Skiing is one of the most expensive family vacations, but did you know it doesn’t have to be? Here are 3 Ways to Save BIG on a Ski Vacation!
Growing up, my family took a LOT of ski vacations and it was an absolute blast creating fun adventure-filled memories with my family. I wanted to pass that along to my own kids but I had twice as many kids as my parents and probably half the income. Haha!
Our last ski vacation was six years ago and it didn’t start out as a fun-filled adventure but more of an escape from reality as we figured out how to navigate holidays without my mom. This time, we planned nothing but fun and adventure without breaking the bank.
Homeschool Discount
Homeschooling has its perks and huge discounts on educational or adventure-filled excursions is definitely one of them! Have you ever asked for a homeschool discount?
Beech Mountain Ski Resort in North Carolina is SO good to homeschoolers! They have a phenomenal program where you register with a third party for HALF PRICE on all-inclusive tickets. It includes your lift tickets, ski rentals, boots, poles, and helmets! You can NOT beat that!
It might not be the biggest resort in the North Carolina area but it is the perfect fit for our family. We packed walkie-talkies to communicate with each other on the slopes because it is much easier than navigating cell phones with bulky gloves. It worked perfectly though and when we split up, it still felt like we were right there together. The slopes are just big enough for the kids to feel a little independent but not so big that mama didn’t know where they were at all times.
Blackout dates do occur so check their website ahead of time to ensure your ski trip happens at the right time.
March Madness
Not a homeschooler? Not a problem! Peak ski season is December – February and rates are at an all-time high. If you’re patient and wait until March, ski resorts often offer deep discounts on lift tickets and lodging which can save you a bundle.
North Carolina has several family-friendly resorts on a smaller scale but we enjoyed Beech Mountain. Other nearby resorts include the popular Sugar Mountain (doesn’t offer discounts), Appalachian Ski Resort, and Cataloochee.
Some other places to check out are Snowshoe in West Virginia, Massanutten Ski Resort in Virginia, or Camelback in the Poconos. Know of your own favorites? Let us know below!
Lodging Deals
Looking for lodging is fun but sometimes painful, especially when searching for a crowd. More often than not, my search results come up with “Not Available” when I type in the number of adults and children. I rarely let it discourage me and prefer to speak directly to someone in guest services about available options.
The first choice is usually ski resort lodging in a perfect world. CHECK FOR DEALS! On most ski resort sites, there is a tab for special pricing or discounts. Sometimes they’ll offer a free night or percentage discount and other times a dollar amount reduced from the total. But if on-site lodging for ski-in/ski-out is unavailable or still out of our price range, there are other options!
The second choice is Airbnb. Some new hosts offer deals to the first 3 guests to book their new listing and the discounts can be significant! Other times hosts offer discounts for booking well in advance. Search around and see what is available and near your ski destination. Be sure to ask if 4WD or snow chains are necessary for the location and how far the home is from a main road.
Other Tips
Be on the lookout for free events in the area your family can experience as well. For instance, Beech Mountain has a FREE public sledding hill which is so much fun! Just bring your own sled and take off (be sure to practice safety first though and watch out for other sledders)!
Do you take your family on ski vacations? Do you have your own tips? We would love to hear them so please share them and we will be happy to update this section for our readers. For traveling tips in general for families, check out our Top 10 Traveling Tips from a Big Family. We hope you enjoyed this post and the great resources on how to save BIG on your own ski vacation. Happy vacation planning!
