Hit the slopes! Book a ski trip online
Research and reserve your winter vacation with these great sites
by Heather Camlot
Unless you’re one of the lucky few who can strap your skis and poles to your roofracks and drive to the nearest ski hill for the day, you have some vacation planning to do. Fortunately, the web makes researching and booking your ski trip easier than tightening your boots.
“At the beginning I had my doubts [about booking online] as I was unsure if these premier ski resorts would actually offer savings. I e-mailed them my doubts and they responded within 24 hours,” says Toronto’s Jacob Moshinsky, who planned a trip to Vermont for himself and five of his friends. “I found it fun and exciting to research and book online as it allowed me to actually see the ski conditions and download maps of their runs and their facilities.”
A wealth of information
Many resort sites also provide snow reports, mountain statistics, webcam weather forecasts, road reports and avalanche advisories, along with ski and snowboard packages and winter activity add-ons, such as sleigh rides and snowmobiling.
While Moshinsky was able to book a winter ski vacation only two-to-three weeks before departure (at a steal of $700 for one week of accommodations for six people), Toby Yoskovitch, owner of the travel company in Toronto, suggests booking six-to-eight months in advance, as space is at a premium and pricing gets higher as the season nears, especially if conditions are solid. Booking that far in advance means you will have your pick of ski packages, but it’s not too late to hit the slopes if you didn’t think ahead.
If you want a discount, there are many last-minute packages available to suit your skiing needs. A quick glance at some ski web sites showed many rooms and packages still available.
Personalize your package
Toby adds that booking a ski vacation is easy since ski resorts know exactly what the client wants. Keep in mind that booking through a resort may mean finding your own transportation, and booking through a travel service such as Expedia.ca may mean having to buy lift tickets separately.
It’s also worth noting that equipment transportation and insurance arrangements may not be included when booking online, but both are still important. “When you’re engaging in an activity where injury is possible, insurance is of prime importance,” Yoskovitch insists. “I had a client who had an accident in Banff. It was a $1,000 ambulance ride to Calgary.”
Top spots
Whistler Blackcomb
If you want to feel like an Olympian, head to Whistler, B.C., the site of the XXI Olympic Winter Games in 2010. Rev the romance by opting for the Stay & Ski package at the magnificent Fairmount Chateau Whistler or by dropping off the kids (three months to 17 years) at age-specific programs. You can also book flights, car rentals, transportation, ski and board lessons and equipment rentals.
Ski Banff—Lake Louise—Sunshine
Why ski one hill when you can ski three? Here you can buy one pass for the Big 3, over 7,700 acres of powdered snow in Banff National Park, Alta. Specials are prominently placed on the site’s home page, while the vacation tab, also on the home page, leads to hot deals, trip quotes, planning tools and package rates.
Mont Tremblant
It is the highest peak in Quebec’s Laurentians. It is rated the number one ski resort in the east by SKI Magazine and it is only an hour-and-a-half drive from Montreal. You can already feel the cool wind in your hair and the packed snow under your skis. Tremblant offers special Internet rates along with a foolproof, customizable online booking system.
Across the country
SkiRockies.ca
Don’t let the name fool you. This Banff-based company also books ski packages across the country from Fernie, B.C., to Jasper, Alta., to Mont Tremblant, Que. Each destination contains a write-up highlighting mountain stats, resort information, accessibility and more. Packages are offered from 2-to-14 nights, including ski pass, park entrance fees (if needed), transfers and hotel costs. If a flight is required, SkiRockies.ca can book that, too.
Skican
For more than 30 years, this Toronto-based company has been booking all-inclusive ski vacations (round-trip air, ski tickets, transfers and accommodations). Best of all, Skican doesn’t just stick to the top spots; you can book trips to the United States and Europe as well as Canadian resorts such as Quebec’s Le Massif, Mont-Sainte-Anne, which has the largest cross-country ski centre in Canada, Alberta’s Marmot Basin, B.C.’s Panorama and Big White.
The Encyclopedia of Cheap Travel
For even more savings, check out Terrance Zepke’s helpful Encyclopedia of Cheap Travel (Infinity Publishing, 2003), which lists some of the top online sites for discount travel. Two great American sites mentioned are Ski Vacation Planners, with detailed information about the big resorts, and Ski Guide, with write-ups on all the ski hills across Canada.
