cost of ski trip

Family Skier

How Much Does a Ski Trip Cost?

How much does a ski trip cost?

It could cost you as little as $50 per person per day.  Or it could cost you four figures a day.

The question is nearly impossible to give a blanket answer on, but we want to give it a try.  It is so difficult to answer because a skier can make many choices that could greatly impact the cost of a trip, perhaps the biggest ones being where to ski and how to get there.

We will outline three varying scenarios for a family of four below.  All are realistic, and all focus on popular ski trip types.

3 Cost Scenarios for a Similar Ski Trip

The expensive trip option:.

Let’s say you are a skiing family with a high income, and you want to do one trip a year and do it right.  You aren’t afraid to part with some of your hard-earned money if it means that you and your family have a great time, in comfortable digs.  

You decide to head to an amenity-filled ski resort, like Beaver Creek or Deer Valley or Northstar-at-Tahoe.  You decide to stay slopeside, because that way everyone in the family can ski as much and however they want. No meeting up in the parking lot at the end of a long day of skiing — you can cruise right to your condo or hotel.

You also decide that you will just bite the bullet and buy day lift ticket passes, because you don’t want to be locked-in to a certain resort or ski pass too early in the season.  Day passes cost a bit more, but let you do the trip a bit more just-in-time. You also decide to rent demo skis for everyone at the resort, so you don’t have to lug your old skis around the country.  

In this scenario, your 5-day trip could easily cost $10,000 plus airfare!

• 5 nights of slopeside lodging at $1,200 a night.  $6,000
• 4 lift tickets at $200 per day, for 4 days.  We are going to assume that on average, people take one day off or there is one bad weather day when you don’t ski.  $3,200
• 5 nights of lunches on the mountain and dinners out.  Alcohol choices will greatly impact this. $250 per day, or $1,500.
• Ski rental, at $40 per day per person.  $800.

If you have the budget, this is going to be a relaxing trip where you feel taken care of, and you will be skiing a true A-List resort.  However, not all of have that kind fo budget, and even if we do, you might not want to blow your money on one trip.

The Moderate Trip Option:

Perhaps $10,000 is a little excessive for your ski trip.  We don’t blame you, it is for us too. Maybe you decide to go the more common option of a moderately priced trip.  Something that will give you a nice trip in a great mountain destination, but not make you feel like you are losing cash at every turn.

You look at various ski areas, and choose something that fits the whole family and has plenty of terrain and create comforts.  A place like Big Sky or Park City, or perhaps Steamboat. Instead of paying premium price for a ski-in, ski-out place, you rent a nice condo that is just a short drive away from the base area.  The short-term ski town rental market has grown by leaps and bounds in the past five years, and today some of the nicest properties in town are available to rent for a few days.  Most owners will want a minimum of at least a few nights, though.

Plus, Most ski areas have free shuttle busses, or you can drive to the parking lot and walk from there. Not a big deal if you just do it once a day.

The other thing you do in this scenario is look for discounts on your lift tickets, through the resort website or a place like Liftopia.  The resort probably offers a package that you can purchase in advance, something like 3 of 5, or 4 of 5 days of skiing for your trip. You look for ski trip deals where the kids ski free, or at least ski for a pretty nice discount.

You rent skis, but you don’t get performance skis.  And you rent them off mountain, at a ski shop a couple miles from the base area.  Better skis for a lower price.

This scenario reduces the overall cost to $5,225 plus airfare.  Still not cheap, but way more reasonable.

• 5 nights of nearby (but not slopeside) lodging at $500 a night.  $2,500
• 3 lift ticket packages at $500 each for 4 days of skiing.  Let’s say you find a deal where one child skis free because of their age.  $1,500
• You have lunch on the mountain but try to have many of your dinners in the condo.  $125 a day. $625
• Ski rental, $30 per day per person.  $600

The Budget Trip Option:

Let’s say that this vacation is all about the skiing.  You do not need a nice condo to relax in at night, and you own all your gear so no rentals are needed.

You choose a very nice ski area that is not quite as large or busy as the A-listers, but still gives you excellent mountain skiing.  You might be thinking of a place like A-Basin, Grand Targhee, or Bridger Bowl. Lift tickets will be reduced significantly from what you would pay at a place with a marquee name.  

Instead of getting a condo at all, you decide to keep it simple at stay at a hotel.  Not a 4-star hotel, but a perfectly nice and clean hotel a few miles from the ski area base.  You don’t have the hottub or living room, but the cost saving is worth it. Still, remember you are staying near a ski area, so you are not going to get the same prices you might get in a small town in middle America.

Or, if you have a few people, you may actually find that a nice, off-mountain ski condo rental is actually a better deal for you.

Or, if you have hotel points built up, maybe you cash them in on a nice Marriott by the ski resort.

In this scenario, you drop the price to $2,625 , or less than half the price of the moderate option.  If you drive instead of fly, you might see even more savings versus the other options.

• 5 nights of a hotel room at $225 a night, or $1,125
• 4 lift tickets averaging $75 a day.  It is a less-splashy resort so prices are lower, and they also offer lower-priced tickets for kids under 18.  $1,200
• You bring a big cooler, so you can keep sandwich meat and fruit (and maybe a little beer) at the ready. Instead of really eating out at all, you pack your lunch and eat dinner at cheaper spots near the hotel.  $60 a day, or $300.  A great option for skiers is a backpack with a bottom cooler , which is easy to carry and can keep food cold for several hours.
• No ski rental needed.  You bring all your own gear. Perhaps you invest in a good pair of entry-level skis so you can start to save money on rentals.

Why Didn’t we Include Airfare?

Airfare can vary so widely, based on everything from demand to promotions to gas prices.  It is just impossible to predict what your particular airfare will be, and we know that many of our readers actually prefer to use points and miles to book their flights.  Others are OK doing discount airlines while some may want a name-brand carrier.  And some people will just drive, if the cost justifies it or they live not that far from the ski resort.  It is just too hard to predict, so all estimates above do NOT include airfares.

Other Ski Trip Cost Factors

Of course, there are many additional factors that could swing the cost of your ski trip one way or another.  We outlined 25 of of them in our lengthy piece on ways to save money on ski trips .  Some of the huge factors include your choice of location, whether you can fly in to a less-expensive airport (large airports like Salt Lake City are likely less expensive than smaller ones like Aspen), and of course what time of year you decide to ski can have a huge impact on your overall pricing.

Of course, some people will look at this and say “I can save even more money than that!”, and you can.  Maybe you know someone in town who you can stay with instead of spending any money on lodging — usually the largest expense.  Perhaps you invested in a season pass like the Ikon or Epic Pass, so your lift tickets will not be an additive cost. If you did, awesome.

The bottom line is that ski trips are not cheap, and unfortunately they appear to be getting more expensive.  But it is not one size fits all — you can certainly tailor the trip to your specific needs.

Paul Miller is the Founder of Family Skier. He is an advanced skier and has extensive experience with family travel and ski schools. An accomplished skier, he has skied in 15 states and provinces and 6 countries. In addition to FamilySkier, his writing can be found on many ski-related websites, and as curriculum for many ski clubs in North America.

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Ski trip expenses | how much does skiing cost (2023 guide）.

by Hicham Benali on Oct 19, 2022

Around the world, people are increasingly choosing to spend their vacations skiing. In recent years, the number of ski resorts has grown rapidly, and   Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry worth an estimated $4.3bn in 2022  in the USA alone. Skiing is no longer a niche hobby reserved for the wealthy; it has become a mainstream pastime enjoyed by people of all ages and incomes.

Despite this growth, it’s no secret that a ski holiday can be expensive. But how much does a ski holiday really cost? And where can you find the best deals? In this article, we will explore the different costs associated with skiing, and offer some tips on how to save money.

Table of content

Travel costs.

The first cost associated with a ski trip is travel. Depending on where you are coming from, this can be a significant expense.

The cost of driving a car can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including the distance traveled, the type of car, and the fuel economy. In general, however, it is possible to estimate the cost of driving to a ski resort. For example, if you are driving to a ski resort that is 100 miles away, it would cost between $12 and $25 in gas for a round trip.

I recommend you use FuelEconomy.gov  to get your car's exact gas mileage for a more accurate estimation.

If you are flying to a ski resort, the cost of your flight will be determined by a number of factors, including your departure city, the airport you fly into, and the time of year you travel. For example, a round-trip flight from New York City to Denver in January could cost as little as $400.

In order to get amazing flight deals delivered right to your inbox and save up to 90% on flights, I highly recommend you sign up with ScottsCheapFlights.com .

To get an idea of what to expect to pay to fly to your destination, you can use SkyScanner.net  or FlyScoot.com .

-CAR RENTAL

If you are flying to a ski resort, you will likely need to rent a car to get around. The cost of renting a car can vary depending on the type of car you rent and the length of your rental. For example, a compact car from Hertz for one week in January could cost as little as $200.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation

Source: GothPhil - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

There are many different types of accommodation available when booking a ski holiday, from basic hostels to luxurious private chalets. The cost of accommodation will vary depending on the type of property you choose and its location in relation to the slopes or the center of town.

For example, a hostel located close to the slopes is likely to be more expensive than one that is further away. Similarly, a private chalet with its own hot tub and sauna will cost more than a standard apartment.

The size of the accommodation will also affect the price, with larger properties able to accommodate more people typically costing more than smaller ones.

Because you are barely in the room when you are on a ski holiday, I recommend you book a basic B&B in order to save some money for other aspects of the holiday.

The average price of accommodation is between $70 and $250 per night.

Other than Airbnb or Booking, you can use The Plum Guide , Vrbo , Agoda Homes , and Homestay  to get a place to stay at wallet-friendly prices.

LIFT PASSES

A lift pass gives you access to ski lifts and pistes in a particular resort. The cost of a lift pass will vary depending on the popularity of the resort, the duration of your stay, and whether it is peak season or not.

For example, a one-day lift pass costs between $50 and $250.

You can get discounts on lift passes if you book in advance or purchase a pass that gives you access to multiple resorts. Children and seniors can also get discounts on many ski resorts.

Multi-resort ski passes like the   Epic Pass  and the   IKON pass  offer amazing value for money if you plan to ski at multiple resorts during your trip. Also, season pass holders often get discounts on accommodation, food, and equipment rentals, which makes them a good option if you will ski/snowboard for more than 15 days during the season.

I recommend you use Liftopia.com  to get lift tickets in advance and save.

EQUIPMENT RENTAL

The cost of renting equipment can vary depending on the resort you are visiting and the type of equipment you need. Generally, you can expect to pay around $25-$100 per day for equipment rental, depending on if you opt for beginners or advanced equipment.

If you are still a beginner , I recommend you rent before you buy. It will give you a chance to try out different types of equipment and find what works best for you. Once you have more experience, you can think about buying your own gear.

There are also many places where you can buy used equipment at a fraction of the cost of new gear. This is a great option if you are on a budget or if you are only planning to go skiing a few times per year.

If you are asking what equipment you will need to rent, I would recommend renting a pair of skis, poles, and boots or a snowboard and its boots. If you are going to be doing any off-piste skiing or riding in the backcountry, you will also need to rent an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe.

For the ski jackets and pants, even if you are still beginning, I would recommend you buy your own because it's something that you can still use throughout the winter for activities other than skiing.

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For the ski goggles and snow helmets , I see them as personal gear. This is why I recommend you get your own for hygiene. If you are looking for something reliable at an affordable price, I would recommend you the Outdoor Master store. For Goggles, you have ULTRA Snow Goggles  or  PRO Snow Goggles , and for the helmet, you have Kelvin Ski Helmet  or the  Diamond MIPS Snow Helmet .

If you are going to a sunny place to ski, I highly suggest that you should get polarized ski goggles  or color optimized ski goggles . 

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SKI LESSONS

If you have never been skiing before or it has been a while since you last went, I recommend that you sign up for some ski lessons.

Generally, a 2-hour group lesson will cost around $60-$100. If you want private lessons, the cost will be around $80-$150 per hour.

I also recommend that you take a lesson even if you are an experienced skier. The reason for this is that the ski conditions and terrain can vary greatly from place to place and it is always good to have a local guide who can show you around and help you avoid any hazards.

FOOD AND DRINK

If you are staying in a self-catered apartment or chalet that is equipped with kitchens, you can prepare some meals but you will need to factor in the cost of groceries. I would recommend budgeting around $200-$500 per week for a family of four.

If you are eating out every day, you can expect to spend around $10-$30 per meal.

OTHER EXPENSES

There are a few other miscellaneous expenses that you will need to factor in when budgeting for your ski trip. These include water, coffee, and snacks.

AVERAGE SKI HOLIDAY TRANSPORTATION COST

Average ski holiday price per day, tips on how to save money on a ski holiday.

Travel during the shoulder season.

The shoulder season is the period between the high and low seasons when demand (and prices) are lower. The shoulder season  typically falls between April and May, or September and October.

Related reading: Ski seasons around the world .

Consider a package holiday.

Package holidays can be a great way to save money because they often include things like flights, accommodation, and transfers. This means that you can avoid the hassle (and expense) of having to book everything separately.

Travel with friends or family.

If you are planning a trip with friends or family, you can often get a discount on accommodation and other expenses. Stay in a self-catered apartment.

Self-catered accommodation is usually cheaper than staying in a hotel or resort. This is because you are responsible for your own meals and there are no additional costs like daily housekeeping.

Plan your trip in advance.

If you know exactly when and where you want to go on your ski trip, you can often get a discount by booking everything in advance. This is especially true if you are traveling during the high season.

Look for deals and promotions.

There are often deals and discounts available on lift passes, equipment rental, ski lessons, and more. Do some research in advance to see what offers are available.

By following these tips, you can help reduce the cost of your ski holiday and save money. However, remember that the most important thing is to enjoy yourself and have a great time on your trip!

WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST MONTH TO GO SKIING?

The shoulder season, which is the period between the high and low seasons, is typically the cheapest time to go skiing. The shoulder season usually falls between April and May or September and October.

WHERE IS THE CHEAPEST SKI RESORT?

Ski resorts that are generally considered to be relatively affordable include Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Idaho), Heavenly (California), Big Sky Resort (Montana), Copper Mountain (Colorado), Whitefish Mountain Resort (Montana), and Okemo Mountain Resort (Vermont).

WHAT COUNTRY HAS THE CHEAPEST SKIING?

Some of the countries that are known for being relatively affordable for skiing and snowboarding include Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, Andorra, and Greece.

HOW MUCH IS SKIING IN THE USA?

The cost of skiing in the USA varies depending on the resort, but lift tickets typically range from $50-$100 per day. Equipment rental and lessons are also additional costs that you will need to factor in.

WHERE DO YOU FLY TO SKI IN FRANCE?

There are many airports that you can fly into when planning a ski trip to France, but some of the most popular include Geneva (GVA), Lyon (LYS), Grenoble (GNB), and Chambéry (CMF).

IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY BETTER FOR SKIING?

January and February are typically the best months for skiing, as this is when the snow is at its deepest and most consistent. However, this also means that prices are usually higher during these months.

WHAT ARE THE BUSIEST SKI DAYS?

The busiest ski days are typically weekends and holidays. If you are looking to avoid crowds, plan your trip for mid-week instead.

That's all for this article. I hope it was helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Hicham Benali

Ben is a content writer at Outdoor Master who loves all things outdoor, and nature is his happy place.

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How Much Does A Ski Trip REALLY Cost? (More Thank You Think)

An annual ski vacation is the highlight of the winter months for countless families around the world. There is no better way to relieve some stress than fresh air and exercise in the great outdoors with the people you love the most. If this is the first time you’re taking a ski trip in a few years, you’re probably wondering what it costs and how you can budget to get the most out of your trip.

Ski trips vary significantly in price because many factors determine the final cost. However, most ski vacations cost around $2,500 to $3000 for four days of skiing. The price can change depending on the size of the group going skiing and where the ski resort is located.

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Ski Trip Costs

Calculating the exact price of a ski vacation can be difficult. Before you start adding things up and getting overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is make a realistic list of all the expenses you expect on vacation. Remember that it is better to overestimate and have money left over than to underestimate and break your budget.

To get you started, we have compiled a list of trip costs you need to take into consideration. The list is broken up into three sections to make things simpler. By looking specifically at the prices of transportation, lodging, food, and ski costs, you can see where all your money is going on this trip, plan your budget accordingly and find ways to cut costs.

Transportation

Getting to the ski resort is often a cost that is overlooked or underestimated. You might have found a great deal on lift tickets, but how much does it to get to your destination?

