Advice needed for X-mas skiing in VT

[jkosters]

Last ?: best way to book

Okay, last question b/f I start attempting to book. How's it cheaper/easier to book -- directly with the resort or through some website a tour operator?

Sorry to seem so clueless, but have been living in UK for last five years, where ski vacas are usually arranged through package deals.

Many, many thanks.

 

[Brettski]

Why vermont? Why not Mirabel? I gotta get overseas....

EDIT: And I've never been, but I would think Sugarloaf, ME would be very nice.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Re: Last ?: best way to book

Okay, last question b/f I start attempting to book. How's it cheaper/easier to book -- directly with the resort or through some website a tour operator?

Sorry to seem so clueless, but have been living in UK for last five years, where ski vacas are usually arranged through package deals.

Many, many thanks.

When I was at the Bush we worked with alot of tour operators. Some were good some were not. It might be worth it to do both. When you decide on a resort check with them directly about their deals and about the tour operator your thinking of using. Sometimes the tour operators have only the less desirable lodging available to them.

One warning...this time of year if you call directly you stand a good chance of talking to someone new. When you get the info ask about the experience of the
agent you are talking to.

 

[WWF-VT]

You might be able to save money on lodging by going directly through property owners at www.cyberrentals.com or www.vrbo.com.

 

[riverc0il]

oh crap, didn't even notice you were from the UK. yea, skip new england. you WANT and NEED to head west to UT. seriously, no need to fly over here to risk very likely crappy xmas snow conditions.

I'm just trying to get a feel for what we'd be 'risking' by going the more value-oriented route.

a LOT. if you are flying in from the UK, just do one of the bigger resorts known for dependable snow making. killington (kmart) will hands down have the most terrain open and present the best night life options, shopping options, and close lodging. not the cheapest option but definitely the most dependable snow. okemo is right up there with dependable snow and lots of intermediate runs. both of these areas are likely to be packed the week of dec. 30th. PACKED. go mid-week or look else where, especially if the weekend is not a black out date for pass holders. if you can find a weekend that is a black out date for ASC bronze passholders (killington) it is a worth while bet going. last year, i heard killington was not crowded on holidays due to the blackouts.

smuggs is a great option. there you get a place that is known for families, great runs, good natural snow, and also not resorty which is one of the things you were looking for. old and slow double chairs only (15 minutes is indeed slow for a chair lift, i like slow don't get me wrong, but the lifts are slow) so you will likely be waiting in long lines at smuggs as it is popular with vacationing families.

stowe is of course the quintisential vermont ski resort. if you are going to consider resorty areas for reliability of snow conditions, you might as well consider the classic despite the highest prices in vermont this side of stratton (not recommended).

this probably isn't helping much :lol:

 

[RISkier]

Largely echoing what's been said and I think recommendations really depend on what's important to you. Snow conditions that time of year are a complete gamble. Last year there were periods of rain around that time and things were very icy, but conditions could be very good as well. Utah would be a much safer bet as far as snow. The places with the most extensive snow making infrastructure also tend to be among the most expensive. If natural snow conditions are poor Killington or Okemo would likely have the most available terrain. My wife and I love Stowe and we pretty much love it year round (in the Spring when it's "mud season" no place in NE is very charming). Stowe village is very charming with lots of good restaurants. It's not good for ski-in/ski-out convenience -- Killington or Okemo would be better. I'm going to throw another idea out--perhaps a stupid idea so hopefully other's can chime in. If you don't necessarily want the ski resort feel and don't mind driving a little to the slopes everyday, you might consider staying someplace like Montpelior. It's not far from Stowe, Bolton Valley, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen. I don't think it would be that far from Killington (folks who know VT geography better need to help me out here) and how long a drive would it be to Burke? Montpelior is the State Capital, though it's a relatively small city. I've always loved it. charming and funky with interesting shops and restaurants. I could really see my wife and I staying in Montpelior and then driving to different ski areas. Anyone think this is a good idea, or am I totally whacked?

 

[riverc0il]

I don't think it would be that far from Killington (folks who know VT geography better need to help me out here) and how long a drive would it be to Burke?

depending on what time of day and if you get stuck behind slow folks, montpelier to killington would be ~1.5 hours (slightly less if you have can keep up the speed) and burke would be about the same drive time. montpelier is a great location for short drives to the mad river valley, but i wouldn't recommend those mountains, or stowe which isn't too too far. there are certainly closer lodging options and the extra drive certainly wouldn't justify any price difference, there is closer than the capitol at about the same price to all those areas.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Montpelier is the best and a great place to base out of but I think our friend from the UK would spend alot more for skiing then getting a package deal at one resort. I get a feeling they are also looking for the convience of being at the resort instead of having to drive.

Looking over again what your looking for I would go for Okemo. Known for their snowmaking and grooming, slopeside lodging and enough nightlife and restaurants to satisfy. If your looking for crowds than kmart might be the one.

 

[awf170]

coincidently, both of those ski areas will have new high speed quads this winter.

not bolton, they just have a base terminal that looks like a HSQ, so sneaky... It just fixed grip

 

[awf170]

Will everyone stop it with the slow lifts comments. 15 minutes is not that slow.

