Suggestions for President's week

[bensonr2]

I'm trying to plan a short 2 day 2 night trip to southern Vermont for President's week, midweek.

I usually do a couple trips myself to Vermont each winter though I usually go alone and stay midweek during a non holiday week.

But this year two of my friends expressed interest in going with me for a trip. Unfortunately my two friends are both teachers and the only time they can get away is President's week. Even most weekends are out due to one friends Saturday post graduate classes.

I'm fond of Stratton. Its convenient to get to and the mountain's pitch and groomed trails suit my ability and skiing style. Though I usually only go during off times when it is empty and this year I will not be able to take advantage of the deals I had in the past that allowed me to ski it dirt cheap.

The two friends who are skiing with me are a husband and wife. The husband is still a beginner with only a few days under his belt who has been working with me for a couple seasons. His wife hasn't been skiing in quite awhile and will be rusty... though she grew up in Colorado and claims to be a competent skier.

They don't make many ski trips and won't be interested in checking out a more off the beaten path mountain such as Magic. They will want to check out a major resort.

My list that I'm considering is Stratton, Okemo, and Killington. Of those three I've only been to Stratton.

We can deal with crowds to an extent. My one friend did tag along for a Saturday day trip to Stratton once and despite the huge crowds in the parking lot the lines moved fast enough that we still had fun.

Ideally for accommodations we would like a small condo close to slope side with a separate bedroom for them and a pull out in the living area for me. But our price range is probably not going to allow that. We probably would be able to settle for a couple rooms in a small roadside motel within a few mile drive of the resort. But even for that to work we probably need to find rooms not too much over a 100 a night each. My friends will already be breaking the bank with needing to rent equipment and purchase goggles, gloves etc.

We are going to hash out a plan over the next few weeks and then try to make reservations after Christmas. If anyone made it to the end of this very long post and would like to provide some advice it would be appreciated.

I said I was interested in the more southern Vermont resorts but we could consider going further north to Sugarbush, Stowe, Jay, Smuggs if there are better deals up that way that I am unaware of.

 

[riverc0il]

How about Pico or Bolton? Bolton maybe too far north for you. I would skip Bush, Stowe, Jay, Smuggs... for a variety of reasons that don't align with your needs of both staying close and managing price for a beginner and intermediate friendly area. You didn't mention Bromley, that is another option for you to consider.

Presidents week is going to be expensive no matter what. If deal hunting is a priority, there are other areas, but they are further than what you might want to drive.

 

[bensonr2]

Thanks for the prompt reply and feedback, it is much appreciated.

Bromley I would consider checking out on my own time. I also would like to try a day at Magic this season.

Unfortunately my friends are really interested in going to one of the largest resorts. This is going to be their first new england ski trip and most likely their only one before they move. Especially my friends wife may be interested in taking a break from skiing and checking out on the mountain shopping, the spa etc.

So I don't really expect to find a good deals for tickets and rentals. I told them to expect about 110-120 a day for lift tickets and rentals.

So where I'm hoping to keep it reasonable is with accommodations. I've already pretty much accepted that on the mountain lodging is out of the price range.

I was thinking Killington might suit us. It seems like it has the largest concentration of roadside accommodations and therefore the best chance of finding something reasonable.

Other then the concentration of lodging options the thing that appealed to me at Killington was the long long beginner run from the summit to the skyeship base. My thought being that it would be a good chance to work on my beginner friends turns over a single long run instead of sticking to a beginner area for half a day with him.

We kind of did the same thing on our day trip to Stratton. I did one run from the top of the Gondola on their long meandering beginner run. I got him to get a lot of practice in in one run without having to constantly queue up with the little kids on the beginner lifts.

 

[riverc0il]

If you go for K, give Pico a day while you guys are there. Killington kinda considers Pico part of Killington in some ways. Separate but a part of the bigger picture. If your fellow skiers can handle lower intermediate blue runs, Pico would be a great option for one of your days. It will add to the "big resort" feeling since both mountains are under the same umbrella.

 

[bensonr2]

Depending on the crowd situation and how well my friend is progressing we could probably consider moving to Pico on the second day if we were to buy two day tickets for Killington.

But my novice friend is a true beginner. He has had a few trips now but they are spaced too far apart so he still has issues with things like using the chair. I'm hoping that if we were to do an area like Killington I could get him confident enough to use the chair by himself in the beginner area for a bit while I explore the steeper and more challenging runs with his wife. So I would want a place that has a large dedicated beginner area that could keep him interested for awhile when we want to ski challenging runs without him.

