Stay at Park City's Deer Valley Resort, host of the 2011 Freestyle FIS World Championships in February.
By Bill Pirraglia
Soon, those who love ski vacations out West will enjoy them even more. In 2010, some fabulous new features will decorate a few of your favorite Colorado and Utah ski destinations.
Book your stay at Arrabelle at Vail Square before Oct. 31 and you'll get your 4th night free!
By David De Lalio
As the warm weather slowly fades away and that familiar fall chill begins to fill the air, for me it always means heavenly powder and a ski vacation are just around the corner. Others may long for the days of summer, but I look to the Colorado mountains and find myself excited about the first snowfall.
Your eyes are not deceiving you: the magnificently blue water of Lake Peyto in Banff National Park really is this color blue. It comes from minerals found in the runoff from the Peyto Glacier that feeds the Lake. Credit: Frank Kovalchek.
By David De Lalio
Living in Colorado, I’m surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. But, the mountains in Canada take scenery to a whole new level. Whistler and Banff are renowned destinations for winter skiing, but there are so many activities at these destinations in the summer too. In fact, more tourists flock to Banff in the summer months than they do in the winter. While the same can’t be said for Whistler, Canada’s premier ski destination, there’s plenty to keep you busy at this year-round resort.
We’ve released the 2010 Orbitz Best In Stay awards today, recognizing more than 50 hotels that scored rave reviews from Orbitz guests.
We collected reviews and scores only from Orbitz customers who booked a stay at the hotel. Each traveler was asked to rate a variety of hotel attributes on a scale of 1 to 5, including amenities, maintenance, hotel staff, room comfort, location and value. The “overall score” is an average of all reviewer scores.
If you’d like to experience one of the winning hotels — and get 10% off your stay – use promotion code HOTELAWARD10 by March 31, 2010. See terms and a full list of winners at www.orbitz.com/bestinstay.
Here are a few of the winners: (more…)
Pieter van Noordennen in Banff
We recently hosted a live chat on Orbitz’s Facebook page to help travelers plan their ski vacations. Away.com ski expert Pieter van Noordennen was on hand to field questions, and here are some of the highlights:
Pieter, four of my closest friends (all guys) and I are traveling from Atlanta to Breckenridge in February for our yearly Ski Adventure (ha). Neither of us are expert skiers or snowboarders, but I wonder, which peaks do you recommend for intermediate and below skiers? Thanks. –Yeavis M.
Yeavis, Breckenridge has a really good mix of easy, intermediate, and hard slopes, so you’ll be fine there. (more…)
Whether you want to try a black-diamond run or just soak up the apres-ski scene, there’s a ski vacation for everyone, and the season is definitely here. If you need help deciding where to go, read on: Orbitz has identified the top 10 ski vacation destinations for 2010.
For the third year in a row, Lake Tahoe tops the list as the most popular ski vacation spot (based on Orbitz bookings from Oct. 1, to Dec. 31, 2009, for travel in 2010). Not surprisingly, Colorado reigns supreme as the most popular ski vacation state, with five cities on the list. And don’t worry, East Coasters, there’s a top pick in your neck of the woods, too. (more…)
Pieter van Noordennen in Banff
Skiers and snowboarders, we’re hosting a live chat with Away.com’s Pieter van Noordennen tomorrow, Jan. 21, 2010, from 6 a.m.–12 p.m. ET on the Orbitz Facebook page.
Join the conversation and get expert advice on the best deals, resorts and hidden gems to help plan your ski vacations.
If you want to ask questions in advance, e-mail them to blog@orbitz.com.
Pieter, a former senior editor Skiing Magazine, learned to ski back East but has lived in Breckenridge, Boulder and Santa Fe. He has logged over 30 ski days a year for five years running, with recent trips to Jackson Hole, Banff, Revelstoke, Steamboat Springs and Lake Tahoe.
By Lena Katz
If you think California only has one season, you are wrong, wrong, wrong. Nine months of the year the beach cities might get all the attention, but from December through February, it’s all about s-n-o-w. The ski vacation season is short, and ski resorts are in just a few areas — mainly Tahoe/Reno, Mammoth and Big Bear — but people make the most of it. And the resorts do their part with enhancements, additions and awesome new events every season. Here’s what’s noteworthy in 2010 at my favorite California ski resorts.
Lake Tahoe
Sugar Bowl, the unofficial People’s Choice ski resort, kicked off its 70th season with a lot of news, including the opening of the Backcountry Adventure Center and the debut of the Summit Chair quad lift accessing Judah Bowl. (more…)
Vail Cascade Resort & Spa
By PJ Hoberman
This weekend marks the 10th annual Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival in Vail, Colo. Beer festival combined with a ski vacation? Yes, please!
Beer lovers, geeks, connoisseurs and brewers from all over the country, and some from international locales, will converge at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa Jan. 7-9. Events range from homebrew competitions to brewmasters dinners, seminars to serving exams. (more…)
By Kate Schwartz
Move over Colorado, Summit County isn’t the only amazing spot for a ski vacation. As snow begins to blanket the west, Utah is seeing a good amount of powder and an even better base. Most runs are open at Utah ski resorts, and ski enthusiasts are coming out of the woodwork. Whether you are a local looking to make first tracks before hitting the office, or a visitor taking advantage of some of the best terrain out West, a Utah ski vacation will not disappoint.
There are many stand-out ski resorts in Utah. Here are just a few of the most popular:
Alta: Alta is the one of the last ski-only resorts in the country. Committed to “preserving and protecting the skiing experience,” Alta is a great place for those who don’t want to share the slopes with boarders. (more…)
We love to travel, and we love to talk about it. The Orbitz Blog is another way we can share our expertise, advice and the occasional random thought.
Check back often for fresh insight from Orbitz staff and contributors about cool places to visit, fun things to do and smart ways to save.