Advanced Lodging Reservations

[loafer89]

On the way home from Killington yesterday, my wife and I were talking about planning our first ski weekend for next season (you can never start to early IMO).

We want to ski Thanksgiving weekend at K and now that I have purchased the ASC bronze pass and have the May 1st free tickets, we want to make hotel reservations.

How far in advance is required to get the best lodging rates? Yahoo travel already is taking reservations for November , but Killington.com is not. :angry:

 

[thetrailboss]

On the way home from Killington yesterday, my wife and I were talking about planning our first ski weekend for next season (you can never start to early IMO).

We want to ski Thanksgiving weekend at K and now that I have purchased the ASC bronze pass and have the May 1st free tickets, we want to make hotel reservations.

How far in advance is required to get the best lodging rates? Yahoo travel already is taking reservations for November , but Killington.com is not. :angry:

Give them a call...I doubt that they'd turn away anyone who wants to give them $$$$ :wink: :roll:

 

[loafer89]

Yeah I hear you on that one, I was just wondering if the rates are cheaper now than say 3-4 months from now, as Thanksgiving is generally not a cheap skiing weekend.

 

[thetrailboss]

[...]as Thanksgiving is generally not a cheap skiing weekend.

Actually, that is generally really early in the season, so rates usually are quite low (relatively speaking). Better than Christmas time...

 

[ALLSKIING]

Yeah I hear you on that one, I was just wondering if the rates are cheaper now than say 3-4 months from now, as Thanksgiving is generally not a cheap skiing weekend.

I don't think the rates would be any different today or in Oct.

 

[Vortex]

There are black out dates on the Bronze pass(Not sure which one you got) some are over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Take a look first. Sorry to be the Buzz kill. www.allforonepass.com Nov 25 and 26 are blacked out. :angry:

 

[loafer89]

Yes, I did did see that, but the vouchers that Warren and I got for the May 1st slalom are valid during Thanksgiving. We are only interested in skiing on saturday and sunday, November 26-27th, so I could use the voucher on saturday, and my pass on sunday.

Alot of the lodging locations, do not accept friday check in during Thanksgiving weekend, so I may have to book a little early to get in????

Thanks again Bob, for the food and hospitality on saturday. I MIGHT be back up on May 15th, if the skiing is still good at K.

 

[Vortex]

I kind of am planning on goin that weekend so my kids can see the band Cracker. Keep me in the loop.
Sounds like you have thanksgiving well planned. Your welcome it was fun.

 

[loafer89]

For me it will depend on how much walking (if any) is required, because if I do go, Warren will want to tag along and he cannot carry his own skis because they are too heavy for him just yet.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I have 20 plus years in ski resort lodging experience. Thanksgiving is not considered a big holiday weekend so prices are generally low season rates. Jackson Hole has never been open for Thanksgiving.

Here in New England counting on good conditions during Thanksgiving is pretty sketchy at best. Two times in the past 6 years I have had to call guests, the day before arrival, to tell them the Bush will not be open or the skiing is going to be very limited for Thansgiving.

If you make a reservation anywhere at anytime know the cancellation policy. On basic pricing, if you have the stomach and the ability to stay on top of the situation, making reservations during the week before arrival will generally get you the best price.

If there is availability the reservation folks are given permission to offer big discounts and the relaxation of restrictions to make the sale so a unit is not empty during a weekend.

The only people that need to start thinking about reservations is for the two major holiday periods, especially Xmas/New Years BUT, once again, at the moment, most resorts have a 3-7 night minimums which will be softened as the holiday looms closer.

 

[loafer89]

Thanks for the advice, I do believe that we will wait 3-4 months before we make any reservations. I am the king of the last minute reservations, something that drives my wife nuts.

Usually Thanksgiving at Killington is decent, and we have to use the free vouchers by 1/13/06. We generally try to avoid skiing during X-mas/new years.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I am the king of the last minute reservations, something that drives my wife nuts.

Usually Thanksgiving at Killington is decent, and we have to use the free vouchers by 1/13/06. We generally try to avoid skiing during X-mas/new years.

My wife is a "we'll find something when we get up there" :roll:

It's never too early to check out the lodging options.

If the skiing is good next Thanksgiving, it's a good time to go. A good Thanksgiving would be a godsend to any ski resort.

If you get a condo with a kitchen you can still do the family turkey dinner thing or if you don't want to cook you can find a package that includes a nice Thanksgiving buffet.

 

[loafer89]

I did not have a hotel reservation for one of the nights that we spent in Maine in February, and we did alot of driving and calling diferent hotels, until we found a room. That is okay when it was just my wife and I, but things get ugly when children are involved. Now I like to have a place to stay in advance of my trip.

We want to spend Thanksgiving at home with family, and then drive up to K on friday. I already noticed that alot of places will not accept a reservation for that weekend that starts on friday.

 

[Sky]

Sunday River

A freind of mine took his family to SR for Thanksgiving for years. Skiing and TG Buffet.

I used to ask the kids if tey wanted to go...but we always opted for dinner with family (secially when the grandparents were still around...never knew if they'd be there next year).

They are gone now...but the kids are out of the house (for the most part) and so now we''re into having the meal @ home and everyone home to partake.

Thanksgiving is limited (at best) for skiing. We have gone to Wa on the Friday after TG in the past. Usually low vloume crowd to match the limited terrain they've been able to offer that early. WHen it's available, it's a great way to start the year. I rarely get on snow before Christmas otherwise...too busy with events and shopping.

 

[Vortex]

Thanksgiving has become a family tradition that we do it in the mountains. Ski, watch football eat to much nap. I'm ready know.
The conditions usually are not wonderful. Limited trails with high volumes of skiers. Ow ya I'm also really psyched to be there. Its like the official beginning. I go a couple of hours early and then take it easy. Have not built up my ski legs yet by then anyway.

 

[ga2ski]

IMO = K is busy on the fiday and saturday after turkey day. Well there are not really that many people compared to a normal weekend, but because of the reduced amount of trails and lifts open, it seems really crowded. However the same is true fro SR, but I will be there for Turkey day.