Skiers Please Help

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

I want to take the family skiing over Thanksgiving (and want to put the kids in ski school). I first need to know which ski area will more likely be open during Thanksgiving week. I hear Breckenridge may be good for this as it is at a higher elevation. Either Colorado or Utah would work for us. Any advice? Next, which RCI resorts do you recommend I try to exchange into? In Breckenridge, Valdoro Mountain Lodge looks decent -- any thoughts? Thanks. Tim

[Dave_H Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dave_H]

See: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20615

[travelguy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close travelguy]

Sheraton Mountain Vista

We have stayed at Sheraton Mountain Vista for the last two years, two weeks each year. It's in Avon, right on the shuttle route to Beaver Creek (a GREAT ski area) and within driving distance of Vail, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Keystone. We have also driven to Aspen & Snowmass for the day from here.

Check it out on RCI Extra Vacations also. We got several weeks for next Jan for $750 or so a week!

[Summit1231 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Summit1231]

Thanksgiving snow conditions vary from year to year. Many areas start early to make their own snow on some runs. Keystone and Loveland often compete to see who can open the earliest. Breckenridge also makes their own snow on main runs. You should be fine at any of those mountains for getting ski school at Thanksgiving. Those resorts are a 10-15 minute drive from each other.

Ski school suggestion ! Sometimes the first lesson session upon arriving is best at just a half day. Select an afternoon class and you will probably get much more personalized instruction. The morning classes are usually larger.

[talkamotta Member Find all posts View Profile Close talkamotta]

I love Utah - particularly Snowbird and Alta. Cliff Lodge is the best but Iron Blosam puts you right there. But Thanksgiving is iffy. Right now its perfect even more snow than we got last year. The Cottonwood Canyons will generally get more snow than Park City and earlier. This year Thanksgiving was ok but not great.

[funtimeagain Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtimeagain]

Park City is a good choice

Utah has a good chance of early snow. I have skied there in early Dec. and skied along side many folks from Colorado who were taking advantage of Utah snow. I have also gone to Sun Valley, Idaho at Christmas time and skied on "snow" with hay sticking out of it. On the flight home we stoped at Salt Lake City and all the happy Utah skiers got on board. So snowfall is the critical issue for early ski season.

Park City has a great deal on ski lessons for experienced skiers for the last week of Nov. and the first 2 weeks of Dec. called ski college. It is at PCMR and it costs about $500 for the lessons and lift tickets for the entire week. I have done this twice and it is a very worthwhile vacation. It is easy to trade into Marriott Mountainside (MOU) in early season or even purchase a studio unit from II Getaways at MOU. The lessons are right outside MOU at the PayDay Lift.