We all want to user our money wisely, so we can ski/board more! But, the question is how do we do that on trips to the slopes? Here's a few tips...be sure and share yours also!

• Check airline baggage policies very carefully. You may be able to eliminate or reduce extra baggage fees.
• Book your trip for later in the season. April and May are often waaayyyy cheaper and have phenomenal conditions.
• Go with a group so that you qualify for the group discount.
• Stay in a condo/house and cook meals at home.
• Carpool when possible.
• Use www.liftopia.com to book lift tickets.
• Before heading up the mountain go grocery shopping. The prices near resort towns are much higher.
• Take your lunch and snacks

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Totally with you on the late-season - absolutely. I have never encountered bad conditions in CO in mid-April (the latest I've been there). Always had to flex around Easter break, which is when Midwest kids get a week off school where my son grew up - and some years, it was much later than others. But anyone who can wait until AFTER Easter is going to find some great deals. Plus, it's sunnier and warmer

Will second not buying resort food. Wear a Camelbak, depend on water. If you can check or otherwise store a boot bag, keep snacks in it. Carry on person what you need to get through. Go for the big meal, off-site, when done for the day. Save mega $$$. The resorts I frequent in my region make NO money off of me after I've paid for my season's pass. An occasional Starbucks. That's it.

With what has happened in recent months to food prices (some things I purchased last night are 25% more than they were 3 months ago - essentials/good food/not junk), avoiding the high priced resort stuff is all the more important.

Lucky those who don't have to worry about such things. I'm not among that group. We wring out pennies here.

Don't accidentally leave any of your stuff at home!

I rarely stop for a break during the ski day. I always have an energy bar or two with me and will grab the "free water" when able. If I'm with people that like to take a break, than I just eat my energy bars at that time. So, I don't get price gouged for food during the day.

If I'm skiing by myself, then I might have a sandwhich in my car for the way home...or some fruit...or some nuts...

If I'm with friends, then we will stop on the way home for munchies and beverages. And that is only ~ 50% of the time I'm skiing.

Except for somehow firguing out how to get cheaper gas, I do pretty well on my average cost per ski day.

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I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

I think next ski season is going to be quite the litmus test - and provide lots of new and hopefully useful/ingenious ways to save money. I'm not altogether sure where else I can cut. I've been doing it cheap for years....but the cost of gas to get there now completely cancels out any such word in my vocabulary.....

No kidding!! I have a large supply of neck gaiters because of this.

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I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

I always pack extra set of goggles, just in case of cracks, etc. Cannot ski w/o them. Better to have extra "deal" ones on board than have to -- horrors! -- visit a resort or on-mountain ski shop.

Hee hee. Steep and Cheap has helped in that area...I have a nice supply of extra goggles. In fact, my biggest decision each ski day is which goggles to wear!

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I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

Two words: HOLLYWOODED BEERS. Just kidding, but in college I did know some guys who didn't mind.

Here's a cool link to a Colorado carpooling website

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

And when the skier surveyors come around, answer the survey!!!!

It gets you free coffee, cocoa or soda. Seriously, free cocoa just for griping. Why do people turn me down!

Another tip... head over to Sam's club, or what ever wholesale club is in your area. Before the ski season we buy in bulk "Hand warmers" you can buy a box for about $10-12, and split the cost with friends. get about 40-50 pair? Was at Sugarloaf last year, and they were charing $5 for 1 set.

Great tip, Dominic!

I got a pack from drugstore.com Online Pharmacy - Prescription Drugs, Health and Beauty, plus more last year. I think had 40 pairs and I used all but a couple of pairs. It's nice to have them handy and not have to go buy them!

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~