Discount Ticket Kiosks
There are self-service
discount ticket kiosks in many stores in Dillon county such as the
ski shops (Mountain Sports Outlet, Gart, others) and the grocery
store (City Market). These kiosks sell both single and
multi-day passes for various Colorado resorts at good prices.
Colorado Ski Season Passes
If you are in Colorado in April, September or October, you can
look into buying a season pass for Keystone, Breckenridge, and
A-Basin. Both Loveland and Copper Mountain sell season passes into
November. If you plan on skiing 5 or more days, a season pass to one
of the areas ski resorts will more than pay for itself and is the
cheapest way to go...even though you won't get to use it for the
entire season.
:: Keystone :: Breckenridge :: A-Basin :: Vail :: Beaver Creek ::
Season passes are sold along the front range at places like Sports
Authority, REI, and Christy Sports. Season passes for Keystone,
Breckenridge and A-Basin cost around $369. A 2nd option is to pay
$399 and get 10 days at Vail or Beaver Creek added to that same
pass. ($299 for teens, and $189 for a child for the same pass) You
MUST buy these in person. These passes do have blackout dates during
the holidays and during Presidents Day weekend usually. Once
you get a pass that you have to buy in person, you can renew it over
the web year after year. Overall, this is one of the best deals out
there.
:: Arapahoe Basin Only ::
This year, Arapahoe Basin is offering a season pass of their own.
For the 2006-2007 ski season, these are only $279. This allows
unlimited skiing at Arapahoe Basin, but also allows you to ski at
Keystone or Breckenridge for 5 days. One of the 5 days can be used
at either Vail or Beaver Creek. This is an awesome deal if you're
coming out for a short trip of 5 days or more. Best of all, you can
buy these over the phone and just pick them up at the base area of
Arapahoe Basin. As always, get in on this deal EARLY. Check out the
Arapahoe Basin Web site for full details.
:: Copper Mountain :: Winter Park :: Mary Jane ::
Copper Mountain is offering season passes for the 2006-2007 ski
season for only $269. You must be present to buy these passes, as
with the Keystone, Breckenridge and A-basin passes. Add another $100
and you can ski Winter Park and Mary Jane too for $369 for 2
resorts. However, Winter Park is a solid 1 hour drive from Summit
County. Still, the skiing at Mary Jane is legendary and you won't be
disappointed with your day excursion to the snow pack in the Fraser
Valley of Colorado. A Winter Park only pass will run you $279 and
you do have to be present to buy it.
:: Loveland Ski Area ::
Lesser known by people from out of state, Loveland is a very
inexpensive option. You'll see Loveland Ski area on your way into
Summit County on the East Portal of the Eisenhower Tunnel. The
closest ski lodging to Loveland is in Keystone....only 15 miles
away. Loveland is one of the highest ski resorts on North
America and they are usually the first to open the ski season in
North America in October.
Colorado Ski Resort "Four Packs"
Another money-saving tip is to buy
what is called a "4 pack" for your ski resort of choice. A "4 pack"
is 4 days of skiing for any 1 person. Typically the ski resorts sell
these early in the season, but have also been known to sell them
again in late March or in April. Buying late in the season is
ideal...unknown to many, April is usually the snowiest month in
Colorado!
:: Keystone :: Breckenridge ::
For the Keystone and Breckenridge 4 packs, you must buy them in
person and they are not transferable. In previous years they have
been transferable until people started selling them for a profit on
eBay. 4 packs are $99 and are bought in the same fashion that a
Keystone Colorado Season Pass is bought. The 4 packs do have
blackout dates, so read the fine print carefully.
Other Options
Are you a member of the armed forces?
Keystone has a special setup with any active duty military,
Reservists, National Guard and dependents. Rocky Mountain Blue
offers a Freedom Pass for only $129. This pass is good for unlimited
skiing at Keystone or Arapahoe Basin. It can be purchased at
military bases in colorado including Buckley AFB, Peterson AFB,
Schriever AFB, F.E. Warren AFB, Fort Carson and the Air force
Academy. You can purchase this anytime during the 2006-2007 ski
season and it is good through closing day at Keystone. THIS IS THE
BEST LIFT TICKET DEAL IN COLORADO.
Sign up for a free Colorado Gem Card. These cards will give you
discounts at other ski areas that are further away. The closest
resort that accepts this card is Loveland Ski area, which is about
15 miles away right at the Eisenhower Tunnel on the Continental
Divide.
Know someone with a season pass? Season Pass holders usually can buy
a lift ticket for you for a deeply discounted price of $29-$59. The
number of times they can do this is limited.
Don't forget eBay! Many times people will buy a package deal and not
be able to use it. Sometimes it's a 4 pack, sometimes it's someone
who has an inside track to the resort and is trying to make some
money on the side. Either way, MAKE SURE you check the lift tickets
carefully to make sure you know what you're getting. Search around
and see what you can find!
Buy an Entertainment book for the Denver area. These books are
PACKED with ski coupons. The coupons are for slightly discounted
lift tickets. ($5 - $10 off ticket window prices) There are also
coupons for ski school. Don't count on any coupons being published
for Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail or Beaver Creek. In recent years
Vail Resorts, Inc has been reeling in the line on discounted lift
tickets and any discounts are getting harder to find through the
regular channels. Your best bet is a season pass.
Buy your tickets on the front range in or around Denver. Go to any
Safeway or King Soopers grocery stores, or ski and snow board rental
shop. They sell discount lift tickets for most ski areas.
