September is here, the kids have just gone back to school and the weather is still mild. As fall approaches, we have so many things to juggle, including getting back into the routine of packing lunches and weekends at soccer games. As you start plugging the dates into your calendar, make sure you add a reminder to plan your ski vacation.
During September, the resorts put out their very best rates on season passes and 4 packs. Typically you will find representatives from all of the major resorts at ski shops selling season passes and 4 packs at the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo from Nov. 4 - 6th. When you buy during that weekend, you often get a bonus day on your pass, or they will load your pass with more buddy discounts than any other time of year. By mid-November, season passes will be several hundred dollars more than in the fall, and 4 packs will not be available at all. In addition, shops like Christy Sports or Colorado Ski and Golf have fantastic prices on jackets, skis and other gear from the previous year.
If you are going to Keystone, Colorado, the very best time to plan your vacation is during the September/October time frame. The selection is typically the best and lodging companies start running promotions in order to fill in calendars early. If you are thinking about "hot" dates, such as Christmas, New Years, President's Day and all of Spring Break in March, this might be your only chance to get a discount off of the published rates. SummitCove Keystone Lodging is currently running a promotion for repeat guests for an additional 5% off of the typical repeat guest discount.
Although we there are only a few homes still available for Christmas, the selection of townhomes and condos is still healthy. As we get into October, the luxury homes will book out for other time frames. If you are planning a group trip for President's Day or Spring Break and you know you want a house, this is the time to book. The highly coveted condos in Lone Eagle, Timbers and the Springs will book next and discounts will soon be disabled.
- Slopeside views from Lone Eagle 3000, this condo books quickly!
After you have gotten your season pass and lodging set up, the next thing to consider is your transportation from Denver International Airport to Keystone. If you are only going to be here for a few days, maybe the shuttle is a good option. If you will be in town more than three days, you might want to rent a car. Word to the wise - shuttles and rental cars end up getting completely booked out over the holidays and spring break. Get your reservations made as soon as you have flight times so you don't have to worry about not having a way to get to Keystone once you fly in!
Once you have your ski passes, lodging and transportation, think about ski rentals. This is one more commodity that has the potential to sell out during prime times. You have several choices in this area, but we feel that Mountain View Sports and Ski Butlers offer the best value and customer service.
There are a lot of things to think about when putting together a ski vacation. SummitCove agents are available by phone and happy to help you plan your Keystone adventure!