If you plan on flying to a resort , you will have to take into consideration how much airline tickets will set you back. If you are flying between European countries, fares are quite affordable and average $30 to $100 per person. However, if you are flying between states in the US, you can expect to pay $200 to $400 per person in many cases.

Pro Tip: To find cheap flights to ski resorts, we use Skyscanner , which searches all airlines in one go.

International flights such as to South America or Asia can cost between $500 and $1000 while flights from Europe or the US to Australia can be upwards of $2000. Keep in mind also that if you are planning on packing all your gear with you, you will have to pay extra for baggage fees which usually average around $50 per piece of oversized luggage. So before you plan out your ski trip, make sure you understand what you will be paying in airfare and luggage fees alone.

The total cost of flying: $30 to $2050 per person

2. Renting a Car

Chances are if you fly to your ski destination, you will have to rent a car to get from the airport to the ski resort or hotel. If you are staying off the resort to save money, you’ll need to rent the car for the duration of your stay.

It makes your trip more convenient, but renting a car can add up fast, especially if you need a larger vehicle to transport all your ski gear.

The average price of renting a car (including fees): $50 to $150 per day

If you’re one of the few lucky people out there that live close enough to the ski resort to drive your own car, you will definitely save a little money on transportation. But driving still costs money. So before you decide to drive cross country to the resort, calculate how much gas you will have to by to get there and back.

Surprisingly, the price of a flight could be lower than what you spend in gas, depending on the distance you’re driving. But this rarely pays off if more than one person is traveling. For the sake of making this budget, let’s say gas costs $2 a gallon (3.79 liters). If the ski resort is 100 miles (321km) away and your car gets 35 mpg (15 kpl), you would pay $11.42 roundtrip in gas. The final cost will depend on your vehicle’s gas mileage, the distance of the resort, and the current price of gas.

Here is a simple equation to help you calculate it:

Distance divided by miles per gallon (or kpl) multiplied by the price per gallon (liter) multiplied by two.

D ÷ mpg x $ x 2          

Possible price of gas roundtrip if the resort is within 100 miles: $12 to $15

Another factor to take into consideration is how much overnight lodging will cost. Staying away from the resort could save you a few dollars as resort condos tend to cost more than an Airbnb or hotel room further away from the resort.

Staying at the resort is often much more convenient, but you can expect to pay more nightly. Thankfully, many resort rentals offer you a discount when you bundle your rental and lift tickets. You also save time and money on transportation if you opt for a ski-in ski-out rental.

The average price of lodging: $70 to $250 a night

The cost of food is often overlooked when budgeting for trips. There is so much to keep track of, especially on a ski vacation that food and drinks are usually the last things we plan for the trip. Eating out for every meal will easily cost you $15 per person per meal. For a family of four, that puts you out $180 or more a day.

Thankfully, most lodging is now equipped with kitchens so you can cut back on the restaurant bill and cook a few meals a day. Breakfast and dinner are usually ideal meals to prepare at home. Most families can budget around $100 to $200 a week for groceries.

Price of food including groceries and eating out once a day: $400 to $500 for a family of four for five days

The most essential spending you’ll do on your ski trip is your ski-related costs. These include rentals, lift tickets, and ski lessons . Most resorts offer these as package deals which leave you with a bit of a discount. Because you might only need one or two of these things and not the entire package, we will list their prices separately.

1. Ski Rentals

If you decide to avoid all the extra luggage fees and rent ski gear at the resort, you can expect to pay $30 to $60 a day for a ski package that includes skis, boots, and poles. If you pack your boots and only need skis and poles, you will save about $10 a day.

Besides your ski package, you might want to rent other gear such as a helmet. Depending on the resort, that will cost $13 to $15 a day.

Rental cost: $30 to $75 per day per person.

2. Lift Tickets

Without lift tickets, there is no skiing trip. Buying tickets to ski the slopes is by far the most important purchase you will make on your ski trip. How much can you expect to spend?

Most ski resorts will cost a little more than local mom and pop ski hill. But, you get what you pay for with an endless supply of trails, multiple lifts, restaurants, and countless events and activities for the whole family.

The price of most lift tickets is determined by the location of the ski resort and its popularity . For example, resorts in the Lake Tahoe Nevada/California area cost around $135 a day for one lift ticket. On the other hand, lesser-known resorts that are a little smaller may cost only $50 to $70 a day.

Many ski resorts offer lower ticket prices for children, teens, and seniors. If anyone in your family falls into those age groups, your total price will be a little less. Some resorts even allow children under 7 to ski for free.

Ticket cost: $50 to $135 per day per person.

The total cost of a ski trop can range from $125 to $300 per person per day. That estimate includes tickets, rentals, and lodging but does not include airfare. Airfare could range anywhere from $30 per person to $2000 per person, depending on how far you plan on traveling.

Tips to Save Money On Your Ski Trip

After thinking about all the expenses that go into a ski vacation, you might be a little hesitant about whether or not your family can afford such a trip. Don’t let the cost discourage you from planning a ski vacation this year. There are some convenient ways to save money while still making memories that will last a lifetime.

1. Ski Closer to Home

If the ski resort is within driving distance, you can cut airfare out of your budget altogether. Not flying will also eliminate luggage fees and ground transportation costs. True, you will have to pay for gas, but if you break it down to how much it costs per person, it comes out to only a few dollars each way. Plus, you’ll have more freedom to leave the resort and explore the area further in your car.

2. If You Must Fly, Fly Cheap

Airline prices are constantly fluctuating. They are especially high during the holiday season. So if you’re thinking of taking ski vacation over Christmas break, you should reconsider if you want to fly. Some flights can cost nearly double in December than in other months because of the high demand for tickets.

Use this piece of knowledge to your advantage and plan your ski trip for February. Everyone else has already taken their winter trips, so prices drop in airfare to encourage purchases.

When you’re choosing your dates, be flexible, if at all possible. Some days of the week are cheaper to fly than others and compare the prices of smaller, nearby airports.

Also, if you plan on flying, make sure you understand the distance between the airport and the ski resort. The further you have to travel between the airport and the ski hill, the more it will cost. You can even check with your lodging accommodations to find out if they offer a shuttle service to and from the airport. That will save you considerable time and money as well as relieve the stress of driving in a new city or country.

3. Take Advantage of Ski Packages

There is a wide variety of ski package options from “all-inclusive” deals that give you a flat rate for lodging, lift tickets, lessons, and even airfare. Just make sure that before you pay for the convenience of a “deal” like this, you fully understand what you get out of it. Does it include food? Can you save money by booking these things separately?

The other kind of ski package is much more budget-friendly. For example, some lessons give you a discount on ski rental and lift tickets. Others give you a discount for paying upfront for multiple days of tickets. Take full advantage of these packages as they will save you money and time before getting on the lift in the morning.

Using booking sites such as Liftopia can save you 10% or more when you purchase your tickets ahead of time. Some ski resorts allow you to reload your ticket online at a lower price. So you can skip the lines and save a few bucks for hot cocoa later.

4. Plan Your Ski Trip Plenty of Time in Advance

Look out for early-bird packages as early as September through October. They could save you as much as 50% at some ski resorts.

You can also keep an eye out for special deals by signing up for email alerts from the ski resorts that are on the top of your list.

Price Factors

As you can see, there is quite a big gap between the lowest price and the highest price you can expect to pay for your ski trip. Everything from the time of year you plan your trip to the distance to the resort to the age of your children can have a bearing on the final cost of your ski trip. The best thing you can do is research your trip thoroughly with your family in mind. That way, you can make the most accurate estimate and plan accordingly.

Hello, I'm Simon & I love skiing. I started skiing in 2007 and I founded this website to help new skiers learn everything there is to know about skiing. NewToSki.com has grown to be a trusted resource for over a million skiers to plan their ski trips each year and learn more about every aspect of skiing. Be sure to join my email list for the best tips and handpicked deals each week.

About The Founder

Hello, I'm Simon & I love skiing. I started skiing in 2007 and I founded this website to help new skiers learn everything there is to know about skiing.

NewToSki.com has grown to be a trusted resource for over a million skiers to plan their ski trips each year and learn more about every aspect of skiing.

Be sure to join thousands of clever skiers who read my emails for the best tips and handpicked deals each week.

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How Much Does It Cost To Go Skiing In 2024?

Skiing is one of the most fun ways to spend a day outside during the winter, but unfortunately, the price of skiing has exploded in recent years. Prices for one-day lift tickets have jumped by nearly 300% at major resorts compared to 40 years ago even after adjusting for inflation.

That’s left many beginner skiers and families wondering: how much does it cost to go skiing in 2024, and is there a way to make it more affordable?

In this guide, I’ll take a look at how much skiing costs this winter and break down prices from the least to the most expensive options. I’ll also offer tips for how you can reduce the price of lift tickets, equipment, lessons, and lodging to make a ski vacation as affordable as possible.

How Much Does Skiing Cost?

There’s a ton of variation when it comes to ski expenses depending on where you go, whether you’re skiing on a holiday, and whether you need to rent equipment or take a lesson. Still, I can offer a quick estimate of costs for a single day on the slopes for skiers and riders in a hurry.

• Lift ticket at a small, local ski hill: $60-$90
• Lift ticket at a major ski resort: $150-$250
• Ski equipment rental: $25-$50
• Group ski lesson: $125-$200
• Lunch at the lodge: $10-$20

As you can see, skiing will cost anywhere from $60-$250 per day if you bring all your own equipment and already know how to ski. If you’re a beginner who needs a lift ticket, ski rentals, and a group lesson, you’re looking at spending upwards of $400 for a day at the mountain.

Of course, if you’re planning to travel to a ski resort or want to spend multiple days skiing and riding, you can expect to spend a lot more.

With these estimates in mind, let’s take a closer look at the costs for different types of ski trips.

The Cheapest Option: A Day At The Local Slopes

If you live in an area with a local ski hill, you might be able to go skiing on a budget. Many locally-owned ski resorts offer lift passes starting at just $60 per day on weekdays or around $75 per day on weekends and holidays.

That’s not nothing, but it’s a fraction of the price of lift tickets at major resorts.

Local ski hills also tend to have cheaper equipment rentals and lessons. You can expect to pay around $30 per day for a full ski or snowboard setup if you rent from the resort, or potentially a little less if you rent from a ski shop in town.

A full-day group lesson will set you back around $125-$150. This can be really worthwhile, especially if you’re a beginner who’s just learning to ski different types of snow. Many local resorts require you to simply show up the morning you want to ski and book a lesson on the spot. You don’t necessarily need to reserve a spot ahead of time.

All in, including a lift ticket, rentals, and a lesson, you can expect to spend around $200-$250 for a day at a local ski hill.

The Middle Ground: A Weekend At An Average Resort

A slightly spendier option than going to your local ski hill is to visit a mid-tier ski resort with more terrain. These aren’t the big, well-known resorts that everyone knows the name of (like Vail or Aspen), but they’re still sizable enough to keep you exploring new runs throughout the day.

For most people, these resorts are at least a few hours away. It often makes sense to stay the night and ski both days of a weekend. So, I’ll cover the cost of a whole weekend including lodging.

First, you have to buy lift tickets. Many larger resorts offer the best prices if you buy passes online ahead of time. Two-day tickets are slightly discounted compared to two one-day tickets, but you’ll still pay around $250-$300 for lift access.

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If you need to rent equipment, add around $50-$75. Some shops offer much better weekend rental deals than others, so it helps to do your research ahead of time.

Plan on a one-day group lesson, since you can practice what you learned on your own on the second day. A full-day lesson will cost around $150. Make sure to reserve your lesson ahead of time since bigger resorts don’t always have walk-up availability.

Lodging costs can be extremely variable depending on how big the town around the resort is, the dates you’re staying, and what level of accommodations you prefer. At the low end, expect to spend around $60 per night. On the upper end, a ski-in ski-out townhouse can cost $500 per night or more.

All in all, the total cost for your weekend of skiing comes to around $500-$750.

The Expensive Option: 3 Days At A Well-Known Resort

Let’s say you want to take a three-day trip to a major resort like Vail, Park City, Breckenridge, Aspen, Jackson Hole, or Heavenly. This is your big ski vacation for the winter.

I’ll cover the minimum reasonable price you could expect to pay for a three-day ski trip like this. But for those who are looking to splurge, there’s virtually no upper limit to how much you can spend. These major resorts offer everything from one-on-one ski lessons to apres ski experiences to fine dining on the mountain. They’re also home to five-star hotels where you can spend your long weekend.

To start, you should expect to pay upwards of $200 per day for a lift ticket at these resorts. That could go up $250-$300 on a holiday weekend. So right off the bat, you’re paying $600-$750 for lift tickets.

Equipment rentals are more expensive, too. Even at shops in town, expect to pay around $40 per day for a basic rental package.

A full-day ski lesson will cost around $150-$200 per day.

If you book accommodations early and it’s not a holiday weekend, you might be able to find a hotel for around $100 per night. However, it’s better to budget for around $150-$200 per night even for a relatively affordable place to stay.

Keep in mind that if you’re spending three days at the resort, you’ll also need food. Major resorts often have outstanding on-mountain dining but expect to spend $20 per day for a filling lunch. Dinner in town can also be expensive since many ski towns have very high costs of living. I’d budget at least $25 per night.

The total bill for your three-day vacation? Around $1,200, and potentially much more if you opt for spendier accommodations or eat out. If you’re bringing the whole family or flying into a ski destination, expect this price tag to rise significantly.

4 Tips To Make Skiing More Affordable

I can’t promise that skiing will ever be cheap, but there are ways you can make it much more affordable. With a little planning and thriftiness, you can cut the total costs of skiing for the trips I listed above in half.

Here are my top four tips for how to make skiing more affordable.

1. Buy A Season Pass

The number one way to bring down the price of skiing is to reduce the cost of lift tickets. The best way to do that is to buy a season pass.

Ski resorts use a pricing model that rewards skiers who buy season passes before the season starts. A season pass to Breckenridge, for instance, costs $639. A one-day pass costs $186. You could buy a season pass and have it pay for itself in just four days of skiing.

Even better, there are now several season passes that give you access to networks of resorts. The Epic Pass—which is the season pass that includes Breckenridge—also gives you access to Vail, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, and more than 75 additional resorts. The Ikon Pass costs $919 for the 2022-23 season and offers access to more than 50 resorts.

If you do want to buy a season pass, keep in mind that you have to buy it before the season starts. That means you have until October or November each year to purchase one. In addition, some season passes have blackout dates. Keep this in mind if you’re planning a trip around a holiday. The OntheSnow ski app has all the information you need about season passes.

2. Buy Used Gear

If you’re going skiing more than a few times this winter or plan to go skiing at least once a year for the foreseeable future, it’s worth investing in your own ski gear. In the long run, this will save you a lot of money compared to renting.

Used ski gear can be surprisingly affordable and is often higher quality than the equipment you’d be able to rent. Look for deals at local ski swaps and on online marketplaces. You can also find used ski clothing and base layers at your local thrift store or outdoor gear exchange.

The one piece of gear I’d recommend buying new are ski boots. Having the best ski boots as a beginner will make your days on the slope a lot more comfortable.

Another option is to rent gear for an entire season rather than one day at a time. Many ski shops offer seasonal rentals for the price of two or three single-day rentals. Seasonal rentals can be an especially good option if you need gear for kids who are still growing and can’t use the same skis or boots from one season to the next.

3. Bring Your Own Lunch

This is a simple tip, but one that can save you a surprising amount of money. Instead of buying food from the ski resort, bring your own. You could easily save $20 per person per day.

If you do bring food, you don’t have to carry it around all day. The base lodges at most resorts have free cubbies or lockers that you can rent for around a dollar. When you’re ready to break for lunch, just head down to the lodge and retrieve your food.

4. Cut Lodging Costs

If you’re traveling to ski, overnight accommodations are likely your biggest cost. While there’s no (comfortable) way to eliminate this cost entirely, you can be thrifty in deciding where to stay.

The cheapest option in many ski towns is to stay at a hostel. They typically offer dorm rooms with beds from $25 per night, plus you can save money on food by cooking your own meals in the kitchen.

Another option is to stay further away from the mountain or in a different town altogether. If you don’t have a vehicle, you may be able to take advantage of ski buses or other forms of public transportation to get to the resort.

Skiing is an expensive sport. Even a day at your local ski hill will cost you around $200, and a long weekend at a major resort can run upwards of $1,200.

