Best Ski Resorts

[m61376]

Hi all- need sone advice. I’m not a skier so looking for recommendations. My daughter wants to take the kids skiing over the winter break so of course it’ll be a hard week to find, but I have a 2 BR deposit so figure I’d give it a try. Doesn’t have to be a Marriott and can be outside US - what are good resorts to look for (added plus if you have the II code, but I can look it up if you don’t).
Kids will be 12 and 8; the older one is already an expert skier and the younger snowboards but definitely needs lessons.
Appreciate any and all advice.
Thanks!!!!


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[Marathoner]

I recommend Breckenridge ski resort.

Great mining town with nice bars and restaurants, ski mountain is great for both beginners and experts, and lots of timeshares in the area. Two bedrooms are never easy to find during peak ski season but studios abound and you can occasionally get a 1 bedroom.

2 hour shuttle ride from Denver Airport. Snow preservation is excellent due to the high altitude. The only negative is the high altitude can cause some altitude sickness for some people.

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[m61376]

Thanks Marathoner- any specific resorts that you know are nice in Breckinridge?


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[x3 skier]

Currently in Steamboat Springs for my 25th ski season.

The base is 6900’ and the summit’s 10350’. Just had 36”” of snow in the past 7 days.

The town and ski area is very family oriented and the hospitality is second to none. Lots of direct and connecting flights to HDN, about a 30 minute shuttle/drive from the airport. No real need for a car since just about every lodging has shuttles and the city has an excellent free bus system.

Buy an IKON Pass now and you’ll save big bucks over buying daily lift tickets.

Cheers

 

[jwalk03]

Park City is another good option. 2 Marriotts to chose from there. Mountside is ski in/ski out and Summitwatch is in town around lots of shops and bars and restaurants with the Town Lift up the mountain right across the street.

Your other Marriott options are Timber Lodge & Grand Residences Lake Tahoe. Both right near the Heavenly Gondola.

Steamside at Vail- A shuttle ride away from the slopes thought still very close.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Currently in Steamboat Springs for my 25th ski season.

The base is 6900’ and the summit’s 10350’. Just had 36”” of snow in the past 7 days.

The town and ski area is very family oriented and the hospitality is second to none. Lots of direct and connecting flights to HDN, about a 30 minute shuttle/drive from the airport. No real need for a car since just about every lodging has shuttles and the city has an excellent free bus system.

Buy an IKON Pass now and you’ll save big bucks over buying daily lift tickets.

Cheers

Thanks for the info. We hope to visit next year. Buying an IKON pass. Does January tend to have decent snow? How about December? Thanksgiving? We have a presentation offer for Westin Steamboat. Do you know if that requires a car to get to restaurants and town.

FWIW to OP. If you can trade in, Westin Riverfront in Avon, Co is fantastic ski in / out of for Beaver Creek and has an hourly shuttle to Vail. But difficult to get. We couldn't trade so rented using Bonvoy points. There is also a Sheraton Avon close by but haven't stayed there so cannot vouch for it.

 

[vacationtime1]

Thanks for the info. We hope to visit next year. Buying an IKON pass. Does January tend to have decent snow? How about December? Thanksgiving? We have a presentation offer for Westin Steamboat. Do you know if that requires a car to get to restaurants and town.

FWIW to OP. If you can trade in, Westin Riverfront in Avon, Co is fantastic ski in / out of for Beaver Creek and has an hourly shuttle to Vail. But difficult to get. We couldn't trade so rented using Bonvoy points. There is also a Sheraton Avon close by but haven't stayed there so cannot vouch for it.

The snowpack has been thinner and thinner over the years and early season skiing is unpredictable. It is highly unlikely that there will be sufficient snow to ski off trail before Christmas, and not very likely even then. So I would plan a "once a year" ski trip for mid-January or later.

 

[Marathoner]

Thanks Marathoner- any specific resorts that you know are nice in Breckinridge?


