Travel Tips

10 Springtime Ski Destinations (and Great Deals You Can’t Miss)

Locations in this article:  Albuquerque, NM Atlanta, GA Buffalo, NY Los Angeles, CA New York City, NY San Francisco, CA

Ski shadow
This spring, ditch your bikini and load up your ski gear.

As we head into spring, ski resorts all over North America boast great conditions, but without the crowds and prices you see during the high season.

And with today’s economy wreaking havoc on the travel industry, ski resorts are offering more incentives than ever to get you to spend your travel dollars.

So break out the ski wax and read on for some can’t-miss spring ski deals:

1. SQUAW VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley (www.squaw.com), the site of the 1960 VIII Olympic Winter Games, has six peaks—one as high as 9,050 feet—and an extensive 31-lift network. Skiers flock to this Lake Tahoe destination through most of May for its 450-plus inches of snowfall per year, near-guaranteed sunshine 300 days of the year, and runs that cater to all levels. 

If you’ve suddenly found yourself free on weekdays, take advantage of Plump Jack Inn‘s (www.plumpjacksquawvalleyinn.com/) Mid-Week Extravaganza. Starting at $138 per person per night, guests will receive three nights accommodations, four days of skiing, daily breakfast, and one free lesson per person.

At the Resort at Squaw Creek (www.squawcreek.com), a typical $400 per night room drops to $199 per night in the spring, including breakfast for four. The resort also offers 20 percent off at its restaurant and wine bar and 25 percent off select spa treatments.

For $150 per person per night through April 16, skiers can buy three nights and get the fourth free at the Village at Squaw Valley (www.thevillageatsquaw.com), which includes four days of unlimited skiing.

Learning to SkiCalifornia residents shouldn’t pass up Squaw’s Furlough Fridays, where residents with valid California ID can get $30 lift tickets. Newbies can take advantage of two-for-one ski or snowboard lessons for $24.50 per person.

2. BANFF-LAKE LOUISE, CANADA

Less than 40 miles west from the town of Banff and inside Banff National Park is Lake Louise (www.banfflakelouise.com), the largest ski area in Canada with four mountains, 4,000 acres of ski turf and almost 150 inches of annual snowfall.

Through May 9, book four nights and get the fifth free with the Rekindle the Love package from $99 per person per night. Take your pick between Deer Lodge (www.crmr.com/deer-lodge.php) or Buffalo Mountain Lodge (www.crmr.com/buffalo-mountain-lodge.php) and ski three of the four mountains for free.

Snowshoe and animal lovers can book a half-day trip Saturdays or Sundays with Great Divide Nature Interpretation (www.greatdivide.ca). Through March 31, get 15 percent off the regular $60 package, which includes all equipment, an expert tour guide and snacks.

Or, take a real spring break and book the Eat Great and Sleep Late package for $200 per night at the Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets (www.douglasfir.com) through April 13. The deal includes a “cook your own breakfast” kit, a $100 dinner voucher at any of the three nearby restaurants, late checkout, and unlimited use of the local bus.

For a longer stay, take advantage of a sixth night free at Banff Aspen Lodge (www.banffaspenlodge.com) with rates from $81 per person per night through May 18.

The Winter Activity Pass is a great add-on to any package at $55 per adult and $40 per child, which includes a gondola pass, upper hot springs pass and one-hour sleigh ride.

3. VAIL AND BEAVER CREEK, COLORADO

Downhill skierLike Tahoe, Beaver Creek (https://beavercreek.snow.com) combines heavy snow (310 inches annually) and sunshine. With 16 lifts, 146 trails and a summit elevation of 11,440 feet, the mountain plays host to a variety of ski levels. Spring skiers should take advantage of the Ski Free Stay Free deal through April 19, starting at $409 per person. The package includes three nights at Beaver Creek West (www.beavercreekwest.com) and a three-day lift pass plus an extra night and pass free.

