How to Plan a Ski Vacation
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How to Plan a Ski Vacation
iiiTable of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................v
Budget............................................................................................................1Travel............................................................................................................3Lodging.........................................................................................................3Lift Tickets....................................................................................................4Gear..............................................................................................................4
American Destinations................................................................................5 Aspen, Colorado............................................................................................7 Big Sky, Montana........................................................................................11 Lake Placid, New York.................................................................................15 Park City, Utah............................................................................................19 Stowe, Vermont..........................................................................................23
International Destinations........................................................................27 Chamonix, France.......................................................................................29 Queenstown, New Zealand.........................................................................33 Val Thorens, France....................................................................................37 Whistler, Canada........................................................................................41 Zermatt, Switzerland..................................................................................45
vIntroduction
When planning a ski vacation there are many things to consider. This manual breaks down planning a ski vacation into three main segments; budget, location, and local attractions. All prices in the budget section are adjusted to all be for a week-long trip, such as travel expenses and lodging. In the budget section we have listed an average price range for all of the clothing and equipment that a person would need while skiing.
Choosing your travel destination is the most important part to planning a vacation, and it is very important to choose a location that will suit your vacation type. While going to Sweden can be very exciting, it may not be the best place if you are bringing small children with you, under the Location section of the document, there is a list of popular national and international destinations.
Once you have chosen a location and budgeted how much you are going to spend on this vacation, you can plan to visit various other attractions while you aren’t skiing. Local attractions and a visitor’s website are provided on every location page.
Budget
$
3Budget
Travel
Destination Price for Round Trip Plane Ticket*
Aspen, Colorado $610Big Sky, Montana $783Lake Placid, New York $1,009Park City, Utah $670Stowe, Vermont $835Chamonix, France $1,520Queenstown, New Zealand $4,000Val Thorens, France $1,520Whistler, Canada $880Zermatt, Switzerland $1,370
*Prices of November 2011
Lodging
Location Price of Lodging per Night*
Aspen, Colorado $335Big Sky, Montana $345Lake Placid, New York $169Park City, Utah $219Stowe, Vermont $146Chamonix, France $111Queenstown, New Zealand $220Val Thorens, France $98Whistler, Canada $99Zermatt, Switzerland $123
*Prices of November 2011
4
Lift Tickets
Location Price of 5-day Lift Ticket*
Aspen, Colorado $495Big Sky, Montana $400Lake Placid, New York $313Park City, Utah $450Stowe, Vermont $393Chamonix, France $283Queenstown, New Zealand $475Val Thorens, France $313Whistler, Canada $387Zermatt, Switzerland $349
*Prices of November 2011
Gear
Items Price of Gear*
Goggles $50Ski Jacket $250Ski Pants $150Gloves $30Rental Car per Week $500
*Prices of November 2011
American Destinations
Aspen, Colorado
9Aspen, Colorado
About Aspen
Aspen Mountain and its famous black-diamond terrain have been on the map since 1947. In bounds Aspen Mountain offers a variety of glades, bumps and steeps. For an out-of-bounds experience, Aspen Mountain Powder Tours will hook you up with fresh tracks on the backside. While the mountain hasn’t changed much, you’ll appreciate the new gondola, great views, and food at the Sundeck at the summit and Ajax Tavern at the base, where the après rivals the skiing and snowboarding.
Lodge
At 4,406 vertical feet, Snowmass is one of the best in the country. And with 3,132 acres of terrain, 91 trails, 21 chairlifts, and access to your choice of cruisers, glades, steeps, terrain parks, and half pipes, there is always something to do.
Ski Season
Ski season ranges from November to April.
Local Attractions
9 on-mountain restaurants Hiking trails Independence Pass
Website
http://www.aspensnowmass.com
Big Sky, Montana
American Destinations 13Big Sky, Montana
About Big Sky
Big Sky is primarily known for its winter activities, which include ski and snowboard terrain, a terrain park, cross country skiing, zip line and snowshoeing. In addition to this, it is also a very popular summer attraction with horseback riding, golf, mountain biking, and hiking.
Lodge
With the lift ticket, you can access 5,532 skiable acres and endless ways to navigate 4,350 feet of vertical drop. At 11,166 feet, the mountain appeals to people of every age and skill level. Runs up to six miles long give something different for everyone.
Season
Ski season ranges from November to April
Local Attractions
Zip line Tour Near Yellowstone National Park
Website
http://www.bigskyresort.com
Lake Placid, New York
American Destinations 17Lake Placid, New York
About Lake Placid
Lake Placid is a four-season destination offering diverse experiences for each person. Enjoy the Adirondack wilderness by snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, or ice climbing. The winter season offers an array of events for you to enjoy like the Holiday Village Stroll, Smucker’s Stars on Ice, and the Empire State Games.
Lodge
On Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, you can choose your accommodations from rugged and remote to refined and elegant. Lake Placid offers hotels, motels, cabins, and full resorts. Whiteface Mountain is the only ski area in the east to have hosted the Olympic Games, and it has terrain for any skill level.
Season
Ski season ranges from November to April
Local Attractions
Whiteface mountain Olympic venues Golf Courses
Website
http://www.lakeplacid.com
Park City, Utah
American Destinations 21Park City, Utah
About Park City
The character of Park City has been influenced by its location in the Wasatch Mountain Range which gives the city a feeling of isolation even though it is only 32 miles from Salt Lake City. The city is mostly known as a resort town with great skiing, but it also maintains a down-to-earth feeling.
