Skiing holiday in the US for 2, on a budget!
Oct 24th, 2006, 04:45 AM
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Skiing holiday in the US for 2, on a budget!
Hi,
My boyfriend and I are planning to go skiing in either Jan or Feb 2007 and have pretty much decided that we want to go to the USA. I've heard great things about Brekenridge and Steamboat, but we have a budget of £350-£400 each, not alot to work with I know, but we are hopeful that we will find what we are looking for. Any advise on where to stay/eat/hire boots & skis would be great. Thanks in advance! Deej.
My boyfriend and I are planning to go skiing in either Jan or Feb 2007 and have pretty much decided that we want to go to the USA. I've heard great things about Brekenridge and Steamboat, but we have a budget of £350-£400 each, not alot to work with I know, but we are hopeful that we will find what we are looking for. Any advise on where to stay/eat/hire boots & skis would be great. Thanks in advance! Deej.
Oct 24th, 2006, 07:19 AM
#3
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I can't give you too many specifics, but I ski in the Tahoe area on a regular basis. Relatively cheap accomodations can be had at Sugar Bowl
http://www.sugarbowl.com/tahoe/SITE/...880/direct?c=1
but you would be stuck in the resort itself. I have met Brits on the lifts who came as a group of four or six, stayed in a casino hotel on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, rented a van and then drove to various ski slopes--there are half a dozen available on the north side of Lake Tahoe. They claimed that this was no more expensive for them than skiing in France. I imagine that rentals in ski shops along the lake would be cheaper and more convenient than at a ski slope.
http://www.sugarbowl.com/tahoe/SITE/...880/direct?c=1
but you would be stuck in the resort itself. I have met Brits on the lifts who came as a group of four or six, stayed in a casino hotel on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, rented a van and then drove to various ski slopes--there are half a dozen available on the north side of Lake Tahoe. They claimed that this was no more expensive for them than skiing in France. I imagine that rentals in ski shops along the lake would be cheaper and more convenient than at a ski slope.
Oct 24th, 2006, 08:08 AM
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Thanks, for the replies, We intend to go for 1 week and the £350-400 needs to cover accomodation/food/ski & boot hire too. Great advise about Lake Tahoe, I'll look into that, but we just want to be able to leave the hotel/B&B and ski to the lifts rather than drive anywhere. I may be asking alot, but if you don't ask.......Deej.
Oct 24th, 2006, 08:41 AM
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I agree with Go Travel. Being familar with ski clubs and group purchases for this, I find that Colorado is expensive- even at group fees.
Your lift tickets etc. are all extra by the day.
You may want to locate a local ski club to your UK location, google it, just to see. You may get some condo group ski rate packages with lift included.
And skiing is not a cheap sport anywhere. Banff is wonderful in Canada but I doubt that it would be doable at that amount there unless with a group rate.
Your lift tickets etc. are all extra by the day.
You may want to locate a local ski club to your UK location, google it, just to see. You may get some condo group ski rate packages with lift included.
And skiing is not a cheap sport anywhere. Banff is wonderful in Canada but I doubt that it would be doable at that amount there unless with a group rate.
Oct 24th, 2006, 10:26 AM
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The $98 per person per day is for a studio room about 1/2 mile from the village (they have shuttle bus service). For about 20 more dollars per day you can stay right in the village and next to the lifts, shops, dining, etc. Both rooms come with access to the rec center (pools, spas, gym)
Free lift tickets are good Mon-Fri non holiday.
Free lift tickets are good Mon-Fri non holiday.
Oct 24th, 2006, 10:46 AM
#12
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Northstar is alos featuring an "early booking" package --2 bedroom condo with 4 passes--for $79 per person; I assume that there are limited dates, but it may work for you. You must book by 11/30, I believe.
Oct 24th, 2006, 10:57 AM
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HI Deej,
Really your best bet is to join up with a ski club trip. They usually go in January for the best rates. Going to a smaller out of the way ski resort is one option - BUT you may end up paying more in airfare and car rental just to get there! Forget ski in/ski out on your current budget.
If it were me, I'd be going to the Alps - much cheaper for you.
Really your best bet is to join up with a ski club trip. They usually go in January for the best rates. Going to a smaller out of the way ski resort is one option - BUT you may end up paying more in airfare and car rental just to get there! Forget ski in/ski out on your current budget.