If you’re vacationing with kids through March 31, don’t forget to utilize the Kids Fly Free offer to nearby Eagle Airport. The offer is valid departing Sunday through Wednesday and returning Monday through Friday, including one child per adult (within the U.S.) with no blackout dates.

Through March 21, Beaver Creek Properties are offering up to 35 percent off any type of accommodation, from hotel rooms to condominiums. Starting March 22 through April 20, savings jump to 45 percent off.

Several late-season deals are available and will save you a bundle, including the Wonderland Beginner Ski Package through April 12, which offers 30 percent off the entire vacation.

4. SUN VALLEY, IDAHO

Sun Valley (www.sunvalley.com) is one of those small mountain towns that maintains its old-world charm and attracts a low-key crowd. But with 21 lifts, 75 trails and more than 2,000 acres of skiing turf, there’s plenty of room for all types.

 From March 28 through the third week of April, a spring ski package starts at $74 per person per night based on double occupancy, including one-day lift tickets. Compare that to high season rates of $250 per room and $80 per lift ticket, and you’re looking at significant savings.

Sun Valley’s Spring Special includes seven nights of accommodation, five days of lift tickets, and admission to various parties and events . Rates start at $752.50 per person for a village condo. During certain dates in March, book the Midweek Madness Package for $109 per person based on double occupancy, which includes one night accommodation at the Sun Valley Resort (www.sunvalley.com/SunValley/info/rst.aspx) and a one-day lift ticket per person.

5. BIG SKY RESORT, MONTANA

Ski slopes (generic)Get a big break at the Big Sky Resort (www.bigskyresort.com) in Montana, home to 4,350 vertical feet, over 150 trails and 18 lifts on Lone Mountain. But Lone isn’t really alone: Andesite and Flat Iron mountains comprise the trio that attracts skiers yearly. Less than 20 miles away is Yellowstone National Park, a perfect tie-in to an outdoor trip and a popular snowmobile destination to and from Big Sky.

Starting March 14, the resort will take advantage of Daylight Savings by extending the hours of the Ramcharger lift until 5 p.m. for sunset skiing. Hotel promotions aren’t hard to come by: Through the entire month of March, all condominiums are 30 percent off, which includes Powder Ridge, Beaverhead, Stillwater, Big Horn and Saddle Ridge.

If you book a Saturday-to-Saturday or Sunday-to-Sunday itinerary on Delta or United airlines, you can take advantage of a $396 package per person with seven nights of accommodations, five days of skiing and daily breakfast. Delta and United are now offering direct service from LAX, San Francisco and Atlanta to Bozeman, which is less than an hour away from Big Sky.

6. TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

With 110 trails and 12 lifts, Taos (www.skitaos.org) is another option for skiers who prefer smaller crowds and wide-open trails. The closest major airport in Albuquerque is nearly two-and-a-half hours away, so getting to Taos isn’t tough, but it’s no cinch either—meaning it attracts a crowd that really wants to get away from it all. 

The last week of the season (March 30 through April 5) is the time to book affordable ski passes, with daily lift tickets dropping down to $40 a day (compared to regular season rates of $66) and various additional packages.

Chair ski liftThrough March 6, the Village of Taos Ski Valley (www.vtsv.org) offers a three-night stay with a two-day lift pass for $399. Beginners should look into the mountain’s Greenbird Package, which offers a lift ticket, a two-hour lesson and ski rental for $96.
At hotels including Sagebrush, Snowbear and The Bavarian, kids stay free when accompanied by an adult (and in some cases, that includes kids up to age 18).

7. SKI DENTON, PENNSYLVANIA

Though it’s a smaller resort, Ski Denton (www.skidenton.com) holds its own with nearly 100 miles of cross-country ski trails. Five lifts service the 75 acre ski area, with 22 runs and a summit elevation of 2,400 feet—in fact, the lower elevation makes it popular among the older ski crowd.