However, there are ways to bring down the cost of skiing. Buying a season pass before the season starts, buying your own gear, and spending less on lodging can save you a lot of money. Bringing your own lunch is another easy way to cut costs.

With these tips, the more times you go skiing, the cheaper each day becomes. Even if it’s still a bit pricey, that’s a good incentive to hit the slopes this winter.

I live in Bellingham, Washington, at the base of the wild North Cascades. Over the last ten years, I've explored much of the region's steep terrain and endless layers of ridges and peaks, both on foot and on skis, often linking far-flung ridges together to push deeper into the range.

*The information on this site is based on research and first-hand experience but should not be treated as medical advice. Before beginning any new activity, we recommend consulting with a physician, nutritionist or other relevant professional healthcare provider.

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6 Ways to Save on a Ski Trip

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Whether you live on sunny pastures or an area where it snows, a ski vacation makes for a fun winter getaway. But depending on where you travel, it can also get quite expensive. Here, we’ve gathered some tips to help you do it on the cheap. Read on for six tips you can use to take that ski vacation and still save cash.

Tips to save money on a ski trip

1. use points and miles.

Whether you’re heading to Vail or Tahoe, Taos or Big Sky, using points and miles can help you book a ski vacation for much less. For starters, having a transferable rewards currency like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or AmEx Membership Rewards can provide flexibility in the booking process.

With multiple airline partners, you can compare redemption rates and book the cheapest option based on your particular travel needs. When you’ve found a flight that meets your (points) budget and schedule, simply transfer the points to your frequent flyer account and book your ticket.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® are particularly useful since they have 1:1 transfer relationships with several hotel rewards programs: World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards Club and Marriott Bonvoy. Among these three hotel chains, there are plenty of opportunities to redeem points for a ski vacation. Below are some examples, ranging from budget to luxury resorts:

The Westin Snowmass Resort: 30,000-40,000 Marriott points.

St. Regis Aspen: 70,000-100,000 Marriott points.

Marriott’s Timber Lodge Lake Tahoe: 40,000-60,000 points.

The Lodge at Spruce Peak: 40,000 Hyatt points.

Holiday Inn Tahoe Ridge Resort: 35,000 IHG points.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek: 30,000 Hyatt points.

Stonebridge Inn: 20,000 Hyatt points.

You can save even more by opting to stay at a hotel rather than a resort situated on the slopes. It’s not as convenient, but if you’re willing to commute to the slopes, the savings could be worthwhile:

Residence Inn Salt Lake City Sandy: 10,000-15,000 Marriott points.

Element Basalt Aspen: 20,000-30,000 Marriott points.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salamanca: 20,000 IHG points.

Hyatt Place Keystone: 15,000 points.

» Learn more: How to book a ski adventure with points and miles

2. Ski where status takes you

If you have lots of points and are deciding between a few different hotel chains, be sure to factor in elite status. If your status level with, say, Hilton Honors gets you free breakfast or lounge access, that can help cut down the cost of your ski vacation. After all, when you’re done hitting the slopes, refueling can get expensive — especially at an isolated resort.

Be sure to factor in the savings your elite status affords you, in addition to point redemption requirements. You may have to use more points with one hotel rewards program, but if the value is less than the savings on things like breakfast, snacks and room upgrades, then it might be worth it.

» Learn more: How to get top-tier elite status through credit card spending

3. Travel off-peak and avoid weekends

Regardless of whether you’re paying for a ski vacation out of pocket or with points, traveling off-peak can work out much cheaper. That’s because during peak travel dates, saver award space may be unavailable. And now that Hyatt and Marriott have implemented peak/off-peak pricing, your hotel rate might fluctuate too.

» Learn more: The best days to book a flight and when to fly

4. Check Airbnb for condo deals

While hotel points are a great option for booking a ski vacation for less, Airbnb can also offer tremendous value. Some hotel chains have timeshare properties at popular ski resorts, which are listed on Airbnb at bargain prices. For example, the Marriott Streamside in Vail, Colorado, requires 50,000-70,000 points per night. Meanwhile, a studio at this property can be booked for as little as $59 per night through Airbnb.

If you have a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , you can book your ski accommodations on Airbnb, then use the miles for a statement credit against the charge. The miles from this card can also come in handy for flight bookings, baggage fees and other incidental expenses incurred during your trip.

Airbnb not your thing? Check out these Airbnb alternatives .

» Learn more: Capital One Venture review

5. Ski for free (or just less)

Alaska Airlines partners with resorts around the country to offer free lift tickets. All you have to do is present your Alaska Airlines boarding pass and ID to get free access to the slopes. Note that some resorts do impose blackout dates, and free lift tickets are usually restricted to the day you arrive in that particular city.

If you’re looking for discounted lift tickets, then check out Costco Travel, Groupon and Liftopia. All of these sites offer deals year-round, and you may be able to save quite a bit on a ski adventure. If you’re headed to Mammoth, for example, Costco is offering $70 off three 2-day lift ticket vouchers.

» Learn more: The beginner's guide to points and miles travel

6. Don't overlook Europe

The Sphinx Observatory is one of the highest observatories in the world. It's located at the Jungfrau railway station in Switzerland. (Photo by Getty Images)

Depending on how close you live to the mountains, it may actually be cheaper to ski in Europe , including flight costs, than to ski in the U.S. That's largely due to cheaper lift tickets.

The average daily U.S. ski lift ticket costs $198 this ski season, according to vacation rental booking site HomeToGo , which analyzed 48 major U.S. ski areas.

And that's just the average. It's not difficult to find resorts in the U.S. where a single lift ticket costs more than $300 per day. Meanwhile, they can easily cost less than $100 per day in Europe — a phenomenon most experts chalk up to competition given how many more ski resorts exist in Europe.

In fact, there are roughly 500 ski resorts in the U.S., according to ski data provider Skiresort Service International. Meanwhile, there are almost 4,000 in Europe, which is similar in land area.

If you want to save on a ski vacation

Taking a cheaper ski vacation is definitely possible. Points and miles can take a huge chunk of the cost out, but with dynamic pricing becoming more commonplace, it’s important to be flexible with your travel dates and make plans to minimize cost. With so many deal sites out there, it’s possible to save not only on lodging and transportation, but on activities as well.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

How to plan your ski trip with points and miles

A ski trip can easily cost between $200 and $500 per person per day when you include lift tickets, gear rental, meals, lodging and transportation.

While the actual all-in cost of a ski trip varies pretty dramatically based on when and where you ski, it can quickly become a rather expensive vacation. Tack on some private ski lessons or splurge on fancy lodging and that total can quickly multiply.

However, your next trip to the mountain doesn't have to drain thousands of dollars from your bank account. In fact, you can pay for much of your ski trip using points and miles. Here's how.

Lift tickets

Let's start with the trickiest thing to buy using points on a ski trip: lift tickets. Before we can get into how to use points, you need some basic ski lift ticket knowledge.

Many major ski areas — including Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen and Breckenridge — charge around $200 per day for single-day lift tickets, but there are numerous ways to reduce your cost using both deals and points.

One tip to save money (or points) and guarantee a day on the mountain is to purchase tickets before the season starts. You can do this through advance single-day ticket reservations or a larger package or pass.

Related: Best credit cards for buying ski tickets

There are four main ski pass programs across the country: Epic Pass, Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective and Indy Pass. Which of those ski passes is the best for you will depend on where you want to ski, when you want to ski and how many days you plan to spend on the mountain.

Related: Best annual ski pass: Battle between Epic, Ikon, Mountain Collective and Indy

A season pass makes sense if you plan to take more than one ski trip. It can even be worth the money for a single weeklong trip. Be aware that these prices often rise as ski season nears, and sales will end for all of these ski passes at some point in December or January.

As an example, one type of available pass is the Epic Pass . The pass offers everything from a $99 (for adults) or $50 (for kids) one-day pass to an $879 season-long pass (though the price on this will go up throughout the season). Even if you only plan to ski a day or two, locking the days in this way can cut the per-day ski rate in half, even at normally expensive resorts such as Vail, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek.

When it comes to using points for these passes, you have a few options.

Several of the big-name passes, such as the Epic Pass, are available for purchase through a site called Undercover Tourist . This matters because ski pass purchases often code on your credit card as entertainment or another category of spending other than travel. However, if you can make the purchase in a way that codes as travel (such as through Undercover Tourist), your point-redemption opportunities expand.

You can redeem miles from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card at 1 cent per mile against travel charges made on those cards. This means a $200 lift pass costs 20,000 miles.

So, if you've earned the 75,000-mile bonus from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening), and purchase the ski pass or lift ticket in a way that codes as travel, you can use the miles toward the ski passes charged to that card. ( Here are instructions on how to do that .)

Redeem points for ski gift cards

You can also use points to buy lift tickets by redeeming points for relevant gift cards. For example, you can redeem 28,600 American Express Membership Rewards points for a $200 Aspen Snowmass gift card — but we don't recommend it.

At less than a 1-cent-per-point redemption, this isn't a great option for travelers, especially when TPG values these points at 2 cents per point . In almost all cases, you're better off using your points for flights or accommodations.

Ski for free

In addition to using points, there are many ways for children and seniors to ski for free (or at a drastically-reduced price). Targeting programs or resorts where at least some of the family can ski for free reduces the need to use as many points for the other tickets and passes.

Related: Best credit cards to use on ski trips

If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points , you can use those points to rent ski gear in many locations.

In the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal , you can redeem points from the Chase Sapphire Reserve at a rate of 1.5 cents per point toward rented ski gear as it falls under the "Things to Do" section. Those with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card can redeem their points at a value of 1.25 cents each.

In this example, it will cost 3,056 Ultimate Rewards points per day for an adult ski gear rental package delivered to your hotel or home rental in Breckenridge. The cost for snowboard rental packages starts at 3,987 points per day.

Both packages include transportation from your accommodations to the rental center for fitting as well as transportation to the mountain or back to your lodging.

With ski gear and lift tickets out of the way, using your miles to fly to the ski resort is the next step in saving money on your trip.

Flights to mountain airports

There are two strategies for flying to or near the mountains. The first option is to fly into a small airport that's closest to the ski area you want to visit. In Colorado, this includes airports such as Aspen/Pitkin Airport (ASE), Vail's Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC), Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) and Telluride Regional Airport (TEX). The same applies to Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Wyoming.

This can be very convenient when it all works out well, but it actually has several disadvantages.

First, you're less likely to get a nonstop flight to these smaller airports unless you're fortunate enough to live in one of a handful of hub cities with nonstop service.

Next, the operation of your flights will be very dependent on unpredictable mountain weather. It's not uncommon for flights at these airports, especially true mountain hubs such as Aspen and Telluride, to have flights canceled for days at a time due to winter weather.

A couple of ski seasons ago, I tried to fly directly into Telluride with my family, but we found ourselves landing at Montrose and taking a bus into Telluride due to the weather. Another year, winter weather canceled our flights home out of Aspen and made it impossible to rebook new flights from that airport for days. (Thank goodness for the built-in Chase trip protection coverage , which picked up the massive, last-minute hotel bill when we got stuck in a ski town during peak season.)

Finally, award seats on these flights can be quite pricey. This is especially true on weekends or holidays during peak ski season.

How to book award flights to the mountains

When flying to smaller airports in Colorado, and many of the mountains out west, United Airlines and its regional partners often dominate service, with American Airlines coming in second place. JetBlue also has some seasonal routes to select mountain areas.

If you have a United MileagePlus credit card such as the United Explorer Card , make sure to log in to your MileagePlus account to see expanded Saver award availability .

Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card

As an added bonus, having an airline cobranded credit card will often help you get a free checked bag on that airline , which can be used for your ski and snow gear. Typically, two pairs of skis or a single snowboard and boots count as one checked bag, even if the boots are in a separate bag. Still, always double-check your airline's contract of carriage and current baggage policies to be sure.

Related: The ultimate guide to flying with sports equipment

Here's a sample of available routes to mountain airports (some service is seasonal and only offered on select days throughout the year):

Steamboat Springs area — Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) , Colorado:

• Alaska Airlines: San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
• American Airlines: Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
• Delta Air Lines: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).
• JetBlue: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
• Southwest Airlines: Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Denver International Airport (DEN) and Nashville International Airport (BNA).
• United Airlines: Chicago-O'Hare International Airport (ORD), DEN, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Dulles International Airport (IAD).

If you live in the Northeast, for example, you can fly from Boston to Steamboat Springs on JetBlue using your JetBlue TrueBlue points. Use the JetBlue Fare Finder to find the most economical award prices that work with your dates. You'll also get 10% of your points back if you have the JetBlue Plus Credit Card .

Southwest Airlines also flies to Steamboat Springs , and using a Southwest Companion Pass could be an excellent way to stretch your Rapid Rewards points this ski season. As fares to these smaller airports tend to be expensive during peak season, this can also be a great time to use a companion ticket if you have one.

Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado:

• American Airlines: DFW.
• United Airlines: DEN and IAH.

Aspen, Colorado:

• American Airlines: Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) ORD, DFW and LAX.
• Delta Air Lines: ATL and LAX.
• United Airlines: ORD, DEN, IAH, LAX and SFO.

If you can find dates with a direct flight, you could pay as little as 8,500 AAdvantage miles per person each way.

Related: Best ways to earn American Airlines miles

Vail's Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), Colorado:

• American Airlines: AUS, ORD, DFW, LAX, PHX, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
• Delta Air Lines: ATL.
• United Airlines: ORD, DEN, IAH, LAX, EWR and SFO.

Since United flies from many locations to Vail, using Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles or Avianca LifeMiles is a great alternative to fly for fewer miles .

Using these partners, you can sometimes redeem just 7,500 LifeMiles one-way to fly on the same United flights for which United may want 12,500 or more miles for each way. Earning LifeMiles is also quite easy, as it's a transfer partner with Amex Membership Rewards , Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards . Quite often, you can find a hefty promotion on purchasing LifeMiles , which can save you money over paying cash prices. You may also find a promotion to transfer your points with a bonus , multiplying them in the process of making a redemption. For a nonstop flight from Houston to Vail, you could pay just 10,000 LifeMiles plus $5.60 in taxes per person each way.

Another way to get to the mountains is with your British Airways Avios points. Although it's an international carrier, British Airways is a partner with Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, and British Airways' Executive Club program has a favorable distance-based award chart for nonstop flights.

Flying from Dallas to Vail on American Airlines will cost just 9,000 Avios plus $5.60 in taxes when seats are available. British Airways is also a transfer partner with both American Express Membership Rewards , Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards , so earning miles in the program is quite easy. There are even sometimes transfer bonus offers .

Montrose/Telluride, Colorado:

• American Airlines: DFW, LGA and PHX.
• Southwest Airlines: AUS, DAL and DEN.

Denver Air Connection also flies directly into Telluride from Denver and Phoenix, but you cannot currently redeem airline miles for the flights. You would need to pay and then use a "purchase eraser" type of credit card to offset the charge with your points.

Related: Guide to a perfect ski day in Telluride

Jackson Hole, Wyoming:

• Alaska Airlines: SAN, SFO and SEA.
• American Airlines: ORD, DFW, LAX, MIA, LGA and PHX.
• Delta Air Lines: ATL, LAX, MSP and SLC.

You may also choose to fly into a larger airport, even if it's sometimes a little farther away from the ski areas. These larger airports include Denver , Salt Lake City , Reno-Tahoe and even Albuquerque or Boise, depending on where you're planning to ski.

The advantages of this strategy are being slightly more removed from mountain weather, flying on far more reliable mainline service and having many more nonstop routes from around the country with sometimes better award pricing.

Related: Guide to the Denver airport

Another advantage is that you can fly Southwest Airlines, which offers everyone two free checked bags and makes all its flights available as awards. If you have the Southwest Companion Pass , it can reduce your overall ski vacation cost immensely, as someone in your family will be able to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees).

In addition to the recent expansion of service into some additional Colorado ski towns, Denver is also one of Southwest's biggest focus cities, with nonstop flights from the vast majority of the cities it serves.

Related: 6 award chart 'sweet spots' that will save you money on domestic flights

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that United Airlines has a bus service between Denver's airport and both Breckenridge and Fort Collins , which you can book as part of your airline ticket.

On-mountain lodging during ski season can be very expensive.

This makes on- or near-mountain lodging a great use of points when you can find award availability. Here are some of our favorite hotels near ski areas that can be booked with points:

Hilton Honors

Although Hilton doesn't have a large presence in the ski resort mountains, there are a few properties near some of the more popular resorts in Colorado and Utah.