I appreciate the suggestions for resorts, but I think what I could use the most help with is suggestions for lodging. Any of the big places I mentioned such as Killington, Stratton, Okemo we can probably deal with the crowds and the expense of tickets at holiday prices. But lodging I'm drawing a blank. When I go solo I always go at dead times of the year and just treat myself to on the mountain accommodations.

I'm planning on doing my own research to by looking up and then calling roadside motels when the time gets closer... but it would be great if I could get a few suggestions to start with. Plus I'm worried my price range of about a 100 bucks a room per night is unrealistic for that week even for basic accommodations.

 

[gmcunni]

Give Okemo a good look. the mountain is big enough to keep you busy for two days and your friends should find plenty of gentle groomers to have fun on. There are several motels in Ludlow that you might get lucky with for a good rate but book early, that will be a busy week.

Many of the motels are on a bus loop so you can avoid driving to the mountain and dealing with the parking hassles and crowds.

 

[skiingsnow]

I just went to Killington's "featured packages" page, went to 2-7 day ski/stay packages, put in Tuesday 2/22/2011 - Thursday 2/24/2011 ( http://www.killington.com/winter/plan/packages/featured )

$53 per person per night - 3 miles from Snowshed Lodge (Mountain Sports Inn, 3 Beds)
$68 lift ticket per day for you
$102 lift/rentals per person per day
$46 total for tax/fees

Total: $905


Also other lodging options:
Killington Pico Motor Inn 10 mins away - 2 queens, $22 pp per night
Comfort Inn 20 mins away in Rutland - 2 queen beds, $45 pp per night
Mendon Mountainview Lodge 15 mins in Mendon - 2 queen beds, $46 pp per night



With the Killington Pico Motor Inn your total for lodging/tickets/2 rentals would be $696.


I cannot say how good or bad any of the lodging is, I live local so I have never stayed in any of them. If you are planning to go to a big mountain, Killington is probably better for crowds than the others you mentioned, although Snowshed/Ramshead will be the most crowded and that is where a good portion of the greens/blues are. While you may find even better deals later in the season you may be SOL if you wait. . .

 

[bensonr2]

I've been seriously considering Okemo.

When do you think is going to be too late to book by? I was thinking between Christmas and New Years I would make a reservation. I figure by then my friends should be able to give me a realistic budget. But is that a little late to be booking? I was looking at some on the mountain lodging at Stratton and other resorts just to see how much they wanted and some of their booking engines are telling me they are already sold out for those dates.

 

[gmcunni]

I've been seriously considering Okemo.

When do you think is going to be too late to book by? I was thinking between Christmas and New Years I would make a reservation. I figure by then my friends should be able to give me a realistic budget. But is that a little late to be booking?

that sounds late to me but i tend to err on the side of caution and book early ( we booked Feb in CO back in August)

check the cancellation policies on the places that catch your eye, perhaps there is a full refund if you cancel far enough ahead of time. once the snow starts falling people start thinking about their vacation plans.

 

[Geoff]

If you're on a budget, you can buy 3 ski days on a direct-to-lift pass at Pico for $99.00 + tax. The cutoff for that is mid-December. You can stay inexpensively a little bit down the hill in Rutland or Mendon. I know people who use Priceline with pretty good success. That also puts you near dining that doesn't charge resort prices.

http://picomountain.com/site/tickets_and_passes/super_express_card

Do not rent equipment from the mountain. You can get much better equipment at lower prices from the local ski shops. You can also pick it up the night before so you're not screwing around in the morning.

 

[bensonr2]

Hmmm, seems like it would be smart to book earlier then I was planning from what you guys are telling me.

I'm at their mercy on this though.

I appreciate the suggestions though and am seriously considering some of them I wouldn't have originally such as Pico instead of Killington.

 

[gladerider]

i'd say killington. your budget kind of puts you outside of stratton. bromely is small. will be busy. killington may have some lodging options. prez week is one of the busiest and you don't want to go to a smallish mt. and get stuck. plus, you will be able to find nite life easier at killington.

i'd book now if you can.

