January 16, 2004 -- There's a goodly amount of snow on the slopes and trails across country right now, making the time ripe for booking a winter weekend, be it sporty or relaxed. We've shoveled a huge mound of bargains -- and like snowflakes, no two deals are exactly alike. Read on for discount skiing, snow-shoeing for single-parent families and cozy B&BS.
Skiing the American West
With more than 12 feet of snow so far this season, the busy Winter Park Resort says it has some last-minute deals for this month still. For February, they are offering deals as low as $47 per night per person for in-town motel rooms, one-bedroom condos starting at $80 per night per person, or two-bedroom condos from $53 per night per person based on quadruple occupancy.
They also offer a package through March 9 that let's kids ski free. For every paying adult, one child aged 6-13 gets a free lift ticket and lodging (if staying in the same room as the adult) for booking made through the resort's central reservations office. For three nights lodging and three days worth of lift tickets, the prices start at $324 per adult in February, based on two adults staying per room. Blackout dates over Valentine's Day apply (Feb 13-15). There's a three-night minimum for this package. Restrictions apply and rates may vary based on dates and type of lodging.
Contact Winter Park Central Reservations at 800/729-5813 or visit www.winterparkresort.com/vacation. For clinics offered through the rest of the season, go to www.skiwinterpark.com/skischool/SpecialPrograms.html.
Multiple other resorts are offering specials as well.
- At Beaver Creek in Colorado, you can reserve "Talons Challenge Package," starting at $501 per person, including four nights of lodging, four days of skiing and three consecutive adult group ski or snowboard lessons. Based on quad occupancy in a two-bedroom condo, four-night minimum.
- At Vail, they're offering "Mid-Week Breaks," with three nights of lodging and two days of lift tickets for as low as $94 per person per night, based upon quadruple occupancy in a two-bedroom condo. Valid through February 13.
- Nearby Breckenridge offers a deluxe hotel room for $99 per night through February 12 at The Great Divide Lodge, located across the street from the Beaver Run SuperChair on Peak 9.
- In Keystone, you ski free when you stay there this January. Prices start at $64 per person per night, valid in a two-bedroom Soda Ridge condo with quadruple occupancy. Other free amenities include ice-skating, yoga, wine tasting, scenic sleigh rides and more.
- Heavenly in California, you can get an adult full-day pass for $64, with special discounts for kids, college students and seniors. Seasonal passes are available as well.
For more information or to make a reservation for the above, phone 800/404-3535 or visit www.snow.com.
On mid-week flights from now through February 13 and again from February 23 to April 9, kids aged 2 to 12 fly free to Steamboat with United Vacations. Moreover, children 12 and under ski free while there with each five-day or longer adult lift ticket purchase. A typical vacation includes four nights' lodging, roundtrip airfare on United Airlines to Steamboat, three-day lift tickets, a sports equipment discount and 24-hour traveler assistance. If you stay at Timer Run in a three-bedroom, three-bath condo, the cost begins at $714 from Dallas, $724 from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston; $739 from Chicago' $804 from Washington, D.C.; $814 from Atlanta; and $844 from New York and Boston. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and those herein are for the period March 4 to 24. Contact United Vacations at www.unitedvacations.com or by phoning 888/328-6877.
A Family by Any Definition
Kids and their single parents can take advantage of yet another offer from the aptly named Single Parent Tours. Founder and author, Brenda Elwell, will be accompanying travelers on a snowshoe outing in and around Estes Park, Colorado March 19-21. The two-night trip includes your accommodations at the Inn of Estes Park just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, the aforementioned snowshoeing (trails are scaled to abilities), entrance fees to the park, most meals, a ghost tour at the Stanley Hotel, and a pizza and bowling party. The cost for one parent and one child is $487 before taxes. For more information and to book, please call 800/464-6778 or visit www.singleparenttours.com. Be sure to let them know you heard about this deal from Frommers.com.
Out of the Cold, In a Warm B&B
When thinking of skiing, most visitors imagine large resorts with ready access to the slopes. But if you have transportation and want home-style comfort, consider a bed and breakfast. At the Rico Hotel Mountain Lodge in Colorado, you're riight in Telluride ski country, with more snow than they've seen in a decade. But while a regular rate for ski and stay is $197 to $227 for lodging, breakfast and two Telluride lift tickets, with this package you pay just $148 per couple, including free airport and mountain shuttle service. Kids stay free in their parents' room. Contact them at 800/365-1971 or at www.ricohotel.com.
Over in Park City, Utah, if you stay six nights during the ski season, you get a seventh night free at the Washington School Inn. If you stay January 24-29, you get a $50 gift certificate for any restaurant on Main Street for each night of your stay, having your breakfast at the inn and dinner on the town. Children 8 to 18 welcome, and pay their age (ten-year-old pays $10, 14-year-old $14, etc.). Contact them at 800/824-1672 or at www.washingtonschoolinn.com.
In Bryce, Utah, the Bryce Trails B&B has a discounted rate of $80 (regularly $90) for the first night, the second night going for just $40. You're near Bryce Canyon and surrounding state and national parks. Children welcome, five and under stay free. Contact them at 866/215-5043 or at www.brycetrails.com.
Looking East
Down East, as Mainers say, look to the Ski Maine Passbook, costing $575, that gives you a total of 50 lift ticket vouchers, in a transferable passbook. You get four tickets each to Big Squaw (location: Greenville), Lost Valley (Auburn), Mt. Abrams (Locke Mills), Saddleback (Rangeley), Shawnee Peak (Bridgton), Sunday River (Bethel) and Sugarloaf/USA (Carrabassett Valley).
In addition, the passbook contains two tickets each to Big Rock (Mars Hill), Black Mountain (Rumford), Camden Snow Bowl (Camden), Eaton Mountain (Skowhegan), Lonesome Pine Trails (Fort Kent), Mt. Jefferson (Lee), New Hermon Mountain (Hermon), Quoggy Jo (Presque Isle), Seacoast Snowpark (Windham), Spruce Mountain (Jay) and Titcomb Mountain (Farmington).
There will be only 160 Passbooks sold, first-come, first-served, so order soon. You can phone Ski Maine Association at 207/761-3774, fax 207/879-9483, e-mail greg@skimaine.com, or register on their website, www.skimaine.com.
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