Home     Flights     Hotels     Cars/Rail   My Stuff

Concierge Services  |  Dream Maps  Traveler Advice

Where, Oh Where To Ski This Winter? By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large November 5, 2003 For more than 57 million people, the question isn't what to do this winter, but where to do it. That's the number of people who hit the slopes last winter (according to the Kottke National Survey of Domestic Resorts), and the industry expects an even bigger draw this year. The devotion of skiers to their sport helps explain a key difference between them and most other travelers: their tendency to book their ski trips months in advance! So even if the leaves have just started turning where you live, now is the time to start thinking about this winter's ski escapes. In fact, advance bookings are already looking strong in such popular spots as the ski areas surrounding Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, and Vancouver. Well, what are you waiting for? Maybe you're waiting for some insight about where to ski. If so, you're in luck because we've tapped the collective knowledge of some real experts: our customers. The following places were voted as the top destinations where skiers experienced the best run of their lives: Vail Breckenridge Aspen Copper Whistler Winter Park Alta Beaver Creek A-Basin Crested Butte Of course, not all skiers and boarders are the same; from super-stylish to old school sporty, there are downhill bombers to après-sport connoisseurs. For many, going on a ski vacation is about much more than just the mountain--it's often about the winter setting. With so many choices, it's useful to get pointed in the right direction, so let's take things a step farther and see what Travelocity's trio of ski experts have to say. With more than 40 collective years of ski industry knowledge between them, they've experienced it all, and thus, make the perfect guides to help you plan the ski vacation of your dreams. Here is their short list on where to find everything you're looking for in a ski destination--from charming to historic, elegant to adventurous. Best Ski Out Your Door Properties: Cliff Lodge, Snowbird, UT; Chateau Whistler, Whistler, BC Canada Best Bang for Your Buck Ski Property: Pan Pacific Hotel, Whistler, BC Canada Most Historic Ski Properties: Chateau Lake Louise Lake Louise, AB Canada; Hotel Jerome, Aspen, CO; Banff Springs, Banff BC Canada Most Charming Ski Properties: Beaver Creek Lodge, Beaver Creek, CO; Breckenridge Lodge & Spa, Breckenridge, CO Most Convenient Ski Properties: The Lodge at Vail, Vail, CO; Chateau Whistler, Whistler, BC Canada Best Value Ski Property: Breckenridge Mountain Lodge Breckenridge, CO Most Panoramic Ski Property: Wyndham Peaks Resort Telluride, CO Most Romantic Ski Properties: St. Regis Hotel, Aspen, CO; Little Nell, Aspen, CO; Sundance Resort, Sundance, UT Most Nostalgic Ski Property: River Rock Lodge Big Sky, MT Most Natural Ski Property: Cross Timbers Steamboat, CO Best Cutting Edge Ski Property: The Charter Beaver Creek, CO Best Full Service Ski Properties: Vail Cascade Resort & Spa Vail, CO; Resort at Squaw Creek, Squaw Valley, CA; Sun Valley Lodge, Sun Valley, ID; Stein Erickson Lodge, Deer Valley , UT Best New England Ski Properties: The Equinox Stratton, VT; Top Notch Resort & Spa, Stowe, VT Most Action-Packed Ski Property: Harvey's Resort & Casino Lake Tahoe, CA Best Traditional Condominium Ski Property: Ski Time Square Steamboat, CO Best Family Ski Properties: Lodge at Steamboat, Steamboat, CO; Silvertree Hotel, Snowmass, CO Domestic Ski Resort with the Most European Charm: Taos, NM Best "Old West" Ski Resort: Jackson Hole, WY Best Small Ski Inn: Rusty Parrot, Jackson, WY Best "Rustically Elegant" Resorts: Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper AB Canada; Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, CO Ok, maybe it's not a short list after all. But everyone is different, and there is an abundance of choices out there. Here's to hoping it's a long winter so you can check out more than one of these favorites--and let us know what you think. Whether you travel to ski or ski to travel, the world is a wonderful place to explore, full of mountains to scale and lifts to ride. Enjoy! If you have a question or topic you would like me to cover in a future column, please e-mail Amy Ziff at askamy@travelocity.com And remember to look here for your topic each week!		Ski, Sport & Adventure Tips & Advice Need Another Reason To Get Outdoors This Summer? We've Got It. By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Resorts Take Skiing to the Extremes By Larry Olmsted, Guest Columnist All About the Aloha State By Adam Davis, Editor Summer Sports Go Gangbusters by Adam Davis, Editor Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Surf Spots Around the World by Adam Davis, Editor Fresh Tracks - What's New at Top Ski Destinations in 2005-2006 Having Trouble Getting Hockey Tickets In Your Hometown? Try These Cities For Some Great Pro Hockey and Lots More A View From the Top By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Scuba Rules! By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Snowboarding and the Latest, Raging Terrain Parks By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Where, Oh Where To Ski This Winter? By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large What Skiers Need To Know Before They Go By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large To Ski or Not to Ski? A Deal May Be the Answer. By Amy Ziff, Editor at Large How to Choose the Right Ski Resort Renting Ski and Snowboard Equipment