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Grand Colorado at Peak 8 is awesome

Grand Lodge at Peak 7 is great

Grand Timber Lodge is very good

Hyatt Main Street Station is great

Marriott Mountain Valley Lodge is good

Some of the above timeshares are extremely difficult to book during ski season

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[jme]

Steamboat Springs, CO is a fantastic place---the slopes are pristine and drop-dead gorgeous---- but I would say it's better
and much more enjoyable for mid-level to advanced skiers.
It's a long way to go, and somewhat more burdensome a trip, considering the transportation connects to get there,

So if interested in going anywhere out WEST (where the powder is always the best), I would opt for Park City all day long.
Save Steamboat and the other CO resorts for when they're older.....plenty, and maybe more, places to stay reasonably in Park City.
PC has awesome ski schools for kids and all levels (as does Steamboat, but just easier, imho).
The town of Park City is THE perfect spot for a memorable family skiing trip, from location of rentals, slopes, etc, etc----
and LOTS of close-by, walkable restaurants and shops----so much to see and do.

Months of January and February are when you'd want to go, regardless of any destination ski resort town.
Flying to Salt Lake airport (SLC) is easy, and you'll take an easy shuttle of choice from SLC airport to Park City of only 45 minutes,
and a private Suburban (etc) shuttle is always AWESOME.
I think PC is the perfect ski resort town, having been to both Steamboat (twice) and to Park City (6 times) with kids.

 

[Krteczech]

December snow cover in CO is not guaranteed. Yes, you can ski mostly on man made snow, but you will not get the same experience as mid-January - March conditions.

 

[jwalk03]

I agree with the advice that buying a pass in the Spring of this year is the cheapest way to access these ski resorts for next year. But understand there are two major choices each with access to a different set of resorts. The IKON pass or the EPIC pass. If you are hoping to stay at one of the Marriott Vacation Club Resorts the Epic Pass is likely the best option. It includes Vail, Breckenridge, Park City, and Heavenly at Tahoe. (Among many others.) Steamboat is the IKON pass along with Aspen and several of the other major Utah resorts other than Park City (Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, etc.)

The Ikon passes for 22-23 went on sale yesterday. The Epic passes for next year have not been announced yet but I imagine should be in the next week or two.

 

[jme]

Putting in a good word for a day of skiing at Deer Valley. It's worth it!
The runs are gorgeous, the powder is perfect, and the place is simply top notch.
It's even fun just to ride the lifts and see the amazing vistas and big beautiful homes along the way.
Nice restaurants there too. Short enough of a shuttle ride over.....just do it!
We have fantastic memories of skiing there.
(There's always a word at the bottom about some dignitary or Hollywood star out on the slopes.
We never spied one, but "they say"......)

 

[x3 skier]

Thanks for the info. We hope to visit next year. Buying an IKON pass. Does January tend to have decent snow? How about December? Thanksgiving? We have a presentation offer for Westin Steamboat. Do you know if that requires a car to get to restaurants and town.

Personally, I would wait until January since the entire mountain is usually open by then. December is iffy and Thanksgiving (opening Day) is very limited terrain.

The Sheraton is right next to the main transit hub with free buses into town every 20 minutes. Zero need for a car IMNSHO. It’s ski in and walk out to the gondola(s) and Christy Express.

Steamboat is in the middle of a MAJOR do over of the base that’s planned for completion next year. New food options, etc. in two new buildings, the first phase of the new gondola to the top of the mountain and an ice skating rink. Also adding new snowmaking top to bottom.

If you come, I’ll probably be working in the Ticket Office again T/F/S/S as the door keeper/bouncer/greeter. Ask for Rick for some advice.

Cheers

 

[jlp879]

With kids that young, I'd think any ski resort fairly close to home would work just fine. All the suggestions are great, but if you live in NY, it might be a long way to go for a week. Personally, for younger folks and those just learning to ski, I'd say the smaller resort the better.

I'm not familiar with ski resorts in the east, but I might look for resorts within driving distance of where you live vs. flying out to CO or UT. A smaller resort might also be easier to book a stay at rather than trying for the big name ski areas.

Care to go out of the country? Try a ski area in Quebec and you'll have a ski trip and a cultural experience all in one! Both Mt. Tremblant and Mont-Ste.-Anne have timeshare resorts. You've got lots of choices!

 

[goaliedave]

Long time #1 in the world ski resort is Whistler BC, home of the 2010 Olympics. USA folk get an extra 40% on the exchange at the moment. Was recently bought by Vail who own all the good USA resorts so they have annual passes that you can use at all resorts including Whistler. Most timeshare companies have resorts here.

 

[Ski-Dad]

Per my avatar name, I and my three girls are avid skiers. They are all their 20 s now. I live on the East Coast of Canada, but I have skied all over North America and a few trips to Europe.

