A View From the Top
By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large
These days, it's a race to the top of the mountain. But what do you do once you get there? I say ski! For all of you who say the climb is too long, the mountain is too high, the places too cold, expensive, or dangerous, I have great news for you. Isn't it about time someone debunked those ancient ski myths?
When it comes to planning a vacation, you really can ski at every budget. You can go to a mountain town and get rooms for as little as $65 a night. Many resorts have “kids ski free,” even “kids fly free” programs, so be sure to research those. Early season and spring are great times to nab deals before the rates have climbed to peak. If you have a mountain in mind, be sure to subscribe to their deals newsletters, and fare watch for flights to come down. Be sure to buy your lift ticket in a bundle or as part of your package--no smart snow-bunny pays retail. And be sure to make like a true powder hound and be ready to get up and go the second you get wind of a last minute deal where the snow just dumped.
To keep costs down if you're an infrequent skier, rent skis on the mountain. Test out the latest technology by asking for a demo package. (The thing I like best about this is you can leave the mountain empty-handed.) Plus, new equipment makes the learning curve a lot faster, and the new shape of ski technology makes it a lot easier to carve your way down the slope. Snowboarding has a faster learning curve than skiing–if you give yourself three consecutive days on a snowboard, you'll be riding the beginner slopes with no problem.
And while we're on the topic of what's new, there’s been a recent advent of high-speed chairlifts and gondolas that whisk skiers up the mountain efficiently (some hold as many as 6 people), in less than 10 minutes. The days of enduring slow, cold, seemingly-endless chairlift rides are over! Plus those lift lines move much faster as a result.
And if you're worried about staying warm--as I always am--it's worth investing in some of the great new fabrics that help keep you warmer, dryer, and more comfortable. You may even own some of these synthetics and fleeces already. My favorites are the hand and feet warmers that only cost a buck, but generate heat all day long.
So this year, don't let anyone stop you from taking in that view from the top. I bet you'll enjoy that ride, or, ahem...slide, all the way down.
For the most recent travel news check out Amy Ziff's Travel Tips from AtoZ at www.travelocity.com/atoz. If you have a question or topic you would like me to cover in a future column, please e-mail Amy Ziff at ask.amy@travelocity.com ask.amy@travelocity.com. Come back monthly to see if your question has been answered.
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