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Get more snow for less dough

Family ski vacations can be tons of fun, but holy sticker shock — they sure ain’t cheap.
/ Source: Wejustgotback.com

Family ski vacations can be tons of fun, but holy sticker shock—they sure ain’t cheap. By the time you shell out for the condo, lift tickets, ski lessons, equipment rental, meals, daycare, snow gear, and all those inevitable miscellaneous expenses, you feel like your wallet’s been run through a blender.

The bottom line: Ski vacations are pricey by nature, but savvy parents never pay full price for a winter getaway. So don’t put away those super-cozy thermal-insulated socks just yet. Once you’ve settled on a , you can use a few smart strategies to skim significant cost off your total spend. Here are 10 easy ways to save on a family getaway this winter:

Book now: Every year around this time, awesome early-bird ski vacation deals begin popping up all over. But time is ticking; you have to snap them up before ski season gets underway. For example, if you book the “Lift Off” package before November 23 at , a family-friendly resort in the Colorado Rockies (see ), you can save 15 percent on lodging when you book a lift ticket. Book a four-night stay at by November 3 and get 20 percent off lodging, lift tickets, and equipment rentals. Book before November 15 at , voted the No. 1 ski resort in eastern North America by SKI Magazine readers, and you can save up to 25 percent on your stay of three nights or longer. These act-quick opportunities are a dime a dozen right now, but they typically dry up by Thanksgiving.

Aim off-peak: Timing is everything. Depending on where you want to ski, the season can last anywhere from four to six months. Many resorts out West are open by mid-November and remain open through April. In general, prices at ski resorts are highest when there is a greater chance of snow (read: coldest months) and also during school breaks. Resorts’ rates can fluctuate wildly throughout the season. To wit: At , voted the No. 1 resort for family programs by SKI Magazine readers (see ), prices during SuperSaver Value Weeks are a full 50 percent lower than over the New Year or President’s Week. Opting to ski before December or after mid-March can almost always save you a bundle. Hint: If your travel dates fall on the fringes of ski season, it’s wise to choose a resort with a reputation for good snow-making capabilities, in case Mother Nature doesn’t oblige with a layer of the white stuff.

Go midweek: Lodging and lift tickets are always more expensive on weekends, so a Monday-to-Thursday ski break can cost half of what a Thursday-to-Sunday getaway does at the same resort. But saving money is just the beginning of the good news. Midweek typically means fewer crowds, shorter lift lines, and smaller group sizes during lessons.

Be a tourist: All the big ski destination states have dedicated tourism associations which exist to promote their own resorts and ski areas. Their web sites can be good money-saving resources. For example, you’ll find hot deals at , and , resort packages at , and discounts on lift tickets at .

Get free kids’ lift tickets: Wow—there’s nothing more family-friendly than a resort that lets kids ski free. Buy an adult ski lift ticket for five or more days at , in the Colorado Rockies, and you’ll get a free 12-and-under child’s lift ticket for the same number of days. Need to rent ski equipment, too? The deal includes free rental equipment for one child when a parent or grandparent rents adult equipment. Other resorts offering “kids ski free” deals include (for kids 10 and under) , in Montana, and (for kids 17 and under) , in North Carolina.

Get free kids’ airfare: Don’t live within driving distance of a ski area? Look for “kids fly free” deals that provide complimentary air tickets for kids when a family ski vacation is purchased. pioneered “kids fly free” deals, but nowadays dozens of resorts are offering them, including , (where kids also ski and stay free), and , in British Columbia (see ). Freebies often play a part in the well-priced vacation packages and lodging deals on .

Get your grade-schooler a passport: Many states offer free or discounted skiing to students in a designated school grade. Typically, kids can apply online or through the mail and must provide proof of their current school grade. Each passport is good for up to three free lift tickets at each participating resort. Fourth and fifth graders can apply for the and , while only fourth graders are eligible for the . Fifth graders can apply for the , , and the , which includes resorts in Washington and Idaho. For sixth graders, there’s the . Colorado has passports for both .

Consult the deal watchdogs: Check , , and for ways to save on lift tickets at resorts around the country.

Save on equipment rental: Price out equipment rental on your resort’s web site in advance of your trip. Sometimes pre-booking online can shave up to 20 percent off the overall rental cost. Weigh your resort’s rental prices against the discounts you find on . For example, if you’re headed to , SkiCoupons.com offers over a dozen printable coupons for equipment rental at local outfitters with savings of between 10 percent and 25 percent. Also, consider investing in your own helmets. Youth helmets can cost as little as $40 but frequently rent for up to $10 per day.

Follow the locals: True ski bums never pay full whack. They know that supermarkets and local ski shops in mountain resort areas sell lift tickets for up to $10 per day less than what you’d pay on-site. That’s a savings of $40 per day for a family of four. Consider investing in the coupon-filled for the area you’ll be visiting. Inside the editions for Denver, Utah, and Vermont, for example, you’ll find discounts on lift tickets, ski equipment rentals, dining, and many other amenities that travelers use. A skiing family could easily recoup the cost of the book in a single day.

What’s your favorite way to save on a family ski getaway? .

WeJustGotBack.com is an authoritative online guide to family trip-planning. The site features reviews of kid-friendly hotels and resorts, expert planning advice, readers' travel tips, destination insider guides, vacation deals, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about resort specials and exclusive, money-saving offers.

is an authoritative online guide to family trip-planning. The site features reviews of kid-friendly hotels and resorts, expert planning advice, readers' travel tips, destination insider guides, vacation deals, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about resort specials and exclusive, money-saving offers.