I didn't move to ski country to save money on skiing. I moved to ski country to escape reality. (But it ended up saving us money on pretty much everything. Lower taxes, lower utilities, lower commute, everything.)
Moving to ski country to save money skiing probably cost me about $1000 per day of additional skiing. What every money you have to spend to ski is worth it.
I didn't move to ski country to save money on skiing. I moved to ski country to escape reality. (But it ended up saving us money on pretty much everything. Lower taxes, lower utilities, lower commute, everything.)
I have to be honest here. This thread and some the responses in it seems much more about a competition to see who can brag about who paid less and got the most value.
Truth is for majority of families who do not live in so called "ski country and maybe looking to making a trip (which may be only a once or minimal few times in a lifetime) is much more expensive than what's being mentioned here.
Because its not normally (for many folks) a common occurrence it becomes something where one desires better accommodations and not somethin so budget friendly. Especially for a family. And especially when not familiar with nor so educated on just how to save a lot of money on such trips.
It took me a couple decades to finally take the fam to the Rockies (from east coast NY,NJ area). Life and timing vs obligations was always in the way and when i finally was able to make it all work I wasnt looking to do a minimal budget ski trip. Being was a once (or maybe only few times a lifetime scenario) I wanted better accommodations and service. I spent a lot of money for my family of 4 stay in telluride a couple seasons ago. It was multiple thousands for only 5 nights. Dining at good places, staying at higher rated place, doing other expensive things (besides skiing) etc..etc,,,.. My rare major ski vacation wasnt meant to be some low budget motor-inn experience. I can save that for my more local and familiar Vermont weekenders but not my rare ski vacation the the Rockies.
Lets drop the whole......who can brag the most about how cheaply they went on a ski vacation thing. I mean c'mon. I wasn't looking for my fam to live out of a suv or stay at some motorlodge and live off of poptarts, slim Jim's, and hard boiled eggs for a week. The true ski vaca imo and based off where Im from is supposed to be a destination experience and not just a budget friendly college trip.
I think a whole lot of families spend a whole lot of money on so called ski vacations in just the same way Im mentioning. Some ignorance involved but mostly just the ideology that its often something that is once or maybe only a few times (at most per lifetime.
On the same note...people can come to NYC (and they do) from all over the world and the country. I (being from NYC) can show you how to do it a lot cheaper. But ignorance and a once (or maybe only few times at most a lifetime) is going to result in many paying a lot of money for what is to be (hopefully) a good and worthy vacation. Its the same principal.
One huge thing is airfare. That i itself can often make or break the expense of a vacation. Often just a matter of lucky (or not) timing.
It's interesting how we can be economical with a ski trip, especially when we ski with a group.It's a ski vacation if my wife comes. That will include a day at the spa, a day of dogsledding, snowmobiling or some other non-ski activity and nice dinners. If it's solo or with my son it's just a ski trip. Ski and pass out. Burgers, bbq and beer.
Last year's gathering to JH was less than $1500. Ski vacation, more like $5-7K for a week.
I’m curious where you stay in Steamboat for that price? We stayed slopeside 2 years ago there and this year the price has more than tripled. OTOH, airfare in there this year is a relative bargain.Our main family trip has been to Steamboat for the last ~20 yrs.
Missed one year due to a wedding, this year due to Covid. We used to fly when deals were more common but once our youngest started to go, which coincided with increased air fares that changed flying from under $1K for 4 to nearly $2K for 5 and limited bags so we now drive from Iowa.
Typically costs run mostly for 8 nights at the resort, 1 night in either Nebraska or Wyoming:
Travel (driving) $250
1 night hotel: $100
slopeside lodging $2500, 4bdrm 3 bath Condo with pool and hot tub (we use well)
2-4 lessons $268 (handy too as one can often pick up a add on lift for $35)
Lift tickets: Ikons at ~$630 each, I had full pass as I try and hit the boat twice.
Food/Meals: we typically eat in, but do several dinners out and lunches out so this isn't much an adder. Extra lifts add ~$250
(not counting meals nor lessons other than added lift costs of $70)
Avg for 5, 9 nights with 7 days skiing sits around around $1200 each. If I add in extra for meals out .. under $1300 each.
I could cut costs a bit but the unit is 60yds from the lift and large which gives us a lot of flexibility to add a relative from Fort Collins or elsewhere if they wish to stay with us.
I can relate to your story. A couple years back I had a work trip to Europe that forced me to spend a weekend there in the middle of ski season, so very last minute I changed my flights so that I had a weekend layover in Geneva as opposed to Amsterdam. Thanks to some great advice from @James I made a last minute call to go to Verbier instead of Charmonix (yes I know first world problems) and had an epic two days of skiing. Thanks to the advice and guidance from @James and others on this site I knew where to rent my skis from (SKi Service Verbier at elevation not thin the village) and where to pre-purchase my two day pass at a discount. Accommodation was more challenging as almost everything was sold out except for the Westin at $3500/night and Richard Branson's ski Villa at $60,000/night (this is not a joke, the house manager actually emailed me to see if I wanted to rent it ... I had no idea what this place was until then). I ended up contacting about 30 different local hotels and found a family owned one who had a cancelation and was within my budget.Very valid point being made by @Goose , but @dovski 's perspective is helpful too. I try to use this thread as a learning tool.
I have taken numerous low budget trips in my day and still do at times (including Motel 6 for 50-something per night last Feb in Jackson, WY, thanks for the suggestion @DanoT ). I also will splurge, especially when my wife or additional family and friends accompany me on trips/travel.