With the Hilton Honors program, there's no set award chart; instead, each hotel has a range for the number of points it charges. You can research the range of points needed by using Hilton's Points Explorer tool . Peak dates will require more points, and you won't know how many will be required for an award night until you search (though standard rooms do still follow a maximum rate on an unpublished award chart). Expect these ski accommodations to require the highest number of points during the ski season, especially on weekends and holidays.

With resort fees on the rise, one big advantage of using your points is that you may not be charged those fees. For example, the $40-per-night fee the Highline Vail charges won't hit your bill when you book your stay with points — something to factor in when determining if you should pay for the room versus using your points.

In California:

• Hampton Inn and Suites South Lake Tahoe: 47,000 to 70,000 points per night.
• Hilton Vacation Club Lake Tahoe Resort: Only premium rooms, which range from 48,000 to over 200,000 points per night.

In Colorado:

• Highline Vail DoubleTree by Hilton : 43,000 to 80,000 points per night.
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Steamboat Springs: 34,000 to 60,000 points per night.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge: 38,000 to 70,000 points per night.
• Valdoro Mountain Lodge, Breckenridge: This is a Hilton Grand Vacations property, and points availability is extremely limited.
• Waldorf Astoria Park City: 77,000 to 90,000 points per night (but with limited standard award availability, you may be looking at booking a premium room, which is over 300,000 points).
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Park City – The Yarrow: 42,000 to 65,000 points per night.
• Sunrise Lodge by Hilton Grand Vacations: Only premium rooms, which are 63,000 to over 400,000 points per night.

In Wyoming:

• Hampton Inn Jackson Hole: 55,000 to 80,000 points per night.
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Jackson: 80,000 points per night.

You can earn Hilton Honors points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card , Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card , Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card . The Hilton Honors program is also an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner at a ratio of 1 Membership Rewards point to 2 Hilton Honors points.

When using your Hilton Honors points, you'll also receive your fifth night free if you have status . Fortunately, all of the credit cards above come with some sort of elite status, so earning status in the program can be quite easy.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Choosing the best Hilton credit card for you

World of Hyatt

Hyatt offers a handful of ski-in and ski-out properties where you can use your points.

One of the major benefits of using your points at these properties is that resort fees will be waived. Parking fees are also waived for Globalist members — even on paid reservations.

While some of the top-notch resorts will require between 25,000 and 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night, there are a few hidden gems in the program. For example, the Hyatt Place Keystone and the Hyatt Place Park City are both only 15,000 points per night. This is a great opportunity to use your annual Hyatt Category 1-4 award certificate , which comes upon account renewal with the World of Hyatt Credit Card .

A stay at the Hyatt Place Keystone even comes with some freebies, such as free night skiing, and kids can ski free at Keystone.

• Hyatt Place Keystone: Category 4 from 15,000 points per night.
• Park Hyatt Beaver Creek : Category 7 from 30,000 points per night.
• Grand Hyatt Vail : Category 6 from 25,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Residence Club Beaver Creek, Mountain Lodge: Category 6 from 25,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Residence Club Breckenridge, Main Street Station: Category 6 from 25,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Residence Club at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek: Category 7 from 30,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Residence Club Grand Aspen: Category 7 from 30,000 points per night.

Hyatt has many additional Destination Hotels in and around Colorado ski areas, but in-season award availability is extremely limited. Also note that Residence Club properties have very limited award availability, especially during peak season.

• Hyatt Centric Park City : Category 7 from 30,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Place Park City: Category 4 from 15,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Place Salt Lake City — Cottonwood: Category 2 from 8,000 points per night.
• Stein Eriksen Residences: Category 8 from 40,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino: Category 6 from 25,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Residence Club Lake Tahoe, High Sierra Lodge: Category 7 from 30,000 points per night.
• Hyatt Residence Club Lake Tahoe, Northstar Lodge: Category 6 from 25,000 points per night.
• Resort at Squaw Creek: Category 6 from 25,000 points per night.

You can earn World of Hyatt points with the World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card .

The World of Hyatt program is also a transfer partner of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program (1:1 ratio) and proves to be a great redemption value for those with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , Chase Sapphire Reserve , Ink Business Preferred Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card .

IHG Rewards Club

Despite having such a large presence across the U.S., IHG offers less than a handful of properties conveniently located to the mountains. Fortunately, many of them cost 40,000 IHG Rewards points per night or less, which means you can use your annual reward night certificate that comes with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card .

Just by being a cardmember, you'll also get your fourth night at no additional charge on award stays, which means your overall vacation cost can be quite low. And if you're ever short on points, there are many times during the year when you can buy IHG points for half a cent per point.

• Holiday Inn Steamboat Springs: Prices vary, but currently around 25,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Holiday Inn Express and Suites Fraser — Winter Park Area: Prices vary, but currently between 23,000 and 50,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Holiday Inn Express Glenwood Springs — Aspen Area: Prices vary, but currently between 21,000 and 25,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Hotel Indigo Silverthorne: Prices vary, but currently between 27,500 and 42,000 points per night for much of the winter, excluding holiday periods.
• Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Park City: Prices vary, but currently between 16,0000 and 30,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Holiday Inn Express South Lake Tahoe: Prices vary, but currently between 25,000 and 40,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Holiday Inn Club Vacations Tahoe Ridge Resort: 35,000 points per night nearly every night this winter.

Marriott Bonvoy

If an annual ski vacation is in your future, you'll probably want to start earning points within the Marriott Bonvoy program ASAP.

You'll see from the list below that it offers the greatest number of ski-friendly properties across the West and beyond. There's everything from your high-end ski-in and ski-out resorts to more budget-focused properties not too far from the main ski villages. Unfortunately, unlike Hilton and Hyatt, you'll still be charged the hotel's nightly resort fees with Marriott , even when booking with points or holding elite status with Marriott Bonvoy .

For example, the W Aspen charges a whopping $50 per night in resort fees, even if you're staying on points. When looking at Marriott properties, you might want to pick a hotel that doesn't charge a fee, such as the Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas (although that property does charge a parking fee).

Marriott has introduced peak and off-peak pricing and, for the most part, ski season will translate to standard or peak pricing. You'll also receive your fifth night free when using points , but it'll take off your least-expensive night, not necessarily the cost of the actual fifth night.

The number of points listed below for a free night indicates standard award nights.

• Beaver Creek Lodge, Autograph Collection: Prices vary, but currently between 70,0000 and 100,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Element Basalt — Aspen: Prices vary, but currently between 35,0000 and 41,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail: Prices vary, but currently between 70,0000 and 95,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge at Breckenridge: Limited points availability, but currently between 45,0000 and 60,000 points per night on available dates.
• Marriott's StreamSide Birch at Vail: Very limited points availability, but expect prices of 55,000 to 70,000 points per night if you can find it.
• Marriott's StreamSide Douglas at Vail: Limited points availability, but currently between 53,0000 and 56,000 points per night on available dates.
• Marriott's StreamSide Evergreen at Vail: Limited points availability, but currently between 53,0000 and 60,000 points per night on available dates.
• Residence Inn Breckenridge: Prices vary, but currently between 40,0000 and 60,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Residence Inn Steamboat Springs: Prices vary, but currently between 30,0000 and 40,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Residence Inn Vail: Opening in February 2023; points pricing is not available yet.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch : Prices vary, but currently between 85,0000 and 110,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• The Ritz-Carlton Club Vail: Very limited points availability, but expect prices of 120,000 to 150,000 points per night if you can find it.
• St. Regis Residence Club, Aspen: Very limited points availability, but expect prices of 120,000 to 150,000 points per night if you can find it.
• The St. Regis Aspen Resort: Limited points availability, but currently between 103,0000 and 120,000 points per night on available dates.
• Sheraton Mountain Vista Villas, Avon / Vail Valley: Prices vary, but currently between 43,0000 and 55,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Sheraton Lakeside Terrace Villas at Mountain Vista, Avon, Vail Valley: Limited points availability, but currently between 53,0000 and 60,000 points per night on available dates.
• Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas: Limited points availability, but currently between 33,0000 and 60,000 points per night on available dates.
• The Sky Residences at W Aspen: Very limited points availability, but expect prices of 90,000 to 120,000 points per night if you can find it.
• Viewline Resort Snowmass: Prices vary, but currently between 49,0000 and 60,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• W Aspen: Prices vary, but currently between 70,0000 and 95,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas, Beaver Creek Mountain: Limited points availability, but currently between 55,0000 and 70,000 points per night on available dates.
• The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley : Prices vary, but currently between 72,0000 and 85,000 points per night for much of the winter.

• AC Hotel Park City: Prices vary, but currently between 34,0000 and 40,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Courtyard Salt Lake City Cottonwood: Prices vary, but currently between 20,0000 and 30,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Hotel Park City, Autograph Collection: Prices vary, but currently between 72,0000 and 100,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Marriott's MountainSide: Very limited points availability, but expect prices of 55,000 to 60,000 points per night if you can find it.
• Marriott's Summit Watch: Very limited points availability, but expect prices of 43,000 to 52,000 points per night if you can find it.
• The Residences at The St. Regis Deer Valley: Very limited points availability, but expect prices of 100,000 to 130,000 points per night if you can find it.
• St. Regis Deer Valley : Prices vary, but currently between 95,0000 and 115,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Sheraton Park City: Prices vary, but currently between 30,0000 and 40,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• The Coudveil, Autograph Collection: Prices vary, but currently between 83,0000 and 100,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• SpringHill Suites Jackson Hole: Prices vary, but currently between 53,0000 and 70,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Marriott Grand Residence Club, Lake Tahoe: Very limited points availability, but currently between 70,0000 and 100,000 points per night if you can find it.
• Marriott's Timber Lodge: Very limited points availability, but currently between 50,0000 and 60,000 points per night if you can find it.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe: Prices vary, but currently between 88,0000 and 115,000 points per night for much of the winter.
• Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth : Limited points availability, but currently between 50,0000 and 70,000 points per night on available dates.

Remember, you can receive a Marriott free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points annually with the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card . With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card , you'll receive an annual free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points. You also can add up to 15,000 points on top of these awards . Expensive ski resort properties are the perfect opportunity to redeem these certificates, though you'll need some date flexibility, since peak ski weekends are likely to price at higher award rates.

Here are some other ideas for redeeming the 35,000-point certificates and the 50,000-point certificates .

Wyndham Rewards

In early 2019, Wyndham revamped its award chart and introduced a chart where all properties fall into one of three categories:

• 7,500 points (or 1,500 points plus cash) per night.
• 15,000 points (or 3,000 points plus cash) per night.
• 30,000 points (or 6,000 points plus cash) per night.

Although most of the Wyndham hotels are more budget-focused properties, there are a few in the program that stand out for travelers planning a ski vacation. The timeshare properties that remain at 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night per bedroom may be a smart choice (although many dates are blackout days during peak ski season).

Many Wyndham Resorts require a two- or three-night minimum stay, so it can help to check for availability on points for multiple nights.

• Club Wyndham Resort at Avon: 15,000 points per night.
• Club Wyndham Steamboat Springs: 15,000 points per night.
• Days Inn and Suites by Wyndham Gunnison: 15,000 points per night.
• Days Inn by Wyndham Silverthorne: 15,000 points per night.
• La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Silverthorne: 15,000 points per night.
• La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Steamboat Springs: 15,000 points per night.
• Ramada by Wyndham Frisco: 15,000 points per night.
• Super 8 by Wyndham Dillon/Breckenridge Area: 15,000 points per night.
• Club Wyndham Park City: 15,000 points per night.
• Park Plaza Resort Park City, a Ramada by Wyndham: 30,000 points per night.
• WorldMark Midway: 15,000 points per night.
• WorldMark Park City: 15,000 points per night.
• Zermatt Utah Resort & Spa: 15,000 points per night.
• Super 8 by Wyndham, Jackson Hole: 15,000 points per night.
• Days Inn by Wyndham South Lake Tahoe: 15,000 points per night.
• Hotel Becket Lake Tahoe, Trademark Collection by Wyndham: 15,000 points per night.
• Harveys Lake Tahoe: 15,000 points per night.
• WorldMark Lake Tahoe: 15,000 points per night.

If you're short on Wyndham Rewards points, you can increase your account balance with a Wyndham Rewards credit card , such as the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card or Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card . Both cards have a 10% points rebate for points redeemed on Go Free awards.

The information for the Wyndham Earner, and Wyndham Earner Plus has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming Wyndham Rewards

Choice Privileges

Although there aren't many Choice properties near the ski slopes, if you're able to find one, they provide some great benefits.

For starters, Choice does not charge more points for larger rooms. This is a great benefit if you're traveling with a family . The major downside, however, is that Choice does not allow you to redeem your Choice Privileges points for a free night stay until 100 days out. Award prices also can vary on different dates during periods of low or high demand. Example prices below are from a weekend stay in December.

• Comfort Inn Near Vail Beaver Creek: 30,000 points per night.
• Comfort Suites Summit County: 30,000 points per night.
• The Grand Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection: 30,000 points per night.
• Quality Inn and Suites Summit County: 30,000 points per night.
• Quality Inn and Suites Steamboat Springs: 30,000 points per night.
• Quality Inn and Suites Vail Valley: 30,000 points per night.
• Winter Park Mountain Lodge: 25,000 points per night.
• Econo Lodge Inn and Suites Heavenly Village Area: 20,000 points per night.
• Quality Inn near Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort: 30,000 points per night.
• Quality Inn South Lake Tahoe: 25,000 points per night.

You can earn points with the Choice Privileges Visa credit card or by buying points during a bonus promotion .

Rent a ski house

You might even find that renting a home can be a better deal, whether you are skiing with just your family or a larger group. Colorado and other similar ski areas are full of well-appointed home rentals on Airbnb , Vrbo and even the Marriott Homes & Villas program or Wyndham Vacasa Management program .

For example, Wyndham partners with Vacasa Rental Management Company, which has a slew of amazing properties on or near the ski slope where you'll pay just 15,000 points per night per bedroom. A slope-side one-bedroom condo will only cost you 15,000 points per night, which allows you to use fewer points and be more spread out than at many of their resorts. The downside, however, is that some properties have restricted dates when it comes to using your points.

If you are looking to book a ski house through the Marriott Homes & Villas program, you can actually use your Marriott points to book an entire house or condo. The rate of return for your points isn't always great (and the Wyndham program is significantly better), but it can certainly offset the overall cost of your ski vacation. Alternatively, you can earn Marriott points on the purchase if you decide to pay cash.

There are additional ways to use points for home rentals outside of the Marriott program, such as booking via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal or using credit card points to offset the travel charge. See more in our guide to using points to book a vacation home .

Related: How to book the perfect Airbnb

Ground transportation

Last, but not always least, is getting from the airport to the mountain (and back).

One option is to rent a car, which has several pros and cons. On the downside, there's the cost of the rental car and gas, and you may even face parking charges if you stay at a property that's very close to the mountain. You'll also have to deal with mountain driving conditions, including possible heavy traffic and winter weather — the latter of which visitors from warmer climates may not be comfortable with. Many popular destinations also have had major issues with a car rental shortage , so availability and pricing during peak periods can be problematic.

On the plus side, you can enjoy a leisurely trip to the slopes and stop at various cities and towns along the way. Having a car makes it easier to visit nearby attractions, plus local towns and restaurants in the evening. It's also very easy to use points to pay for your rental car booking either directly through a rental car program — if you're a frequent renter — or through a site like the Chase travel portal.

If you end up flying into Denver, you can be guaranteed an all-wheel-drive Audi when renting with Silvercar . Silvercar also offers additional discounts for Chase Sapphire Reserve and Visa Infinite cardholders, as well as free car seats and ski racks upon request (reserve those in advance).

Another ground transportation option is to utilize a shared or private shuttle service.

For example, Epic Mountain Express offers van service (with free Wi-Fi) from the Denver International Airport to many Colorado ski areas, such as Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Frisco and Beaver Creek. The advantage is that you leave the driving to someone else, and — in most mountain towns — you can use a free public shuttle service to get around once you arrive. Many hotels also offer shuttles into town. You may also come out slightly ahead on price if you stay for a week and weigh it against what you would have spent on gas and parking charges.

Just as with gear rentals, you can sometimes book these shuttles through the Chase travel portal. As mentioned above, there is also the ability to take United's bus service in partnership with Landline. You can book a flight to Breckenridge, for example, and you will connect to this bus after arriving at the airport in Denver.