 

[billski]

Based on your skiing criteria, I would have suggested Bretton Woods, though there isn't much shopping and night life. It has a beautiful view of Mt. Washington and the Mt. Washington Hotel. Now I realize NH may be a bit of a journey from NJ, but it's a larger mountain and they do have condos (I have stayed at) on site, though not slopeside. It has a really remote vibe. I'm sure it will be busy, but not nearly as much as Southern Vermont.

Wherever you go, you might want to look at the learn to ski packages very carefully, as a way to save money. While the best LTS deals are in January, I'm sure you can find beginner's packages, even if your friend's spouse has skied a few days, but still looks like a rank beginner.

 

[Geoff]

Hmmm, seems like it would be smart to book earlier then I was planning from what you guys are telling me.

I'm at their mercy on this though.

I appreciate the suggestions though and am seriously considering some of them I wouldn't have originally such as Pico instead of Killington.

The direct-to-lift pass loaded with 3 ski days for $99 makes Pico very attractive. You can book lodging in Rutland or Mendon that can be canceled with no fee if you find a better deal. At Okemo, Killington, or the other obvious places, you often have to pre-pay and get hit with cancelation fees. Midweek, it shouldn't be too awful.

 

[tjf67]

Depending on the crowd situation and how well my friend is progressing we could probably consider moving to Pico on the second day if we were to buy two day tickets for Killington.

But my novice friend is a true beginner. He has had a few trips now but they are spaced too far apart so he still has issues with things like using the chair. I'm hoping that if we were to do an area like Killington I could get him confident enough to use the chair by himself in the beginner area for a bit while I explore the steeper and more challenging runs with his wife. So I would want a place that has a large dedicated beginner area that could keep him interested for awhile when we want to ski challenging runs without him.

I appreciate the suggestions for resorts, but I think what I could use the most help with is suggestions for lodging. Any of the big places I mentioned such as Killington, Stratton, Okemo we can probably deal with the crowds and the expense of tickets at holiday prices. But lodging I'm drawing a blank. When I go solo I always go at dead times of the year and just treat myself to on the mountain accommodations.

I'm planning on doing my own research to by looking up and then calling roadside motels when the time gets closer... but it would be great if I could get a few suggestions to start with. Plus I'm worried my price range of about a 100 bucks a room per night is unrealistic for that week even for basic accommodations.

Your live in Jersey. Lake Placid is the closest major resort town. Lots of things to do off hill. Seperate hill for beginners. There is a ton of motels to satisfy any budget.

 

[billski]

Your live in Jersey. Lake Placid is the closest major resort town. Lots of things to do off hill. Seperate hill for beginners. There is a ton of motels to satisfy any budget.

Great idea. A+

 

[gorgonzola]

no mt snow love? i'd do mt snow over stratton or okemo any day - lot's of lodging options, great snowmaking, decent off mountain food/bars, tons of beginner/intermediate terrain... we did prez weekend there for years with the kids and the crowds are mangeable as long as you plan accordingly - thats really gonna be the same everywhere. if inn type lodging works for you we stayed at the kizthoff alot - great people, whatever you do you have to book it now!

 

[billski]

no mt snow love? i'd do mt snow over stratton or okemo any day - lot's of lodging options, great snowmaking, decent off mountain food/bars, tons of beginner/intermediate terrain... we did prez weekend there for years with the kids and the crowds are mangeable as long as you plan accordingly - thats really gonna be the same everywhere. if inn type lodging works for you we stayed at the kizthoff alot - great people, whatever you do you have to book it now!

Nothing wrong with MS, just not that week. I've seen some pretty fugly pictures of lift lines at Mt. Snow during that week.

 

[gorgonzola]

meh, done it many times - just avoid the canyon and grand summit lifts at peak times and its fine.... 10minutes tops. grand summit right after lunch 20-30, stay away!

killy, stratton or okemo won't be any better - if you have to go that week you just need to plan and be in the mindset that its going to be crowded

 

[bensonr2]

Thanks again for the suggestions guys... it is much appreciated.

I think what I'm going to do is start to make a list of accommodations within my price range for each of the resorts I am considering.

Then when I am given the go ahead to make reservations I'll check availability and where we go will be determined by where I am able to find room(s) without breaking the bank.

On a side note I'm likely taking a midweek trip to either Sugarbush or Killington during probably the second week of January. Right now the plan is to go solo but I may have a date with me who would be a first time skier. If I have date with me I know Killington has a decent size learners area. But what about Sugarbush?