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Great Deals At Northeast Ski Resorts

By Jeff and Stephanie Sylva

Northeast ski resorts are hoping for another banner year of snow and many of the resorts have great deals for families heading to the slopes this winter. If you’re planning a family vacation on the slopes, there are some great family travel bargains available this year. Several popular ski resorts have added family-pleasing packages and other vacation amenities as well.

Apart from the grand opening of the Stowe Mountain Lodge at Spruce Peak, ski resorts have limited much of their capital improvements to improving their snow making and grooming facilities. However, several resorts are excited about some of their trail and terrain park additions. Here are some of the great ski deals and resort improvements for the upcoming ski season in the Northeast.

Vermont

Stowe Mountain Resort: The long-anticipated opening of Stowe Mountain Lodge happened this past June, and skiers can expect the ultimate in accommodations, dining, concierge service, and spa facilities. The new hotel offers 139 luxury rooms in a Vermont-Alpine aesthetic, a 21,000 square-foot spa, and unsurpassed service with its Alpine concierge program. The accommodations are truly ski-in/ski-out, as an inter-mountain transfer gondola will whisk guests from the hotel to Mt. Mansfield; or guests can simply walk on the slopes of family-friendly Spruce Peak. With a new base area, new trails, a new beginner area, and two new high-speed detachable quads, Spruce Peak is set to present a whole new experience for skiing families.

Check out Stowe’s “WinterNet Special,” which offers 30% off any condominium rental Sunday through Thursday nights. Valid from December 16, 2008 through April 9, 2009, this package is for a three-night minimum stay, subject to availability and excludes holidays. Stowe also offers a pretty good deal on a multi-day lift ticket purchased with an American Express card. Purchase a four-day lift ticket for the price of a three-day ticket when using your AmEx card. Some blackout dates apply and this deal is not available online. For more information on these deals and others call 1-800-253-4SKI (4754) or visit Stowe’s website at www.stowe.com.

Smugglers’ Notch: Smugglers’ Notch offers a Club Smugglers’ Advantage Package that’s loaded with amenities perfect for families. Included in this package are lodging in a mountainside condo with a fully-equipped kitchen; daily lift tickets for everyone; daily all-day Discovery Dynamos Ski Camp (ages 3-5) or Snowboard Camp (ages 4-5) with lunch; daily 1 ½-hour children’s (ages 6–17 all levels) ski or snowboard group lesson; daily 1 ½-hour adult Learn to Ski or Snowboard group lesson (levels 1 & 2); free 2-hour Winter Walking Program; free unlimited use of 34 km of cross-country trails and 24 km of snowshoe trails; unlimited use of the FunZone Family entertainment center; unlimited use of two teen centers; and a variety of free off-slope activities such as snow tubing, outdoor skating rink, nightly family & adult entertainment, and the Monday Family Social. This package also includes great discounts on child care, adult group ski or snowboard lessons (levels 3-9); and all-day children’s (ages 6-15, all levels) ski or snowboard camps. Check out Smuggs’ SuperSaver Value Weeks Dec. 12-20, 2008; Jan. 4-15; Jan. 19-24; and March 20 – April 4, 2009, where prices start at $115 a night for adult and $99 for children for stays of 5–7 nights. Call 1-800-419-4615 or visit www.smuggs.com for more information on this or other ski vacation packages. And remember, Smugglers’ Notch has been voted # 1 For Family Programs by readers of Ski magazine 10 years running.

Smuggs’ has added Attitude, a new glade on Madonna Mountain, and a new green run called Hibernator, which offers beginners a direct line from top to bottom.

Stratton: Stratton has added six new glades and trails in the Sunbowl for intermediates and experts. The “Kids Ski and Stay Free” package can be a great choice for families who are planning an early or late season ski vacation. From November 20 to December 25 and from March 22, 2009 to closing, kids 17 and younger ski and stay free when two adults purchase a (2-night minimum) lift and lodging package in a family friendly condominium.

Another package that Stratton offers is the “Inn-clusive” package. The package includes lodging at the Inn at Stratton Mountain, lift ticket, continental breakfast, lunch, and rentals, starting at $99 per person and is available midweek, non-holiday and select other periods. Call 1-800-STRATTON (787-2886) or visit www.stratton.com for more information.

Jay Peak: You may have to travel far north in Vermont to get to Jay Peak, but the resort has some very good deals for family skiing once you get there. All ski & stay packages come with free day care, and the Value Season and Early / Late Seasons Packages can make skiing affordable for families. Ski & Stay packages include lodging and lift tickets – obviously – but Jay also includes full breakfast and dinners, free daycare for children ages 2 to 7, meals for kids ages 6 and under, and free lodging for kids 14 and under, non-holiday. This is for a package at the Hotel Jay, which is adjacent to the aerial tram (Vermont’s only tram). Other packages are available in the resort’s condominiums, townhouses, and single family homes and include all of the above except meals, as all units come complete with fully equipped kitchens.

The Early / Late Season Package is available from opening day to Dec. 25, 2008, and then from April 5, 2009 to closing. The price is an unbelievable $79 per person, per night in the hotel. Remember, this includes breakfast and dinner in the hotel, kids 14 and under just pay for meals, and kids 6 and under are completely free, even for daycare.

The Value Season Package, which excludes Presidents’ Week and the Ontario school break week in March, but includes the rest of the winter, costs just $129 per person/per night in the hotel, and includes all of the above. For more information on Jay Peak and its rates call 1-800-451-4449 or visit www.jaypeakresort.com.

