| If you have made it this far, you most likely have | | | | 2) Renting skies Vs. Buying. |
| decided that a ski vacation is necessary in your near | | | | This is important because it can give you some |
| future and well, that's the first and biggest step | | | | headaches later on. If you already own your own |
| towards a great time, congratulations! Now the bulk | | | | equipment go ahead and skip this consideration. But |
| of this article will cover the three major | | | | for everyone else remember if your traveling by air |
| considerations for your coming ski vacation package, | | | | you will be checking in an extra bag, which is getting |
| however the overall concern that will affect | | | | pretty pricey these days, 25-50 dollars a bag from |
| everything is of course expense. The cost/benefit | | | | most airliners. Also ski and snowboard bags are |
| ratio for travel distance, renting or buy and lodging | | | | oversized and usually take extra time to check in and |
| convenience will be addressed. | | | | get back out. These days most ski rental stores |
| 1) Travel Distance, convenience Vs. Crowd control | | | | have excellent gear and great prices. So probably the |
| One of the most important decisions you will make | | | | most important thought here for the ease of your |
| regarding your ski vacation package is which resort | | | | ski vacation headaches would be to research where |
| you should go to. Why go to Vail and not Aspen? A | | | | in relation to your lodging the store you are renting |
| few major concerns for this would be distance. How | | | | gear from is. The closer to the resort the better, |
| far are you willing to travel, miles equals money. If | | | | however the more expensive it will probably be. |
| you have decided to purchase airfare and are flying | | | | 3) Lodging convenience Vs. price |
| to say Colorado from South Dakota you will most | | | | Again price is the major concern here. Ski in ski out |
| likely, for expense sake be coming into Denver | | | | refers to lodging with your ski vacation package that |
| International Airport. Then renting a vehicle and riding | | | | is located in such a place to allow you to 'Ski in and |
| the I-70 interstate into the Rockies. Vail is roughly an | | | | out'. Pretty much the lift will be right outside your |
| hour and a half drive where as Aspen is closer to | | | | door if the lodging is ski in and ski out. However |
| three. So after a long flight a long drive can be made | | | | distance means money. So again take a look at map |
| much longer. The lesson here is to take a look at a | | | | and decide how far your willing to travel in relation to |
| map. Decide how close or far you think you will be | | | | how much money you want to spend. Realize also |
| willing to go. Another consideration here would be | | | | that if you end up 10 miles from the resort you will |
| atmosphere. Aspen is farther away, therefore more | | | | spend money driving to and from the resort |
| secluded, which sounds great right? More fresh | | | | everyday and most likely paying for parking. The |
| powder for you and your family. But say your going | | | | same holds true with food. If you go with ski in ski |
| with a few college buddies instead now Vail might be | | | | out, at lunch time you can just head down the |
| the better choice exactly for the opposite reason, it | | | | mountain to grab a bite to eat, however if your miles |
| has more people and therefore a more lively nightlife | | | | away expect to eat at the resort, and believe me |
| and yes less pretention. The next thought needs to | | | | that costs! |
| be on transportation. How are the road systems? Is | | | | In the end the most important thing is to remember |
| there busses and trains for transporting to and from | | | | to have fun and relax! |
| the lifts? | | | | |