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Week of January 31-February 7, 1996
Cheap ski packages out West
Q: Do you know of any cheap ski packages out West for a group of four?
Gail Kopelman
Providence, RI
Gail_Kopelman@brown.edu
A: The good news is that if you go with a group of four or more during an off-peak week, you’ll have a decent chance of landing a sprawling condominium for a fraction of the per-person cost of separate resort rooms. Even at such pricey areas as
Whistler in British Columbia, a number of luxurious private homes can be rented at off-peak times for less than $50 per person per night.
How to find them? Send away for the Sunday paper nearest your chosen resort. Many homeowners and management companies advertise in the travel or classified sections. Also, ask at your local ski shop about ski clubs. Many take group trips at substantial savings, and some even have their own private lodging. Your other option is to buy your group trip pre-assembled through a
national ski-travel agency. They round up large blocks of plane seats, rooms, and lift tickets at prices you’ll never touch, no matter how long you work at it. You’ll usually save 20 to 40 percent, especially on off-peak-season vacations. We recommend experts like Ski Vacation Planners (800-822-6754), Central Holidays (800-935-5000), and Aspen Ski Tours (800-872-7544). Stay
flexible on dates and you can score week-long off-peak packages to major resorts such as Vail for about $850 per person, including seven nights in a two-bedroom condo and lift tickets. Airfare to Eagle County Airport is added on for about $400, depending on where you’re flying from. For more information, check out in our 1995-1996 Winter Travel Guide.
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