 Poster: A snowHead
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Any advice very welcome.
We are contemplating a family Christmas in a US ski resort..we fancy the good snow and good service, and a family treat of a lifetime.
Breckenridge or Steamboat are favourites. But as a family of 5...ages 11, 13, 14 and 2 adults I am just wondering if will be prohibitively expensive.
Any advice on the best resort, best holiday company, accomodation or even affordable ski passes would be very welcome.
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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Strax, no specific advice, sorry, other than to note that this Christmas much of the European Alps had better snow than much of the US. 
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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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Although its not in America, I can defiantly recommend Whistler in BC. Fantastic accommodation for all price ranges, great pistes and fantastic powder snow  It can get extremely expensive if your not careful though, just be sensible with your food and things as it does mount up.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Strax, Flights are obviously a big consideration. Long gone are the days of the 300 quid trans atlantic fare and it's more in the £750 arena. So, for 5 of you that's a fairly big hit straight off. Lift passes in the US also a big hit for 5 compared to Europe - more like double. However, condos are v spacious and well equipped and you'll all fit in one and you pays your money etc. Worth talking to Ski Safari or Ski Independence and see what they quote. They very often beat DIYing.
Eating out, lunch on the mountain etc... well, in general cheaper than France but you'll still have your hand in your pocket all the time. And you'll be tipping left right and centre.
As for which one... as a town I prefer Breckenridge hands down and the skiing is very flattering but (and for some its a big "but") it's at 9,600 feet and not everyone operates well at that altitude. I've been there around Christmas time and it can also get seriously cold. Steamboat is really two towns... the characterless collection of condos and hotel accommodation up by the lifts and the "Cowboy" town a few miles away where the better apres is. Tend to find yourself driving between the two. Very nice terrain though.
If you're going that far maybe think about a two or three centre trip and maybe stick Winter Park in the middle of it.
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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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Winterpark is very family orientated, and puts on lots of free little entertainments for kids and apparently pushes the boat out with fireworks etc on holidays , has great ski school for both kids and adults if needed, and a range or runs that will suit all abilities, and it is certainly from my experience far cheaper to eat out in the US - plus if you book a condo or hotel rooms with a decent kitchen you can save plenty by going to the Safeway in the nearby town (by free shuttle bus), and take advantage of the Safeway card which is free and gets you some pretty good deals on the day. Very quiet resort as far as night life goes, but after a long day on the slopes a peaceful "village" setting is rather welcome 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I cant stress enough how awsome family Christmas holidays in Crested Butte, Colorado are. A little known resort, a mountain that provides enough skiing for a 10 day holiday (you'll be able to get familiar with the whole mountain but not get bored). It's a magic place, I'd recommend checking it out.
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Strax, your kids are almost exactly the same age as mine were when we last went to the States. We went at half term, though: as this year has shown, good snow is far from guaranteed at Christmas in the Rockies, and it's expensive if the conditions disappoint. The other big advantage of half term is that you avoid the crowds - this year, our half term is still classed as low season for many resorts in the States. In turn, that brings down the cost of accommodation and flights. Half term is also warmer and lighter. If you live in striking distance of Heathrow, the journey's really not too bad and the jetlag disappears as soon as you hit the slopes, so the shorter holiday isn't a big problem. For us, the kids will miss one day of school this year and we'll ski for 8 days in total across two ski areas.
Bode Swiller is exaggerating the costs. This year our flights are £555 each; accommodation (sharing two rooms for bed and breakfast in a decent hotel with an outdoor swimming pool) is £160 each for 9 nights; lift passes average £144 each for 7 days skiing (we'll also need day passes for an extra day skiing at a neighbouring resort); and we're hiring a full size SUV for around £300 (we could have arranged transfers at £40 each but prefer the flexibility of a car). My high street travel agent couldn't find me anything in the Alps at that price for half term, and food and drink will be much cheaper than in Europe and probably rather more to the kids' liking, too.
Best resort: you need to say rather more about the skiing you enjoy. We've been to several North American resorts, and the places that have dragged us back for a return visit are Jackson Hole and Panorama. We like our skiing to be gnarly, though, so we might not be very typical.
Best holiday company: definitely DIY your trip as IME it will be much cheaper, but you can get some parts at a very good price from specialist operators - I've used both Ski Independence and American Ski Classics without any trouble and their prices can be very competitive.
Affordable ski passes: buy your pass in the UK from a North American ski specialist like the two I've mentioned and save a fortune. Many resorts have huge discounts for families (this year kids ski free in Jackson until they're 16 if you book in advance, for example) or if you book accommodation at the same time as your lift pass.
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Many thanks for the insight, you've all really helped to confirm that anywhere other than Steamboat would be a great destination, if it snows 
I still have no idea where we will go, although the advice on here is brill! Thanks.
Strax
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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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| Jonny Jones wrote: |
| Bode Swiller is exaggerating the costs. |
Nope. The BA flight to/from Denver next Christmas is coming in at £756. I'm sure you can save a few quid by doing a one stopper and laying over for a few hours but, with kids in tow, I reckon it's better to get there.
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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
| Jonny Jones wrote: |
| Bode Swiller is exaggerating the costs. |
Nope. The BA flight to/from Denver next Christmas is coming in at £756. I'm sure you can save a few quid by doing a one stopper and laying over for a few hours but, with kids in tow, I reckon it's better to get there. |
Sorry, Bode Swiller. You're not exaggerating the flight costs - I failed to pay attention to the thread's title and realise the cost implications of travelling at Christmas. Flights are cheaper at other times of the year.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
| Jonny Jones wrote: |
| Bode Swiller is exaggerating the costs. |
Nope. The BA flight to/from Denver next Christmas is coming in at £756. I'm sure you can save a few quid by doing a one stopper and laying over for a few hours but, with kids in tow, I reckon it's better to get there. |
.... and don't forget the new EU carbon tax - unless that's included above 
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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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I have just got back from New Mexico, trip report to follow. It would be an amazing place.
Admittedly I only went for 5 days with my elderly mum (my sister is a US citizen living in Houston).
Taos is huge, service is wonderful and the snow is amazing.
I only got to ski 3 days, once in Santa Fe - really good, beautiful, terrific walking town with USA's oldest buildings. Probably worth a couple of nights.
Then up to Taos town, again proper walking town, and ski a couple of resorts on the Enchanted Circle - Red River and Angel Fire, etc.- all so beautiful, tree-lined powder (and half an hour from Taos), and finish off with a few days skiing in Taos Ski Valley itself which is a massive ski area, but the lift tickets are more expensive.
the people are great, the history and scenery stunning - high desert, but as you go into the mountains, turning into Alpine Valleys with trees!
The East Coast (Vermont and New Hampshire) have some terrific resorts but you cannot guarantee the snow, and it could be gorgeous with snow, but also could very cold at christmas - not good for booking a long way in advance 
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alanmartin, A trip report would be interesting. Taos is a long way from the beaten track and a pretty infrequent destination for Brits. Objective information about the place isn't very easy to come by.
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You know it makes sense.
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