I note that the OP is in NY. There are some great ski resorts in Maine (Sugarloaf and Sunday River) that you can drive to from NY. Makes it easier with kids in tow, but highly unlikely to get a timeshare exchange in peak season.

Tremblant outside Montreal (1.5 hrs) is a great family destination. Very cool village with lots for the kids. Drive-able from NY. Very favourable exchange rate. Avoid the weekends as the lift lines are ridiculous. There are a couple of time shares. Its not like skiing in the West, but more than enough for a family trip. It is a great place.

I love Colorado skiing. Lots of time share choices. You need to figure out the EPIC vs IKON thing as to which resorts to target, unless you can snag an exchange before the fall. Buy the pass that suits your timeshare. Steamboat in my favourite. BUT I would not recommend Colorado with family in tow. You are coming from NY. The altitude change is a real issue and will impact your first 3 days minimum.

Utah: skiing equal to Colorado, but the altitude is somewhat less. It remains an issue, but not of the same magnitude. Great snow. Lots of timeshares in the park city area. You will need an Epic pass; otherwise, the lift ticket prices will bleed you into bankruptcy. Park City itself is expensive.

Whistler: Exchange rate favourable - lots of timeshares - terrain is unparalleled. The place is huge. Compare the skiable acres to any other North American resort. Nothing else comes close. They get their share of snow. The quality of the snow can be great, but it is not as consistently light and fluffy as CO or UT. This is as a result of its proximity to the Pacific (the Coast Mountains) and it much lower altitude. The top of Whistler is lower than the base of most CO and UT resorts, which makes it so much easier on we souls from sea level.

Do not underestimate the effect of altitude.

 

[x3 skier]

While altitude can affect some, typically it takes about a day to acclimate to higher altitudes of CO and UT. If you’re flying from the East or driving from the Midwest you get a head start since airline cabins are pressurized to 10000’ (Maximum peak of Steamboat for example) and if driving you spend a day or more gradually increasing in altitude. Best advice I give people is take it easy the first day and if you’re in good health, you’ll be fine the second day.

I’ve been coming to Steamboat and other Rocky Mountain ski areas for over 50 years from Ohio and never has a problem. YMMV.

BTW, don’t be surprised at Whistler to be in a snow shower up on the mountain and a rain shower at the base. A fantastic ski area otherwise.

Cheers

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I'll second the need to acclimate for the altitude in Colorado. We skied Colorado in Feb and stayed the first night in a Hilton in Dillon (9000 feet) and skied Loveland (base 11,000 feet) and I was so excited about the fresh powder I skied hard. Big mistake. I had altitude sickness by the end of the day.

Fortunately, we were booked the next night at the Westin in Avon (6000 feet) so it subsided overnight. I was able to ski the next day at Loveland (11,000 base) no problem and we skied the rest of the week at lower elevations at Vail and BC. If we had to do it over again, I would schedule the higher elevations for the end of the trip.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I drove through Colorado once on the way to Paonia, and slept overnight in Leadville CO (supposedly nations highest town). Boy was that a mistake for this flatlander. I never slept more than a minute at a time, it's was awful. I'd go "out", and wake up quickly gasping for air! I was fine awake, but, body seemed to not be acclimated for sleep purposes.

 

[Ski-Dad]

While altitude can affect some, typically it takes about a day to acclimate to higher altitudes of CO and UT. If you’re flying from the East or driving from the Midwest you get a head start since airline cabins are pressurized to 10000’ (Maximum peak of Steamboat for example) and if driving you spend a day or more gradually increasing in altitude. Best advice I give people is take it easy the first day and if you’re in good health, you’ll be fine the second day.

I’ve been coming to Steamboat and other Rocky Mountain ski areas for over 50 years from Ohio and never has a problem. YMMV.

BTW, don’t be surprised at Whistler to be in a snow shower up on the mountain and a rain shower at the base. A fantastic ski area otherwise.

Cheers

If you drive to the West, I agree that you will be largely acclimatized on arrival owing to your ascent over days.

Flying is another story. X3 Skier is experienced at these trips and has learned how to properly adjust. I am getting better on these trips by drinking lots of water and no skiing for a full clear day after arrival and taking it easy my first day on snow.

The OP will have their family in tow. Much greater chance of somebody being affected by altitude. One man down, slows the whole family.

 

[m61376]

So appreciate all the great advice!!


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