Related: Ridin' solo, literally: A review of United's brand-new bus service between Denver and Breckenridge

Amtrak's Winter Park Express Ski Train also can be great if it aligns with your time and destination. Trains will depart on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, running from January to early April in 2023. The train departs from Denver's historic Union Station and takes you right to the base of the Winter Park ski area in two hours. (As an alternative, you can always take the Amtrak California Zephyr to Fraser.)

Tickets cost between $29 and $59 each way, with children ages 2 to 12 riding for half price. Tickets for the upcoming season should go on sale in November 2022. In fact, you can combine the ski train with Denver's RTD A Line commuter train service from Denver International Airport to downtown, giving you a seamless, car-free journey to the slopes. You could even include a night or two at one of the many hotels surrounding Union Station.

Related: The best credit cards to use for train travel

Bottom line

Though there's no question skiing can be an expensive hobby, it really doesn't have to drain your wallet. Whether you target savings by heading to smaller mountains or by leaning into your points and miles, there are ways to save big on your next ski trip. Skiing is also a great way to be outdoors and socially distanced for those who are still looking to avoid large crowds and indoor gatherings as they return to travel.

Planning a ski trip? Start with these stories:

• Vail Resorts raises prices for new Epic Passes but keeps them lower than pre-pandemic
• Unlimited skiing with the Ikon Pass
• Best ski resorts for families in North America
• Comparing Epic, Ikon, Mountain Collective and Indy Pass
• 4 tips for taking your first ski trip as an adult
• Everything you need to know about packing for a ski trip

Additional reporting by Jennifer Yellin, Jason Steele and Ryan Smith.

How much does a skiing holiday cost?

Ski holidays can be costly, but one thing is for sure - they are worth every cent! In this article we'll go through what costs you should consider and what the total cost actually is. We've also included some handy tips how to save money during your ski trip!

The question everyone asks before considering changing their life (for the better) by booking a skiing holiday, is how much do skiing holidays cost?

A skiing holiday will be more expensive than your beach break, as many additional costs are an essential part of the trip, which is more pricey than sitting on a beach with a towel for six days! Still, all these additional costs can become a minefield and difficult to budget if you're not expecting it. So we want to make this easy, lay it all out and get to the point, breaking it down by the essentials for any skiing holiday.

There are a few things we can be sure of in life, but one thing we can be certain of is that even if your skiing holiday is stretching the purse strings, you won’t regret it! 

Table of contents

Packing your ski gear.

When preparing for a ski holiday, it's crucial not to overlook packing certain essentials. Both men's ski bibs and women's ski trousers add significant value to your ski experience. While they may contribute to your luggage's bulk, their benefits on the slopes are worth every extra penny spent on luggage. Explore the latest collection by Ridestore to find trendy, durable, and functional gear that will elevate your skiing experience.

What costs should you consider?

Now, let’s dive into the actual costs. There are things you should consider booking beforehand and things like restaurants and food that you don’t necessarily need to plan or consider before hitting the resort. Also ski schools and lift passes can be organised and bought straight from the resort, but booking online in advance might save you a nice amount of euros. Same goes with your flights and transfers, we recommend booking well ahead in time to get the best deals! 

The flights themselves are not really the expensive part, as many of the European budget airlines have regular routes in the winter season that go to the main airports considered to be the gateways to the Alps (think Geneva, Milan, Innsbruck, Lyon, Turin to name a few). Flights to Geneva, Milan or Innsbruck can be around 100€ return if you book well enough in advance. However, you do have to account for the extra luggage you may take, as those woolly jumpers, helmets, ski pants and ski jackets, are not the most streamlined for packing. If you own the equipment, such as skis and boots, then you have to book an extra ski bag, which is on average 50€ each way. In this case, you may want to look at the more premium airlines such as SwissAir and BA which have ski carriage included in the fare and can sometimes work out similar fare as the budget. 

By landing in one of the major airports in Europe, you will find the transfer to some resorts to be less than an hour drive, such as Geneva to Morzine. Whilst others can be a hefty 3-4 hours. The easiest way to get from the airport to your resort and back is by booking a shuttle service, and there are lots of different companies that do this and they often take you door to door. This can often be an expensive option though, pricing at least 100€ per person. 

If you love the freedom and fancy the adventure of driving through the mountainous roads yourself then you can hire a car at the airport. For a 7 day hire, it starts at around 450€, increasing with the swankiness of the ride. But if there are more of you, then this works out as a fun and economical option, for example, if you fill a car it could be around 120€ per person return (inc. petrol).  

Another option, which tends to work out the cheapest, is getting public transport from the airport. Most airports have train stations and Europe has famously inexpensive fares. Many resorts also have train stations, such as St Anton in Austria, which has a direct line from Innsbruck to the resort, costing as little as 10 € each way. However, watch out for local taxi fares up the mountain, which could cost you 100 € one way. Do your research on transfers, as efficiency to get to the resort is key to getting on those skis quicker!

Accommodation

There are many different options for accommodation in ski resorts, it's difficult to decide, but the one thing that tends to remain the same is the closer to the slopes and the centre of town, the more expensive accommodation can be. The hotels tend to be well placed, but are most likely your more expensive option. However, because you are barely in the room, you may want to keep it simple and book a basic B&B for around 100-150€ a night. The fancy hotels will of course be more expensive, but you may get perks such as spa facilities or a free shuttle straight to the lifts. 

Catered chalets are a special experience and are popular in the French and Swiss resorts. You can get a luxury catered chalet with all meals, your own chalet hosts and a swimming pool starting at around 15 000€ a week (can go up to 100 000€+). But it can also work out being economical if there are lots of you, with some chalet companies charging only around 1500 € a week per person, saving you money on meals out and drinks (and yes that means all the wine you can drink!). 

Skiing doesn’t have to be about fancy hotels and fur coats, many are solely focused on the love of the sport, so luxury is not essential. Many of the bigger ski resorts have hostels and apartment rentals that could cost you less than 100€ a night.

If this is your first time hitting the slopes, we recommend you rent your ski equipment in the resort, before you invest in your own gear. There will be the option of beginner, intermediate, and advanced equipment depending on your experience level. The beginner will of course be the cheapest option but don't sell yourself short, get the right level for yourself. 

You will need to hire skis (and poles) or snowboard, ski or snowboard boots and a helmet. The average price for the whole package in Europe is between 100 to 200€ for 6 days of rental. You can also rent your ski jackets and pants, but of course, we recommend you buy your own, for comfort, quality, and style. Ski jackets and ski pants will always be an investment purchase that can carry you through the winter, no matter where you are.

A lift pass is like your key to the mountain and to inevitable good times, so, of course, it is an essential purchase. The beauty of the lift passes is that you will often be given many different options of passes at different prices, for example, half-day or Flexi-day options, area pass or a single resort pass.

Lift passes in Europe are often subject to how many kilometres of piste there are, for example, the likes of Val D’Isere/ Tignes in France there is 300km, whilst Pila in Italy, only has 70km. On average, 6 days of skiing can cost between 250 to 300€, whilst a day pass can be as little as 40€. It does work out better value for money, the more days you have the pass.

Ski lessons are always encouraged when you are starting out on your snowsports adventure, but it's also recommended to have the odd lesson even once you’re feeling smug on the slopes, to keep the skills fresh. 

If you are just starting out, you may want to go into group lessons or ski school (no one is too cool for ski school). You and a group at a similar level can book to do 2 to 3 hours (a half-day) for 6 days, costing from 200€, up to 350€ at peak season. Or you can get private lessons, one on one, or with your friends/family, which can cost anywhere between 50€ to 150€ an hour. 

Ski lessons also may vary in price depending on your skillset, for example, a beginner or child's lesson will be cheaper than an advanced off-piste lesson.

Food in ski resorts is not always the cheapest, but it's worth every penny. Think about fueling your body with the best cheese, bread, and meats to keep you fit and strong for the slopes. If you get breakfast at your accommodation, this is the best way to carb up in the morning which saves you from buying breakfast on the mountain. Although typically in Europe, a croissant and coffee won’t cost much more than 5€. 

At lunch, there tend to be many options on the mountain, which may not be the cheapest places in the resort, but are always the best spots for a rest and amazing views. To keep it simple, most mountain restaurants offer quick sandwiches and chips which cost on average 5 to 8€. Or you can unwind by a cosy fire in a log cabin and tuck into a more substantial meal. Big mountain lunches will cost anything from 10-15€ for a bowl of pasta or 25€+ for meat dishes. 

Most mountain towns offer relaxed options, such as pizzeria’s costing around 15€ a person. But there are a lot of local cuisines to try which are worth splashing out on. For example, in the Swiss and French Alps, you can get local cheese fondue costing 25€+ a person, with sides. In Italy you can find meat dishes from the local farms, costing on average 20€ for a main course.

Of course, there is also the beer to take into consideration, which can cost anything from 5€ for a large and up to 10€ depending on the establishment and the resort.

Average ski holiday price

To map this all out and help you visualise all the costs, we have put together a mock spending sheet. We have planned an epic 1 week, 6 days 7 nights mountain adventure, in Les Deux Alpes, France. We have based this on flights from London to Geneva in late January. The price is the average for 1 person who is not a beginner. 

From London Gatwick to Geneva, British Airway +, 23kg bag allowance, return.

Car hire for 2 people, VW Golf, plus €80 petrol for 7 days

7 nights, double room shared with 1 other, 2* hotel, 350 yards from ski lift, breakfast included.

Big Area 6 day ski pass

Blues ski pack inc. skis, poles, boots and helmet. 6 days

Average lunch €20 €, average dinner €40 x7

Average €10 each day on coffees, water, snacks, a couple of days apres ski drinks money, plus extra for 1x 1 hour private ski lesson at €70.

7 days travel insurance, including winter sports cover

The total estimated cost is ca. €2400.

Best tips on saving money during a ski trip

On top of planning, these extra tips and hacks can save you fair bit of money during your ski holiday.

• Book in low season, i.e most of the weeks that are not school holidays, Christmas and New Year. Those low season weeks are often much cheaper for accommodation, lift pass prices and flights.
• Book as far in advance as possible to get the best flight deals.
• Package holidays and catered chalets offer good deals and often include most meals (and alcoholic drinks).
• The more people you go with, the cheaper it is per person for self-catered accommodation, transfers and group private ski lessons.
• Eating on the mountain can be expensive, so save your money for big dinners. Go to the resort supermarkets and make your own pack lunches to eat on the mountain (plus you will save yourself the lunchtime rush in the restaurants).

Is it cheaper to rent ski equipment or to bring your own?

As a beginner, renting is often the more feasible option. As you ski more frequently, owning equipment can be more cost-effective in the long run. Don't forget to consider additional luggage costs for transporting your own equipment.

Is food and drink expensive at ski resorts?  

This can vary widely depending on the resort and the country. Some resorts have affordable dining options, but as a rule, expect to pay a premium for convenience. Self-catering can be a great way to reduce costs.

Wrapping up

So there you have it, we hope in a long-winded but informative manner, we have fully addressed the question of how much does a ski holiday cost. The key point here is that there are options of doing a skiing holiday on a budget, options for living it a little more freely and options to splurge. Skiing holidays and most resorts cater to all three types, so you can live your best life in the mountains, no matter the money in your pocket. Research and plan accordingly and we know it will be the best decision (and holiday) you will ever go on. 

Related Reading:

• The ultimate packing list for a ski holiday
• Men's ski coats / Ski jackets for women
• Ski resort etiquette
• Men's ski clothes  /  Women's ski wear
• Best ski season jobs – The ultimate guide

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The Ultimate Guide to the Cost of Skiing Holidays and Why They’ll Get Cheaper Over Time

You’ve probably done some existing research into the cost of skiing and at this stage have quite possibly been put off by those hair-raising initial costs. You might find yourself asking why is skiing SO expensive. Well, if it’s a first-time ski trip you are seriously considering, it probably won’t be the last and with time costs will reduce.

With an extensive list of equipment needed, ski lessons, ski clothing, safety gear, accommodation, travel, food, insurance, the list goes on it all starts to add up. However, starting with a means to go on will usually mean a reduction in costs as early as your second ski trip. Depending on how quickly you grasp whizzing down the slopes and if you’ve invested in your own ski equipment. And whether it’s your first time skiing or you’re an advanced skier there are plenty of ways to reduce costs with a few nifty tricks.

Your first time skiing and the initial cost of skiing

Think of your first-time skiing experience or snowboarding holiday as an investment, one that with time will reduce future ski holiday costs. Reinjecting some fun into the possibility of future trips without the wallet scare. Allowing you to actually enjoy your experience, rather than worrying about possibly having to remortgage your house or move out altogether.

How much does a skiing holiday cost?

For full transparency, there is a lot to consider when planning a ski trip. Depending on how long you’ll actually want to spend on the slopes you’ll need to consider the costs per person depending on your holiday length:

• Accommodation including the choice of ski apartments or self-catering apartments, hotels, chalets
• Transport including flights and transfers 
• Ski school and lessons for those early trips 
• Food and drink
• Equipment hire, safety equipment and clothing
• Skiing Insurance 
• Ski lift pass for lift travel up the mountain, lift passes range from a few hours to a complete season of lift and mountain access
• If you’re travelling by car, think about parking and car hire costs
• Activities and entertainment other than skiing like ice skating, spa days, mountaineering, etc

Your Skiing Investments

Ski lessons and school.

If it’s your first ski season, it’s unlikely you’ll slide on your skis for the very first time and hit the slopes. It’s essential to get some professional instruction at a ski school. It’s probably much cheaper to get a lesson or two than hurtle down a slope and end up in hospital abroad. But it’s great to point out here, that it’s most definitely an initial added cost, remember you won’t need lessons every time you book a ski trip.

It’s important to get some lessons under your belt and unfortunately, it’s going to cost you, but again it’s an initial investment. One that will be incredibly beneficial in those first few days and of course in years to come when you’re a pro!

To ensure a head start rather than jumping in we’d recommend watching some ski videos and tutorials for the basics as these will help move your initial ski lessons at a good pace. It’ll also prepare you for what to expect too. Another great way to get some practice is by visiting an indoor ski slope, some simulating real snow conditions for extra realism. There are plenty dotted around the UK including 1:1 and group lessons at a much cheaper price than an on-location lesson.

Buying vs renting your ski equipment

As a first-time skier, you need to consider whether you want to buy or rent your skiing equipment which will of course have a huge impact on future ski trips. Initially, a substantial cost of skiing equipment and ski clothes are vital and if you are planning on subsequent trips it absolutely worth investing in your own ski equipment. Of course, we’re not suggesting picking up the full monty on your first trip, there’s no need to cart around two-meter skis to the airport on your first go. However securing your helmet, boots and goggles pre-travel is a great start. Alpine Action offers discounted hire if you have your own boots and helmet so you’ll just cover the cost of your skis and poles or snowboard. Make sure to pick entry-level and beginner skis 

Of course, after your initial investment in your boots, helmet and goggles you’ll have them for life. The same goes for that initial cost spent on ski clothing. There’s a lot you’ll need to buy first time around, but you won’t need to do the same haul for your next trip.

Your skiing packing list

If you are wondering what to wear when skiing or what to buy it’s likely you’ll already have some of the essentials: 

• Neck warmer/buff
• Thermal tops & Leggings
• Waterproof ski jacket
• Waterproof ski trousers
• Waterproof gloves or mittens
• Thermal bottoms
• Ski/board socks 
• Suncream & Lip Balm

And then there are your own holiday essentials to include as well as things like a day pack and a water bottle etc. 

Invest in yourself with pre-ski ski exercises

It’s also essential to prepare your body for the extensive exercise you’ll be undertaking every day. You don’t want to spend half your holiday sat on the sidelines, aching all over. Squats, wall sits, lunges and planks are all great at-home ski exercises. Balance and coordination, as well as lateral movement, are all key and can be practised through ice skaters and lateral hops. General fitness and cardio are also essential, so running, cycling, or brisk walks should be practised at least two or three times a week. Remember to stretch before and after your time out in the snow to prevent injuries.

Tips for Skiing on a Budget

There’s quite a list to consider when planning, don’t be disheartened as it all seems to add up. Your ski resort may also offer beginner packages for the perfect holiday, including everything you’ll need as a first-time adult skier.

When is the best time to book a ski holiday

There are plenty of ways to cut back, like ensuring you don’t plan for a ski trip during the school holidays. It’s also worth seeing if the beginning of the season and end of the season are a little cheaper, too, as these weeks can be a little quieter. Choosing a self-catering apartment may be more expensive upfront, but you’ll end up saving during your stay down to some good old home cooking.