New York

Whiteface Mountain/Lake Placid: Good deals for lift tickets are available with the Empire Card and the Snowball Card for ages 7-12. The adult Empire Card costs $89 and gives you the first day free. Then every day you ski or ride you save $12 off a full price lift ticket on weekends and holidays and $16 off on mid-week and non-holidays. You really start saving once you’ve skied 2 two days. The Snowball Card costs $55 and gives you the first day free, and then it’s just $27 a day for a lift ticket. A normal junior ticket is $46 mid-week and $50 weekends and holidays. Another ticket promotion is “Why Not Wednesdays?” where a lift ticket is just $38 with any Coca-Cola product. All of these promotions are good at Gore Mountain as well. Whiteface is excited about its opening of Lookout Mountain this season. It looks like the new peak will have an expert trail and an intermediate trail serviced by a triple lift for this season. For more information on Whiteface Mountain call 1-877-SKI-FACE or visit www.whiteface.com.

New Hampshire

Bretton Woods/Mt. Washington Resort: The Ski & Stay Packages for the Mt. Washington Hotel can be quite enticing. The package includes 2 for 1 lift tickets on day of arrival, skiing and snowboarding each day following the night of stay, free skiing for kids 12 and under, free night skiing on select Fridays, Saturdays and holiday periods from late-December 2008 through early March 2009. Rates for the Mt. Washington Hotel begin at $229 per person per night, which includes dinner and breakfast, or $165 per person/per night with just breakfast. Rates for The Lodge start at $99 per person/per night and include morning coffee service. Townhomes are also available for this package starting at $115 per person/per night.

Bretton Woods “Ski It to Believe It” Package for early or late season starts at $99 per person, per night and is valid opening day through Dec. 24, 2008; January 4 -15, 2009; and March 15 until closing in mid-April 2009. This package includes accommodations at the Mt. Washington Hotel, breakfast daily, skiing and riding following each night of stay, 2 for 1 lift tickets on day of arrival, free skiing for kids 12 and under, and free night skiing and riding on select Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, visit www.mountwashingtonresort.com.

Cannon Mountain: Two-for One Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cannon Mountain means two people can ski or ride for $64 on non-holidays. If you like this deal, ski Super Bowl Sunday and get two lift tickets for $64. For more information, visit www.cannonmt.com.

Cranmore Mountain: On Friday, January 9, 2009, the beginning of Snow Train Weekend, lift tickets will be only $3.30 to celebrate the original snow trains rolling into North Conway. The “Online 2-fer-1” deal gives you two lift tickets for the price of one when tickets are purchased online for any Monday – Thursday, non-holiday. The “Add a Day” deal allows you to present your lift ticket before 4:00 PM and purchase a lift ticket for the next day at savings of up to 30%. Finally, the “After 2, Tomorrow Too” deal allows you to purchase a lift ticket or rental package after 2 PM and get that day and the following day for the price of a single lift ticket. For more information, visit www.cranmore.com.

Mount Sunapee: Magic Mondays at Mt. Sunapee mean lift tickets are just $40. Ladies Day Tuesdays includes a lift ticket and a luncheon buffet for $46, and child care is available for half-price. TwoferWednesday - two lift tickets will cost the price of one ($62). All of these promotions are for non-holidays. Got some beginner riders or skiers? From opening day at the South Peak Learning Area until December 24, 2008, beginner riders and skiers ages 8 and older will receive a free learn to ski/ride package. For more information, visit www.mountsunapee.com.

Waterville Valley: Starting January 9, 2009, on non-holiday Mondays and Fridays, guests get 2 for 1 lift tickets and can spin the wheel to win prizes including a $5 lift ticket, a snowsports lesson, a slice of pizza and more. Buy you lift ticket 48 hours in advance online and save $10 off the regular price for downhill tickets and $2 for cross-country tickets. St. Patrick’s Day! – ski or ride for $17. April Fool’s Day – how about a lift ticket for $1 on April 1 – no joke! For more information, visit www.waterville.com.

Wildcat Mountain: Two for One Wednesdays gives you two lift tickets for the price of one, non-holidays. “Next Day $39” gives you a second day of skiing or riding for just $39 with no blackout dates. For more information, visit www.skiwildcat.com.

Maine

Sugarloaf: Sugarloaf Resort has a few mid-week specials that work well for families. The Children’s Festival Week, January 11-16, 2009, starts at $80 per adult per day and includes free skiing for kids ages 4-12, free Perfect Turn Kids programs, and free rentals for a minimum of 3 or more mid-week nights. The week is filled with family and children’s activities including Festival Night, entertainers, movie night and more. February Vacation Week, Feb. 15-19, 2009, has a starting price of $129 per person, per night, which includes lodging, lift ticket, use of the Sports & Fitness Center, and daily adult Perfect Turn ski/snowboard clinics. Finally, the Kids & Teens Ski Free Weeks, Feb. 1-5 and March 22-26, gives kids ages 6-18 free daily lift tickets for each night of paid maximum occupancy in the hotel or a condo. For more information on Sugarloaf and its packages call 1-800-THE-LOAF or visit www.sugarloaf.com.

Sunday River: Another “Kids Ski Free Week” is available at Sunday River resort as well. From January 11 – 16, 2009, kids (ages 5-12) ski free, stay free, and get free rentals and free Perfect Turn clinics when staying with Mom and Dad for three or more nights midweek. Rates start around $90 per person, per night. For more information on this or other Ski & Stay Packages call 1-800-543-2SKI or visit www.sundayriver.com.

Jeff and Stephanie Sylva are retired high school teachers and have been professional travel writers for 18 years. Their daughter Jennifer, who is currently in college, often travels with them.