2008-01-15T06:28:32-08:00 7929 5132 6884 1 2008-01-15T06:28:32-08:00 4074 2008-01-15T06:39:42-08:00 Snowboarding at Keystone Ski Resort in Summit County, Colorado 18147 5132 1 7929 1 2008-01-15T06:41:47-08:00 2008-01-15T06:28:32-08:00 <p><span class="size_3">Every winter, our family goes skiing/snowboarding in Colorado's Summit County. Based on our past experiences, here are a few simple tricks to making these trips more affordable.<br><br>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When to go</span>- The best prices for lift tickets and lodging will be during the early and late seasons (before Thanksgiving and the month of April). Good deals can also be found between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Possible downsides are a limited number of open runs, and the amount of snow on those runs.<br><br>Avoid the holidays (Christmas to New Years Eve, Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, President's Day weekend, Spring Break). Not only are prices higher, but it is also a lot more crowded. More people equals longer lines and wait times at the chair lift or gondola.<br><br>My favorite time to go is in January, before or after Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. &nbsp; All the runs are open, and the snow is usually good for skiing.<br><br>2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lodging</span>- We like to rent a condo instead of staying in a hotel. With 3 boys, having the extra room is nice and having a kitchen saves us money on meals. We have found great deals just by searching for Summit County lodging on Google. Condos in the Keystone area seem to have the best prices, and <a href="http://www.summitcove.com/" mce_href="http://www.summitcove.com/">Summit Cove</a> has a nice site for vacation rental lodging in Keystone.<br><br>3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lift Tickets</span>- Discount lift tickets are available at Front Range King Soopers and Safeway grocery stores. You can also purchase them at sporting goods stores like Sports Authority. Something we haven't tried yet is buying lift tickets on eBay, but I've heard good things about the discounts you can find there.<br><br>4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Renting Equipment</span>- If you need to rent equipment, don't wait until you get to the resort. You can save a lot of money if you rent from other places like Sports Authority in Dillon. Look online and compare prices before you leave your house. Websites like <a href="http://www.skicoupons.com/coupons.cfm/r/9/g/1/cc/11" mce_href="http://www.skicoupons.com/coupons.cfm/r/9/g/1/cc/11">skicoupons.com</a> offer discounts at various ski and snowboard shops.<br><br>5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Meals</span>- If you have a condo, eat breakfast and dinner there. You can even pack a lunch and store it in a locker at the ski resort. Buying groceries is a lot less expensive than eating at the ski resorts, especially for a family. When you are on the slopes, carry trail mix or granola bars so you aren't tempted to stop at a chalet for an expensive snack between meals.</span></p> 18145 5132 3 7929 1 2008-01-15T06:47:32-08:00