Family Skiing Tips

- Where To Go, Saving Money, and Other Tips for Family Skiing

Family skiing can be a costly sport, when buying gear and lift tix for four or five or you. Below are money-saving tips. But first, that important question:

Where to Go?
A driving-distance local mountain will always save money. But sometimes local has limitations. Such as:

• vertical lift: as kids get older, the family may crave longer runs on bigger mountains.
• quality of the snow: for most of us, ice is not so nice; meanwhile, champagne powder is sweet.
• kids' programs: some ski resorts go all out - kids programs, teen programs, deluxe child-care centers.

Check Family Ski Resorts in Five Regions for places that offer great vert, great snow, and outstanding kids' programs.

Keep In Mind, When Choosing a Family Ski Resort:

• Airport-To-Slope Time: if timing's tight, pick a resort with good Airport to Slope Time. Check out a few gems: airports minutes from ski slopes, with direct flights from major cities.
• Sometimes non-celebrity places are star-quality, with uncrowded slopes, lower prices, manageable size, friendly ambiance.
• Connecting flights: be wary of flights that may get canceled if bad weather hits.

Utah gets points for fast-track to the slopes: most cities have direct flights to Salt Lake City, where seven mountains are within a one-hour drive. Several ski resorts give guests a free pass to the slopes on the day they fly in.

Kids Ski Free
There are several different ways that kids can ride and slide for free. For starters, every winter, major vacation packagers offer "Kids Fly Free" promotions. Check out this and other types of Kids Ski Free opportunities.

More Tips to Reduce the Price of Lift Tickets

• try lower-profile, smaller locations: they can be much cheaper, and less crowded
• off-peak times: many resorts have deals early or late in the season
• kids ski free until a certain age: some resorts give kids a green light until they're ten years old./li>
• check out seasons passes (often sold months before the season starts), multi-visit passes, online tickets -- any and all alternatives to the regular ticket price! Local newspapers may have promotions for lift tickets.
• take lessons, and you'll often get a price break on lift tickets
• save on accommodations by sharing a big condo with another family.

Save Money on Gear or Rentals
Kids outgrow equipment so fast that excellent gear is available second-hand.

• buy equipment at ski-swaps, consignment stores, or special buyback programs at sports equipment retailers. Think creatively: do you have friends whose kids have outgrown their gear?
• try to buy before the snow season opens, when you'll be desperate for gear!

If you need to rent gear at your destination: rentals right at the ski slopes are most convenient; however, on-site rental shops can be expensive. They can also be extremely busy at peak periods: you might lose an hour of your day just getting gear.

Check to see if ski shops near -- but not on-- the mountain rent equipment more cheaply. You do have to factor in the hassle of lugging boots and skis and boards to the slopes: decide if the savings are worth it!

Note that some ski rental shops will rent all the gear you'll need -- including jackets and pants.

-- continue to more Family Skiing Tips - Getting The Most of Your Day on the Slopes

Photo © Teresa Plowright