 Poster: A snowHead
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We have booked to go to steamboat for the 13 days over xmas, flying BA, renting an appartment 100mts from the gondola and will be collecting a hire car at denver and i have a few questions.
Hire car - i usually book all my overseas hire car through thrifty and its usually a ford escape or similar although this is not normally in snowy conditions. i was thinking of the same type this time but will this be ok for the drive from denver to steamboat or should i upgrade to the next type of SUV. also do the hire companies always put on snow tyres at that time of year?
Ski hire - seems to be very limited to rentals through steamboat.com or am i missing something with only about shops although they have quite a few locations.
lift pass - i now it is pricey but are there any ways of getting discounted tickets. almost all of the states offers sometype of discount on almost anything but not found anything that relates to steamboat lift passes although i have found a uk company that will offfer 30% on almost everything if i buy 1 day of ski school - seems to good to be true as i was already going to put daughter into ski school as she is 1st time skier.
any feedback on the abopve or any other general points on travelling to steamboat or the resort mountains etc will be appreciated.
thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pauljames, Not been to steamboat for 17 years... but - lift passes... have you tried ski independence?
http://www.ski-i.com/usa/steamboat/booking/2011-12-20/12
Usually a very good way of getting discount passes. Especially if you have kids.
Going to the US is a great argument for getting your own skis. I reckon break even point is usually at about 12-13 days of US rental paying for the whole cost of the skis from somewhere doing good deals like Sport Conrad... Buy this year and it's free next year...
There are some cheap ski outlets like the Sports Authority around the place in the US. Years since I've been to Denver (before DIA opened) so not much help to you there.
Enjoy the trees!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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No idea about Steamboat specifics - try Slidingonthecheap for Colorado deals and offers or it might be worth looking at season passses although the cheaper ones will be blacked out when you're there.
Ford Escape I think would be fine - whether hire companies put snow tyres on is very much hit and miss in US bearing in mid that most rentals are to business/domestic travellers probably driving within about a 30 mile radius of the airport. If it's typical of my last rental in Denver you'll get to choose your car from a row so pick the one with the best tyres but be prepared to stop at a Walmart or Autoparts store to buy some chains/cables. I70 is kept pretty well ploughed IIRC.
Re rentals US ski rental isn't cheap but a city based store like a Sports Authority might do a deal over a 2 week rental or probably have last years' basic skis starting at around $200 if you're not fussy. There will be plenty of ski hire places in Steamboat too t
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Why fly to Denver when you really want to go to Steamboat? There's an airport at Steamboat...
It seems a waste to hire a car for a few hours each way and that's the end of the use for the car. Might be cheaper to book a transfer instead?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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pauljames, are you driving directly from DIA to Steamboat? Or spending night in Denver first and making the drive in daylight? If on the BA flight, I guess that gets you in and clear by something like 7pm? Then you've got to get car so let's call it 8pm allowing for fannying around. It's a good three hours, I-70 can be horrible and the pass beyond Winter Park can be sketchy if it's dumping. All that after a long flight and at what your body tells you is 3am. Personally, I reckon first night in Denver and hit the road early - cos you'll be wide awake anyway.
I've hired many SUVs from DIA but all had summer tyres on. It's never landed me in trouble though. You do sometimes see cars all over the shop on the interstate though.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| abc wrote: |
Why fly to Denver when you really want to go to Steamboat? There's an airport at Steamboat...
It seems a waste to hire a car for a few hours each way and that's the end of the use for the car. Might be cheaper to book a transfer instead? |
Might not be an issue for you buying fares domestically but there can be a fairly material difference in airfares for a direct transatlantic flight and one with a local connection on the end even setting aside US airports proclivety for losing luggage. Plus with a family transfer costs add up relatively to car rental which is relatively cheap through European consolidators and gives you flexibility for supermarket shops.
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car rental which is relatively cheap through European consolidators
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I would caution about the need for supplemental insurance which runs approximately $10/day. 13 days of that could be more than the seemingly low hiring cost.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Bones, thanks for the reply.
just looked at car hire and they are selling out fast - so the websites say  anyway its a tossup between a ford escape type size or a jeep grand cheroke. i dont need the additional space/size but thought the cheroke may be better for the snowy conditions - anycolorado locals have any advice on this?
thanks to all.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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abc, Not a lot of need for supplemental insurance unless you like being over insured. CDW/LDW included in most prices, PAI etc is just a con. Do you want a sat nav only $10 a day? When I've basically got 2 roads to drive on and 1 turn to make I think I'll survive.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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pauljames, I find you never get the SUV you ask for. They're all shocking I think, mainly cos of the choppy gear boxes and over-light steering. Just hit and hope and charm your upgrade at the desk. Sometimes you get nudged up to the Ford Expedition size.
