If you’re a skier it’s likely that you wait through the warmer seasons just waiting until you can dive into some powder with your friends again. However, even when the season is in full swing it’s not always affordable to go on a trip. Paying for passes, as well as airfare, and then the lodge that you’re going to stay with is pretty costly. That’s why you have to play your trip intelligently, so that you can ensure you’re still able to have fun skiing, but on the cheap. You’ll find that there are plenty of ways that you can take cheap ski trips, and that you can have tons of fun doing so, without having to worry about the cost that would normally be associated with them.
When you want to save tons of money on your skiing, you’re going to find that the best possible way you can do so is to plan ahead properly. There are plenty of ways that you can get around the costs typically that come alongside skiing at a top lodge, just by making a few alterations in your planning. Changing two or three things is going to make a massive difference in the price you have to pay, and here are a few ways that you can plan around to make for the most of cheap ski trips:
Try driving instead of flying
Sure gas is really expensive, and it’s something that a lot of people are having trouble coping with in terms of the day to day cost of travel and work. But you’ll find that it’s still a lot cheaper than flying if you’re not going too great a distance. So even if you have to pack you and all of your friends in a small car for a few hours, it’s well worth the money spent to literally save hundreds on everyone’s cost for the trip. Plus just think about how expensive checking ski equipment is going to be when you’re flying. Cheap ski travel means driving, and that’s key to saving in the end.
Choose a resort wisely or even choose a hotel just off the lodge
Where you stay is vital, and you’re going to find that choosing a good and affordable location is going to be key when you want to save a lot of money. You’ll find that cheap ski trips are all about where you stay, and while the hotel might be sort of miserable if you’re not paying a ridiculous amount for your room, it’s still ideal for the amount of money that you can end up saving in the end.
Look for vacation packages
Whether you want to go skiing, or you’re looking for cheap snowboard trips, you’re going to find that one of the best ways to save on your overall cost is by pooling the money that you’re spending on the trip. That means combining the cost by purchasing a package deal from the lodge which covers your ski passes, as well as the room and maybe eve food at the same time. This is going to save a ton, and will still ensure that you’re able to ski all that you want. Usually you can drop a few hundred dollars off of your overall cost by doing this, which is a massive bonus and ensures more skiing trips throughout the season.
Timing of your trip
This is also pivotal, as you’ll find planning a ski trip during Christmas or planning one that takes place over new years is not the right way to save, as that’s when everybody wants to be traveling so the lodge is full up and the prices are at their highest because that’s how they make their money. Instead, focus on trips during the week, as well as those that are going to take place at the beginning or end of the season, as this is the time when the least amount of people are going to be traveling anyways.
Booking
Always call the lodge’s reservation line, don’t book online. That’s because no matter how many comparison sites you check like Orbitz or Priceline, you can hardly ever find the best bargain yourself. But the booking agent is clued in to everything that’s on offer, so you can typically save a ton by talking with them, and seeing what types of cheap ski trips opportunities they have on offer.