Three or four years ago I was riding a chairlift at Vail with a stranger. I had an EpicPass and used it that winter to great effect, logging lots of ski days at many great resorts. He commented that he was using the walk-up ticket window to buy his lift tickets that week. I thought to myself, what a "ski travel rube" this guy is?! But then he began to share a few more details. He was some sort of high level business executive and nimbly decided to make the trip to Vail at close to the last minute because he knew the snow was good then and an unexpected opening occurred in his packed work schedule. He was using airline mileage and motel points to completely cover his travel and lodging expenses. Suddenly, I was feeling more like the rube.
One huge thing is airfare. That i itself can often make or break the expense of a vacation. Often just a matter of lucky (or not) timing.
I have to be honest here. This thread and some the responses in it seems much more about a competition to see who can brag about who paid less and got the most value.
I have to be honest here. This thread and some the responses in it seems much more about a competition to see who can brag about who paid less and got the most value.
Truth is for majority of families who do not live in so called "ski country and maybe looking to making a trip (which may be only a once or minimal few times in a lifetime) is much more expensive than what's being mentioned here.
Because its not normally (for many folks) a common occurrence it becomes something where one desires better accommodations and not somethin so budget friendly. Especially for a family. And especially when not familiar with nor so educated on just how to save a lot of money on such trips.
It took me a couple decades to finally take the fam to the Rockies (from east coast NY,NJ area). Life and timing vs obligations was always in the way and when i finally was able to make it all work I wasnt looking to do a minimal budget ski trip. Being was a once (or maybe only few times a lifetime scenario) I wanted better accommodations and service. I spent a lot of money for my family of 4 stay in telluride a couple seasons ago. It was multiple thousands for only 5 nights. Dining at good places, staying at higher rated place, doing other expensive things (besides skiing) etc..etc,,,.. My rare major ski vacation wasnt meant to be some low budget motor-inn experience. I can save that for my more local and familiar Vermont weekenders but not my rare ski vacation the the Rockies.
Lets drop the whole......who can brag the most about how cheaply they went on a ski vacation thing. I mean c'mon. I wasn't looking for my fam to live out of a suv or stay at some motorlodge and live off of poptarts, slim Jim's, and hard boiled eggs for a week. The true ski vaca imo and based off where Im from is supposed to be a destination experience and not just a budget friendly college trip.
I think a whole lot of families spend a whole lot of money on so called ski vacations in just the same way Im mentioning. Some ignorance involved but mostly just the ideology that its often something that is once or maybe only a few times (at most per lifetime.
On the same note...people can come to NYC (and they do) from all over the world and the country. I (being from NYC) can show you how to do it a lot cheaper. But ignorance and a once (or maybe only few times at most a lifetime) is going to result in many paying a lot of money for what is to be (hopefully) a good and worthy vacation. Its the same principal.
One huge thing is airfare. That i itself can often make or break the expense of a vacation. Often just a matter of lucky (or not) timing.
You have a point. There often seems to be a misconception by non-skiers that the only way to go on a ski vaction is to spend $10k or some other large sum. I hope this thread has shown you can go on a vacation for a wide range of prices.I have to be honest here. This thread and some the responses in it seems much more about a competition to see who can brag about who paid less and got the most value.
And that is a fair point as well.You have a point. There often seems to be a misconception by non-skiers that the only way to go on a ski vaction is to spend $10k or some other large sum. I hope this thread has shown you can go on a vacation for a wide range of prices.
That date limitation does alot more than just stick families with higher pricing. It can result in not even being able to go and plan a trip.Pricing also is dependent on dates. Most families with school aged children are limited to school vacation weeks, which also happen to be the most expensive for lodging and often transportation.
We are a family of 4, and we've spent the whole range of budgets on ski trips. We've determined for us that the budget ski trip is anything under $1000 per night not including transportation and lift tickets. So that's just food and lodging for 4. We've spent a fair amount less than that and far more, but for us, that's what it's going to cost.
That date limitation does alot more than just stick families with higher pricing. It can result in not even being able to go and plan a trip.
I mean firstly are the kids even old enough where as it (the efforts and expense) needs to be worthy so that in itself probably isnt happening till they are of age where they themselves can enjoy most a major resorts skiing.
then the week off from school (which varies yearly) is not something you want to be too far into the spring but prefer the year it comes earlier for risk of conditions reasons.
Then if you have more than one child and they are in different schools they may not have the same week off.
Then there is sports which is yet another obligation they may have even while school week is off but the sports obs are not. Then even if pulling them out of school the sports obs is even worse during those times. My son had to sit out a game once because he missed practice due to grandpa dying. Ridiculous but thats sports obs these days.
Then there is the extended family and the major family functions and family celebratory events of all and any significant types that may be planned during the same time/week.
Then you do get the week where it all seems to work out but anyone in the fam or all would rather take advantage of that rarer scenario to do a tropical vacation instead.
These are many the exact things (and Im certain there is more Im forgetting) as for why it took me about 20 years to take our major ski vaca as a family.
So the darn time limitations within the ski season (which is school season) can be a real hurtle and just not work out well by pure bad luck.
Yeah the only legit reason I could imagine would be at higher competition levels where certain plays were drilled during that particular practice and he wasn't up to speed. Otherwise it sounds like the typical youth athletic coach power trip nonsense. My father used to coach my brother's little league team and always made sure it was about the kids first and foremost but so many of the other coaches, league officials and other parents took it way too seriously.Your son's coach is a dick. That's what I got here.