Lodge
The resort includes skiing, snowboarding, tubing and sledding. The resort has recently undergone a ten million dollar improvement featuring a brand new high-speed lift with access to more than 2,000 acres of terrain.
Season
Ski season ranges from November to April
Local Attractions
Mirror Lake Sundance Film Festival Utah Olympic Park nearby
Website
http://www.parkcitymountain.com
Stowe, Vermont
American Destinations 25Stowe, Vermont
About Stowe
Stowe is host to arts and crafts shows, a balloon festival, and many other special events. The weekend-long British Invasion event is held annually in Stowe during the third week of September. The Stowe Theater Guild, along with Hyde Park Opera House, and the Waterbury Festival Players combine to offer theatrical productions each summer.
Lodge
The addition of a new inter-mountain transfer lift, new trails, a new beginner area, 2 new high-speed detachable quads and new fully-automated snowmaking on Spruce Peak has reinforced Stowe Mountain Resort’s position as the East’s premier skiing and snowboarding resort. Stowe is also home to the first mountainside luxury hotel in the east, the Stowe Mountain Lodge.
Season
Ski season ranges from December to March
Local Attractions
Art Museums Performing Arts shows
Website
http://www.stowe.com
International Destinations
Chamonix, France
International Destinations 31Chamonix, France
About Chamonix
Chamonix is a smaller town of about 10,000 citizens. The number of visitors changes enormously during the tourist season. The summer has about 100,000 visitors per day, and the winter has about 60,000 per day. Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. The town is built upon its rich and diverse architectural heritage where traditional and modern styles blend. Visitors can discover baroque churches and protestant chapels from several hundred years ago, hotels and palaces from the golden age, facades, tradition farmhouses, and colossal villas and chalets.
Lodge
Chamonix offers a selection of slopes for many levels, with each ski area having its own merit. Chamonix has extremely long slopes, skiing through the trees, free rides, and beginner slopes. Their ski resort offers an unlimited number of possibilities for snow riders and mountain lovers alike.
Ski Season
Ski seasons ranges from November to April.
Local Attractions
Cultural events Sporting events Pastry and tea rooms Cinemas Casinos Nightclubs and bars
Website
http://www.chamonix.com/
Queenstown, New Zealand
International Destinations 35Queenstown, New Zealand
About Queenstown
Queenstown is full of adventure and tranquility. The South Island is home to the Southern Alps. This mountain range dominates the landscape and is home to commercial and club ski fields.
Lodge
Queenstown is home to 4 of New Zealand’s finest ski areas. Skiers glaze at the beauty of Lake Wakatipu as they ski down hills. Queenstown surrounds alpine terrain that ranks with the most spectacular found on the planet! The ski fields are one of the top New Zealand ski destination.
Ski Season
Ski season ranges June to October.
Local Attractions
White water rafting World’s best bungee jump Wine trails Farm tours Subtropical rainforests Volcanic moonscapes Remote coastlines
Website
http://www.nzski.com/
Val Thorens, France
International Destinations 39Val Thorens, France
About Val Thorens
Val Thorens is located in the French Alps. The ski resort is the highest ski village in Europe (under 2 miles altitude). Val Thorens is the most international ski resort in France with over 70% of its guests being foreigners. Lodge
Val Thorens is well known for their versatility—all tastes, ages, and abilities can guarantee an experience of a lifetime. Val Thorens has several hills, a snow park, a slalom stadium that hosts prestigious events, a junior park strictly dedicated to children, a 4 mile long toboggan track, and even a smaller one for kids.
Ski Season
Ski seasons ranges from November to May.
Local Attractions
Le Lac Blanc – cinema The Val Thorens “Classic and Jazz” Association concerts
Website
www.valthorens.com
Whistler, Canada
International Destinations 43Whistler, Canada
About Whistler
Whistler consistently ranks the number one mountain resort in North America. Whistler features two breathtaking mountains, skiing, snowboarding, four championship golf courses, more than 200 shops, 90 restaurants and bars, hiking trails, spas, and one of the best mountain bike parks in the world.
Lodge
Whistler Blackcomb has over 8,100 acres of snow-covered slopes, 12 alpine bowls, 3 glaciers, world-class terrain parks and half pipes, over 200 marked trails, and one mile vertical rise.
Ski Season
Ski seasons ranges from November to May.
Local Attractions
2010 Winter Olympics (venue tour) Whistler “Village”
Website
www.whistler.com
Zermatt, Switzerland
International Destinations 47Zermatt, Switzerland
About Zermatt
Zermatt is nestled in a deep valley enclosed between steeply scarped mountains. Zermatt is known for its silence; hardly any cars exist. The air is fresh and alpine. Tourists and visitors all enjoy the personal touch of the ski resort. There are no impersonal tour buses belching out noise, fumes, and package tourists. The train stops in Zermatt and lets out its visitors. Zermatt is solely a ski town.
Lodge
Zermatt has nine of the ten highest mountains in Europe. Zermatt has the highest ski lift in Europe. The ski resort is known for having the largest summer skiing area in the Alps (9 year round ski lifts) and the longest winter skiing season in Europe.
Ski Season
Ski seasons ranges from November to May.
Local Attractions
Mountain lifts to the high mountain summits above Zermatt Underground tunnels, rooms, and ice sculptures
Website
http://www.ski-zermatt.com/
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