 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi folks, 1st post here...
I'm off to Colorado in 2 weeks. Never been before and we're skiing for 8 days, so would anyone know the best way to get a decent deal on lift passes?
We're staying near Breckenridge / Copper Mountain and have a hire car, so travel is not a problem and we may choose to take in a couple of resorts.
Cheers!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi and welcome. I've not been. I'd check out liftopia for cheap day passes if your planning on visiting multiple areas. With any luck someone else will have some local knowledge for you.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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haven't checked recently must mst or the colorado resorts used to do a 7 in 10 pass, which meant you could ski and 7 days from a 10 day holiday. You werent limited to 7 days from the first day unlike most european resorts.
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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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Thanks for the welcome guys.
Sarah - that's perfect. Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. I've seen prices like $97 per day!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Beebsdj, You can also try American Ski Classics for lift passes - Summit pass coming in around £276 for 8 days 
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Look out for guys selling offers in car parks particularly in Vail. Condos have latest offers usually up to 50% off on the front desk.
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Bones, American ski classics small print says they can only sell these passes to customers who have booked accommodation or travel with them  Probably why I couldn't get one last year as I did hunt and try everywhere. It's the same price at ski safari extras and they do sell to those not travelling with them (well they did last year) but last date for buying is 2nd Dec.
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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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sarah, Only dependant of where you travel to, they are tied with accommodation in some resorts but not others. This is usually down to the resort rather than ASC.
We have DIYed to North America for some years and often use them just for the passes
you can often get discounted day tickets from supermarkets/ gas stations etc around the resots too. Liftopia are anothetr site that supply discounted day and multi day tickets but you usually have to book 3+ days in advance. good if you decide to visit another area during your stay. Just book and pay online print off voucher, go ski.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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We went to Steamboat last Christmas with a 10 out of 12 day ski pass which we purchased from American ski classic although they do offer a number of combinations ie 3 from 5 8 from 10 etc. Only condition was that we had to be UK based and you also had to buy 1 other service from them ie lessons or ski hire etc. As it turned out i purchased 4 lift passes and 1 daughter had 3 days in ski school which allowed me to get the full discount. There are several companies out there that offer the lift pass but each used a different shop for ski hire so i looked into who they used so it was close to our apartment which is why we used american ski.
Whole process was easy - phoned them for what i wanted paid my money and within 48 hours i had vouchers emailed to me for everything. printed them off and presented at the lift pass office and received the lift passes without any issue.
Huge saving over buying direct from the resort.
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Thanks everyone.
Yes, we're staying in Frisco. Been keeping an eye on the snow and it's not exactly hammering down out there at the minute. The snow machines are going from what I can understand..
We've had initial discussions about losing a day and going to Utah if the snow's that bad, but that'll limit us to 6 days on the slopes instead of the planned 8. Solitude is almost fully open from what I can see.
I guess order of the day might be to keep and eye on snow reports and make a decision before December 2nd.
I bought new boots today as well.
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You know it makes sense.
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Beebsdj, Keep the faith  We went to Breck last Easter, it was their worst season for some 20 odd years according to the locals, we still had a great time! There will be some skiing to be had, we spent a few days up at Arapahoe Basin as the snow was better than Breck and we just liked the feel of the place so that might be an option for you too. Best of luck with it.
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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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The Utah Plan B is a good one to have just in case.
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Poster: A snowHead
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In Feb just gone, I did almost exactly what you're planning to do - Except we stayed in Silverthorne a little further along towards Denver.
I order my pass of www.skibundle.com - worked a treat, picked them up no hassle when we got there. The ticket types/names have changed this year, and as someone above mentioned you probably want the "Epic Local" option.
Word of advice, if you're driving about, make sure to get to A-Basin for a day, preferably after a good dump of powder, and head STRAIGHT to the back side of the mountain. While the other resorts on the pass are actually "resorts", A-Basin is just 3 large buildings, a car park and a ski lift, but we had some of the best riding on the back of A-Basin, and it was INCREDIBLY quiet compared to other resorts, you could loop lifts with zero wait at all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Skied Copper Mountain but based in Frisco. This was in January 1981 and the budget was in the order of $15 a day for everything. If there are any South Africans reading this; 52 SA cents got you 1 US$! (and track suit pants under a rain suit didn't make for comfortable ski gear!)
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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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| Beebsdj wrote: |
| We're staying near Breckenridge / Copper Mountain and have a hire car, so travel is not a problem and we may choose to take in a couple of resorts |
I stayed in Frisco a couple of years ago, this year we stayed down the road by the lake in Dillon. Its a great base you could ski a different nearby resort each day. Loveland, A-Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper, Vail, Beaver Creek and Ski Cooper.
On a different note I prefer the brew pubs in Dillon: the Dam Brewery or Pug Ryans to the Backcountry brewery in Frisco but the you would have to have a nominated driver or use the free bus service. If you drive down the road to Dillon on an evening make sure you eat in the Pub below the Araphoe Cafe for the best ribs, chicken or pulled pork out of the smoker.
As for lift ticket probably best to take the advice of others, I usually buy the Epic pass or Rocky Mountain Super Pass plus well in advance to get the lowest price and then it is great value if you can spare a few weeks.
 Your accomodation providers may have access to discount tickets.
Wall Mart and oher shops & gas stations had reduced price tickets.
Make freinds with the locals - season pass holders have a number of "ski with a freind" loaded on their pass. 
I think they only check your ticket at the base of A-Basin so you could skin up to the mid station. 
No pass required if you drive up HWY 6, the Loveland Pass to the continental devide and then ski down to the I70 ! One of you has to drive down to pick up.  It worth going up there for the view http://bychancetv.hubpages.com/hub/Loveland-Pass-CO
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