Tips for Finding Skiing Travel Deals

By admin

This is a guest post by Lauren Daknis.

Skiing vacations are exhilarating for family members of all ages because they enable you to have fun, get exercise, and relax.  However, if you don’t plan your trip in advance, prices for flights, hotels, and ski passes can be exorbitant.  Here are some helpful tips for finding skiing travel deals for you and your entire family.

Get a Package

Airlines and ski resorts often team up to offer travelers good discounts on their services.  Get a ski vacation package in order to obtain the lowest airfares and prices on lodging and ski passes.  Some travel agencies also offer packages.  Since they purchase flights, resort stays, and other services in bulk, they get a good discount, which they can then pass onto their customers.

Travel during the Off Season or Shoulder Seasons

In early January, skiing travel deals are abundant because most people are broke after the holidays or just returning home from New Years and Christmas vacations.  You can take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds during this time of year.  Christmas and Thanksgiving are also good times to go skiing since most people have plans to visit relatives during these holidays.

Avoid visiting ski resorts during peak travel seasons because you will end up paying top price for everything from transportation to lodging.  The only exception is if you find a last minute deal during the peak season, but to do this, you have to be flexible and willing to leave your travel plans up in the air until the last minute.

Early and late in the ski season are also good times to go on a ski vacation because ski conditions have a greater chance of being iffy, hence prices are low.  However, traveling to a ski destination during the shoulder seasons is a risk since the ski conditions may not be very good.

Check Ski Resort Websites for Deals and Offers

Many ski resorts publish special deals and offers on their websites that you cannot find anywhere else.  Make sure to check the websites of the resorts you’re interested in going to so you can find out if they are offering any seasonal specials.  For example, some lodges offer free airline tickets to those who book a package for multiple people.  Others may offer discounts for students and children.  Whatever you decide, make sure to purchase ski passes ahead of time on the ski resort website because you can save big money by doing so. On the other hand, if you purchase a ski pass once you arrive, you will end up paying more.

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BOGO sale on Antarctica Cruise

By Jessica

OK, this is super cool … literally!

Antarctica Cruise Sale: 2 for the price of 1!

Our Expedition tours are over 90% sold out for the season but we have one very special offer for our first departure. Travel on the October 31st departure of our Grand Voyage to Antarctica and we’ll offer you 2-for-1 savings! That’s right, one person goes to Antarctica for free!

This 24-day tour is the mother of all Antarctica tours and covers all the highlights you’d want to see. Quote promo code GV241 at the time of booking to redeem this offer.

If you like our Grand Voyage to Antarctica tour you may also like our regularly priced Antarctic Classic andBeyond the Antarctic Circle tours. Departures of these tours are almost sold out so be sure book your space now.

Antarctica Cruise Sale with Gap Adventures. Promo Code: GV241 Expires: October 25, 2009.

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Free Hoodies from Moosejaw

By Jessica

I love free stuff! And in times like these, who doesn’t?! Check out this new promo from Moosejaw! It’s going on now through October 4.

Free Moosejaw Hoody at Moosejaw.com with any one item over $75 with code 911

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Must see National Park: GNP

By Jessica

Glacier National Park should top all nature lovers list of must see national parks. Located in West Glacier, Montana, this park is a paradise for hikers and drivers alike. With over 700 miles of trails, hikers won’t soon run out of backcountry to explore. Visitors that are more car-bound can enjoy the scenic drive up Going to the Sun Road. The drive may be slow, especially with construction ongoing, but you wouldn’t want to drive by too quickly and miss admiring the scenery anyway. Allow plenty of time for the 18 mile drive up to Login Pass and back down to the opposite end of GNP. Just don’t plan a winter drive, as the road closes around mid October each year. A shuttle service is offered by the park, free of charge, for those who would rather not hassle with driving at all.

Enjoy the glacial blue waters of lakes and the towering mountains that surround you. Campsites and hotels abound in the area. Be sure to claim campsites early during popular seasons and book hotels in advance. Otherwise, you could find yourself lodging 30 miles or more outside of the park.

Take a hike to Avalanche Lake, starting with the Trail of the Cedars.

View the scene at Logan Pass summit.

Camp out at Many Glacier.

Check out views from Going to the Sun Road.

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GNP: Logan Pass

By Jessica

At 6,646 feet, Logan Pass is the highest point on the Going to the Sun Road at Glacier National Park. Be sure to bring warmer clothes as the summit is often windy and much colder than lower elevations. Paved walkways surrounding the Visitors Center abound for photography opportunities. The more adventurous hikers can choose to hit a trail (i.e., Hidden Lake Nature Trail or Garden Wall Trail) from here. Be prepared for a crowded parking lot if you don’t reach the pass early. Campers can check the board at the Visitors Center for available campsites (or ask the ranger to call in for up to the minute availability).

