How to Find the Right Ski Resort for You

With so many great ski resorts to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one is the best fit for your vacation. Skiing at Aspen-Snowmass or Deer Valley will yield a much different experience than skiing at Silverton or Powder Mountain . Fun is the most important consideration in your skiing (or snowboarding) trip, and you won’t be having any if you pick a resort that doesn’t jive with your destination desires.

Proximity

There are some basic questions to address before you decide where your next ski adventure will take you. Are you going to fly or drive? If where you want to go is far enough that you’ll have to fly, do you have the right ski/snowboard luggage for traveling? If you’re going to drive, do you have a car with four-wheel or all-wheel drive for snowy road conditions?

Another decision you’ll have to make is whether you plan to stay at one resort or check out other ski and snowboard destinations in the area, as that will help you choose which lift pass to purchase and what transportation you’ll need. For example, if you’re going to ski at Alta and Snowbird , you can get away with not having a car once you get there and buy Alta/Bird passes to ski at both resorts since they are neighbors.

Price

Purchasing an Ikon, Epic or Mountain Collective pass will have a big impact on your decision. For instance, if you have an Epic Pass and you choose Lake Tahoe for your holiday, you’ll be able to ski or snowboard at Heavenly , Northstar and Kirkwood seven days a week for the whole season, but there are some blackout dates.

You should know that some resorts using a sliding scale to determine daily pricing, but you can usually save some money by purchasing your tickets ahead of time online or by using a discount provider like Liftopia. Local ski and snowboard rental shops also usually offer discounted tickets.

Retail memberships, like those offered by Costco and REI, can also help you save big during ski season. During the 2018/2019 season, REI offered a 42% discount for a two-pack of lift tickets to California’s Mammoth Mountain . If you’re going to be skiing more than 10 days at the same resort or resorts that are part of a pass like Ikon or Epic, it’s worth buying a pass rather than day tickets.

Ability

Before deciding where to go, you should determine the kind of terrain you’re after, and you’ll have to assess the ability level of everyone in your group. While it may sound glamorous to ski the famous slopes of Chamonix in France, it’s not a good place for greenhorns to learn. The slopes are very steep and can be extremely icy, but many people don’t realize this before booking their ski holidays and end up spending their hard-earned vacation pizza-ing their way down the challenging terrain.

Mount Bachelor and Park City Mountain are known for having a lot of great intermediate terrain, while Idaho’s Sun Valley Resort is a great choice for a high-end, family-friendly ski and snowboard vacation. Will there be both skiers and snowboarders in your group? Deer Valley, Alta, and Mad River Glen are the three resorts in the country that do not allow snowboarders.

Location

Are you looking for powder skiing and snowboarding, or are you more comfortable on groomed trails? Shredding powder sounds cool, but it takes some learning and some muscle to navigate it – especially if you’re used to skiing or boarding the icier slopes of the Eastern U.S.

If you want deep powder and steep chutes, Jackson Hole will not disappoint. Do you like tree skiing or powder bowls? Breckenridge has amazing powder bowls above treeline, which also means it can get windy. Advanced skiers and snowboarders can’t get enough of Telluride and Silverton, but these resorts sit at high elevations, 13,150 feet (4,010 meters) and 13,487 feet (4110 meters) respectively, which adds another consideration because you definitely don’t want to get altitude sickness on your ski holiday.

Other Activities

Are you going on a ski vacation just to ski and snowboard, or do you plan on doing other activities in the area? Are you going to stay on the mountain, or do you want to explore the region? Will everyone in your group be skiing or snowboarding all day, or will some people want to spend time at a spa or doing other activities?

If you’re planning a vacation that will last longer than a few days, it’s a good idea to choose a resort where a break from the slopes won’t result in boredom. Montana’s Big Sky Resort is just an hour away from Yellowstone National Park, and Steamboat Resort has great natural hot springs that are not to be missed.