If it were me, I'd be going to the Alps - much cheaper for you.
Oct 24th, 2006, 02:33 PM
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Deej -
As other posters said, this is a big challenge on a budget of 400 pounds (so say US$750?) but if you are really set on USA and are willing to scrimp on accomodations and food, I'd recommend the following:
1) Colorado - Great skiing but don't bother looking - too expensive unless you really research a tiny place and find a great package (unlikely).
2) California - Tahoe - As other posters indicated, there may be some package deals near Tahoe. Downside is that California snow is generally not as good as Rocky Mountain snow IF you prefer dry powder like I do (sorry Tahoe lovers but I live in the Bay Area and "Sierra cement" is a sad reality of our lives). Also, you have to get to Tahoe by either flying into Reno Nevada or Sacramento CA (may increase flight cost) and paying for rental car or shuttle or into a larger Bay Area airport (SFO or Oakland) to decrease flight cost but long drive to Tahoe (3 plus hours).
3)Montana - This is a great place to ski but probably need to avoid larger (in MT standards) resorts such as Big Sky because lodging may make it too expensive. However, one option could be to stay in a town like Bozeman, MT and ski at a locals place like Bridger Bowl which is a great small but challenging locals favorite where you can get a pass and ski rental for approx. US$60 per day plus a decent clean chain motel in Bozeman (appox. 20 min away) for $60-$90 per day for 2 (so say $45 per person). That would be approx. $105 for lodging, rental and passes (could be better even if you get a package deal through bridgerbowl.com) so $525 for 5 days skiing leaving a small budget for meals/shuttle to hill. Also Montana is one of the few states with no sales tax which on your budget will make a difference! Downside is that Bozeman may be more expensive to fly into. You could try Big Sky for ski/in out packages but probably too expensive.
4) Utah - may be able to get a good package deal at some of the smaller (yet excellent) ski areas close to Salt Lake City airport (shuttles probably available to several). Park City area will likely still be too expensive unless you get some great deal.
Hope this helps.
As other posters said, this is a big challenge on a budget of 400 pounds (so say US$750?) but if you are really set on USA and are willing to scrimp on accomodations and food, I'd recommend the following:
1) Colorado - Great skiing but don't bother looking - too expensive unless you really research a tiny place and find a great package (unlikely).
2) California - Tahoe - As other posters indicated, there may be some package deals near Tahoe. Downside is that California snow is generally not as good as Rocky Mountain snow IF you prefer dry powder like I do (sorry Tahoe lovers but I live in the Bay Area and "Sierra cement" is a sad reality of our lives). Also, you have to get to Tahoe by either flying into Reno Nevada or Sacramento CA (may increase flight cost) and paying for rental car or shuttle or into a larger Bay Area airport (SFO or Oakland) to decrease flight cost but long drive to Tahoe (3 plus hours).
3)Montana - This is a great place to ski but probably need to avoid larger (in MT standards) resorts such as Big Sky because lodging may make it too expensive. However, one option could be to stay in a town like Bozeman, MT and ski at a locals place like Bridger Bowl which is a great small but challenging locals favorite where you can get a pass and ski rental for approx. US$60 per day plus a decent clean chain motel in Bozeman (appox. 20 min away) for $60-$90 per day for 2 (so say $45 per person). That would be approx. $105 for lodging, rental and passes (could be better even if you get a package deal through bridgerbowl.com) so $525 for 5 days skiing leaving a small budget for meals/shuttle to hill. Also Montana is one of the few states with no sales tax which on your budget will make a difference! Downside is that Bozeman may be more expensive to fly into. You could try Big Sky for ski/in out packages but probably too expensive.
4) Utah - may be able to get a good package deal at some of the smaller (yet excellent) ski areas close to Salt Lake City airport (shuttles probably available to several). Park City area will likely still be too expensive unless you get some great deal.
Hope this helps.
Oct 25th, 2006, 01:30 PM
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Thank you to everyone who's responded, all of your comments have been invaluable and I've come to the conclusion that it's going to be sensible if we save up for our dream ski holiday to the USA and go to Europe in Jan/Feb 2007 instead. Many thanks again. Deej ;0)
