December 22, 2011
Skiing, economy style
Budget tips to hit the slopes without breaking the bank
by Brion O'Connor/
There are a lot of great ways to get deals and save money to help get the entire family on the slopes. (photo: Courtesy of Mount Sunapee Resort)
News flash: Skiing isn’t cheap. Never has been, really (figuring for inflation and all). Anyone who thinks it is, let’s be honest, isn’t bothering to read an article on “skiing within the family budget.”
But for the other 97 percent of us (give or take a few percentage points), skiing is a pretty hefty financial commitment. When you consider lift tickets, lodging, food, gas money, wear and tear on your wheels, not to mention ski gear and clothing, a weekend in the hills for a family of four can quickly fly past the $1,000 threshold. Which is why it’s so important to make sure you get 100 cents worth of every ski dollar.
But the news isn’t all bleak. Really. Take it from a ski industry insider.
“Resorts would probably hate to hear me say this, but you should never have to pay full price for a lift ticket,” says Tim McGuire, general manager at Burke Mountain in Maine’s Northeast Kingdom. “You should always be able to find a deal.”
McGuire’s colleagues should be ashamed if they even think of taking him to task for that comment. That’s because almost every mountain that I know of, whether in the Northeast or out West, big or small, claim they offer a great bang for your buck. And they all offer deals.
In many ways, ski areas are like airlines. You can always pay top dollar if you (or your company) want to, but you should never have to. It might take a little legwork, but you’ll quickly realize that a little legwork will go a long way toward stretching your dollar.
Here’s the New England Ski Journal primer on how to take the edge off of setting your edges in the snow:
Plan ahead
Apologies first. We really ought to have printed this in August, instead of December, but diehard powderhounds all know that the best time to get your season passes is long before ski area work crews start to roust furry critters out of their snowmaking lines. That typically means before Labor Day, and certainly before Columbus Day. So that’s something to put in your back pocket for next season. As far as this year goes, you’ve still got time to get in on the fun, but the savings will be pro-rated. There also are a number of multi-hill passes available, such as the Granite Season Pass shared by Attitash/Bear Peak, Wildcat and Crotched Mountain. Planning ahead also allows you to get better package prices, as resorts are hedging their bets against what Mother Nature may or may not bring. Obviously, there’s some risk involved, but one simple rule applies: The longer you wait, the more expensive your trip becomes.
Super last-minute deals
Unless, of course, you wait for the absolute last second. At the risk of sounding like William Shatner, you can find outstanding deals if you’ve got the nerve to wait out the rush, and the acumen and chutzpah to negotiate a better price. This works best for accommodations, because no hotel manager or bed and breakfast owner wants to have empty beds. Again, you might find yourself squeezed out of the market at your favorite hill or hotel, but if you’re flexible about where you ski and where you stay, the savings can be significant
Borrow gear
When I was a dead-broke high school and college student, I would beg, borrow and steal to get my turns. Well, OK, I wouldn’t steal, but only because I was bright enough to know I couldn’t afford bail, and no one else was going to foot that bill. But I wasn’t too proud to beg, though I wouldn’t suggest it for others. But borrowing gear, particularly if you’re a first-time skier or snowboarder, is a perfectly sensible first step to saving a few bucks. Like lift tickets and lodging, ski gear is pricey. Ask siblings, friends and colleagues. Don’t be bashful. You’ll be surprised how many folks gladly will help you out, because most skiers and ’boarders want their friends and family on the hill with them. When it’s your turn, you’ll want to do the same. It’s good karma.
Seasonal rentals
Renting per day is nuts. There’s no other way to say it. Why pay $12 a day for a ski helmet that sells for $60? Many ski shops offer seasonal rental programs that strike a much more equitable balance for both youngsters and adults. They also sell off portions of their rental fleet from time to time, and you can find some great bargains. Just make sure you don’t buy sight unseen (eBay, while an outstanding outlet for everything from parkas to ski pants, is not the place you want to buy used skis or helmets). Ask your local ski shop if they have an upgrade program, where they will credit your purchase this year for new stuff next year (a terrific option for growing youngsters). Just one caveat, though, if you buy used. “I would not skimp on boots,” says Che Elwell of Massachusetts. “Buy new and get fitted. It is the difference between frozen, numb toes, and a great ski experience.” Agreed.
