Guide to the best fall ski deals and winter resorts

Stay at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa and get your 4th night free this season.

By David De Lalio

I love this time of year, because I can be in my house on the Colorado Front Range where it’s 60 degrees, while 2 hours up in the mountains fresh powder is falling and building a great snow base for the winter.  This is also the time of year when Colorado hotels and condos put their best deals out for the upcoming ski season.

Here’s the scoop on some of the best ski resorts and deals out west right now:

• Aspen, Colorado, consisting of 4 mountains — Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Highlands — is one of the top destinations for ski travel.  The annual Winter X Games are held at Buttermilk every January, and it’s not all that unusual to see a celebrity or two around town during the winter season.  This year, Aspen is offering the Perfect Storm package to its guests, which gives a free night of lodging, free day of skiing and free day of rentals at Four-Mountain Sports on qualified stays.  The Limelight Lodge offers a 3rd night free during the early and late portion of the season.
• Vail, Colorado is an international destination for great skiing, nightlife, shopping and relaxation.  Only two hours from Denver or forty-five minutes from Eagle Airport, Vail truly has something for everyone.  What sets this resort town apart from the rest is Vail’s massive terrain.  At nearly 5,300 acres, with just over 3,000 of those acres from lift-serviced back bowls, Vail has enough terrain to keep any skier busy.  Right now, the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa has a great deal with a 4th night free throughout the season.
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming is renowned for showcasing some of the most challenging terrain to ski. But, beginners and intermediate skiers will find that 50% of the mountain is also made for them, with plenty of less challenging terrain to ski.  Jackson is a frequented stop for summer travelers heading to Yellowstone National Park, which means the winter is off-season for this small ski town.  Visitors can find great deals, such as the Snow King Resort, which is offering every 3rd night free through the ski season.
• Park City, Utah, offers 3 world class ski resorts — Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons Resort –all within 5 minutes of each other. With a variety of terrain for all levels, families are sure to enjoy the all these resorts have to offer. After a day on the slopes don’t miss out on experiencing the fantastic restaurants and amazing night life. This season Orbitz is offering early season booking deals up to 30% savings on lodging at Grand Summit Hotel at The Canyons and The Lodges at Deer Valley.
• Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the perfect place to make your home base while experiencing Salt Lake’s four world-class resorts:  Snowbird, Alta, Brighton and Solitude.  These areas see over 500 inches of snow each year.  Downtown Salt Lake offers a variety of entertainment for everyone from arts, music and site seeing — and it’s all just 20 minutes from the mountain.  However, if you’re looking to stay at the base of the mountain check out the Cliff Lodge & Spa, where you can get your 4th night free.
• Lake Tahoe, a short 3 hour drive from San Francisco or quick jaunt from Reno, can have you on the slopes by mid morning.  Lake Tahoe’s winter wonderland offers skiing on both the North and Southshore, with the most amazing views of the pristine Sierra’s and blue lake. The scenery is one of many things to capture your attention, but there are several activities that are available like snow shoeing, snowmobiling, sledding and cross country skiing. Be sure to make your reservations early and save 35% on 3 or more nights.

No matter what kind of skier you are or what type of winter activity you like, when you visit a ski resort in the winter, you have choices.  The resorts above are only a small sample of the great experiences that await visitors this winter.  These deals will book fast, so take advantage now to get your preferred resort of choice.

Related resources

• Denver hotels
• Aspen hotels
• Vail hotels
• Jackson Hole hotels
• Park City hotels
• Salt Lake City hotels
• Lake Tahoe hotels

David De Lalio is the Senior Market Manager for the Mountain Region and 6-year veteran for Orbitz Worldwide. A world traveler by the time he was 13, and an avid skier by the age of 7, travel has been his passion almost his entire life.

Tagged: Hotels