Planning a Skiing Vacation
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When planning a skiing vacation the first thing to sort out is the budget. Possibly you would think the destination more important, and if money is no object you are probably right. However, for an ordinary guy wanting to take his family skiing, the budget has a lot to do with the destination.
This is especially true when you consider that there are great ski slopes in destinations as far apart as Japan and Stockholm, and Austria and Aspen. There is a massive price difference between these skiing destinations, no matter where in the world you live, although with ever reducing flight costs, this is become less of a problem. The size of your family may be the deciding factor, though skiing it a lot less expensive than it used to be with many packages designed to cut the costs while you enjoy the slopes.
If your budget is a limiting factor, set a figure for the cost of the vacation then decide on the destination. In the USA there is Aspen of course, but Vail is actually the prime ski spot in America, if a bit expensive. If you want the best, that’s it, and it is regarded as one of the top three skiing resorts in the world. Whistler in Canada is another, rated by some as number one for a skiing vacation. With fantastic slopes and host for the 1020 Winter Olympics, Whistler offers snowcat and heli-skiing as well as great après-ski facilities. With its own breweries, what could be better than relaxing in the evening with a strong local brew in front of a crackling fire!
In choosing a resort you have to take into consideration the skiing abilities of you and your family. Some resorts have limited facilities for beginners, and others do not provide instruction. Make sure that your chosen resort can handle a range of abilities or your skiing vacation may be very dull for the non-skiers in your group. Snowbird in Utah is a top rated family resort, but there are family skiing vacations to be found all over the USA from New Mexico to Alaska.
Just get onto the internet and check them all out. Compare prices and facilities, and decide what is best for you. There are lots of special deals available all year round, and some ski resorts specialize in summer skiing. It’s not just a winter sport any more. You get everything organized and booked online without having to visit a travel agency, though some of those can give you good advice, especially if they specialize in skiing vacations, or if you are traveling abroad.
If you look hard enough you will find resorts that offer facilities for just about every kind of winter sport, so the skaters and snowboarders in your family will all be catered for. You must also make sure that there are facilities for the more experienced skier, since not all resorts are suitable. Vail is a good example of family friendly Colorado resort, as is Steamboat. Some others are suitable only for beginners and intermediate, with the more experienced having to travel many miles for the nearest class of slope to suit them.
If all of your family do not own skis you must first check that ski hire is available – prices vary but an example is the daily package price of $23 in Salt Lake City for skis and boots, or $14 for juniors. This varies according to the grade of ski and the resort. Ski clothing hire is also popular. This can be pretty expensive and it is normally cheaper to hire for the period of your vacation than purchase new. Many people don’t need a ski jacket at $200 or more for general wear.
Due to the large number of skiing resorts all around the world, you should not find planning a skiing vacation to be difficult. Many specialize in family skiing and après ski, and others cater specifically for the expert skier, so you should find it fairly easy to locate a ski resort that meets your needs and your pocket.
Enjoy your skiing vacation – it’s a year round sport these days and provides fun for the whole family, all day and all evening.
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