Don’t be a slave to fashion
These days, I don’t mind paying top dollar for ski gear (skis, snowboard, boots and helmet), if it means a better experience on the hill. Conversely, I don’t really care what I look like, fashion-wise, as long as my skiwear is bombproof. Breathable and waterproof is a must, with layers for warmth. That doesn’t mean I skimp. Patagonia and Arc’teryx stuff isn’t cheap, but it’s built to last. So I buy it once, not annually. If you’re worried about being current, and sporting all the latest colors, you’re going to spend more. I also enjoy heading to Marshalls or T.J. Maxx, and finding great deals on “last season” clearance items, paying the same price for better stuff. Then I parlay my savings into more time on the hill for my family and me.
Cruise the web
Everyone loves great cruising terrain. Cruising the World Wide Web will get you on those slopes, cheaper. Almost every ski area worth its salt has a website nowadays, and you can usually find great deals. For a clearinghouse, check out sites SUCH AS Ski Vermont (skivermont.com), Ski NH (skinh.com), and Ski Maine (skimaine.com). Here’s a sampling of what you can find:
* Buy a $3.50 lift ticket at Roll Back The Clock Day on Jan. 31 at Mad River Glen to celebrate this old-time area’s anniversary (the same price as 1948).
* Jan. 7-13 is “Learn to Ski & Snowboard Free Week” in New Hampshire. First-time skiers and snowboarders can get a free lesson, free equipment rentals and a free beginner terrain lift ticket at participating resorts.
* The Classic Ski Week package at Maine’s Sugarloaf is a five-night, five-day midweek vacation starting at $335 per person, and features an on-mountain condominium, daily lift tickets, daily adult Perfect Turn clinics, Sports and Fitness Center access, as well as the Sugarloaf Outdoor Exchange at the Outdoor Center for Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.
* Stratton Mountain Resort offers $19.61 lift tickets every Wednesday in January to celebrate the resort’s 50th anniversary.
* Ski NH’s “Anywhere, Anytime” ticket packages allow skiers to save $11-$20 on lift tickets any day, including weekends and all holidays. Even better, the tickets are transferable, so you can share them with family and friends.
Unadvertised specials
This is one of my favorites. For some reason, not all deals get publicized. So I always ask. Do you offer an auto club discount, like AAA? Or AARP (the joys of being over 50!)? How about discounts for kids under 12? Under 6? It’s like dealing with the phone company sometimes; there are plenty of bargains, but they’re not always offering them without you asking first. Or unless you suggest that you might take your hard-earned paycheck somewhere else. Again, you have nothing to lose by asking.
Little skiers, big savings
Providing discounts for children is a real win-win for ski areas and families alike. Mom and dad get a break on the cost, while ski areas get the opportunity to convert youngsters into lifetime winter enthusiasts. One of my favorites is SkiNH’s “Earn Your Turns” program for fourth-graders. In exchange for completing a New Hampshire ski history project, participants qualify for an “Earn Your Turns Passbook” that has a lift ticket and trail pass to every Ski NH resort as well as savings on lift tickets and trail passes for parents and siblings, rental packages, lessons and more. There’s also a fifth-grade Snowsports Passport that offers similar savings through SkiNH. Vermont and Maine have comparable programs.
Small is beautiful
Big mountains come with big price tags. That’s not a criticism; that’s just the reality. They also offer a lot more variety, and in many instances more amenities, which translates to better value for some folks. No argument here. But if you know just what you want, smaller hills can often fill the bill for considerably fewer Benjamins. Here’s proof (as of early November). In Maine, the big-time resorts of Sunday River and Sugarloaf charge $1,149 for their Gold New England season pass (unlimited skiing and riding). At Saddleback in Rangeley, which is no small mountain, the price is $699. And at Shawnee Peak, which offers tremendous pitch and spectacular views just outside of North Conway, N.H., the unlimited adult pass is $709. Likewise, areas such as Vermont’s Bromley and Magic Mountain may not have the same amount of terrain as a Killington or Mount Snow or Sugarbush, but their ticket prices aren’t as expensive either.
