Multi-resort ski passes!
Apr 29, 2017, 3:51 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 517
Given the Epic Season Pass includes some European skiing too, it's an even better deal for those of us who do hit up US and European ski resorts in the same season. But to use the pass in Switzerland, it requires buying into the resort lodging which may or may not undermine the value proposition.
Thanks for that. Amazed to see the European availability - though you're right that the prescribed lodging does erode some of the benefit, and I ski Arlberg way more than 3 days a season!
I would love to see something similar in Europe for the bigger resorts. The season passes tend to be both expensive and regionalised - need to hit 20+ ski days to make sense vs. the walk-up, but crucially if it's cloudy in Davos it is probably still cloudy the next valley over, whilst it might be a bluebird day in Zermatt. I pay for the flexibility - white stuff problems.
Apr 29, 2017, 5:50 am
#17
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When the Swiss gawk at your prices...
Thanks for that. Amazed to see the European availability - though you're right that the prescribed lodging does erode some of the benefit, and I ski Arlberg way more than 3 days a season!
I would love to see something similar in Europe for the bigger resorts. The season passes tend to be both expensive and regionalised - need to hit 20+ ski days to make sense vs. the walk-up, but crucially if it's cloudy in Davos it is probably still cloudy the next valley over, whilst it might be a bluebird day in Zermatt. I pay for the flexibility - white stuff problems.
Thanks for that. Amazed to see the European availability - though you're right that the prescribed lodging does erode some of the benefit, and I ski Arlberg way more than 3 days a season!
I would love to see something similar in Europe for the bigger resorts. The season passes tend to be both expensive and regionalised - need to hit 20+ ski days to make sense vs. the walk-up, but crucially if it's cloudy in Davos it is probably still cloudy the next valley over, whilst it might be a bluebird day in Zermatt. I pay for the flexibility - white stuff problems.
If you want to gawk at prices, you should see my bills for ski lessons in Colorado and Utah compared to my bills for ski lessons in Europe. Even Norway and Switzerland are a ski lesson bargain compared to prices at the resorts I hit up in the US.
I'm surprised that European resorts don't try to grab more East Coast American ski business, especially now that winter/spring TATL economy class fares are so reasonable compared to flying within the US to go from the East Coast to ASE/EGE/SLC or even DEN.
Last edited by GUWonder; Apr 29, 2017 at 5:56 am
Apr 30, 2017, 2:52 am
#18
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Former EPIC pass holder chiming in.
It's an amazing value when I know I'll have a few weeks to be in DEN/SLC. I'm VERY excited about Stowe being added as I can loop to BUR for very cheap on B6 (under 5,000 miles per leg in some cases). That may pull the trigger for me this season.
Even just 8 days at Vail pays for itself with the extortionate window pricing.
Mountain Collective is too restrictive for my tastes. I love all those mountains (J Hole and the Bird are my favorite spots) but 2 days + a VERY restrictive single-day 50% discount system isn't money well spent in my opinion. Also they have no East Coast mountains aside from Sugarbush which isn't my favorite spot.
The MAX pass looks interesting but most of the local (to me in NYC, so Bellayre, Gore, Windham) mountains are free for me due to working in that industry for a few years. I'd consider it if I knew I was going to be up in Maine/NH more. If you've got a car it's an AMAZING value.
Great to see my fellow snowhounds out and about. This season was one for the record books (and is still going!)
It's an amazing value when I know I'll have a few weeks to be in DEN/SLC. I'm VERY excited about Stowe being added as I can loop to BUR for very cheap on B6 (under 5,000 miles per leg in some cases). That may pull the trigger for me this season.
Even just 8 days at Vail pays for itself with the extortionate window pricing.
Mountain Collective is too restrictive for my tastes. I love all those mountains (J Hole and the Bird are my favorite spots) but 2 days + a VERY restrictive single-day 50% discount system isn't money well spent in my opinion. Also they have no East Coast mountains aside from Sugarbush which isn't my favorite spot.
The MAX pass looks interesting but most of the local (to me in NYC, so Bellayre, Gore, Windham) mountains are free for me due to working in that industry for a few years. I'd consider it if I knew I was going to be up in Maine/NH more. If you've got a car it's an AMAZING value.
Great to see my fellow snowhounds out and about. This season was one for the record books (and is still going!)
Here was a review of various passes, but this is from 2016:
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usato...tory/83357706/
The pass benefits don't all remain the same from year to year. So don't count on that review as being fully applicable still. Not only are prices different, but included resorts are also different.
May 3, 2017, 5:29 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Bolt Bus Rewards
Posts: 1,283
For those of you in New England and the Mid Atlantic regions there is the Peak Pass which gives you access to all of the Peak resorts.
Because we spend about half of our time skiing the East and only went west for one week a year, none of those passes really worked for us. Now that Sugarbush has joined the Mountain Collective (Thanks Win), the economics works out. We're planning on a Ski Better Week at Taos and a couple of holiday weekends at the 'Bush.
Epic is out for us. Our recent trips to Vail's properties, Park City and Breckenridge left us wanting.
