The Orbitz Family Travel Guide
Meet the new Orbitz Parent Panel, a group of Orbitz moms and dads coming together to share experiences and advice to help you plan an affordable, stress-free family vacation.
This month, our focus is on ski vacations:
- Value, variety, convenience & fun: Utah & Lake Tahoe
- Top 10 family ski resorts
- Money-saving ideas: for your ski vacation
We went looking for travel experts who were also doting parents and found them right under our nose. These Orbitz parents have plenty of experience traveling to a variety of destinations with children of all ages. Join them as they share their vacation adventures, mistakes and successes -- as well as personal strategies, tips, and opinions.
Liz Robertson is a full-time working mother with a 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. With everyone's busy schedules, she looks forward to family vacations as an opportunity to reconnect and experience new places together.
On our Utah ski vacation, we chose to go where the locals ski: Brighton and Solitude. The choice of runs and facilities at both mountains was great, and they were both a reasonable drive from Salt Lake City, where we had our choices of reasonably priced hotels, restaurants and equipment rentals. More
posted by Parent Panel | December 2008
Ted Alan Stedman, a former ski and snowsports journalist for the Rocky Mountain News, is an honorary Parent Panel member.
Northstar at Tahoe goes big with assorted family offerings such as lift-served tubing, treasure hunts with GPS units, three kids-only Adventure Parks and a 9,000-sq.-ft. skating rink. Beyond variety, this resort delivers value and an average snowfall of 350 inches. More
posted by Parent Panel | December 2008
- Copper Mountain, CO: Top-notch daycare facilities, kids’ ski schools, and a modest 75-mile drive from Denver makes Copper Mountains one of Colorado’s most convenient destination resorts. Boasting cheaper lift tickets, fewer crowds and more locals, it’s the resort of choice for many skiers. more
- Snowmass, CO: Snowmass offers a congenial slope side village and some of the best accommodations for families. It's subdued compared with nearby Aspen, but the action is just a bus ride away. more
- Steamboat, CO: We're talking relentless powder, some of the West's best tree skiing, and a chill ambience -- on the slopes and back at the lodge. more
- Sugarloaf, ME: In operation for more than 50 years, Sugarloaf is an original with loyal families who navigate the Maine wilderness weekly to reach the object of their adoration. more
- Winter Park, CO: Picture a ski area with grandiose and varied terrain, constant upgrades to lifts and day lodge facilities, consistently good snow, exceptional children's and beginner facilities, and moderate prices. As one of the closest resorts to Denver, this is a must-ski! more
- Beaver Creek, CO: Ski Beaver Creek’s wide, handsome runs or take on the more challenging terrain and gawk at the spectacular views. Lift passes are also valid at Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin. more
- Big Sky, MT: If you want skiing that's uncluttered, scenic, and laid-back, then Big Sky's your place. It boasts an extensive network of trails that run the gamut from easy-cruising piste to nerve-jangling expert offerings. more
- Buttermilk, CO: Buttermilk distinguishes itself first and foremost by its low-key terrain, offering a congenial area for new and intermediate skiers and families. Almost 75 percent of the resort is dedicated to beginners and intermediates. more
- Deer Valley, UT: Tucked in a wrinkle of the Wasatch Mountains, only minutes from Park City, the Deer Valley vibe is distinctly more refined -- no Mardi Gras beads and panties hanging from trees here. This ski-only resort (sorry, snowboarders!) grooms its runs like a pedigree poodle. more
- Killington, VT: This beast of the East is the region's largest resort, and offers something for everyone. Intermediates love Needle's Eye and Snowdon. The novice area at Snowshed can get crowded, but it stands apart from speeding experts. Add on Pico, a superb mountain in itself, and you've got the complete picture. more
Play it Close
Ski areas within close proximity to a major airport, like Denver or Salt Lake City, mean more competitive airfares, and likely more competitive resort incentives. You also increase your chances of inexpensive -- or free -- shuttle service to/from the resort, reducing the need (and cost) of a car rental.
Be Flexible and Avoid the Holidays
Peak holiday seasons always bring peak crowds, and peak costs. Travel pre-Christmas or the week after New Years Eve, and you'll find shorter lift lines and better prices on both lift tickets and lodging. Same goes for late spring (especially if you keep tabs on the resort snowfall: Think big base and big late-season dumps). And whenever you can, call in sick-- mid-week lift tickets are almost always less expensive than the weekends.
Checked-Luggage Incentives
In the nickel-and-dime world of modern air travel, carrying your own gear could add $100 to your airfare due to excess baggage fees. And while some resorts offer good rental discounts that might encourage you to keep your gear at home for a long-weekend jaunt, other resorts, like Vail, are offering a $50 baggage credit based on a four-night minimum stay.
Orbitz parents rated these family-friendly hotels hotels on a scale of 1 to 5, based on:
- Service
- Amenities
- Comfort
- Location
- Value
Read their reviews to get first-hand observations, as well as practical tips on what to do, where to eat and how to get around.
Family getaways and reunions
With lots of onboard activities, tons of shore excursions and plenty of meal options to choose from, cruising is a fun and affordable family vacation.
Explore Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico. You and your family will see it all, and unpack only once!