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pauljames, I find you never get the SUV you ask for
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This can be true - they usually use those vehicles onthe website to give you an idea of what sort of size vehicle you will/can get. Yuo are basically looking at an intermediate or standard SUV. What the agent uses at your airport can be something totally different to what you think you may get.
It can also be a bit of luck too - we've had many different vehicles - best one we got was a brand new Surburban with all the toys  for the standard price. I know a couple who did a roadtrip around BC Canada ( same time we did, met em enroute ) and they were in a Ford Escape, plenty big enough for the two of them and gear for two weeks. We had some great snow too and they didnt have a problem.
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You know it makes sense.
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| fatbob wrote: |
| abc, Not a lot of need for supplemental insurance unless you like being over insured. CDW/LDW included in most prices, PAI etc is just a con. Do you want a sat nav only $10 a day? When I've basically got 2 roads to drive on and 1 turn to make I think I'll survive. |
Not true for oversea renters!
The basic liability insurance is included. But you're responsible for any demage to the car itself. Say, if you slide into a telephone pole in the snowy road. That could easily be a few thousand dollars.
Granted, I have no idea of ground transfer cost. So it may be just breaking even.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Easy thing to do is get an annual excess insurance policy anyway. Way cheaper.
abc, as fat bob says CDW etc is included on most UK purchased US rentals so it is only excesses you get stung for.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ah, I missed the post revealing the price. That's not too different than what domestic renters get, albeit minus insurance. (domestic renters are typically covered on their own car's insurance policy)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| abc wrote: |
Not true for oversea renters!
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I'm sorry I'm afraid you're wrong on this one. Don't compare renting through the hire car company direct with the packaged deals European consolidators can do. When I was living in Canada it was definitely cheaper for me when I needed it to rent a car through Holiday Autos than any domestic channel.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hmmm
this thread seems to have evolved into a car hire thread so just for clarity it is so much cheaper to make the booking in the UK for me rather than through any US website or direct at the airport. extract below is what is included in the hire costs - only add on i need is personal insurance and the roadside assist which is about 5$/day.
Rental includes:
Unlimited Mileage, Loss/Collision Damage Waiver, Supplemental Liability Insurance, Uninsured Motorist Protection, All Taxes and Airport and Local Fees, All Additional Drivers Charges, Initial Tank of Petrol
I think that i am fully upto speed with the car except which size to go for Escape or grand cherokee.
if any one else has any info on the original questions of ski hore and lift pass to add to the info already mentioned by others it would be appreciated.
thanks
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The Rocky Mountain Super Pass plus gives 6 days at Steamboat and unlimited at Copper and Winter Park. There is also a new Colorado Triple Play pass that covers Steamboat, Aspen and Winter Park- 2 days each for 299
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Do you really need a rental if you are going to be in Steamboat the whole time? Check http://www.goalpine.com/ for transfers.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Haven't been for 12 years, arrival of kids limited long travel, so can't really comment.
But enjoy 
If you can get a spare afternoon, go out to Strawberry Park hot springs and (if still there) the Wild West steak house. And have a pitcher of marguritas in Ptarmigan Inn for me
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although there is the inconveniance of lugging them throgh airports
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Most airports offer marvellous devices called baggage trolleys  They really are a boon to the weary skier!
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Thanks fo rall the feedback on this - i now have a different question.
i have looked at all options of rent v buy skiis and decided to rent. so my question is do the rental shops in the states or more specifically steamboat allow you to change skiis on a regular basis. most european skii shops i have rented from are happy to do this and gicve an overnight service to skiis and was wondering if this is the same in stemboat too.
thnaks
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FAQ
By making the rental car booking in the uk including full insurance for all drivers at approx half of what i would pay by going direct to the airport rental sites. i have got caught out by this in phoenix wher i paid 400$ for a little tin box and 1 driver. since that occasion i have alsways been very happy with making the booking through the uk websites before arriving in the states. likely to cost in the region of $400 for an suv for 12 days and probaly will upgrade to a full size suv for another 100 or so bucks.
