Skiing During a Recession

You don't have to search long to find headlines bemoaning the economy this winter. It
seems as if everything from unemployment to the stock market is going the wrong way
on a daily basis.

As we all can attest to, this great sport of downhill skiing or snowboarding that we've
all grown to love is not exactly cheap. So how do you still enjoy the great family sport
of skiing in a down economy? Where can you manage expenses and still have a great
ski trip?

Most North American ski resorts are reporting double-digit declines in visitors this
season. A Colorado ski trade group recently announced that through December,
bookings were down 14% from last year. If there is one advantage that a
budget-strapped traveler has, it is that the resorts want you this year like never before.
That should mean aggressive pricing and potential freebies, but most are offered on a
case-by-case basis and vary depending on the week.

Here are a few ideas that can help you save money regardless of the resort or
destination:

Lift Ticket Deals: We're seeing more "kids ski free" and discounts on multi-day passes
than in years past. While many great family resorts like Big Sky in Montana and
Steamboat in Colorado have always had deals for kids, it is a trend catching on among
the western destinations. Also, check with you lodging operator, whether it is the resort
or a property manager, about potential lodging / lift discounts. They appear to be more
prevalent this season.

Meals: Most family ski lodging nowadays comes in the form of condos. That means
you'll have a kitchen, and that means you can cook. You don't even have to get a pan
dirty. Get cold cereal and OJ for breakfasts, and pasta or sandwiches and fruit for
dinners, and you'll save money without much work. We all know that after a long day of
skiing, the troops will eat just about anything and be satisfied.

Rental Cars: Most ski areas have some type of transit systems, and many like
Steamboat and Aspen offer free shuttles to get around town. Our resort reviews help
you determine where you might need a car and where you won't, but more often you
won't. We would note that while intra-city transit is becoming more common, you
typically incur a cost to get to/from the airport (and it can be high in some places).

Half Day Passes: Face it - many kids or family skiers only have a half day of fun skiing
in them. After that, the legs burn and fatigue sets in. Keep it fun. Ski a half day, and
then shop -- or play Wii, or do something fun. This is vacation, not boot camp.

Skis: If renting skis, you probably don't need the high performance skis. Most of us get
along just fine in the standard issue skis, and there is often a "sport" choice that lies
somewhere in between. The quality of your quads is more important than the quality of
your skis. With that said, be assertive about returning your skis for a different pair if
they don't feel right. The authors rarely go an entire ski trip without someone swapping
out skis for a different set, and ski shops will almost always gladly oblige. And speaking
of skis, make sure you price the skis in the off-resort locations. Getting skis at Gart
Sports in Denver, as one example, will save you significant cost versus renting after
you've arrived at the mountain.

Alternate Resorts: For every ritzy, expensive resort, there is a less expensive
alternative nearby. While the alternate resorts may not have the same "it" factor, they
often have similar skiing. With expensive Jackson Hole, there is the great alternative of
Grand Targhee. For Big Sky, it is Bridger Bowl. Aspen has several resorts nearby that
offer cheaper lodging and lifts.

As with any vacation, it is all about prioritization. Conspicuously absent from this list is
lodging -- we feel that a place to not skimp is lodging, both in terms of convenience
and quality of accommodations -- but that could also be a price lever for you. In short,
determine what is important to you, and don't skimp on it. For everything else, let the
deals begin!