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GNP: Going to the Sun Road

By Jessica

Located in Glacier National Park, this aptly named 18 mile stretch of road makes drivers feel like they are in fact, going to the sun as you wind up the mountains to Login Pass. Stop at the visitor center at Login Pass for a break, to take pictures, or lunch (if you’ve packed your own, that is) before heading back down the mountain to the East Entrance of the park.

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GNP: Many Glacier

By Jessica

Located on the east side of Glacier National Park, the road to Many Glacier is 12 miles long from the park entrance. If you enter the park from the west, travel along the Going to the Sun Road, exiting the park at Saint Mary. Continue on the same road (toward Babb) until you reach signs to turn left toward the Many Glacier park area. Once you enter the park at Many Glacier, you’ll follow along Lake Sherburne, which touts extraordinary glacial blue waters in the sunshine, toward the camping area and ranger station.

Hotel goers can choose to stay at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn or the much fancier, Many Glacier Hotel.

Campers will find comfort at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, including an italian restaurant and a shoppette carrying firewood, hotel chocolate and coffee, drinks, and souvenirs.

Campsites here total 109 and have amble restroom facilities nearby.

For wildlife viewing, bring binoculars and head to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn’s parking lot to search the mountains for goats, sheep, and the occasional bear. And be sure not to miss the show of colors at sunrise.

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GNP: Avalanche Lake Trail

By Jessica

This scenic trail is located off of Trail of the Cedars at Glacier National Park. Plan to take Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake trail (an in and out trail, 4 miles roundtrip) and then finish the Trail of the Cedars loop.

For prime parking and less crowded trails, be sure to plan your hike to Avalanche Lake in the morning. It’s a moderate hike with slight elevation gains and loses. And remember to be bear aware on your hike here or anywhere in the park. This sign at the beginning of the trailhead was a bleak reminder of such dangers.

So, take precautions but don’t miss this hike! Pictures can’t begin to capture the amazing views you’ll see along the way and at the end of the trail. The cedars offer a pleasant aroma to complement your hike.

The picturesque view of Avalanche lake at the end of the hike is a don’t miss hike at Glacier National Park.

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GNP: Trail of the Cedars

By Jessica

This loop trail is paved or boardwalked the entire 0.8 mile, allowing all Glacier National Park visitors (this trail is wheelchair accessible) to enjoy its beauty. Lined with towering cedars and hemlocks, hikers stroll through the windy path with Christmas scents in the air.

Bring your camera for this loop and stop to photograph Avalanche Gorge.

Learn along the trail as signs posts interest facts, like this one about Avalanche Gorge.

More adventurous hikers should take the 4-mile detour to Avalanche Lake.

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Want to get out more? Join a club!

By Jessica

Do you long for the outdoors but don’t seem to find the time to get out enough? Are you looking for a new adventure or two to put a little excitement back in your life? Whether you need the motivation or not, outdoor recreation clubs offer great opportunity to explore the outdoors and meet others with similar goals.

Being part of a club or organization that enjoys similar interests as you is a great motivator to get out more. Specialty clubs exist for almost any passion these days. Whether you are a biker, a climber, a caver, a hiker, or a rafter, chances are you’ll find a club in your area that focuses on your interest. And joining a club is a great way to motivate yourself to do more. With a club, you’ll have to sign up for events ahead of time, which ensures that you’ll make time for your passion and that you’ll show up–many clubs have accountability systems for no-shows. Of course, you’ll want to show up and enjoy your passion with others in your area. Most clubs offer trips for all levels of participants. So, even if you’ve don’t hike now but you want to start, joining a club is the perfect solution.

Clubs also offer opportunities to try new adventures that you might not otherwise get a chance to try. Many local clubs coordinate large scale out-of-state- or international events. Planning such a large trip could be a logistical nightmare if you don’t have experience doing so–not to mention expensive. Attending a planned trip with a club offers the benefit of little planning on your part and often cheaper group rates. You’ll also likely be going with someone with first-hand experience. My trip to Peru last summer was through the Atlanta Outdoor Club (AOC). Not only was our trip leader experienced leading groups on the Inca trail, but I was able to talk with members who had attended his trip in previous years to get some insider tips before I left. I’m quite sure that I would not have thought to plan such a trip on my own. But if you aren’t looking for large-scale adventures like this one, you still will be offered opportunities that you might not get otherwise. The AOC has also offered such unique experiences as scuba diving certification, skydiving, and hang gliding.

Another advantage of joining a club is meeting other people in your area with similar interests to your own. If you’re a die-hard hiker but none of your friends are, a club will allow you to meet others in your area that are avid hikers too. Many times you’ll become friends with club members and start planning non-club events with your club friends. From planning hiking trips to meeting for dinner after work, having similar interest friends is a great advantage. You can share tips about a great or horrible trail or a new backpack you recently purchased. Having a network of friends interested in your passion offers an invaluable resource.

Still not convinced? Hear what others are saying about the benefits of joining a club.

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