Latest posts for the topic "Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?"

Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:18:17 GMT

Hi All, hope you are all well and like me looking at booking the first trip of the season, although I can see that some of you already have :)

I am contemplating trying the US for a change but it seems to be hugely expensive, I have found great deals to Banff in the past so trying to find similar to the US. I think the Air fares today are screwing things up !

Has anyone heard of any "deals" to the US at all?

TP

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:06:12 GMT

3 reasons why I haven't skied the US:

1. Its too long a flight for 6 days skiing, I can be in Europe in half a day start to finish.
2. It costs too much to get there, I can do Europe chalet board for well under HALF the price of self catering in the States (package)
3. Lift passes are very expensive (generally)

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 23:54:04 GMT

Have skied several times across the pond. In general, depending on where you go, snow conditions are usually as good as you will ever get to ski in. It is true that when the $/GBP was good for us, we chose to take advantage.
It is certainly true that air fares have become more expensive, relative to european short haul.
Car hire is about the same. Condo rentals about the same but you get more for your money. Lift passes are VERY expensive~ but, you get a lot of lifts for your money, and the piste management is much better than Europe.

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 06:22:57 GMT

Thanks guys

I agree with everything you say, especially the time spent travelling, I dont think I will get a deal but will keep looking as my 7 year old daughter likes the idea of an "over exagerated" Christmas in the US. :)

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:14:51 GMT

Tony and all,,,,,

If you really are a "serious" skier, first do not think "cheap" think "getting your money's worth!

Then stop thinking like 'tourists" ! You know the full package deal where you are "herded' to plane, to bus, to hotel, to lift, to groups classes etc,,,,!!
I guide such "groups" and really no cheap deals there! I mean deals that really make your head spin!

I read often on this site "best deals" for holidays! Listen peak periods are peak periods and you will not get low prices! I feel all the tour agents, tour operators now breathing down my back! They will not like what, I will say now, but it is my opinion and observations !

Think outside the box! You want someone to "package" you? They will!

I read on some post that one of your regulars went to Tremblant last year! It was the worst season for Tremblant in 10 years! Too cold. Too icy! Too expensive ! What many skier do not know is that Interwest id having serious financial problems since they can not meet it [i]interest payments !
How does this translate to you the tourist skier! Well I was at Tremblant last year and saw; poor grooming, higher prices, etc,,,, Now that is my opinion! I am sure you will get many "other" opinions!

There are many USA ski resorts that are looking for skiers, that do not have huge marketing budgets yet have great skiing!

Be smart skiers. Read about places. Read about deals.

Let me give you an example of a ski center just bought by a skier. The center offers condo + ski lifts for $70 per day! This is not a small ski center. This center has 80 acres of glade skiing. That is non groomed serious tree skiing!
How many groomed runs? 60 !
Did I tell you that I do not work for this center!
I do not promote this center!

Now the issue of travel ! Yes Europe is great for that brief holiday! For the ski tourist!

But Tony, from your posts I see that you are,,,well past the ski tourist level ( if you are on this site in August,,,,,) Think at least two weeks of serious skiing at least once in your life!

It will;
make you a better skier
make you reconsider your life
make you happier
make you a better employee ( all your work frustration will be gone)

So Tony,, take the plunge! Save up your money ! Soon the US dollar will drop and you will ski for near free levels!

Oh,,,one last point! Now the tour people will really hate me! Never pay well ahead for a trip! The very best deals are for ski gypsies!

Pavel

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:21:12 GMT

I've skied in the USA, and now only ski in Europe, because I think Europe is way better. My personal experience of skiing in the USA is restricted to 10 separate resorts (hills), so there may be good, big resorts that are not Disneyfied, but my memories are of pseudo resorts with fake facades.

Now the issue of travel ! Yes Europe is great for that brief holiday! For the ski tourist!

But Tony, from your posts I see that you are,,,well past the ski tourist level ( if you are on this site in August,,,,,) Think at least two weeks of serious skiing at least once in your life!

Some of us manage to cope with skiing the whole winter in the tiny little resorts in Europe. I guess that the American pro skiers that have moved to Europe love the same feeling, ripping up little hills like Chamonix and La Grave. Big is not better, skiing endless acreage of the same pitch slopes will not make better skiers. European skiing is as serious as you want it to be.

Each to their own.

Tonypants wants a cheap deal to the USA. I think he should go, but unless he is a seasoned transatlantic traveller, he should get a package, as it's easier to cope when you are jet lagged.

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:33:07 GMT

I will get to ski ski the states some time or other but not for a seven day holiday it will have to be 14, but much like Val,Chamonix, Zermatt I can live without not skiing them.