Because we spend about half of our time skiing the East and only went west for one week a year, none of those passes really worked for us. Now that Sugarbush has joined the Mountain Collective (Thanks Win), the economics works out. We're planning on a Ski Better Week at Taos and a couple of holiday weekends at the 'Bush.
Epic is out for us. Our recent trips to Vail's properties, Park City and Breckenridge left us wanting.
May 4, 2017, 10:46 am
#20
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Neither here nor there
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That pass is quite good for BOS dwellers. Attitash and Wildcat are two of my favorite NE resorts. North Conway is the perfect New England ski town IMHO. Crotched used to be famous for night skiing til 3 AM on weekends.
Unfortunately Hunter is a singularly awful place on weekends. It's a similar distance from Manhattan as Windham or Belleyare but has a significantly greater helping of NYC attitude. The runs are even named after NYC streets.
May 4, 2017, 10:48 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
That's Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in NH. Jack Frost and Big Boulder in PA. Mt. Snow in Vt. and Hunter in NY.
That pass is quite good for BOS dwellers. Attitash and Wildcat are two of my favorite NE resorts. North Conway is the perfect New England ski town IMHO. Crotched used to be famous for night skiing til 3 AM on weekends.
Unfortunately Hunter is a singularly awful place on weekends. It's a similar distance from Manhattan as Windham or Belleyare but has a significantly greater helping of NYC attitude. The runs are even named after NYC streets.
That pass is quite good for BOS dwellers. Attitash and Wildcat are two of my favorite NE resorts. North Conway is the perfect New England ski town IMHO. Crotched used to be famous for night skiing til 3 AM on weekends.
Unfortunately Hunter is a singularly awful place on weekends. It's a similar distance from Manhattan as Windham or Belleyare but has a significantly greater helping of NYC attitude. The runs are even named after NYC streets.
May 18, 2017, 6:18 am
#22
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It will be interesting to see how aggressive Intrawest gets with ski passes, after the company goes private (assuming the current deal closes).
May 19, 2017, 6:20 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: EWR
Posts: 2,112
There's also the powder alliance for those based on the west coast near one of the partner resorts. This one seems a little different since it's a benefit for top-tier passholders at each of the resorts and allows for 3 days at each of the other partner resorts. Currently at Stevens Pass a Premium Pass is $649 for new members. One of my friends did this for a season while on a long road-trip and seemed to like it.
May 25, 2017, 2:09 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Neither here nor there
Programs: UA Slvr, DL Slvr, AA plt, HH LTD, MR tit/LTP at least two of those buy 10 get 1 free coffee cards
Posts: 3,448
There's also the powder alliance for those based on the west coast near one of the partner resorts. This one seems a little different since it's a benefit for top-tier passholders at each of the resorts and allows for 3 days at each of the other partner resorts. Currently at Stevens Pass a Premium Pass is $649 for new members. One of my friends did this for a season while on a long road-trip and seemed to like it.
May 25, 2017, 2:21 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Bolt Bus Rewards
Posts: 1,283
The people over at liftblog produced a spreadsheet saying which area is on which pass for 2018-2019. You can find it here
The numbers represent the number of lifts at the area.
The numbers represent the number of lifts at the area.
Last edited by AMflier; May 25, 2017 at 2:26 pm Reason: Fixed link
May 30, 2017, 6:39 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Posts: 3,448
The people over at liftblog produced a spreadsheet saying which area is on which pass for 2018-2019. You can find it here
The numbers represent the number of lifts at the area.
The numbers represent the number of lifts at the area.
May 31, 2017, 8:50 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
That's a terrific link. I didn't realize how badly Mountain Collective had been hit by the KSL creation.
Unfortunately I rolled my ankle pretty badly with possible major damage over the weekend so I may be sitting out this season.
Unfortunately I rolled my ankle pretty badly with possible major damage over the weekend so I may be sitting out this season.
Jun 1, 2017, 11:23 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Bolt Bus Rewards
Posts: 1,283
We do a week out west at one destination, then a few weekends in the east. The addition of Sugarbush to the Mountain Collective finally made buying a pass cost effective.
Best of luck with the ankle.
Jun 1, 2017, 11:51 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
Oh, I didn't notice that it was for 2018-19. Going to be a tough decision either way.
I'm possibly going to be able to work ex-BUR for at least a month next season so I may just grab a Stowe season pass.
EDIT:
The ankle (while very painful) has no permanent damage so I should be right as rain in a few weeks.
I'm possibly going to be able to work ex-BUR for at least a month next season so I may just grab a Stowe season pass.
EDIT:
The ankle (while very painful) has no permanent damage so I should be right as rain in a few weeks.
Last edited by MSYtoJFKagain; Jun 1, 2017 at 11:52 am Reason: Added information
Jun 3, 2017, 9:02 am
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Posts: 3,448
Oh, I didn't notice that it was for 2018-19. Going to be a tough decision either way.
I'm possibly going to be able to work ex-BUR for at least a month next season so I may just grab a Stowe season pass.
EDIT:
The ankle (while very painful) has no permanent damage so I should be right as rain in a few weeks.
I'm possibly going to be able to work ex-BUR for at least a month next season so I may just grab a Stowe season pass.
EDIT:
The ankle (while very painful) has no permanent damage so I should be right as rain in a few weeks.