USA 2010 - 2011 Trip Plans/Thoughts/Reviews Thread

[skiflat]

Even though the 2009-2010 season hasn't ended yet and some nice snow is coming through over the next few weeks.

Many of us have turned to thoughts about the next season in the USA.

Some have already booked

So here it is again

<span style='font-size: 20pt'>USA 2010 - 2011 Trip Plans/Thoughts/Reviews Thread</span>

 

[CarveMan]

Good timing for the thread, most of us are home now and definitely thinking about next year.

Plan A: Warming up in the Seattle Area followed by Heliskiing out of Haines, AK
Plan B: Chamonix
Plan C: Cheap & Cheerful Spring Fling, most likely in Tahoe - Squaw/Alpine/Kirkwood/Mammoth.

All options are in the March/April window.

 

[wangster]

My next trip will definitely be North America but I just can't decide between Canada and the US, road trip or stay in one spot for a couple of weeks? Bleh

 

[vet]

flights, accom and most lifts are already in the bag. woohoo

 

[CarveMan]

My decision won't be made until about October I reckon.

 

[Crystal]

I've been doing the US/Canada throw around. Decided on Canada for us now just based on resorts suited to our family.

 

[try hard]

We'll be going somewhere and most probably US again this time rather than Canada. Just mooching through all the resorts and lift pass deals etc. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Born2ski]

I've been doing the US/Canada throw around. Decided on Canada for us now just based on resorts suited to our family.

So I guess that means Whitefish is out ?

I think I'll wait till later in the year and see what airfares are around. After all half the fun is in the deciding.

 

[sli1]

I've just booked fares 5 minutes ago for SLC, late Jan to mid Feb 2011
Never booked so early for a trip in my life.

 

[try hard]

Gosh, the Latest I've ever booked for the following January was March 31st a couple of years back when V Australia launched with $999 return deals ( of course they didn't get off the ground on time, pardon the pun, and we got transferred to the then new Qantas A380). Gee,i'd better get moving.

 

[Hacski]

While mrs and missHac are having girl time in Los Angeles over New Years, on the way to Sun Peaks, I'm catching up with Seattle friends and hope for a couple of days at Stevens Pass.

 

[Crystal]

Yes.... whitefish off the cards, we will head back when our little one is ready for their ski school

 

[skiflat]

About to pull the trigger on flights with V Australia and 2 x Pay Now Epic Passes at $599 US.

Must book flights by the 31st of March to get 4.5 Amex points per $1

after this date it's only the standard 1.5 points per $1

Beaver Creek is on the cards along with Breckenridge

Tahoe - Heavenly would be "free" to ski as part of the Epic Pass, so probably end up back there again. Although Mammoth Mountain is calling my name along with Squaw valley (as I didn't get there this year)

Only spanner is that I would like to visit Europe but cheap airfares to the USA, the Epic Pass along with a nice large new condo make Europe a harder sell.

Will dedicate Friday night to making final plans, but 95% set on USA 2011

Timeframe is 14-21 days of pure skiing at this stage, with a quick Vegas fling thrown in for good measure!

 

[cleeshoy]

Already booked 2 weeks based in Breck for late Jan - Feb 2011
Will have a car so can hit the other areas also........already excited!

 

[skiflat]

Thought I read somewhere that you had already booked

Expect no less from you of course

 

[skiflat]

Booked!!!!!!!!!!! The flights to Los Angeles

V Australia again

29th Jan to 20th Feb

309 days to go

 

[cleeshoy]

Thought I read somewhere that you had already booked

Expect no less from you of course

We actually booked our flights whilst we were in New York after the Heavenly component of our Jan-Feb trip

Gotta book early for those Premium Economy QFF tix!
Accomodation is already sorted also - I am told we rather organised ;-)

 

[cleeshoy]

306 days to go for me!

 

[Tilt]

Madness!! New US thread.. Can't wait to get back there, the possibilities are keeping me awake at night (sometimtes). Trying to convince he +1 that 6 weeks would be a 'great idea'. Telluride and Breck are on the cards at this stage, however according to the posts so far I'd say I'm the last one out of the gate with bookings

 

[skiflat]

For anyone thinking of booking in the next few days with V Australia and using American Express

http://www.vaustralia.com.au/american-express/index.htm

An extra 3 BONUS points with every $1 spent.

So for most Amex cardholders this is 4.5 Membership reward points per $1 spent.

Then you get your velocity points from flying as well!

I have been told that this exact offer WILL end on the 31st of March, but something else is coming soon

Won't be as generous though from what I have heard...

 

[vet]

Well "Born2Ski's dumpster' worked. I'm the proud owner of new phats! woohoo. Of course it helped she spend up big at clothes shops.

Hmmm, amex and VA??? But will my wife let me book a 2nd trip in March 2011 as well? darling, Skidown made me do it!

 

[skiflat]

You'll need the phats over the next few weeks me thinks!

Yeh I used this promotion for my recent flight across and now for next years flight.

Go the 2nd trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For a certain poster who used to spruke North American Deals who hopefully is gone from these forums again...

V Australia are increasing their frequencies to the USA

Well putting back some of what they cancelled due to the economic crisis.

Melbourne to Los Angeles back to 3 times a week on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday
Sydney to Los Angeles goes back to Daily instead of 6 times a week

 

[vet]

Our flights on VA over January and this trip were full. They're in 'the black' after start up, and they're kicking Qantas' qantass too.

Hey B2S, I'll be at the main (near Comet and dipper Express lifts) day lodge tommorrow at 10.30am. You know the parka, and its not a purple one piece either coz I couldn't find one in the dumpster.

