Are ski/snowboard family vacations crazy expensive?

[Anonymous]

I love Vermont. It isn’t Colorado or Utah, but it’s so much cheaper, and logistically much easier. In addition to saving $$$ on flights, driving to Vermont is a breeze compared to shlepping all your to the airport and flying out west.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Vermont. It isn’t Colorado or Utah, but it’s so much cheaper, and logistically much easier. In addition to saving $$$ on flights, driving to Vermont is a breeze compared to shlepping all your to the airport and flying out west.

Driving to Vermont is not quite a breeze. It's eight hours. It takes me about the same to get all the way to Beaver Creek driving 70 from DEN. I admit I've done it enough to do it blindfolded. But in terms of effort, living all the way down here makes New England really not particularly attractive. It also seems overpriced to me on a value basis.

As far as logistically easier to drive... generally, yes. However; I have a bag that takes almost everything including my skis, along with a boot bag, and United/other majors take it as regular luggage. I'm flying direct to Eagle twice this year from Dulles, so potentially easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just go to upstate New York or Maine or Canaan valley instead since our kids are little and learning. Way cheaper. When they get older we will do our west for skiing.

If the kids all need lessons there is no need to go out west. Go to Canaan Valley/Timberline in West Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sounds inexpensive. Last year we spent $6000 for 4 nights in Snowshoe for a family of 4, Dec. 26-30, and we all have our own skis.

If I spent that much for Snowshoe I'd kill myself.

That sounds insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 5 of us and I would like to take a 5 day or so trip to Utah or Colorado this winter with lessons for 3 younger kids, nice family friendly accommodations, lift tickets, etc. I used to go a lot when I was younger, but this will be the first time for the kids. Preliminary research indicates I will spend close to 7.5k, which seems insane. What am I doing wrong?

We went a couple years ago and it was insane expensive. We were there for 5 days but only skiied three. Between lodging, rentals, lessons, lift tickets. flights it was a lot! Don’t forget food.

My sister is an avid skier but they have their own gear, season passes and between all their friends who ski free places to stay. They can drive to ski places. Any way - now we ski local only twice a year.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Colorado. My parents put me on a bus in downtown Denver that took kids up to various ski resorts. They started doing this when I was 8. I can’t even imagine sending an eight year-old alone skiing today.
That said, East Coast skiing is crap. I don’t take my kids skiing on the East Coast, but I’m probably a snow snob. Which means they haven’t skied very often because as everyone else has mentioned, it is outrageously expensive to do a ski vacation out west.
The problem with taking a smaller no experience child skiing on the East Coast is it can be an ice rink or slush pond. This isn’t actually fun for a child to learn on.

[Anonymous]

We did a 4 day weekend in Breckenridge last year and I was shocked by how expensive it was.
People crap on disney weekends as being so expensive but skiing was definitely more.

Am trying to decide if Vermont would be a decent alternative and any cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 5 of us and I would like to take a 5 day or so trip to Utah or Colorado this winter with lessons for 3 younger kids, nice family friendly accommodations, lift tickets, etc. I used to go a lot when I was younger, but this will be the first time for the kids. Preliminary research indicates I will spend close to 7.5k, which seems insane. What am I doing wrong?

Nothing that’s what it costs

The only way to slight mitigate costs is to eat all meals in the rented condo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did a 4 day weekend in Breckenridge last year and I was shocked by how expensive it was.
People crap on disney weekends as being so expensive but skiing was definitely more.

Am trying to decide if Vermont would be a decent alternative and any cheaper.

Don’t do Vermont’s it’s awful skiing ice baby ice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can all go to Europe and ski for less all-in.
Enjoyed this place as a family. It’s right on the slopes and caters to parents/children. The family rooms are awesome. I have never found the same here. There’s a little room with a bunk bed and you can close the door. Adult bedroom has a door too! Loved it!
https://www.falkensteiner.com/en/hotel-cristallo

How did you get there? Looks a little complicated from US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Vermont. It isn’t Colorado or Utah, but it’s so much cheaper, and logistically much easier. In addition to saving $$$ on flights, driving to Vermont is a breeze compared to shlepping all your to the airport and flying out west.

Yuck half the time there is crap snow more ice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just go to upstate New York or Maine or Canaan valley instead since our kids are little and learning. Way cheaper. When they get older we will do our west for skiing.

If the kids all need lessons there is no need to go out west. Go to Canaan Valley/Timberline in West Virginia.

We do this but come on there's no comparison. The weather is often so awful in terms of cold/wind or otherwise rain/slush. It's rough even for lessons and having it be at all enjoyable. Climate change is hitting those areas hard too, the season keeps getting shorter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can all go to Europe and ski for less all-in.
Enjoyed this place as a family. It’s right on the slopes and caters to parents/children. The family rooms are awesome. I have never found the same here. There’s a little room with a bunk bed and you can close the door. Adult bedroom has a door too! Loved it!
https://www.falkensteiner.com/en/hotel-cristallo

How did you get there? Looks a little complicated from US.

Fly into Munich and drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Colorado. My parents put me on a bus in downtown Denver that took kids up to various ski resorts. They started doing this when I was 8. I can’t even imagine sending an eight year-old alone skiing today.
That said, East Coast skiing is crap. I don’t take my kids skiing on the East Coast, but I’m probably a snow snob. Which means they haven’t skied very often because as everyone else has mentioned, it is outrageously expensive to do a ski vacation out west.
The problem with taking a smaller no experience child skiing on the East Coast is it can be an ice rink or slush pond. This isn’t actually fun for a child to learn on.

I did the same at 14 in Washington State. I think we could start as early as 13. Do we have something like that here for Massanutten or similar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can all go to Europe and ski for less all-in.
Enjoyed this place as a family. It’s right on the slopes and caters to parents/children. The family rooms are awesome. I have never found the same here. There’s a little room with a bunk bed and you can close the door. Adult bedroom has a door too! Loved it!
https://www.falkensteiner.com/en/hotel-cristallo

We had the fortune of living in Europe for a few years when our kids were younger and it's crazy how much more accessible skiing is there. Lift tickets, lessons are so much cheaper and the Austrian family hotels are the bomb. We haven't gone much since we've moved back.