KMK is right. I just called the number above and they do not sell Steamboat tickets. Good luck looking for them-- maybe try the website.

Thanks! I'll try asking when I book accommodations. $70 a day is pretty high. It's pricing the little guy out of skiing.

You are so right about pricing the little guy out of skiing. After adding in equipment rentals, parking, and $10 hot dogs for a family of four, you've got yourself a $500 day easy.

We choose Nordic skiing many days for lots of reasons, one of which is cost. Our family of four can ski for $60/day, including equipment rentals for two. And we don't have to stand in line every other minute for a life. Going out for 2 hours is all it takes and you're exhausted and exhilarated.

Try it, you might enjoy the peace and quiet and views of the beautiful backwoods and Rockies.

Trappeur's Crossing (the original condos) is where we always stay in Steamboat. The front-desk and other staff are very helpful; the shuttle vans run very frequently to the ski base and at request, into town. The units, generally, are well-kept-up (there are a variety of sizes). The indoor-outdoor pool is a big hit with our kids (though still kind of cool for me), and they have both an indoor and outdoor hot tub. I think (but am not sure) that all of the units use these same facilities.

You will get a small multi-day discount for ski tickets at the resort. We also get some other discount, but I think that's by means of some sort of Steamboat discount card that we get at the beginning of each ski season - I'll post additional info if I can find out anything more about that.

Of course, there are ways to keep the costs down (somewhat). You won't have to pay for parking. You can pack in all or some of your lunches and/or snacks. My husband takes a fanny pack and brings sodas and fruit, then we buy our "main course" on the mountain. You could even go back to your condo for lunch if you wanted, it's not that far from the ski mountain (but then you'd need to ride the gondola again).

Now that it looks like you're set on Steamboat, here's my analysis of ski lift heights. In general, a good number of "good" lifts, which to me means low to the ground and have bars you can pull down. You have to take the gondola up to the top of the mountain, but you can easily spend the entire day skiing from there, and not have to ride the gondola again. The gondola, like most, is pretty high, and runs up a ridge. The Storm Peak lift, despite being going up the highest on the mountain, isn't too high off the ground. There's a cover on that one too, if that helps. There are a couple of short but low lifts, Burgess Creek for one, with no bar that you have to take to get out of various areas, but they're so low (and quite scenic, too) that I don't have a problem with them. You might want to avoid the Morningside lift - it's a long and slow lift with no bar, and a bit higher off the ground. I had a problem with that one!

If you like southwestern food, La Montana is very good (and very close to Trappeur's Crossing). On the weekends they make their own tortillas in a machine in the bar area.

Thanks to all for their help in planning this ski trip! Just returned from Steamboat. See my travel report under "Steamboat, Colorado ski trip report"

Just an FYI. Steamboat lift tickets are hard to find cheap, but we found a place in Kansas City (Sitzmark sports) that sold us 3 day passes for $129. Full rate is 70 x 3 = $210. Don't know if they would do them via mail or not. I am guessing no, but it may be worth a try.

Also, if we are traveling to keystone, copper or winter park, skikincaid (just surf the web) offers discounted lodging and lift tickets. They do hundreds of bus tours a year and get good rates.

Chuck