When is the best time to book a ski holiday?

There are plenty of ways to cut back like ensuring you don’t plan for a ski trip during the school holidays. It’s also worth seeing if the beginning of season and end of season are a little cheaper too as these weeks can be a little quieter. Choosing a self-catering apartment may seem like a cheaper option to start with but could end up being more expensive when having to shop or eat out in a resort, plus you will have to tidy up after yourself. Staying in a catered chalet is a by far the most cost-effective way to stay in a resort, breakfast, and afternoon tea every day, with a four-course evening meal and wine for 5 out of 7 nights, and all this prepared, cooked and served to you. Take the strain and cost out of your holiday. Alpine Action offer fully catered chalets in the centre of Meribel.

Ski equipment and clothing

If you’re choosing to purchase your equipment and clothing there’s no need to go for the flashy, fashion branding. Just ensure you’ve got good protection and proper equipment that’s durable so you can use it year in and year out. Alternatively, you can always check with family and friends if there’s anything you could potentially borrow. Or check second-hand marketplaces for pre-loved equipment, sports stores also heavily discount old stock and reduce prices for end-of-season sales, you can always do your shopping early to help spread the cost.

Pre-booking your equipment and ski hire before you jet off also offers discounts including further discounts if you have your own boots and helmet. After all, it’s unlikely your head or feet are going to grow an inch by next year.

If you are travelling on a family ski holiday a ski pass is usually discounted or free depending on the age of your child. And if you’re new to skiing choose a local lift pass as it’s unlikely you’ll be scooting around the entire mountain where lift pass prices will start to increase dramatically.

The best ski deals

And if you want to go that one step further for the cheapest price, it’s best to book a winter trip, roughly any time after the first week of January. It’s said this is when you’ll find the most affordable options. Lastly, it goes without saying, as with any holiday, if you book early you are most likely to get the best holiday deal. It also means you have the opportunity to spread your travel, equipment and resort costs too. 

Where to ski and snowboard

Of course, if you are looking to save money overall generally you’ll probably want to stay as local as possible given flight prices. European resorts are a great place to start there are so many to choose from across the extensive Alps mountain range including French resort Meribel, impressively part of the biggest ski area in the world. Alps skiing offers thousands of opportunities spanning from France to Austria with over 1000 European ski resorts. 

Book your Meribel skiing holiday with Alpine Action early for the best deals on ski chalets , France and equipment hire. Start your ski journey in Meribel, welcoming families, first time skiers and our returning advanced skiers. There is truly something for everyone. Enquire now to experience skiing on the world’s largest ski resort!

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How Much Is Skiing In Colorado? 19 Examples

It’s no secret that Colorado has some of the finest ski slopes in the world, but that quality can also come at a price! For my planners out there, you’ve probably found yourself wondering exactly how much it costs to go skiing in Colorado.

The average peak season ski lift ticket for a single day adult pass at a Colorado ski resort costs $143. Most ski resorts have slightly higher lift ticket prices on the weekends compared to weekdays, and will charge more if you wait until the day that you intend to ski to purchase a lift ticket.

While lift tickets alone certainly represent a hefty cost, that’s not the only thing that you’ll be breaking out your wallet for on a ski trip! Let’s take a look at some of the ways to save money on your lift ticket, as well as watch out for the unexpected ski trip costs.

Colorado Ski Cost

Many people start budgeting a ski trip by figuring out how much their lift tickets will cost, but that’s far from the only expense!

I’ll break down the expense categories that most people can expect to pay for during a ski trip, whether that be for a single or multi-day outing!

Expense #1 – Lift Tickets

Since I know this is what you all really want, let’s go ahead and cover lift ticket prices first!

I’ll focus on prices during the peak ski season (January – March) since this is when they will be the highest. Lift tickets are often cheaper in the early season, or at the very end when the resorts may not have as many runs open, and the demand is lower.

Using their online reservation systems to gather data, I took at look at the lift ticket prices for 19 popular ski resorts in Colorado. I chose a late week in February 2021 for my test timeframe, and proceeded to collect lift ticket prices as shown below!

All of the prices shown are for single day adult lift tickets.

Note: If you’re not sure where these resorts are located, make sure to take a look at the interactive map below!

While the full data is shown above, here are the key takeaways:

• Average lift ticket: $143
• Average weekday lift ticket: $139
• Average weekend lift ticket: $146

While not a huge difference, you can see both from the averaged numbers as well as just looking at the chart that many ski resorts have a slight premium for their weekend lift tickets.

This is a simple game of supply and demand, knowing that more people will be off work to hit the slopes for the weekend.

What’s not captured in this dataset is that some resorts offer discounts when purchasing a multi-day pass! Two, three, four, etc… day passes often provide some form of discount, although it typically wasn’t substantial.

Many resorts also provide a discount if you purchase your lift ticket in advance through their online booking system. Waiting until the day of, or trying to purchase a lift ticket in person, usually results in a slightly higher price.

Furthermore – you aren’t guaranteed a ticket, so you might as well reserve them in advance!

In addition to booking your lift tickets in advance, the best option available for saving yourself money with lift tickets comes in the form of season passes. If you plan on making a couple trips to a ski resort in a single season, they really are a no-brainer!

By a wide margin, the most popular season passes in Colorado are from Epic and Ikon .

Both offer options for access to wide variety of world-class ski resorts, so it really comes down to your matter of preference for which one you think may be a better fit for you.

Expense #2 – Transportation & Parking

While the cost of lift tickets can certainly add up, another area that is often overlooked is transportation and parking. Regardless of whether you live in Colorado or are flying in, you’re going to need a way to get to the ski resort!

Depending on where you’re coming from in Colorado and what resort that you’re going to, this could easily be a multi-hour journey.

The most common options for transportation include using:

• Ski shuttles ~$50 each way
• Rental cars ~$75 per day
• Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare ~!$125 each way
• Your own vehicle! gas cost

There are simply too many variables here to make a general recommendation, however, safety will be an important one to consider. Winter treks through Colorado often involve snowy and icy roads , so having a vehicle with 4-wheel or all-wheel drive is extremely helpful!

If you’re bringing your own ski or snowboard gear, make sure that any vehicle rentals also have room it as well.

If you’re not used to driving in these types of conditions or not comfortable with them, catching a ride on a ski shuttle may be a great option!

Note: To give you an idea of how far the drive is, here’s a quick map of all the Colorado ski resorts whose lift ticket prices were mentioned above.

In addition to getting to the ski resort, you’ll also want to account for parking. Depending on which resort that you’re at and how long that you will be there, the cost of parking can vary wildly.

Even parking for a single day usually runs around $40 for a covered garage, but nicer covered garages in towns like Vail can easily exceed $60 per day.

Expense #3 – Ski Gear

A trip to the ski resort is of no value if you don’t have gear to make it down the mountain!

Whether you’re into skiing or snowboarding, you’re going to need the respective gear to make your lift ticket worthwhile.

For those traveling in from out of town, know that Colorado airports are well accustomed to handling ski gear. While most airlines charge a fee for checking ski gear, this is usually less than the cost of rentals.

If you live in Colorado but still need to rent gear, my pro tip is to NOT rent your gear at the resort. Even out of the mountains, most small towns have local ski shops that will provide rental gear at a fraction of the cost of the resort.

My local ski shop rents out gear for $25 per day, which is around half of what you would pay at most resorts!

Better yet – you can usually pick up the gear the day before your ski trip kicks off. This means that you won’t have to spend any time waiting in lines the morning of to pick them up!

The one downside is that this does mean that you’ll have to deal with transporting the gear to and from the resort, but hey at least it’s a way to save a few bucks!

Expense #4 – Food & Beverage!

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or just looking to enjoy a week off at the slopes, you’re going to need food and drink to fuel the fun!

In keeping with the apres ski lifestyle, a ski trip isn’t just about the runs but your enjoyment and entertainment following a day’s skiing as well!

For those just doing a day trip to the resort, you can choose to be frugal and bring along some snacks and a water bottle. However, when the weather gets cold these tend to quickly freeze.

Although more expensive, a quick stop into a ski hut or resort cafe is a great alternative to grab some food. Just make sure to keep up with your (non-alcoholic) fluid intake to avoid dehydration and altitude sickness!

When the weather’s good, one of my favorite mountain activities is to enjoy a lunch and a cold one at a mountaintop hut or cafe. There’s just nothing quite like enjoying a good meal at 11,000+ feet in the mountains of Colorado.

How much you choose to spend in the food and beverage category is completely up to you, just make sure to keep it in mind when budgeting for your ski trip.

Expense #5 – Lodging

For multi-day ski trips, lodging will be your first or second largest expense. However, unlike lift tickets, you at least have some control over it!

While you’re likely not going to want to camp out in the winter, you’ll usually have the choice to pick between budget motels and high-end hotels in any ski town.

Similar to lift tickets, seasonality and availability also influence motel/hotel pricing. However, in many ski towns you’ll still find basic lodging around $200 per night.

Of course, if you want to go fancy – there are no shortage of options!

Beautiful multi-room suites can be had at the tune of several thousand per night. However, if this is in your budget, I’m going to guess that you’re probably not worried about reading this article!

Conclusion on Colorado Ski Trip Costs

For single-day ski trips, the major costs will include your lift ticket and transportation to and from the ski resort. Because the duration is so short, you’ll have more flexibility here with bringing your own food along, or getting cheap food somewhere off resort.

Multi-day ski trips include the added cost of lodging. Which in most cases rivals or exceeds the cost of your lift ticket!

Not only is skiing with friends more fun, but it’s a great way to lower these lodging costs by having buddies to split the lodging cost with.

If you’re lucky enough to have a friend who lives in or near the ski resort you could try crashing with them!

Regardless of your trip duration, there’s no debating the fact that skiing in Colorado can quickly become expensive!

Related Articles

If you found this article helpful, then make sure to take a look at some of my other related articles linked below!

• Are ski boots supposed to hurt?
• How long skis last

Hi, I'm Zach Reed and I'm a Colorado-based outdoor lover! For more information about me, take a look at my dedicated about me page .

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About Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Snowmass' 4 unique ski resorts, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass provide travelers with a world-class mountain destination that caters to all levels of skiers and riders. Guests to the Roaring Fork Valley can experience four mountains within minutes of one another, all from downtown Aspen, Colorado. The wonderfully Victorian throwback architecture in downtown Aspen offers a glimpse into the Elk Mountains' storied mining-boom era. Plus, there is a wide variety of resorts in Aspen, Colorado to choose from all dependent on your preferences for the trip.

Above town, Aspen Mountain (formerly known as Ajax) is the local's favorite. At Buttermilk, less-seasoned skiers and snowboarders are welcomed with gentle groomers well spaced glades. In Snowmass Village, ski-in ski-out lodging and slopeside attractions offer the classic base area feel whose convenience and proximity to the slopes can't be denied. Atop Aspen Highlands Bowl, alpine fantasies are realized within sight of the iconic, Maroon Bells whose top elevation is over 14,000 feet. It’s all here, it's all top-notch and it's all on just one lift ticket. The four resorts combined offer 5,517 total acres of terrain, eight parks and 336 trails served by 43 lifts.

…in resorts in Aspen, Colorado whether they're nestled in downtown Aspen or over at Snowmass Village . Both provide perfect basecamps for an unforgettable ski trip.

…by flying directly into the Aspen airport (ASE) for easy convenience. Or fly in and hop in a rental car or shuttle from Grand Junction airport, Eagle County airport or Denver International Airport.

…charming, historic downtown Aspen and the exhilarating nightlife.

…yourself to designer shopping and award-winning spas, many of which can be found in multiple resorts in Aspen, Colorado.

…at a top elevation of 12,509 feet on an annual average of 300 inches throughout 5,547 combined acres.

…breathtaking views of 14,000-plus-foot peaks: Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Bells.

…Aspen’s 100+ world-class restaurants.

…cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and ice skating – just a few examples of Aspen’s many winter activities.

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Beginner skiers will thrive at Buttermilk and Snowmass, both have beginner and kid-friendly facilities and designated “learn to ski” zones designed for adults and children. All-in-all Aspen Snowmass is an intermediate skier’s heaven, since the overwhelming majority of all four mountains, aka the “Power of Four” terrain is designated as intermediate terrain. Beginner skiers, especially first-timers, are discouraged from skiing at Aspen Mountain because there are no green trails.

On the flip side, expert skiing is what Aspen Mountain or "Ajax Mountain" and Aspen Highlands are known for. There’s no better place for top-to-bottom runs thanks to Ajax’s Silver Queen Gondola’s 3,267-foot vertical ascent. Aspen Mountain is famous for its long, steep mogul runs and challenging fall line. Those with a spirit of adventure can also get their kicks by hiking the 700 vertical feet to the top of the famed Aspen Highland Bowl. You’ll be rewarded at the Bowl’s summit with one of Aspen Snowmass’ best views and an unparalleled off-piste experience.

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• 5.0 Activities
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Summertime in Aspen Snowmass 4.5 Excellent 4.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 NR 5.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 NR 5.0 5.0 5.0 3.0 Over the past two weeks I had the pleasure of staying and playing in the Aspen Snowmass area. I cannot begin to explain the beauty that fills the valley this time of year.  The days were warm and the nights were cool, just the way I like it. The flowers and grass were blooming and truly made my experience that much better. I took advantage of biking on the Cozyline trail, which was so much fun I immediately wanted to ride it again. Great for intermediate riders. There was live music to be found, the restaurants all had their outdoor patios open, and the seasonal food, cocktails and beers were just awesome. I would highly recommend a summer vacation in the Aspen Snowmass area to someone looking for a town that is easy to navigate with stellar service no matter if its at your hotel or in a restaurant, and simply amazing access to nature!

Best Variety of Skiing 4.8 Excellent 5.0 5.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Between all Four Mountains in Aspen Snowmass, you are sure to find something for everyone!

Aspen, both a town and a ski resort! 4.1 Good 5.0 1.0 2.0 5.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 NR NR NR NR NR Aspen is graced with one of the finest ski Mountains around. Ajax, as the locals like to call Aspen Mountain, is not huge (673 acres) compared to the other 3 Aspen/Snowmass mountains operated in the Aspen area, but it is one of my favorites. There is no beginner terrain on the mountain; mostly it is intermediate, advanced and expert. I love its quirkiness; it has numerous homemade memorials and tributes that you can find hidden in the trees of the mountain created in honor of famous people such as John Denver and Elvis. The town of Aspen is right at the base of the mountain, and it is really special by any standard. There you will find incredible dining, unique and amazing shopping, and some of the finest lodging options anywhere. I find that the convenience of the free skier shuttles is tops. You can get to any of the 4 Aspen area ski mountains quickly and easily. There is always something great going on in the area, whether it is the X Games in late January, or the Aspen Music Festival and the Food and Wine Festival in the summer. Aspen truly has it all. Call me; I can help you put together a package customized for your needs and interests.

Great ski area with 4 mountains to choose to ski. Aspen is outstanding but on the expensive side. Grateful Deli has the best sandwiches.

Something for everyone Aspen/Snowmass has 4 great mountains. with different terrain to satisfy all skiers. Snowmass has great off the snow activities for younger kids, while Aspen satisfies the needs of teens and adults. The town has many options for non-skiers or injured skiers. There are fat biking and XC skiing trails. The free bus service makes car rental non-essential. The entire family loves Aspen/Snowmass.

Great Ski Town The skiing was tremendous. It snowed a foot or 2 while we were there. The lift lines were very manageable; particularly at Aspen Highlands.

Perfect spot for family stay Quiet, accessible and quick walking distance from downtown.

I have been skiing in Aspen since 1970 and have been there at least 35 times. We now come every year in the spring. This was another great trip. We normally ski on Ajax because we like groomed black runs.

Great trip and stay at Hotel Jerome Great customer service, very friendly atmosphere, all parts of Hotel Jerome were very nice and great location

Everything you could want in a ski vacation All aspects of our vacation were A-One. A little tough to get to compared to some other resorts but well worth it for us. $ mountains to choose from, free public transportation to all, so we didn't need a car. (Flew in to Aspen Airport, just a short ride from there to the Prospector.

Incredible in all aspects No complaints at all, everything was a 10. Great diversity in skiing, dining, shopping and sightseeing options. Don't be turned off by the Aspen "mystique", we find it very competitive price wise vis a vis places like Vail and Beaver Creek. and the people are very friendly and down to earth, can't do enough for you. Of course, you have the additional element of the "star watching'", e.g., how about Ringo Starr and Ralph Lauren and all the International ski racers in town/at the Limelight on this visit? Weather was great also. Once you go you'll have difficulty going somewhere else! At least we do, we've been going there for years.