A plethora of specials are available for skiers: Every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. you can score $15 lift passes and ski rentals; Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. women over 18 get half-priced lift tickets; on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. college students get $15 lift tickets, $15 ski rental and $12 board rental; Sunday is Family Day, which means $20 adult lift tickets and $15 for kids. Military discounts apply every day, and seniors over 70 always ski free.

Accommodations are modest and simple and are set up as cabin chalets on the ski grounds. The cabins include a full kitchen, dining area, electric heat and sleep six. Rates are $125 per night on weekdays and $150 per night on weekends and for special events and holidays.

8. DEER VALLEY, UTAH

Ski jumpWith yearly snowfall as high as 403 inches, it’s no wonder that ski lovers flock to Park City’s Deer Valley (www.deervalley.com). Only 35 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport, the resort has four mountains that allow skiers plenty of diversity and exceptional grooming conditions. The slopes close on April 12, but until then, a slew of packages and money-saving options are available. The entire resort is knocking 25 percent off various accommodations in the area between March 22 and April 13 (limited properties March 22-29), so call 800-558-337 to talk with a Deer Valley travel planner.

Park City’s Quick Start (www.parkcityinfo.com/quickstart) program offers a free lift ticket with a same-day boarding pass at Deer Valley or two other nearby resorts from March 29 through April 12. 

At the Goldener Hirsch Inn (www.goldenerhirschinn.com), a two-day lift pass is available if you book two or more nights, including a breakfast buffet. Rates start at $209 per person.

Several properties are offering free nights, such as the Stein Eriksen Lodge (www.steinlodge.com) which is offering a fourth night free through March 6. Daily buffet breakfast and a 20 percent off spa treatment coupon is also included.

9. STOWE, VERMONT

Aside from its 48 trails and two mountains, Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, Stowe (www.stowe.com) is also home to almost 200 shops and restaurants, which makes for a trip with plenty of options. The resort offers night skiing, nearly 50 miles of cross country skiing trails and 333 inches of annual snowfall. 

Book a room at the Inn at the Mountain & Condominiums (https://summer.stowe.com/vacation/lodging/inn) from Sunday through Thursday until April 9 and get 30 percent off any room, suite or condominium rental.

The resort also offers three- and five-day Ski & Stay packages, which includes accommodations and lift passes each day, for $477.06 and $772.43 per person, respectively. Purchasing multi-day tickets a week in advance will get you an additional 15 percent off the price.

Blue skiingVermont residents shouldn’t hesitate to show their state ID to purchase a three-day lift ticket for $99 between February 23 and 27. And while you might not associate Vermont with golf, Stowe’s Golf & Stay package is an ideal option for non-skiers who love mountain towns. Through May 24, $99 per person gets you overnight accommodations and one-day unlimited greens fees with a cart. Starting May 25, those rates go up to $120 for the high season.

Accommodations in Stowe that are accessible to the mountains vary greatly. For a room at The Inn, rates start at $79 per night for a room and peak at $819 for a cottage. The five-star Stowe Mountain Lodge (www.stowemountainlodge.com) just opened its doors in June 2008, and starting April 1, will offer rates as low as $249 per night for a studio room that can sleep up to four people. Townhouses, condo rentals and cottages are also available throughout the year.

10. JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

A whopping 111 trails makes it no wonder that Jackson Hole (www.jacksonhole.com) is such a popular destination. Advanced skiers thrive in Jackson Hole, where about 90 percent of the area caters to intermediate and advanced runs, and remaining are easier beginner slopes.

 Through April 5, with a five-night stay, lift ticket and purchase of three airline tickets, the resort will give you a fourth ticket free—but the catch is you have to book by March 1. Various air-inclusive packages are available from major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Atlanta.

The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa (www.rustyparrot.com) is offering a Fourth Night Free package as well as a Ski and Spa package that starts at $235 per person per night.
The Parkway Inn & Spa (https://parkwayinn.com) is another option that’s offering 35 percent off between March 14 and April 5. More deals can be found at www.jacksonholewy.com/.

By Dara Bramson for PeterGreenberg.com.

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