Ski resorts all around North America are gearing up for what appears to be a cold winter filled with snowstorms and plenty of powder. That should put a big smile on the faces of skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers worldwide (and the lounge lizards who like to hang in ski lodges). These stay and ski travel deals to resorts from Utah to Tahoe to Vermont and Vancouver should help lengthen those grins.
Just six miles from Lake Tahoe, 196 miles from San Francisco and 96 miles from Sacramento, the Northstar at Tahoe Resort (tel. 800/466-6784; www.northstarattahoe.com/info/winter/index.asp) has a brand new ski village lodge set to open within the next two weeks. Complete with dining and bar facilities, shops, groceries, and WiFi Internet access, the new village has a North Face Store, Starbucks, an ice-skating rink, a swim and indoor tennis facility and a teen center. It's a world unto itself for the inner skier in you. And don't forget the mountain. With the largest snowmaking system in the North Lake Tahoe region, the mountain's snowmaking machines can cover 50 percent of Northstar's 70 trails. In addition to skiing, this mountain has snow-tubing trails and is prime snowboarding territory. The resort contains one of the finest freestyle terrain parks in the world, and was recently rated eighth in North America for the best half pipe by Transworld Snowboarding's 2005 Resort Guide. Now for the deals. For just $95 per night, you get a room (double occupancy is mandatory) and receive two lift tickets good for the next day of skiing. If you don't want to ski, lift tickets are exchangeable for a cross-country trail pass. This deal is good from November 19 to December 20, 2005 and then from April 2 to April 16, 2005.
In Utah, the Zermatt Resort and Spa (tel. 877/269-9629; www.zermatt.dolce.com) located just outside of Park City, is another new resort village offering some excellent winter deals. Opening the first phase of the resort in early November, skiers and winter guests will be the first to experience the resort offerings before the grand opening slated for spring 2006. Room rates for early birders start at $115 for a single room. Packages include lodging and lift tickets starting at $169 per person and/or lodging and snowmobile tours of the snow white covered countryside for $229. You get to choose from which mountain area you want lift tickets including Park City, Deer Valley, the Canyons, Sundance and Snowbird. The resort has a world-class spa with herbal treatments, body wraps, a wellness center with a Finnish sauna and aromatherapy. There are also two year-round swimming pools, hot springs, and three whirlpool spas.
On the East Coast, Killington (tel. 800/621-6867; www.killington.com) in the Vermont mountains always garners the attention of New England skiers. The mountain ski trails are challenging and the neighboring towns are filled with great restaurants, shopping, and antique shops specializing in Vermont country crafts. Available online, Killington is offering a midweek special that gives you one day free of skiing and lodging if you purchase a two or three day package. You can choose from many mountain lodges including the Turn of River Lodge, a small boarding house facility with private rooms or dorm-style sleeping quarters. Rates at the Lodge start at $68. Other choices include the Mountain Sports Inn, just three miles to the lifts. The hotel has an indoor hot tub, serves a complimentary breakfast daily and is located on Killington Road near shops and nightlife. Rates start at approximately $108 per night for this property. This "Ski & Stay Free Midweek 05-06" package is available from November 27, 2005 to April 13, 2006. The package must be purchased at least one-day before arrival. While in Killington, be sure to stop at the Wobbly Barn (tel. 802/422-6171; www.wobblybarn.com), a steak house/bar infamous for good food and fun-filled nights. Try the prime rib or the baby-back ribs, and stay for the live music when this East Coast honky-tonk really heats up.
For those looking to head north and ski the lively mountains of Canada, Whistler-Blackcomb (tel. 888/403-4727; www.whistler-blackcomb.com) is offering a book early savings of 31 percent if you get your reservation in by November 15, 2005. Travel is good from January 28 to April 2, 2006. If you book by the November 15, 2005 deadline, a five-night four-day trip that includes lodging for five nights and ski lift tickets for two starts at $520 per person. An optional free adult ski lesson is also included. A similar ten-night package costs approximately $1,083. Whistler is a three-hour flight from Los Angeles, a six-hour flight from New York, a five and a half hour flight from Chicago, and a two-hour drive north of Vancouver. Filled with pubs, music venues, and snow banks lit up by Christmas lights, the town of Whistler is more than just a mountain ski resort. Get there now and watch the Whistler/Vancouver community prepare as host of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It's an exciting time to ski Whistler. The 2005 Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) Snowboard World Championships was held in Whistler last January.
While the above deals are for individual mountains, see our article on early season ski deals (www.frommers.com/articles/2993.html) which provides links to web sites offering ski and stay packages to a variety of ski resorts worldwide.
