What is you lift ticket strategy?

dlague · Mar 12, 2015

What is your lift ticket strategy?

I think this forum represents a pool of avid skiers and snowboarders. I was curious about the approach that is taken to get your ski days in. I assume there are those who are not concerned about costs, others that are deal hunters and others who buys season passes. It maybe even a combo?

Cannonball · Mar 12, 2015

Season pass to keep overall per day rate low, so that I don't feel bad paying full price somewhere when the mood/opportunity/conditions present themselves.

deadheadskier · Mar 12, 2015

Usually a cheap local pass and then discount cards / vouchers. I'll typically spend about a third of my days at my "home hill" and spread the rest around. I try and keep my total pass and lift ticket cost around $800.

This year I did not buy a pass and probably have spent about $600 on 22 days out.

SkiFanE · Mar 12, 2015

We buy passes for family. Then if we go elsewhere, we pay. But we rarely go elsewhere, just not enough $ after dedicating to one place. But when I go to K for spring skiing, they give me 25% of ticket price b/c I have a pass elsewhere. Usually it's $35. Husband goes on an annual trip to Jay with his buddies, he'll get discount with our season pass. We are good skiers, and ski where we want, not because it will save us a few $. I remember pre-kids we got free tix to Gunstock. We felt so shafted, wasted an excellent ski day on a non-challenging place. So we went to the cheap pub and got liquored up and had fun the rest of the day. Seems when you're looking for deals you may have to give up something. (sorry to all you Gunstock lovers...).

Puck it · Mar 12, 2015

Cannonball said:
Season pass to keep overall per day rate low, so that I don't feel bad paying full price somewhere when the mood/opportunity/conditions present themselves.

+1 and add an Express Card at Kton

steamboat1 · Mar 12, 2015

Season pass, pre purchased discount coupons & other discounts. I've yet to pay more than $50 for a days skiing. Daily price for season pass is already down to $25 per day with over 2 months left to go. Unlike others here I also have to take lodging costs into consideration.

BenedictGomez · Mar 12, 2015

I am the Wayne Gretzky of ski deal hunting.

ironhippy · Mar 12, 2015

I have a season pass at my local hill.

The vast majority of the places I ski are small and have cheap lift tickets so I don't look for deals because the small hills need the money more than I do and it's not that much to begin with.

I am going to Mount Saint Anne in April and have already purchased full priced lift tickets because I couldn't find any deals, but I also don't really know where to look (checked litfopia)

4aprice · Mar 12, 2015

I have a strategy that fits where I live. I basically ski in 3 regions, 1. Utah/Colorado, 2. Vermont/New Hampshire, and 3. Camelback in the Pocono's. So I get a pass @ Camelback and deal hunt (as best I can) for the other 2 regions. Pretty much ski every weekend from Thanksgiving to tax day so I can't complain.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

BenedictGomez · Mar 12, 2015

ironhippy said:
I am going to Mount Saint Anne in April and have already purchased full priced lift tickets because I couldn't find any deals,

Why would you do that?

ironhippy · Mar 12, 2015

BenedictGomez said:
Why would you do that?

because the only deal I could find was with lodging/lift tickets

steamboat1 · Mar 12, 2015

ironhippy said:
because the only deal I could find was with lodging/lift tickets

Exchange rate is favorable now. Hope you took advantage of it. Also save your receipts, you can get reimbursed for taxes payed at the duty free shop at the border crossing on I-91.

ironhippy · Mar 12, 2015

steamboat1 said:
Exchange rate is favorable now. Hope you took advantage of it. Also save your receipts, you can get reimbursed for taxes payed at the duty free shop at the border crossing on I-91.

I am canadian! I get none of that!

steamboat1 · Mar 12, 2015

steamboat1 said:
Exchange rate is favorable now. Hope you took advantage of it. Also save your receipts, you can get reimbursed for taxes payed at the duty free shop at the border crossing on I-91.

ironhippy said:
I am canadian! I get none of that!

Nevermind!

xwhaler · Mar 12, 2015

Deal Hunter as I like both the cost savings and the variety. + the "thrill of the hunt" in finding the deals has been fun for me!

Some days I only have the AM to ski so hunting deals to smaller places nearby like Crotched, Pats, Whaleback, Gunstock etc. makes me able to do that.
Should end the season approaching 40 days and 22+ unique mtns at a cost of around $18/day.
I think if you look at my signature you can see my mix of mountains runs the gamut which I like.

C-Rex · Mar 12, 2015

I put deal hunter, which I am, but really it's mostly my club. It kills me when people act like they can't decide if joining is a good idea or not. If you ski once, alone, it pays for itself! Guys will buy new skis every year and then get all tight-assed when it comes to plopping down $25 for a club membership.

ThinkSnow · Mar 12, 2015

ironhippy said:
I have a season pass at my local hill.

The vast majority of the places I ski are small and have cheap lift tickets so I don't look for deals because the small hills need the money more than I do and it's not that much to begin with.

I am going to Mount Saint Anne in April and have already purchased full priced lift tickets because I couldn't find any deals, but I also don't really know where to look (checked litfopia)

ironhippy said:
because the only deal I could find was with lodging/lift tickets

Two things you could try: 1) Call Mont Sainte Anne and ask if they give discounts for pass holders of other ski areas (many areas do)
2) Contact the companies which include lodging to see if they sell lift tickets alone. They already have a contract with the mountain for group discounts, so its possible they might do that.

steamboat1 · Mar 12, 2015

C-Rex said:
I put deal hunter, which I am, but really it's mostly my club. It kills me when people act like they can't decide if joining is a good idea or not. If you ski once, alone, it pays for itself! Guys will buy new skis every year and then get all tight-assed when it comes to plopping down $25 for a club membership.

My club costs $200 per year for dues & maintenance fees. Save a lot more than that in reduced lodging costs, not to mention ski club discount days. Haven't purchased ski club bulk ticket discounts in years but they are also available.

Cannonball · Mar 12, 2015

steamboat1 said:
I also have to take lodging costs into consideration.

I don't even want to consider that! Actual ski costs are in the noise compared to lodging.

abc · Mar 12, 2015

You miss one: Craig's list!

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