OT: Snowskiing trip for under $4000?

[luvnmy2bys]

We have went to Disney fot the last three years but this December is my 10 year old son's birthday trip. He wants to go skiing instead. We have never been and wonder if it is possible for a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids, to go for a week for around $4000. We would be flying out from Texas and are thinking probably Colorado but are open to anywhere. Also will this be fun for us even if none of us know how to ski? This will not be the week of Christmas but the week of the 15th through the 22nd.
Thanks
luvnmy2bys

 

[bsnyder]

We have went to Disney fot the last three years but this December is my 10 year old son's birthday trip. He wants to go skiing instead. We have never been and wonder if it is possible for a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids, to go for a week for around $4000. We would be flying out from Texas and are thinking probably Colorado but are open to anywhere. Also will this be fun for us even if none of us know how to ski? This will not be the week of Christmas but the week of the 15th through the 22nd.
Thanks
luvnmy2bys

It's definitely doable.

I've always thought the costs are pretty comparable to a WDW trip. The lift ticket and equpment rental costs are pretty much what they are - not really any deals to speak of, although the ski areas can vary a little (with the bigger luxury resorts having the most expensive pricing). The area where the costs are most variable are the same for at WDW - lodging. If you stay on the mountain (ski-in/ski out) you'll pay a huge premium, just like you would staying at one of Disney's deluxe resorts. The further away from the slopes, the more reasonable your lodging costs will be. You'll have some inconvenience in getting to the slopes each day, but you'll save a bundle.

If none of you have skiied before, I can't stress enough the importance of having lessons, at least for your first day of skiing. This will add to the cost but I think you'll get much more out of the trip.

Also, for first-timers, I wouldn't recommend trying different ski resorts each day (some locations, like Park City in Utah, have multiple resorts within easy driving distance. So it's very doable to try out different areas, but you'll waste time and effort getting acclimated to a new area (with different lifts and trails) each day. For a first trip, it's not worth the effort.

If you're open to anywhere, and since you have a budget, I'd look at the airfare first, and see what your options are from your home airport.

 

[golfgal]

I don't know that I would try to ski Colorado for my first skiing experience, those mountains are HUGE!!! We have been here in the summer and the lodging is great! http://www.caribouhighlands.com/w_rates.htm

We stayed in a Poplar Ridge Home and if you need the whole place (4 bedrooms) it is a 3 level home with a jacuzzi suite, full kitchen, dining area and living room with fireplace on the main floor, 2 bedrooms and a bath up, a bedroom and a family room with a fireplace down (there is also a hot tub). You can take part or all of each home. You can ski in and out of the homes for the most part. The runs aren't quite as steep or long as you will find in Colorado either. With your family you could do the 2 bedroom/2 level and get the full kitchen or do the 1 bedroom with hot tub--the living room has a pull out couch.

 

[Caradana]

I'd go for the gold and fly Southwest to Manchester, NH or Burlington, VT - take a look at Smuggler's Notch, VT - very family oriented! - enjoy the far American Northeast!

 

[clutter]

If you want to go to Colorado, try Crested Butte (very popular with Texans the times I've been there) or Steamboat Springs. They both have more of a 'western' feel, without the glitz of Vail, Aspen or Telluride. I've also heard that Winter Park is also pretty nice for families. I agree with bsnyder. LESSONS!!! And with saying 'no' to multiple mountain destinations. That means Summit County (Breckenridge/Copper/Keystone), Aspen, Tahoe, Park City are all out.

 

[momof2inPA]

Breckenridge is very family oriented, with lots of condos to rent. I would go there with the kids, and the slopes are better and more varied than the East Coast. Example: they have blue/black runs, harder than blue, but not really blacks. I thought their blues and one diamond blacks were easier than Stowe (VT), also, but Stowe did have a nice looking kid's ski school. I think a ski trip is quite doable on $4k, if you shop around.

 

[bsnyder]

If you want to go to Colorado, try Crested Butte (very popular with Texans the times I've been there) or Steamboat Springs. They both have more of a 'western' feel, without the glitz of Vail, Aspen or Telluride. I've also heard that Winter Park is also pretty nice for families. I agree with bsnyder. LESSONS!!! And with saying 'no' to multiple mountain destinations. That means Summit County (Breckenridge/Copper/Keystone), Aspen, Tahoe, Park City are all out.

I wouldn't say no to Summit County or Park City. Just pick one of the resorts and ski there every day.

Steamboat used to have a great deal - kids ski free. You might check and see if they still have that.

 

[princess pooh]

If you don't mind travelling to Canada; Mont Tremblant, Quebec is a fun place to visit. The mountain is big but still okay for beginers, and it shouldn't be too expensive with the exchange rate. Whenever I go up there it's usually packed with Americans. The village is very disney-ish and I still find plenty to do even though I don't ski anymore.