Wonderful, magical town, with great mountains, hiking, and scenery. The variety and quality of the terrain and conditions is impressive -- although all of my non-Aspen experience has been in the Northeast :) The ski area staff, ski instructors, and shops are all so welcoming and friendly, which just contributes to the whole experience. This year I had all of my (non-on-slope) meals at the Little Nell because the food was so good and I saw no reason to leave the wonderfully relaxing environment, but I know from past experience that the food options are more than enough to keep one interested indefinitely.

Fun in the sun Skied at Aspen, Snowmass and Aspen Highlands. Snowmass is by far the biggest and for us, being from the east, we stuck to the wide groomers. Aspen and Aspen Highlands both had a smaller feel and the off piste skiing was easy to find and world class. If the snow is good, and you are an expert skier, the hike to the back bowl at Highlands is worth the effort.

12 best family ski resorts in the US

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Whether your child is a snowboarding teen used to shredding powder or a newbie headed to ski school for the very first time, many mountain resorts across the U.S. are perfect for a family ski trip .

Skiing can be a terrific family activity in winter , as the après-ski scene provides just as much fun as time spent on the slopes. Many resorts offer alternative snow-related activities — such as tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing and even sleigh rides — so the whole family can enjoy the mountain experience.

Recommended: The best travel credit cards

The best ski resorts for families are usually the ones that offer on- and near-mountain lodging, ski schools with a variety of programs, beginner- and intermediate-friendly terrain and some quality non-ski activities, too.

Keep in mind that ski and snowboard lessons can book up well in advance, so if ski school — or even on-mountain child care — is a must-have for your vacation, double-check the options to ensure they fit your ski vacation goals.

Once you decide on the best resort for your family, price out lift tickets and pass options ahead of time. You may be surprised at how much more affordable it is to buy ski passes in advance rather than purchase individual lift tickets — even if you are only skiing for a day or two.

Some mountains also offer kids-ski-free programs , which can help keep the trip cost down. Additionally, many ski resorts have capacity limits, so you’ll want to make sure you purchase your tickets prior to arriving (or make advance reservations at select mountains).

With all these nuances in mind, here are some of our favorite ski resorts for the whole family.

Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado

Why beaver creek is a good ski resort for families.

This may be surprising for those who are only familiar with the mountain’s luxury reputation, but Colorado’s Beaver Creek is perhaps one of the friendliest slopes for family ski trips. About a two-hour drive from Denver International Airport (DEN) or 30 minutes from Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), this resort is relatively easy to access, assuming you have good road conditions.

Beaver Creek has been upping its already solid family ski game even more lately thanks, in part, to the recent opening of a brand-new, 250-acre, lift-served expansion called McCoy Park. This offers even more terrain for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, and it elevates the mountain experience with 17 new groomable trails, plus two additional chairlifts.

Here, you’ll also find the Beaver Creek Candy Cabin , which is a great addition to the Ice Cream Parlour at the top of the Haymeadow Express Gondola. At the Red Buffalo Park’s Cookie Cabin and at the bottom of the Centennial Express and Haymeadow Lift, you’ll also be able to experience the mountain’s infamous 3 p.m. cookie time.

After a long day of skiing, you can enjoy ice skating in the village, and on Thursday nights, kids and adults who are at least level four skiers can participate in a glow stick ski. For a unique experience, take an open-air, snowcat-led sleigh ride to Allie’s Cabin , Zach’s Cabin or Beano’s Cabin — three different mountain-top dining options.

The mountain also ensures that teens are fully entertained. With the Hawk’s Nest Cabin debuting this year in Beaver Creek Village, teens can enjoy the coolest underage club, featuring craft nonalcoholic beverages, music, interactive technology, arcade and table games, a ski simulator, lounge spots and more.

Lift tickets for Beaver Creek don’t have to cost a ton if you plan in advance and lock in an Epic Pass of some sort.

Where to stay at Beaver Creek

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Winter rates start at $950 or 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

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Winter rates start at $840 or 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. 

TPG tip: You can add up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to certificates with fixed prices, meaning that many nights are within range of the 85,000-point certificate awarded annually by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card if you are willing to add some points.

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Winter rates start at $450 or 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Keystone Resort, Colorado

Why keystone is a good ski resort for families.

Out of all the great Colorado ski resorts (and there are plenty), Keystone is the hot spot for kids of all ages. There are the usual dog sledding, snow tubing, ice skating and sleigh ride activities, but the piece de resistance is the resort’s kids programs and accommodations.

There are plenty of fun on-mountain experiences, such as snowcat skiing and night skiing (on weekends and holidays). Tykes should also like the famous Snow Fort. In fact, this year, there are actually two snow forts to pick from: one up on Dercum Mountain and one in the Mountain House base area.

Additionally, the resort offers a ton of family conveniences, such as free preferred family parking for those with kids 12 and younger as well as red wagons to help tow skis, boards or even tired kiddos.

With a new lift and for the 2023-24 season, Keystone will add another 550 acres of diverse terrain among 16 new trails. Now, with more than 3,500 acres, your family can experience a wide range of terrain, including the 3.5-mile-long Schoolmarm — a timeless run for the family to work on turns.

Best of all, kids 12 and younger ski free when you stay at one of the resort’s properties for two or more nights (there are no blackout dates).

Where to stay at Keystone

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Winter rates start at $250 or 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night. This property is a great use of the Hyatt Category 1-4 certificate that’s available annually for those with the World of Hyatt Credit Card.

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Winter rates start at $900 per night for a three-bedroom accommodation, with 20% discounts available to those with an Epic Pass.

Snowmass, Colorado

Why snowmass is a good ski resort for families.

Snowmass is one of the mountains in Colorado’s swanky Aspen ski area, so you can check a high-end ski resort off your bucket list while entertaining the kids at the same time.

A bit less showy than its big sister Aspen, Snowmass notably includes the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, a licensed kids club for children between 8 weeks and 4 years old. Children at least 2.5 years old can also hit the slopes, as the mountain offers many ski school options.

On top of that, Snowmass allows kids to ski free all the way through age 6, which makes it a more affordable choice for a young family than most mountains; other areas typically start charging kids by the time they turn 4. For those 7 and up, know that the mountain participates in both the Ikon and Mountain Collective ski passes.

Other kid-friendly Snowmass activities include on-mountain snow tubing , alpine coasters , ice skating , snowshoeing tours and even an indoor climbing wall . During select dates throughout winter, Snowmass will offer a nighttime winter wonderland party called Ullr Nights filled with evening activities for families. This includes a gondola ride to Elk Camp, bonfires, tubing, alpine coaster rides, snow biking, s’mores and hot chocolate.

Where to stay at Snowmass

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Winter rates start at $530 or 58,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. This means you could add Marriott points to a 50,000-point free night certificate on many nights .

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Winter rates start at $280 or 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

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Winter rates start at $750 per night.

Related: How to save money on a trip to Aspen

Copper Mountain, Colorado

Why copper mountain is a good ski resort for families.

If you are looking for a Colorado ski resort experience with lower prices than its neighbors, Copper is a great choice. This resort has family-friendly written all over it, with an array of activities for all ages.

In addition to skiing in what are often prime snow conditions, you’ll have the Rocky Mountain Coaster , plenty of snow tubing , ice skating on West Lake in Center Village and even daily complimentary ambassador ski tours .

Additionally, whenever there is a full moon, Copper Mountain will offer ambassador-guided Full Moon Snowshoe Tours in the evenings. For an off-mountain activity, the 19,400-square-foot Woodward Copper Barn serves as an indoor action sports facility, offering many unique activities at Copper Mountain.

For the third year in a row, the Copper Maze is set to return. Near the base of the Super Bee lift in Copper’s East Village, this maze is extremely fun for kids, as it’s made entirely of snow.

New this year, visitors will be able to experience the resort’s brand-new mid-mountain lodge, Aerie. The gondola will unload at the deck on this 25,000-square-foot building, which will also offer more dining options with a beautiful 270-degree view.

Copper is also continuing to make improvements to its Western Territory Expansion. This area is on the far west side of the mountain and is designed to inspire beginner skiers, kids and families to connect with Copper’s history and heritage. With 27 new snowmaking hydrants just this year, guests will receive even earlier access. In addition to the new trails that have debuted over the past few years (including kid-friendly tree trails), guests will be able to experience two more beginner trails, bringing Copper’s overall skiable acreage to 2,538 acres.

Where to stay at Copper Mountain

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Winter rates start at $209 or 35,000 Choice Privileges points per night.

Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Why deer valley is a good ski resort for families.

When kids are getting their bearings and making big side-to-side turns on a slope, it can be easier to start on runs where you won’t find any snowboarders.

At the ski-only Deer Valley Resort, there’s a children’s adventure area on the mountain where you will find 14 pint-size trails allowing tots to practice new techniques — although their favorite part will probably be the tiny cabin hidden in the woods. The mountain limits its ticket sales each day, which keeps crowds (and lift line waits) at a minimum.

If you are looking for a ski resort that can also entertain a non-skiing child, the Deer Valley Children’s Center offers licensed full-day child care with many activities, as well as outdoor and indoor playgrounds. Children between 2 months and 12 years old can enjoy this facility.

Deer Valley has a fun approach to ski school that includes the Teen Escape for teens ages 13 to 17, the Adventure Club for kids ages 7 to 12, the Reindeer Club for 5- and 6-year-olds and the Bambi Club for 4-year-olds. For the younger kids, you’ll find the class sizes are incredibly small, with just two to four kids in a class — depending on age.

Because Deer Valley participates in the Ikon Pass ski program, you may find that the more economical way to lock in lift tickets is to opt for a pass instead of paying the window rates.

Where to stay at Deer Valley

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Winter rates start at $1,400 or 94,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Winter rates start at $1,400 per night.

Northstar California Resort, California

Why northstar is a good ski resort for families.

California’s Northstar Resort, along the California-Nevada border on Lake Tahoe, is excellent for families. They can ski together in the Kids Adventure Zone, where two mountain areas have blue trails safely tucked away from bigger, faster skiers and snowboarders.

This winter, guests to the mountain (which gets an average of 350 inches of annual snowfall) will continue to enjoy Tost — one of the area’s one-of-a-kind traditions. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can kick up your feet here and unwind midday while enjoying a glass of apple cider (or a glass of bubbly for the adults). Additionally, families can enjoy the après-ski scene by cozying up around the fire pit or zipping around on ice skates while listening to live music. At other times, you can enjoy fireside s’mores and hot cocoa.

If cross-country skiing is your activity of choice, the Nordic Center offers nearly 22 miles of scenic trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking.

Where to stay at Northstar

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Winter rates start at $800 or 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Winter rates start at $250 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vermont

Why smugglers’ notch is a good ski resort for families.

An uber kid-friendly ski resort, Smugglers’ Notch focuses on the entire family experience, which is why it’s known as “America’s Family Resort.”

Smuggs, as it’s called by those who know and love it, offers an award-winning Snow Sport University. It starts lessons with little ones as young as 3 years old. Sir Henry’s Learning and Fun Park has two “magic carpet rides” that gently guide new skiers to the top.

For those who already know how to ski and board, the mountain has everything they could want: 78 trails, eight lifts, the highest vertical drop in northern Vermont at 2,610 feet and more than 300 inches of natural snow each year. Not to mention, multiple terrain parks and 1,000 acres for skiing and riding are available.

For those staying at the resort, everything is a few steps away, and an on-demand shuttle will take you wherever you need to go.

Off the mountain, you’ll also find a plethora of activities — both during the day and night. Activities include snowshoeing, tubing, cross-country skiing, swimming, ice skating, bingo and magic shows. You can also experience the updated Fun Zone 2.0, which features a Ninja Warrior course, laser tag, miniature golf, an arcade, large inflatable slides and more spread across 26,000 square feet of indoor space.

Where to stay at Smugglers’ Notch

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Winter rates start at $289 per night.

Stowe, Vermont

Why stowe is a good ski resort for families.

Stowe has a world-class ski school and plenty of long, beautiful blue trails to keep your not-yet-expert skiers and snowboarders engaged. The relatively new Adventure Zone has continued to be a big hit; these low-angle, gladed areas are appropriate for anyone in the family looking for a fun experience skiing or boarding through the trees on Mount Mansfield.

After a great family day on the slopes, take in a free pre-dinner skate at the Spruce Peak outdoor ice rink , embark on a guided twilight snowshoe tour through the woods or enjoy indoor rock climbing at Stowe Rocks. If you’re looking for a resort with a village atmosphere, this is one of the best you’ll find in the Northeast.

The total solar eclipse should be 100% visible from Stowe Mountain Resort, and the resort will be throwing a Solar Eclipse Soiree. So, not only should you be able to enjoy some spring skiing on April 8, 2024, but you can also enjoy some eclipse-specific events from Vermont’s highest peak.

The main issue with Stowe Mountain is its ticket prices compared to many other East Coast resorts. Luckily, the Epic Ski Pass can potentially save your family over the walk-up lift ticket rates. You could even look at Epic’s Northeast Value Pass if you expect to only ski at East Coast mountains this winter. Those with an Epic Pass will also be able to access date-specific appreciation days, featuring an on-mountain Champagne and sparking cider toast.

Where to stay at Stowe

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Winter rates start at $400 or 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

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Winter rates start at $265 per night.

Related: Vail of the east: Everything you need to know about skiing at Stowe Mountain

Jay Peak, Vermont

Why jay peak is a good ski resort for families.

People love Jay Peak thanks to its indoor water park , which is ideal for families who want to take a day off from skiing or have something to do after morning ski school. The Jay Peak Pump House features slides, a FlowRider surf simulator and an entire kids play area. Many lodging packages include water park access, or you can purchase a daypass (purchasing in advance is recommended).

Aside from the water park, there are two arcades , a climbing gym , an ice skating rink , an indoor ropes course and a slopeside movie theater . Not all activities are offered every day, so double-check ahead of time. Make advance bookings where available.

Best of all, there’s a surplus of ski-in, ski-out condo and hotel options, giving families the perfect opportunity to stay in accommodations that work best for their needs. For those with little ones — or even big ones — Jay Peak offers child care for children as young as 6 weeks old both during the day and in the evenings.

Where to stay at Jay Peak

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Winter rates start at $300 per night.

TPG tip: You can also check to see if you like any on-mountain condo options using your Wyndham points through Vacasa .

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Why bretton woods is a good ski resort for families.

Just across the Vermont border is New Hampshire’s answer to family-oriented skiing: Bretton Woods.

Home to the family-friendly Omni Mount Washington Resort , Bretton Woods features fat-tire snow biking trails, a 62-mile trail network for cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, snow tubing, canopy tours and an indoor-outdoor heated swimming pool (just for guests). The 3-year-old Rosewood Lodge at the top of the mountain also gives skiers and riders that top-of-the-mountain lodge and luxury dining experience, which you won’t find at many other nearby mountains.

Unfortunately, unlike what you’ll find at many other mountains, Bretton Woods doesn’t offer full-day ski school (only half-day). Here, you’ll only find two-hour group lessons limited to Fridays and Saturdays. However, if you’re looking for private or semi-private lessons, those options are more readily available. They’re also more affordable than what you’ll find ay many other mountains. If ski school is a must, then you’ll want to take their offerings into consideration.

From the hotel’s architecture to the incredible views of the top of Mount Washington, it’s no surprise that the resort is a top destination for families. With many fun activities for the entire family and more than 468 acres to ski , there should be no shortage of on-mountain family fun.

Where to stay at Bretton Woods

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Winter rates start at $400 per night.

Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort, Quebec

Why mont-tremblant is a good ski resort for families.

In case you haven’t found the perfect family ski resort for you this far into the list, we are cheating a little and including two near-to-the-U.S. family ski resort options in Canada.

At Mont-Tremblant, your family can get the feeling of skiing internationally without crossing the pond at this French-influenced getaway just a couple of hours outside Montreal. Featuring 102 slopes and usually great snow conditions, Mont-Tremblant is one of the best ski experiences in North America, with the highest peak in the Laurentians region.

While older family members explore the high peaks of Mont-Tremblant, kids as young as 3 years old can enjoy practicing their turns at ski school . Or, if you happen to be visiting during spring break, Tremblant’s Ski Week program will give you four full days with the same instructor.