Ummm 15 is extremely slow. I guess it isnt that slow when you truley think about it, but for ski lift stanards anything over 10 minutes is slow. For an example wildcats HSQ takes 6 minutes and is just as long or longer than anything there

 

[WICKEDBUMPER]

I'd be going out west if I were you. If I were flying to the states to ski...I wouldnt be landing anywhere in the northeast.
if I had no choice but to go to Vermont, I'd be at Okemo.

 

[loafer89]

Sugarloaf typically has about 50-60 trails open by January 1st,(about 50%) assuming that there has not been alot of natural snow, as has been the case in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. The trails that are open in late december will be on the lower 3/4 of the mountain, as the snowfields (White Nitro) do not open with snowmaking before mid-January on average.

Late December and early January can be VERY cold. You definately need to have a rental car, but the place is very child friendly and family oriented.

 

[jkosters]

Close to multiple resorts?

Oh, this gets more difficult with every reply. Someone mentioned the idea of not staying at a particular resort, but staying somewhere a reasonable distance from multiple resorts (say, 30-45mins). That's not a bad idea, especially since we usually get pretty banged up and sore after a couple days of skiing and like a day's break here and there. Montpellier is an interesting idea, but 1.5 hrs seems like too much of a drive for regular skiing. So, the question is, which towns would be good places to crash for a week, in reasonable proximaty to several resorts?

 

[vtski]

Re: Close to multiple resorts?

So, the question is, which towns would be good places to crash for a week, in reasonable proximaty to several resorts?

Jkosters,

I agree with others that it might be hit or miss during that time. I have been skiing during Christmas for the last ten or so years and usually got lucky with good or OK snow.

Not wanting to break the rules or anything here, but you can PM me about place to stay. I have a condo about 15 minutes from big K that I occasionally rent out.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

For the first two years I worked at Sugarbush I lived in Montpelier commuting the 30-40 min drive everyday. Both Sugarbush and Stowe are about 40 min from Montpelier. The drive to the Bush was gorgeous, Stowe requires alittle shortcut to avoid the gridlock of the village. MRG is about 35 min, Bolton is 30 min.

Waterbury is more centrally located to all these resorts therefore a shorter driving distance.

The one big negetive about Montpelier is that it has very little lodging. The majority of the lodging is in Berlin and Barre which means longer driving and not great places to be.

Montpelier basically has the Capitol Plaza Hotel(very nice), an Econo Lodge and a couple of B&B's.

 

[skibum1321]

Will everyone stop it with the slow lifts comments. 15 minutes is not that slow.

Ummm 15 is extremely slow. I guess it isnt that slow when you truley think about it, but for ski lift stanards anything over 10 minutes is slow. For an example wildcats HSQ takes 6 minutes and is just as long or longer than anything there

I'm with ya on that one...15 minutes is wicked slow. The Madonna double is a painful lift ride sometimes - just when you think you're almost at the top you realize it's just another ridge and you have alot longer to go.

 

[Talisman]

Montpelier as others have mentioned would be a good base of operations but for the lodging situation. The Econo-lodge was in the middle of a much needed renovation last time I was in Montpelier. The upside to Montpelier are the many interesting places to eat and close proximity to Stowe, Sugarbush, MRG and Bolton. I would stay in Montpelier just to have barbeque at that place along the river, Finckleman's (sp?) and the Italian food at the converted train station.

Burlington is another option for lodging and dining with close proximity to Stowe, Sugarbush, MRG, Bolton, Smuggs and Jay Peak, but is more congested than Montpelier. If the snow doesn't cooperate Burlington has many forms of entertainment: arts, UVM hockey, pub crawling, mall shopping and movies.

Does Waterbury have much in the way of restaurants and lodging?

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I would stay in Montpelier just to have barbeque at that place along the river, Finckleman's (sp?) and the Italian food at the converted train station.

Does Waterbury have much in the way of restaurants and lodging?

Heard the BBQ is good, it's on the list. Sarducci's is amazing. After 6PM there is always a line, but worth it. Bunch of others as well, after all it's the home of the New England Culinary Institute. Bad news for kids, it's the only state capitol with no McDonalds...heaven to Betsy!!!!!! sorry Betsy, just an expression. lol

Waterbury also does not have alot of lodging. The Holiday Inn, the Stagecoach and the Thatcher Hill Inn is about it. There are 3 or 4 good restaurants. Not much ambience. The State Mental Hospital, now state offices, is both chilling and cool.

 

[noski]

Waterbury also does not have alot of lodging. The Holiday Inn, the Stagecoach and the Thatcher Hill Inn is about it. There are 3 or 4 good restaurants. Not much ambience. The State Mental Hospital, now state offices, is both chilling and cool.

Waterbury Tourism group has a site www.waterbury.org if it helps.

 

[RISkier]

Didn't realize there was a shortage of hotels in Montpelior -- very strange for a state capital. But I don't recall seeing many hotels/motels when I've visited. I was trying to think of someplace that would offer a range of interesting things off slope yet be reasonably close to several areas and give some skiing options.