We're coming to the end of ski season and the Canadian Rockies look to be the best bet for those who want to hit the slopes one more time -- and pretty soon, as many of the promotions vanish within the next few weeks.
Book It (tel. 888/782-9722; www.bookit.com) has a few specials for ski travel in the spring, enabling skiers to save up to 20 percent in places. The River Mountain Lodge in Breckenridge has rates starting at $91.20 for stays through April 30 with a special $40 restaurant card. Elsewhere in Colorado, the Oro Grande Mountain View Resort, located in Keystone, has rooms of up to 20 percent off for stays through April 30. Rooms have gas fireplaces and large kitchens and the special also gives you a $40 restaurant card.
Book It also has a special valid for stays through May 1 at Forest Suites Resort in South Lake Tahoe, for suites from $86 and the opportunity to save more money the longer you stay. If you stay two weekday nights, you can save 15 percent, and the amount increases by five percent for each additional night you stay, up to four nights altogether.
Expedia (tel. 800/EXPEDIA; www.expedia.com) features a few properties in Canada, such as the Fairmont Chateau, a four-star property at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. If you stay two nights or more during Sunday through Thursday, you can save 25 percent and receive a free lift ticket. The sample three-night airfare inclusive package advertised from $829 is based on departures from Seattle for travel through April 30. At Resort Quest at Whistler Cascade Lodge, you can receive the third night free, with rates starting around $28 per night and airfare-inclusive rates starting from $619. In Lake Louise, Deer Lodge is available from $119 per night or $472 for three nights and airfare from Seattle for stays through April 30. The rate is valid for saving on stays Sunday through Thursdays.
In Canada, Whistler Mountain closed on April 20, but Blackcomb is open until June 8. Spring skiing packages are offered by the Whistler-Blackcomb resort area's web site (tel. 888/403-4727; www.whistlerblackcomb.com). Two-night stays (with two days of skiing) are available from $101.50 per person, per night, valid for travel April 21 through June 6. Three-night, two-day package are available from $76 per person, per night -- the rates are valid April 21 through June 4.
Ski Canada (tel. 866/275-4765; www.ski-canada.com) is advertising a spring promotion valid through April for the Driftwood Inn in Banff, priced from $539 CAD for five nights. It includes five nights of accommodations, a three-day lift ticket and transfers from Calgary airport; no meals are included, nor are the local taxes or equipment rental. There's also a special offer for Lake Louise Inn, priced from $1,161 CAD for seven nights of accommodations and five days of lift tickets, along with airport transfers. The Inn is modern and provides a range of rooms to choose from; it also provides a shuttle service to and from the resort. Ski season runs through mid-May. The price does not include meals, taxes or equipment rentals.
In British Columbia, the Pinnacle International in Whistler/Blackcomb is available from $995 for seven nights of accommodations and five days of lift tickets, with transfers included. It's a small hotel with roomy accommodations; suites have private balconies and double Jacuzzi tub and a fireplace.