Guests can explore a unique European-style pedestrian village directly at the mountain’s base. The pedestrian village allows easy access from the front step of your hotel door to the bottom of the slopes. With its colorful buildings — including more than 75 shops, restaurants, bars and boutiques — there is plenty to do in any weather.

On a non-skiing day, grab the kids and hit the snow-covered trails ripe for fat biking, dune buggy rides, snowshoeing, ice fishing, sleigh rides and even ice climbing. Families will not want to miss the Brind’O Aquaclub water park, which offers four slides, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, 35 interactive water games and a revamped fitness room. There is also laser tag and a virtual reality arcade.

If Mont-Tremblant is on your radar, you can save money with the Ikon Base Pass .

Where to stay at Mont-Tremblant

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Winter rates start at $260 per night.

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Winter rates start at $312 or 54,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Winter rates start at $224 or 61,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Related: Want to ski for less? Head to Canada

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Why whistler is a good ski resort for families.

British Columbia’s Whistler is another Canadian winter ski hot spot with a family-friendly focus. Your kids will love the pint-size ski experience at the resort’s Enchanted Woods, which is usually clear of more experienced and faster skiers. Or, embark on the thrilling bubly Tube Park .

In addition to the return of the Magic Castle and Tree Fort outdoor playlands at both Whistler and its sister mountain, Blackcomb, families will be entertained with the mountain’s free Fire and Ice performances every Sunday night (a display of ski and snowboard skills). Families can also exchange their ski boots for ice skates and skate for free in Whistler Village, which is chock-full of shops, restaurants and things to do in the after-ski hours.

Where to stay at Whistler

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Winter rates start at $545 per night.

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Winter rates start at $424 or 57,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Winter rates start at $369 or 80,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Best credit cards for ski travel

There are over a dozen excellent travel rewards credit cards out there for hotel stays. The right one(s) for you will depend on if you’re loyal to a particular program or chain, whether you want premium perks, and if you value benefits like annual free nights , automatic elite status and lucrative earning rates.

Here are three great credit cards to use for booking stays across a variety of hotel chains and independent properties while still enjoying money-saving features and high-end benefits, though.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earning rates: This card earns 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year). Plus, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel . All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar. Remember, Amex points transfer to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio and to Choice Privileges at a 1:1 rate, and there are sometimes transfer bonuses.

Benefits: This card is absolutely packed with perks, but among the travel-related ones you’ll want to maximize, including some hotel-specific benefits are:

• Up to a $200 annual hotel credit , in the form of a statement credit, on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Platinum (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum).*
• Access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection .
• Complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy .*
• Up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidental fees charged by one airline you select.*
• Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash , valid on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (split into monthly $15 credits plus a $20 bonus in December).*
• Up to $189 in statement credits to cover your Clear Plus annual membership .*
• A $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an up to $85 fee credit for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years (depending on which application fee is charged to your card first).
• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection , including Centurion Lounges , Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when traveling on same-day Delta flights).*

*Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees ). 

Read our review of the Amex Platinum card . 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Earning rates: Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel , 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases

Benefits: Cardholders get up to $300 back in statement credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel. Plus 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, starting on your first anniversary (worth $100 toward travel). Through the Capital One Premier Collection , cardmembers can enjoy free breakfast, on-property credits and room upgrades (if available) on stays at participating properties booked through Capital One Travel. They also receive up to $100 in statement credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry .

Annual fee: $395 (see rates and fees ).

Read our review of the Capital One Venture X .

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earning rates: This card accrues 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal , on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) and on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through March 2025, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points). It also racks up 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal; and 1 point per dollar on everything else. 

Benefits: Cardholders receive a $50 statement credit on hotel stays purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal upon opening the card and each following cardmember anniversary. They also receive a 10% bonus based on their total spending during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $10 spent. This card also has some of the best travel protections in the industry, including trip cancellation insurance , trip delay insurance and primary rental car coverage among other policies. 

Annual fee: $95.

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred .

Bottom line

Though you may have to shell out a little more for a vacation on the slopes, planning a family ski trip is more than worth the effort (and added expense). Whether you’re dreaming of a powder-filled getaway in Colorado or a winter sports adventure in Vermont, there’s a destination (and slope-adjacent resort) made for you and your crew.

Ready to plan a family ski trip? Check out the following stories for more tips on how to book your ski trip with points and miles and make the most of your family ski vacation:

• Everything you need to know about packing for a ski trip
• 17 of the best ski towns in the US
• The right — and wrong — age for kids to start skiing
• 7 ways to make your next ski trip better than the last
• Best credit cards to use on ski trips

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here .

SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

6 Things to Know About Travel Insurance for Extreme Sports and Outdoor Adventure Coverage (2024)

We all know friends who are adrenaline junkies. Those who get kicks out of taking crazy risks and going on wild adventures all around the world. Heck, maybe you’re thinking: That’s me.

We all know how important travel insurance  is, but if you’re planning a ski trip, scuba diving trip or something even crazier than that, then you need to know which travel insurance cover extreme sports and outdoor adventure .

Here are 6 things you need to pay attention to when buying any sort of adventure sports travel insurance.

Travel Insurance for Extreme Sports and Outdoor Adventure Coverage

• Best travel insurance for outdoor sports
• What are the common outdoor adventure exclusions for travel insurance?
• What are the common personal accident and personal liability exclusions?
• Which outdoor activities are usually excluded?
• How much do extreme sports riders cost?
• Do you need sports equipment coverage?
• Do you have sufficient emergency medical evacuation coverage?

1. Best travel insurance for outdoor sports

Planning your long-awaited trip overseas with your pals for scuba diving, rock climbing, skiing or snowboarding?

Remember to get travel insurance that covers your winter sports, water sports, or mountaineering and rock climbing (usually considered more dangerous).

When browsing travel insurance plans, you’ll realise that sports and adventure are usually split into 3 broad categories:

• Leisure and recreational outdoor activities : Hot air balloon, scuba diving (up to 30m/40m, guided by licensed instructors, with PADI certification), skiing and snowboarding in resorts, hiking or trekking (up to 3,000m), jet ski, white water rafting, skydiving, paragliding, hang gliding, parachuting etc
• Other more extreme sports : Bungee jumping, mountaineering, rock climbing (any climbing that involves ropes and equipment)
• Competitions (not covered across all insurance companies except for Direct Asia) : Marathons, ultra-marathons, biathlons, triathlons

This table below is a general comparison. Click in to each travel insurance review to see the specific outdoor activities they cover:

Back to top

2.  What are the common  outdoor adventure exclusions for travel insurance?

Even if your travel insurance plan claims that it covers outdoor adventure and extreme sports, there will still be exclusions—a.k.a. activities that your insurance company is not willing to cover. Here are a few major examples:

• Any professional competitions or sports in which you get paid, sponsored or receive any kind of financial reward
• Any leisurely contact sport or MMA classes such as Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)
• Mountaineering or rock climbing that involves ropes and climbing equipment, especially if it’s done unharnessed and outdoors on a wall that is not man-made
• Expeditions to inaccessible, remote or previously unexplored places
• Being the pilot or a crew member of an aircraft (except for your commercial flights eg. SQ)

You’ll be surprised that most marathons are not covered by travel insurance since there’s a grand prize you technically can win.

Now, you might say that you’re probably not going to do any of these sports. But between insurance companies, there are different standards as to what’s allowed, so always check your terms and conditions before you buy your travel insurance.

Lazy? Scroll up and you can read through our travel insurance reviews instead. We’ve scoured through policy wordings and terms and conditions for their outdoor adventure and extreme sports coverage.

3. What are the common personal accident and personal liability exclusions?

While some travel insurance seems to have a comprehensive coverage, you have to make sure that the activity that you are doing is covered under Personal Accident or Personal Liability.

For instance, if you got the Singlife travel insurance and decided to buy the Adventurous Water Sports rider as well, you will be covered for all the usual scuba diving (up to 40m), white water rafting, kayaking, yachting, wakeboarding etc.

You’ll have to scroll to the end of your policy wording to check out the terms and conditions. Singlife travel insurance states that it covers you for:

• accidental death and permanent disablement
• emergency medical cover
• personal liability

In other words, if you get seriously injured during any of these activities, your Singlife travel insurance will cover emergency medical costs, your death, and any damage you caused to the properties in that accident.

However, if you were to look at Etiqa travel insurance , you’ll see that the plan covers you for personal accidental death. When it comes to personal liability, some outdoor activities are excluded, such as:

• motorcycles, motor cars

These are exactly the kind of activities where you’re more likely to suffer an accident. So don’t forget to check the fine print!

Total Premium

[MoneySmart Exclusive]    • Enjoy 40% off your Single Trip policy premium and 60% off Covid-19 add-on for Annual Plans. T&Cs apply • Get S$88 Revolut Cash Award* with every policy purchased.  T&Cs apply.    PLUS, get S$100 Revolut Cash Award when you are the 8th and 88th Successful Applicant each week to sign up for a new Revolut account in our Giveaway.  T&Cs  apply.    [Etiqa's 10th Year 2024 Grand Draw] Stand a chance to win S$10,000 cash or a Singapore Mint Lunar Dragon 1 gram 999.9 fine gold medallion (worth S$173) with eligible Etiqa/Tiq by Etiqa plans purchased. T&Cs apply.

Key Features

Comprehensive COVID-19 add-on, protecting you before, during and after your trip

Covers Cruise to Nowhere

Get paid upon a 3-hour flight delay, even without submitting a claim

Instant claims encashment via PayNow

24-hour worldwide emergency travel support

4. Which outdoor activities are usually excluded?

Some activities will be covered by your travel insurance, but only if it’s within a specific circumstance. Again, this is not being unrealistic. But it does mean you have to be careful that your activities don’t exceed the boundaries set by your travel insurance. These are examples of some activities which aren’t covered by your insurance:

• Canoeing or white water rafting without a qualified guide or Grade 4 and above (of the International Scale of River Difficulty).
• Off-piste skiing, or going off trail and skiing outside the officially approved boundaries of a ski resort.
• Mountaineering beyond the height of 3,000 metres above sea level. (Some insurers raise this limit to 3,500m or even higher—check the policy document for the specific figure.)
• Underwater activities involving artificial breathing apparatus for diving deeper than 30 metres.

So while some of these activities are covered by certain travel insurance policies, they do have limits to their coverage. Be careful to stay within the stipulated boundaries.

5. How much do extreme sports riders cost?

Some travel insurance companies require that you upgrade your travel insurance plan to include winter sports rider or outdoor adventurous activities riders. Although it might seem unfair to incur a steep increase in the premium price, do note that most of the time, this increases your coverage for other categories within the same plan as well.

How much do these winter sports and sports riders cost?

Currently, there are 2 travel insurance plans that require you to buy sports riders:  Direct Asia travel insurance  and  Singlife travel insurance . The latter costs $8.38 per week for Adventurous Water Sports rider  or $8.13 per week for the Winter Sports rider.

DirectAsia DA200

[ Win a Rolex, Samsonite Luggage & More!   | MoneySmart Exclusive]     • Enjoy 40% off your policy premium and  S$88 Revolut Cash Award* with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$20 via PayNow with eligible premiums spent. T&Cs apply.     BONUS: For a limited time only, there are over   S$11,000 worth of prizes  to be given away in our Grand Draw . Stand a chance to score: • 1x   Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000) • 1x   Samsonite Robez 68/25 EXP  (worth S$550) weekly     Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply     PLUS, get S$100 Revolut Cash Award when you are the 8th and 88th Successful Applicant each week to sign up for a new Revolut account in our Giveaway.  T&Cs  apply.

Kids go free – up to four kids travel for free with a Family policy only (2 adults)

Matching kids limits – children enjoy the same coverage limits as adults

Optional coverage for Sports Equipment & Extreme Sports are only available for Annual Policies

Optional coverage for Single Trip Travel Insurance: Maid and COVID-19.

Emergency Dental – Accidental Dental treatment can be costly, so it is covered under the main medical expenses coverage which is higher than a separate dental benefit

Singlife Travel Plus

[Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]   • Enjoy 25% off your policy premium • Get S$88 Revolut Cash Award* and an Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$30  via PayNow with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.   PLUS, get S$100 Revolut Cash Award when you are the 8th and 88th Successful Applicant each week to sign up for a new Revolut account in our Giveaway.  T&Cs  apply.

Covers trip cancellation for any reason, T&Cs apply.

Covers trip interruptions or cancellations due to COVID-19 and cover your medical treatment should you contract COVID-19 whilst overseas.

Payout of up to S$150** should your trip be affected by excessive rainfall.

**For single trips (minimum 3 days) where more than 50% of trip duration is affected by rainfall levels of >6.4mm in a 24-hour period.

Seamless claims experience with PayNow

6. Do you need sports equipment coverage?

If you’re a hardcore skier or diver, then this section should not be news for you. If you have your own sporting equipment that you intend to bring on the trip, you have to be aware how much your travel insurance is covering you. When your gear can cost a few hundred dollars, you’ll definitely want to invest in a plan that will insure you don’t lose out if your gear is stolen or damaged.

7. Do you have sufficient emergency medical evacuation coverage?

This is especially important if you’re planning to go scuba diving, hiking or skydiving. Since you’re most likely not going to be near any decent medical facilities should anything happen, you may need to get emergency medical evacuation.

Check to make sure your travel insurance policy covers you sufficiently for such an occasion. Where possible, choose policies that can give you at least $500,000 cover for medical evacuation, even if you end up paying a little more. Here are some that offer $500,000 or more:

Bubblegum Travel Insurance

[Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]   • Enjoy 10% off your policy premium • Get S$88 Revolut Cash Award* and an Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$25  via PayNow with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.   PLUS, get S$100 Revolut Cash Award when you are the 8th and 88th Successful Applicant each week to sign up for a new Revolut account in our Giveaway.  T&Cs  apply.

Bubblegum offers just 1 affordable plan to suit all your travel needs to maximise your savings

Overseas medical expenses up to $150,000 SGD (Covid-19 sub-limit of $65,000 included)

24-Hour global Emergency Assistance services including Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

Covid-19 trip related cancellation/curtailment up to $600 SGD included

Adventurous activities like scuba diving and hot air ballooning are covered with no limit on depth or height.

MSIG TravelEasy Standard

[ Win a Rolex, Samsonite Luggage & More!   | MoneySmart Exclusive]      • Enjoy up to 45% off your policy premium • Get S$88 Revolut Cash Award* and an Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$45 via PayNow OR 1 x Apple AirTag (worth S$45.40) with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.      BONUS: For a limited time only, there are over   S$11,000 worth of prizes  to be given away in our Grand Draw . Stand a chance to score: • 1x   Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000) • 1x   Samsonite Robez 68/25 EXP  (worth S$550) weekly      Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply      PLUS, get S$100 Revolut Cash Award when you are the 8th and 88th Successful Applicant each week to sign up for a new Revolut account in our Giveaway.  T&Cs  apply.

COVID-19 coverage of up to $150,000 medical cover and up to $1,500 travel inconvenience benefit for your trip protection.

Packaged tour coverage for insolvency of licensed travel agencies registered with the Singapore Tourism Board (includes NATAS registered travel agencies).

Get covered across all TravelEasy Plan types with a high limit of S$1,000,000 for emergency medical evacuation & repatriation

MSIG provides cover for insolvency of licensed travel agencies registered with the Singapore Tourism Board (includes NATAS registered travel agencies)

AIG Travel Guard® Direct - Enhanced

[Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]   • Get up to 52% worth of cashback with eligible premiums spent. • Additionally, receive  S$88 Revolut Cash Award* and an Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased. T&Cs apply.   PLUS, get S$100 Revolut Cash Award when you are the 8th and 88th Successful Applicant each week to sign up for a new Revolut account in our Giveaway.  T&Cs  apply.

Voted TripZilla's Best Travel Insurance (Single Trip).

Up to S$250,000 in overseas COVID-19 related medical coverage if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 overseas.

Overseas quarantine allowance of up to S$100 per day per person for up to 14 days if you test positive for COVID-19 overseas and are unexpectedly placed into mandatory quarantine.

Up to S$1,500 if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and have to postpone your trip.

Up to S$7,500 in curtailment costs if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling and need to return to Singapore earlier than planned.

This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd. or visit the AIG, GIA or SDIC websites (www.AIG.sg or www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

Purchase your travel insurance with confidence and enjoy unlimited flexibility with AIG's Travel Guard® Direct

Do you have any other suggestions for getting the best travel insurance for sports lovers? Share them with us.

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