Home of bargains
In the same vein, staying close to home will save money in a number of ways. The first is the obvious — with gas prices hovering at $3.50 per gallon, a short trip means less of a donation to Big Oil. And that doesn’t even begin to reflect the true cost of driving. According to AAA, a small sedan costs 41.5 cents a mile to operate, while a four-wheel-drive SUV, on average, will run you more than 75 cents per mile (and that’s using a figure of $2.88 per gallon!). Those miles, and costs, add up fast if you’re traveling to the North Country. Local areas may not have that monster vertical, but they’re still a blast (including last year, when best early season snow got dumped in Massachusetts, instead of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine). Boston folks have a terrific variety, including reputable areas such as Ski Bradford, Ski Ward and Blue Hills to larger hills such as Wachusett Mountain and Nashoba Valley. Folks in Rhode Island have Yawgoo Valley, while the Connecticut crowd can make turns at Ski Sundown, Mount Southington or Woodbury Ski Area. Places such as New Hampshire’s McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester and Granite Gorge in Keene, or Maine’s Mount Abrams and Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, are just a few more great examples. Staying close to home also means a ski outing isn’t an all-day adventure, and allows skiers and boarders to take advantage of half-day and evening rates. Plus, you get to sleep in your own bed at night.
Think out of the box
While some might nominate me for “Bad Parent of the Year,” I don’t see anything wrong with taking the kids out of school for a couple of days if it means taking advantage of “non-traditional” rates. Ski area owners aren’t dummies. They live in a world of supply and demand, just like the rest of us. The highest prices — for lift tickets and accommodations — are always reserved for weekends and school vacation weeks. Same applies to those annoying “blackout dates” that some of you might find on your season passes. Me? I’ll take Tuesday and Wednesday turns any day. Plus, ski areas want people on the slopes during these “off days,” so that’s when you’ll typically find great deals, like two-for-one days. So I prefer to “flex” my time off, and I’ll take my daughters with me. And for anyone who thinks I’m taking liberties, consider this: Last year, when our school vacations were canceled because of excessive snow days (actually, inadequate snow removal plans, but that’s another story), local school officials still allowed teachers and administrators with travel plans to take the time off. So, if the people who work for the schools can do it, I’m not going to let them tell me that my family and I can’t do it.
No house like a clubhouse
This is my “Back to the Future” suggestion. What made ski houses back in the day so popular? One of the bedrock principles of economics is that there are savings in numbers. Before the condo craze, folks got together to form ski clubs, buying up and fixing up old homes in ski country. Today, you can still find those clubs, and it’s at least worth checking into those that still exist. Ask around. Word of mouth is typically the best way to find out about these hidden gems.
Bundle your bargains
While you’re thinking of bundling up against the elements, you also should be thinking of bundling your vacation plans with others. This is where the big resorts really shine. The bigger the group, the bigger the savings per person. Getting a larger condo with good friends (emphasis on “compatible”) is a fantastic way to save big. You can often get a complimentary day or two on longer “ski and stay” packages, or maybe lessons and tours and access to other amenities, especially during off-peak times.
Cooking up some savings
Last, but not least, you can save considerable coin simply by hitting the supermarket before hitting the slopes. If you’re renting a place to stay, opt for a condo or hotel that has a kitchenette, allowing you to prepare meals at “home,” instead of going out for breakfast, lunch and dinner (which we all know can run up your tab exponentially). You can even make a few dishes before getting on the road — lasagna is a favorite with my clan — and then just pop them in the oven. This takes more planning, but the savings are well worth the extra effort. And with the money you save, you can plan another trip to the slopes!
This article originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of New England Ski Journal.
Brion O’Connor can be reached at feedback@skijournal.com