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:18:13 GMT

I'm surprised you've not visited Chamonix by now Wickers, you being a Francophile and all ) I've not visited any other ski resort where a single mountain totally dominates a town. It is Mont Blanc after all :D

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:42:19 GMT

bandit wrote:I'm surprised you've not visited Chamonix by now Wickers, you being a Francophile and all ) I've not visited any other ski resort where a single mountain totally dominates a town. It is Mont Blanc after all :D

I have been to Chamonix but in the summer where I found the place to be stunning,but I really do not fancy skiing there, As for being a Francophile I suppose I am if you compare it to a francophobe
:wink:
Provence at the end of the week :thumbup:

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:56:51 GMT

Bandit has a point!
Europe has;
-variety
-class and lots of mix from all sorts of countries ( some will say "competition" )
-great food
-unique cultural context
-price/ski ratio
-quality skiing (varied types of skiing groomed, piste, hike, tele etc,,)

However some skiers want to "cross the pond",,for a different flavor !
If you do so,,,,plan ahead, read a lot, ask many questions and please come for at least two weeks.

My point about the "packaged deals" is illustrated with the following story.

10 males decided to go for a windsurfing 2 week holiday. We could have gone on a "packaged" resort holiday with "guarded" holiday complex which looks the same in every country! Meeting the same tourists, with same buffet, etc,,,,

We rented a huge house in a small village and hired a women to prepare meals for us! We just windsurfed all day! Had a small boy bring us beer from the village every 3 hours! The adventures we had in this village were unique. The friendships we established with locals were ever lasting. The great surfing we did was not in a walled area, with machine gunned guards and life guards telling where you must surf ,,how you must surf!
We even were invited to a local wedding and sang to the bride !

Yes not for everyone, but if you want to "taste" real authentic skiing there are ways in Europe and in America. Often they are cheaper that packaged deals!

Bandit I know you went to Whistler several years ago,,but if you had asked me then,,I would have told you about a ski resort called Massif which is unique. Has longer trails with a view that would take your breath away! You would have stayed in a local "auberge" and eaten local food which to this day you would have spoken about!
No one in Europe knows about this place,,,,but soon you will since the owner of Cirque de Soliel just bought it and it will rival Tremblant in skiing and in class! A hidden jewel you missed Bandit!

That is what I look for when I ski! Those unpolished jewels that marketing has not yet revealed to general public!

Again this is not for everyone,,,it is the gypsy in me that makes me explore such ski centers! Tony it is up to you to decide.

Enjoy the search !!! ( that is half of the fun)

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:57:16 GMT

Thanks guys for your replys, since I posted this question I have been looking for a "deal" to the US and CA but nothing seemed to come up due to the school dates for my 7 year old daughter. Have Skied Sunshine village and Lake Lou quite a few times and really really enjoyed it (apart from the bus ride to and from Banff.)

However.... I put it down to my final three..... and I have made my decision......Amazingly I have booked Chamonix for mid Dec as have never been there before.

Hope the snow will come.

TP

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:12:21 GMT

What dates are you in Chamonix? I might be around )

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:20:18 GMT

Tony i think you have made the right decision. I have been to a number of Canadian resorts and yes i have loved each one (For different reasons) i would never do a 7 day trip to them again. I was completely shattered due to jet lag.

I have never been to Chamonix but it is most deffiantly on my 'hit' list. Hope you have a great holiday.

On a side note i just checked the Tignes webcams and they have had a nice covering over night :)

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:30:19 GMT

I have been watching web cams constantly, I think all of us ski nutters watch webcams from September onwards :D and this time last year I was actually booked for Tignes in Dec which was fab and had lots of snow BUT Chamonix is on just over 1000m so being 800 m lower than tignes it rained over night.

I hope the freeze point lowers soon so it starts snowing :lol:

Re:Anybody heard of a "cheap" deal to ski USA?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:54:49 GMT

I've been skiing in the US and loved it every time. The base is always massive, grooming excellent, queuing is polite and efficient and pistes uncrowded. Relatively, on-piste eating is cheaper then the Alps. Hotels I've stayed in have a ski concierge who stores and waxes your skis overnight and there's a wider choice of accomodation.

BUT equipment hire, passes and accomodation are relatively expensive. There's always the worry of being sued after an accident. And pistes can be binary - either wide open intermediate or impossible double-diamond, with less of the difficult reds/easier blacks that you get in the Alps. And I don't think that I will ever understand why their chairlifts lack restraining bars, given the American preoccupation with safety.

However, I've only skied in the USA because I was already there on a business trip or training and able to tack skiing onto the end. I wouldn't endure the long-haul flight plus transfer (e.g. Lake Tahoe is fantastic, but it's an 11-hour flight to San Francisco then a 5 hour drive) - and definitely not for just a week's skiing.

If you have youngsters along, then I'd echo the post that said the Italians are very child-friendly. All three of our children learned in Livigno and the instructors were great. Switzerland instruction was also good, but obviously, the trip was more expensive than Italy.