January 22, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Make a list for ski vacation bliss

by Tony Chamberlain/

Grand hotel living is only one option for snow vacation lodging. (photo: Tony Chamberlain)

Grand hotel living is only one option for snow vacation lodging. (photo: Tony Chamberlain)

If you’re not in a family whose garage rafters sag with ski and riding gear but you want to get in on the outdoor fun, it’s never too late to make a plan for the February or April vacation. But make no mistake, it does take planning.

If you’re relatively new to the sport and wonder where to begin, you might start with a checklist that can help your planning.

1. The spectrum of resort types ranges from the big, glam places like Killington with the huge nightlife to the lower-key, family friendly places like King Pine in New Hampshire. Navigating between the extremes is the real challenge in figuring out what kind of place you want. Word of mouth often works better than brochures.

2. If you have newbie skiers who need lessons, find out whether an area has a segregated beginner area, such as at Sunapee. In those first tremulous hours of a skier or rider’s first experience, it is hugely important to be isolated from hotshots whose skills, speed and mastery can be intimidating to the first-timer.

3. Find out what age-specific amenities a resort has. Many areas have night skiing and tubing, but at Waterville Valley skating is a good nighttime option, while Sugarloaf features a teen rock club.

4. Decide whether you want ski-in/ski-out accommodations. There are arguments both ways, and our family has tried both. Ski-in/ski-out lodging (on-mountain) is the most expensive way to go and the most convenient. I recall kids back at the condo eating lunch in their long underwear while ski clothes warmed near the stove. For adults, it may be a matter of reading a few chapters at midday before heading back out for the afternoon runs.

But I also remember two families in a large farmhouse about 20 minutes from Sugarbush. After the ski day ended, we made big pots of spaghetti and chili at dinner time and made use of our own sledding hill at night. Then it was killer Scrabble or Uno until lights out. This route was real family fun and way less expensive than on-mountain lodging.

5. Rent or buy? That is the question for many people who do not already own a lot of ski or snowboard gear. There’s no easy answer to this, but you should decide how often you’re likely to make such winter trips or ski and board locally. Obviously, it’s not worth investing a couple of thousand dollars on a one-time shot.

On the other hand, that first hour spent in the rental shop can be a real pain and a bottleneck for crowds. If you are renting, try to find an inclusive package that includes equipment rentals reserved in advance. Or, check your local area ski shop. In my non-mountainous town, for instance, a business called Sports Works can get your family into rentals before you hit the road.

6. As far as clothes, the first way to save cash is to rule out the costly designer slope styles. Figure out what your family needs to dress in layers. Thermal underwear, turtlenecks, goggles, insulated gloves, warm hats that cover the ears, neck gaiters and waterproof outerwear are the bare necessities. Don’t let the kids tell you they can ski in jeans. Helmets are an increasingly popular option.

Again, winter clothes that you can wear skiing and for all-purpose use at home are the most cost effective way to go.

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