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Choosing the Right Resort |
Investing in a family ski vacation takes research, time, and money. While most families can have a great time at the vast majority of US ski resorts, there are a few factors which, if you get them right, could make a difference between a good and great ski trip. Getting there. Many great destinations have a fatal flaw - it takes an eternity to get there. Trust us - nothing is worse for a family with 3 kids under 10 than spending all your time traveling. Stick with resorts that have jet service nearby, or are driving distance. Timing. Each ski resort has a few different personalities throughout the winter. Call ahead, or visit our forums, and learn about the seasonal aspects of each resort. Is Christmas peak time? How are January temps? Do they have a significant college spring break party crowd? Greens and Blues. This may not apply to the more advanced ski families out there, but for most of us, there are at least a couple in our families who need to stay on green and blue runs. A quick scan of a trail map should tell you how a certain resort rates. Ski Schools. The quality of a ski school is a big deal to families who hope to entertain their kids' time in class. Check to see about rates, instructor quality, and class sizes and duration. Non-Ski Activities. Just because a family member doesn't feel like skiing all day doesn't make them the party pooper. Pick a location with shops, walking, a museum, or something other than skiing, and then embrace it. Skiing can be the focus of the vacation but doesn't have to be the obsession. Lodging. This may seem obvious, but different resorts can have vastly different lodging options. A nightly lodging budget of, say, $150 will go much further at Big Sky than it would in Aspen. Also, if you know that you prefer ski-in, ski-out accomodations, or a large, multi-family condo, be sure those accomodations actually exist before locking in to a single resort. Deals. Everybody is looking for a deal, and when the economy is slower resorts are offering them. Narrow your desired resorts down to a short list of 3-5, and then go shopping. Common deals include free lift tickets with a certain lodging package, a 4th night and 3rd day of free lodging and skiing, or airfare discounts by booking through a resort. The airfare discounts, however, are usually on a preferred airline of the resort's, not yours. |