Planning Guide - Define the Window

We can't all ski 100 days a season.

Most of us “real people” have commitments that they need plan around: family events, career responsibilities, children's sports or school events, limited vacation time. It can be a challenge to find the time, let alone coordinate with a group.

Break out the calendars and coordinate with your potential group members. If possible, try to identify several periods where the stars align and everyone could potentially travel.

The timeframes available to you are going to play a significant role in the selection of your ultimate destination, as early or late season skiing is only realistic in certain regions and at specific resorts. February or March is often a sweet spot for many destination resorts, but of course there is significant geographical variation so it pays to align your timeframes with your list of potential resorts to increase your chances of encountering favorable conditions.

Our advice is to identify your opportunities early, and block off those times as best as possible to avoid cancellations later.

Holiday Travel

If your only option is to travel around a major holiday; it is even more imperative that you identify this early. As you may expect, this is often when prices are highest, lodging gets booked up quickly, and air travel is hardest. It's also when ski resorts charge the most and limit their access to avoid overcrowding.

For information, look for our forthcoming article on Planning a Holiday Ski Trip.