Most families would agree that a family ski holiday is a great way to spend a winter vacation. Unfortunately, it can quickly become a very expensive holiday. When you consider the expense involved with booking travel, accommodation, ski gear, lessons, and lift tickets for an entire family, you will soon realize that it can be an expensive endeavor.
However, there are also many ways to save a lot of money on a family ski holiday. All it really takes if careful planning.
Take Your Family Ski Holiday During Off Peak Time
When exactly is the best time to take your family on a ski holiday? That depends on where you plan to spend your family ski holiday. Ski season can last from Thanksgiving to April, and there is a lot of opportunity to benefit from off peak ski deals. It's really simple. Just book your trip on an off peak week, and watch your savings add up. You can save hundreds of dollars on lodging, equipment rentals, and lift tickets. Target the earliest and latest weeks of the season. Why? Because those weeks always offer the best pricing. This means that your chances of getting a great deal is virtually guaranteed. On the other hand, you should avoid the busy weeks of Christmas and New Years. In addition to higher prices during that period, the weather is often the coldest at this time and the slopes are the overcrowded.
If you are able to book your vacation at the beginning or end of the season you should be able to get a good deal, but don't give up hope if your schedules do not allow this - just shop around, and try to find the lowest ski lift prices you can - as a rule of thumb, if the ski-lift prices are lower, you can usually assume that the rest of the prices will be lower too.
Don't Forget Food
Food is one of the biggest 'hidden expenses' when it comes to a ski holiday - eating out at a restaurant or lodge can quickly add up. If you can, rent a condo and go the self catering route - this will save you a lot of money over the course of the trip.
Also, if you pick up a coupon book for the area you should be able to get a lot of discounts on restaurants and attractions in the area. Quite often charities and community clubs sell these books for a low price - $10 or $20, and a family dining out should find that the book will pay for itself on the first day.
Ask For Special Offers
When you book, and when you arrive, ask if there are any special offers going. Quite often there are some un-advertised offers such as free ski lessons for kids, or discounts for first time visitors. If you don't ask, you probably won't be told about these, so it never hurts to inquire.
It is also worth calling the local chamber of commerce to see if they know of any offers or discounts - there are often lots of savings just waiting to be claimed.
