Hauling the whole family for a day on the slopes can be daunting. When
the drive time outweighs the downhill time - you need to rethink your
recreation plan. Ski and stay packages can be just the remedy for families.
For not much more than a day’s lift ticket, you certainly get more for your
buck when you can ski all day and spend the night, hit the pool and hang out
versus hitting the road at 4pm.
This winter, like last, ski resorts are offering a bonanza of “bail out”
specials and “downturn deals.” Particularly if you can travel midweek
non-holiday, you will have the cat by the tail (as my mom would say). Look
for rates that include extras like kids’ ski camp, or lodging specials that
let kids stay free with paying parents.
I
n
Vermont, Okemo offers some pretty attractive
ski & stay deals, kids 12 and under always stay free with their parents, 6
and under ski free, and if you visit by Dec. 20, kids get free learn to ski
or snowboard lessons. Okemo Mountain's deluxe slopeside condominiums or the
Jackson Gore Inn are super convenient ski in ski out locations with heated
pool privileges.
At Stratton, kids 17 and younger ski and stay
free when two parents purchase a lift and lodging package in a Stratton
condominium, packages start at $95 per person each night with a two night
minimum.
Maine’s
Sugarloaf and
Sunday River bring some needed daylight
and deals to January with their Children's Festival Week, Jan. 10-14, 2010.
Book a ski and stay, spend quality time with your little kids who can afford
to skip a little school, stay three midweek nights and receive free lift
tickets, rentals and lessons for children ages 4 -12. This week, at either
The River or The Loaf, is geared toward families including evening
entertainment and game nights.
Sugarloaf
also offers several Kids & Teens Ski Free Weeks, Feb. 1-5, Mar. 22-26, and
April 5-9. Families who stay for three midweek nights receive free lift
tickets for children who are 18 and under. Ski and stay packages start at
just $79 per person, per night.
Purity Spring Resort in New Hampshire has
a steal of a deal. This fifth generation family owned resort, located on
pretty Purity Lake in East Madison, is a small scale winter wonderland for
young families. It’s just $99 a night for adults and $35 for kids during
non-holiday midweek
including lodging, family style breakfast and dinner at the Inn, plus skiing
at King Pine, or snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on 22km of trails. Plus
you have use of the resort’s ice skating, indoor pool and fitness center,
night skiing and tubing on weekends and holidays. Horse-drawn sleigh rides
are also included on non-holiday midweek stays.
Mind you, King Pine is just 350-vertical feet of skiing on 17 short trails –
so this is great for families just getting started in skiing. They have ski
instruction and a cozy base lodge, and the lodging is homey and rustic, like
the pricing.
Waterville Valley will be posting “last
minute deals” throughout the winter, like their early December Holiday Tree
& Ski package ($87 pp) that includes 2-nights lodging, 1-day lift ticket and
“cut your own Christmas Tree.” Sign up for Waterville Valley’s enews to get
the best bargains in your inbox. Waterville’s “Ring in 2010” for $210 (per
adult) is a good deal for a 2-night January weekend including 2 day adult
lift tickets, kids 12 and under ski free, and you get 50% off rentals,
lesson programs and childcare (excludes New Year’s and Martin Luther
weekends).
Just
keep in mind that these introductory rates are typically for a family of
four lodged in a one room studio, with upgrade charges if you want to expand
to a more spacious condo with separate bedrooms. But these lodging and lift
packages can be worthwhile versus doling out for day tickets. By spending a
night or two, you get to enjoy all the resort amenities, and sleep by the
slopes, without feeling the rush of having to hit the road after a full day
of skiing.
Maine | New Hampshire | Vermont | Rockies | Sun & Sea Travel
