Hello,

Could someone please recommend the best place to ski in the week before Thanksgiving. My friend and I (late 20s single guys who like nightlife as well as excellent slopes) are both intermediate skiers, and neither of us have ever been skiing out west before (we're from NYC). From scanning through the messages on this board, it seems like Vail may be the biggest mountain and the Sonnenalp the best hotel? We want quality, but of course we don't want to blow out all our savings on this trip. Thanks much in advance for any advice.

Matt

Matt, have you considered Canada? Same mountain range as Vail but with the exchange rate, much cheaper.

I second the Canada suggestion -- I can heartily recommend Whistler, B.C. It would be a long trek from NYC but the skiing is amazing, you're almost guaranteed good runs in November, and if the exchange rate is in your favor it can't be beat. Whistler/Blackcomb is consistently rated the #1 ski area in North America.

Skiing in mid-November is rolling the dice as far as conditions go. If the weather is right, it can be great, but ... I thought Whistler was a definite risk for rain that early.

Lake Tahoe is also a possibility; there is quite a bit of snowmaking at the big resorts in case the natural snow doesn't cooperate, and there is lots to do besides skiing.

I also live in NYC and am a huge skier. I cannot say enough about Whistler. I don't care how long it takes me to get there b/c once there it is paradise. You can walk to the lifts and all over the village, which is superb. There are wonderful restaurants, the people are great, and there is challenging skiing. Even the US dollar works to our advantage! Take the time and head to Whistler!!! If you want to break it up a bit spend a day in Vancouver on the way there or back.

Matt.... Don't worry too much about the biggest mountain - because most of it won't be open the week before Thanksgiving (even if there is quite a bit of snow). If you think you want to ski in Colorado (I can't comment on Whistler) then buy a ticket to Denver and wait to book the resort. Even at the last minute - there will be lots of vacancy at every resort. Then you can see who has the snow - and go there. In spite of the fact that the resorts are very close together, the snow coverage is highly variable. If you do decide to go to Colorado, you might want to look at Breckenridge. They are consistently rated in the top for nightlife.

If you know where you want to go - no matter what the snow - see if you can buy the lift tickets in advance off the internet. For most resorts, you can get huge savings on the lift ticket if you book early fall before the mountain opens.(20$/day vs. perhaps 50$ or more).

While Whistler is a great place, the snow can be iffy in November due to it's location close to the coast. I suggest Lake Tahoe, they seem to get snow early.

These suggestions are very helpful, thank you! I assumed that snowfall wouldn't be a problem in the Rockies (Canadian or American) at any time of the year, because of the elevation, but it just goes to show that I'm a bit ignorant on the subject. If it really is that dicey, perhaps I should re-think the timing of my trip? Thanks again to all.

In response to your last reply...if you have some flexibility on the timing of your trip, hold off a few months. Spring skiing anywhere in the western States or Canada is amazing. Sunny skies, possibilities of big dumps, and less crowds (steer away from Good Friday/Easter week). Many areas average more snow in March or early April than in any other months. As for specifics, you can't go wrong with Breckenridge, Vail or Whistler. Whistler gives you two giant mountains with the biggest vertical in North America. Vail is huge with endless varying terrain and you've got Beaver Creek as an option right next door. Breck is a classic old mining town that's been built up into a ski town with 4 separte peaks in the ski area and you can ski nearby Keystone and A-Basin on the same ticket. All three have great apres ski possibilities.

If you are flexable - and you want good snow, don't come in November. My husband is a ski instructor - we went to opening day in Vail 2 years ago... It was really warm (T-shirt weather) in mid November - one run open on man made snow. With the exception of this last year, that has been pretty normal. And I"d avoid all holidays like the plague (we don't ski for fun on Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Years, MLK or Presidents Day). A time I really like is before Christmas - just before the rush. Resorts are decorated, snow is getting pretty good, the holiday feeling is in the air - but the people haven't gotten to the slopes yet (Let's say around Dec. 12-19th)....

Wow, again thanks. This has been very helpful--I will definitely not be going in November. Since I'm coming from the East (and since I have limited vacation time at work!), this trip is a "big deal" for me, so I want to make sure I have the best experience possible. Wouldn't want to go all that way just to have one run open. January is now looking more likely....

Mattydale, I'm from the East also and we went to Vail this past December 12th to December 20th. It was a great time! Julie was right about the crowds, there was none and it had a great Holiday feel about it. Our trip was everything I imagined and hoped for. The snow was great and the available terrrain was like nothing in the east. There was many runs that my husband and I would have all to ourselves. If the budget allows, the Sonnenalp was fantastic! You can get a better price on lodgin this week also. They typically go up the weekend before Christmas. Have fun with your trip!

Matt... January works too - only down side is even in Colorado it can be cold. Upside is, the conditions tend to be very good. The only negative I've ever heard about Whistler is it can be really cold - don't know if this is true. If you go to a US resort, avoid Martin Luther King holiday weekend. It is very commonly the busiest weekend of the year. That will be around Jan. 17th/18th. My favorite time in January would be right after the holidays (maybe Jan. 5th - 16th). Julie

Ski Terre Haute!!!

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