I usually ski 2-3 times in UT a season.

Just adding my $.02 - when i go by myself, i always stay in downtown SLC to save some money. I usually do a Fri-Sun trip and the downtown hotels seem to have great rates on the weekends. For example, the Hilton and the Sheratons have been available at under $100/night each trip.

When I'm going with friends, they usually want to stay in Park City so we've done that as well.

Since the pluses to staying in Park City are apparent, I'll give some pluses for downtown -

1. Cheap Rooms
2. Easy drive to Park City - via I-80 and about 30 min each way
3. Interesting downtown area in SLC (newish Gateway shopping area), sightseeing
4. Ability to change resorts daily (park city vs. cottonwood canyons)

BTW - you can go to the sporting goods stores in SLC and get discount lift tix which i do before heading up teh mountain. Also, for much of the ski season, if you go to www.parkcity.com before you arrive, you can do a "quick start" voucher which gives you a free 1/2 day lift ticket by presenting it in park city with your boarding pass. Just make sure you sign up before you leave and make sure you have an extra boarding pass - i forgot this once when SWA collected my online check-in pass at the gate. it really burned me to pay $50 for a 1/2 day ticket that i could have gotten for free.

happy skiing! :-)