With October finally time to look forward to this year’s exciting snow season. In just a couple of weeks fresh snow will be waiting for you to make your mark in it! Skiing can be one of the most expensive vacations or hobbies if you don’t watch your spending carefully though. There are many ways to counteract the price so you won’t have to worry about how much you have to give up just to have some fun on the slops. These tips will take you from the ski store to the mountains so you can give your life a little fun without having to worry about the price tag. Now, you can make the slopes your favorite part of the holiday season as you break away from the spending trend and stay active with friends and family.
1. Consider Renting
Sometimes people won’t to get a little bit ahead of themselves and buy large amounts of products for a hobby they’re positive they will love. This can be one of the worst things to do if you planning on taking up skiing. Ski gear is actually very expensive so to go out and buy items for a hobby you have never taken part in before could be one of the biggest wastes of money. If you’re new to skiing then make sure to rent your gear the first time you go. If you love it, and continue on with the hobby then buying items later on might be worth it. Renting not only saves you money at first, but it will also allow you to feel out different types of equipment so you’ll know exactly what you want to buy when you have the money to buy it. It is also important to rent when it comes to your kids as they are constantly growing and you don’t want to have to buy new items every season. If you don’t live near a ski slope then it might also be wise not to buy. When you have your own gear you also have to move the gear every time you go on vacation. This means packing your items up and hoping for the best when you put them on the plane, bus or on top of your car. So, if you aren’t planning on skiing often just stick to renting.
2. Wear What You Have
Skiing doesn’t require you to buy special clothing like many people believe. There are a few crucial items you need to wear, but none have to be bought specifically for this holiday. Most people who live in a colder climate have thermal underwear, tights, long sleeve tops, sweater and winter coats that are perfect for skiing and won’t cost you any extra to wear. You might also be surprised as to how much you don’t have to wear in order to keep warm when you’re on the slopes. Your movements will help to keep you warm so you shouldn’t have to wear layers upon layers of clothing. If you find your body is getting too wet while you ski then you might want to invest in special athletic base layers that can be worn for other sports too.
3. Book in Advance
A lot of people wait until first snow to make their reservations, which could be a huge mistake in bookings. It is always best to figure out when is going to be a good time to take your skiing trip and book then. Ski season starts up very close to the holiday season which means airline tickets are going to skyrocket if you don’t get them early enough. As soon as you can book your flight and hold firm to the date you choose. Once you have the flight make sure you also find a hotel that is not only reasonable but close enough to the slopes to not force you to pay extra for transport+++. The hotels around ski lodges will more than likely be booked by first snow, so don’t glue yourself to the weather channel when you’re planning your trip. Many people end up coming too early, so try to choose a date that falls after first snow if you’re anxious to get on the slopes as soon as possible. When you book early you might also be able to secure some discounts.
4. Smaller Slopes
If you’re starting out on the slopes then you might consider a resort that offers smaller mountains for you to try out. You don’t need to conquer the biggest mountains on your first trip so choosing a smaller area might be good for your learning process as well as your wallet. A smaller resort often charges much less because they don’t have as much of a mountain range to offer. Smaller resorts also tend to have less people so you might not have to wait in line as often which will give you a little more fun for your money. Even if you are a veteran skier then a smaller resort might be your best best to a short weekend retreat. This will allow your family to have a fun couple of days at a low price.
5. Food
After a long day out in the cold you’re going to want something piping hot and delicious to eat for dinner. You may want to avoid the lodge though as it will force you to pay a lot more than you’d want to on a simple meal. If you can, make a trip into town and check out some of the places the locals like to eat. This will give you a rich cultural experience and you might even find places you’d like to try out when you come back for your next trip. Local foods will run a whole lot cheaper than what you’d pay at a resort and the portions tend to be larger so you might have some food to bring back for lunch the next day. If you want to take a food break while you’re on the slopes then pack a sandwich or bring a thermos of soup. You might also want to pack a thermos of hot chocolate or tea to help warm everyone up before you head back out to the ski range. Always make sure to pack plenty of water with you though. You will sweat quite a bit while you’re active, even if you don’t notice it. So, don’t risk your party getting dehydrated. It is also important to have water on you just in case you get lost and need resources before being rescued.
6. Hotels
Choosing a place to stay can be one of the most expensive tasks. Most people want to stay at the sky resort as they believe it will help them get the most ski time during their vacation. Staying off of the resort can be one of the best financial decisions you can make though. Many hotels will pop up just outside of the resort so you might not have far to travel if you’re looking to save money. Some hotels will even offer free shuttles to help skiers get up to the mountain, which will work even more in favor of your budget. If you can’t find a hotel that offers a shuttle then try to find one that is near a public transit stop as this will be your cheapest way of getting up to the ski resort without actually staying at the resort.
7. Free Ski Days
It might seem like a myth, but there are actually days in which you can ski for free! Of course, it might take a little research work on your end, but if you might find one of your favorite resorts is offering a day that is welcome to all. If you have some spare time you might even be able to plan an entire trip around your free ski day which could cut your skiing price in half. Ski free days might mean battling the crowds though, so be prepared to wait in long lines and have other things planned in case you don’t actually get to ski a whole lot. You might also be careful about booking a hotel room as they tend to fill up during these events and you won’t want to be left out in the cold if you can’t find a place close enough to stay.
8. No Guide
If you aren’t traveling with a group of new skiers then you don’t really need to pay the extra money for a tour guide. Try to plan out your trips with at least one experienced skier who can help anyone out that might need it. This will enable you all to learn from one another while avoiding an expensive fee and forcing your group to hang out with a total stranger all day. Even if you don’t know an experienced skier you can always advertise for a group before you go which could help people in the area find the courage to try out skiing. If you can’t find anyone to help then stay on the smaller slopes until you feel more comfortable with your abilities. You should always bring a map of the resort and outside area as well as a compass with you no matter who is with you. This will help in case of an emergency and could save your life.
9. Good Timing
Part of the fun of planning a ski trip is to know when the best time to plan your trip is. A lot of people will be heading to the slopes when the snow begins to fall and the crowds will remain pretty steady throughout the holiday season, so you might want to wait a bit. Your best booking period is towards the end of the season when many people are ready for summer to show up. Whenever you decide to go you should keep in mind that booking in the middle of the week is often your best bet. Most people won’t want to take off a day during this period, so you may be clear to spend all day without having to wait in long lines. The middle of the week is oftener cheaper because of this as the resorts want to make these days more desirable for skiers. When you book ahead you will also get to a better deal than many who book right before a holiday, so always think ahead of time.
10. Kids
Planning a ski vacation with younger children around can be tough. If you don’t want to pay for daycare fees while you ski then you might want to consider traveling with another family that has children. This will allow the two families to switch off days with the young children while everyone else goes skiing. If you don’t have another family to go with you then you might want to look into free daycare services. Some resorts will offer this with their family packages while other hotels will offer it as a courtesy. Children that are a bit older may want to go skiing with you, so make sure to ask for discounted child prices when you buy tickets. A lot of the time children can get in for free. If you want your child to receive special lessons you might want to sign them up for a class which will allow you to go ski without having to pay daycare fees and will give your child a chance to learn from a professional.
Skiing can be an incredible hobby if you know how to spend your money correctly. With these simple tips you might actually be able to plan more than one trip this season without having to pay for your getaways for the rest of the year. So, enjoy the snow and plan wisely as this season will be over sooner than you think.
