fewer folks, and good lift prices. A and SB are very similar to Colorado sking. I would much prefer to ski at Alta or Snowbird but it is an hour drive from Park City where we stay. Even Snow Basin is better than PC but another hour drive.

The town of PC is comparable with Breckenridge as to shops and restaurants.

I think PC will serve your group well but just don't expect the same type of sking experience that you had in Colorado.

If I was given one last day of sking. it would be Snowmass.

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Old Aug 27th, 2007, 11:27 AM
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philsbert, I wasn't saying that you were biased, but you did say "Deer Valley sounds like our kind of place."

I am by no means a good skier; we don't get to go often enough for me to ever truly improve! But I do really enjoy Alta. I think fmpden's description as it compares to Breck is a good one. (I can compare Breck/Alta-SB, but not to other Utah areas as I have not skied them!)

I'd love to get out there this year, but it's not in the cards for '08. Have a great trip!
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