 

[Born2ski]

Vet, inside the lodge or just outside ? I'll be there, bottom of the Dipper at 10.30am. Just look out for my monster helmet.

 

[skiflat]

My flight across in early Feb was full except for about 4 seats in the pointy end. Economy on my walk through was very full as well
My flight back early March was very empty in the pointy end, only about 13 people sitting there. Economy was about 3/4 full. But it's off-peak time for travel..

Okay for 2011:
Just booked 8 nights in Beaver Creek

Now what to do for the next 14 days....

 

[vet]

Vet, inside the lodge or just outside ? I'll be there, bottom of the Dipper at 10.30am. Just look out for my monster helmet.

Probaby outside, near the chair closest to the building. There ain't any yanks with a podium parka

 

[Snowbunny2]

My flight across in early Feb was full except for about 4 seats in the pointy end. Economy on my walk through was very full as well
My flight back early March was very empty in the pointy end, only about 13 people sitting there. Economy was about 3/4 full. But it's off-peak time for travel..

Okay for 2011:
Just booked 8 nights in Beaver Creek

Now what to do for the next 14 days....

8 night in Beaver Creek - boy that is a lot in one place !
We were a bit bored after 2 days there !

 

[wangster]

I assume it's easy to get from Beaver Creek to Vail for a day's skiing?

 

[Snowbunny2]

Yes with a 1/2 hour bus ride ! with 2 changes of bus !
But even so !

 

[skiflat]

Snowbunny2: Will go to Vail for 2 of those days at least!

The Wang: As per the bunny's comments. Much easier if you have a car/suv though!

Would love to go to Aspen

but I have the EPIC pass so "restricted" to the epic pass resorts!

Had to justify spending extra when we can ski for around $35 a day with the Epic pass!

 

[wangster]

So you'll have a hire car skidown? If so, who are you hiring from?

 

[Born2ski]

Vet, check your PMs.

 

[Snowbunny2]

Snowbunny2: Will go to Vail for 2 of those days at least!

The Wang: As per the bunny's comments. Much easier if you have a car/suv though!

Would love to go to Aspen

but I have the EPIC pass so "restricted" to the epic pass resorts!

Had to justify spending extra when we can ski for around $35 a day with the Epic pass!

If you do drive and park in Vail - I can tell you were to park for free all day !

 

[skiflat]

Snowbunny2: Will go to Vail for 2 of those days at least!

The Wang: As per the bunny's comments. Much easier if you have a car/suv though!

Would love to go to Aspen

but I have the EPIC pass so "restricted" to the epic pass resorts!

Had to justify spending extra when we can ski for around $35 a day with the Epic pass!

If you do drive and park in Vail - I can tell you were to park for free all day !

Hmmmmm I'll PM you closer to the dates

 

[Born2ski]

Skidown you'd be so proud of me, I rented a car from HERTZ today, NOT Avis.

Got a great deal on a Nissan Xterra(4WD).

 

[skiflat]

So you'll have a hire car skidown? If so, who are you hiring from?

Yes always have a 4WD, but it's a waste.

I always rent through Hertz mainly due to my status with them and the Escalade which I love driving.. But they are more expensive than others.

Depending where you stay, you really don't need one. In Breckenridge it was a waste as the hotel had a free on-call shuttle. But in Beaver Creek, I stayed at the Westin (Avon) and it was helpful as they don't provide transportation.

Also the transfers via http://www.ridecme.com/ end up costing quite a bit to/from airport and the resorts!

Avis would be the recommendation. http://www.avis.co.uk and you can get a very cheap rate with them, I think you need a code or discount code or something, but Born2ski will provide that

 

[skiflat]

Skidown you'd be so proud of me, I rented a car from HERTZ today, NOT Avis.

Got a great deal on a Nissan Xterra(4WD).

HAHAHAHAHA

Just posted how you would recommend Avis and I recommend Hertz

How did u get the great deal ? Push at the counter for a better price ?

 

[Snowbunny2]

We did the bus trip from Avon to Vail in 2009 - much fun and games ! We stood out in the falling snow waiting for the bus for more time, then we were on the bus to get to Vail !
So the next day we just drove to Vail and paid for the undercover car park - $25 for the 4 of us!
Of cause we found out later were to park for free ! This year we stayed in Vail - on the shuttle run. This was much better !
The Westin is very nice. Got the Gondola at your door step ! Avon is NO Breckenridge for a town ! We stayed in the Canyon Run Condo 3 Bedroom - very nice !

 

[wangster]

I'm tempted to stay in Frisco with a hire car and get the Epic Pass so I can try all the resorts in the area

 

[Born2ski]

I'm now a Hertz #1 Club Gold Member. And lets just say UK websites offer great packages for Hertz and Avis.

I'll have rented five different cars this trip, 4 with Avis, 1 with Hertz. I just pick the one that offers the best deal.

 

[Snowbunny2]

I'm tempted to stay in Frisco with a hire car and get the Epic Pass so I can try all the resorts in the area

That is definitely the way to go !

 

[skiflat]

The Westin is very nice. Got the Gondola at your door step ! Avon is NO Breckenridge for a town ! We stayed in the Canyon Run Condo 3 Bedroom - very nice !

Indeed Avon is no Breckenridge!!! But the Westin makes up for it and the Gondola to the door step, along with the ski valet guys!

I'm now a Hertz #1 Club Gold Member. And lets just say UK websites offer great packages for Hertz and Avis.

I'll have rented five different cars this trip, 4 with Avis, 1 with Hertz. I just pick the one that offers the best deal.

I used to avoid using .com or .co.uk with Hertz as they used to have a policy that they would cancel your reservation if you booked a car using the website that is not your "Country of Residence".

I priced out 17 days for January:
2,230.98 AUD using the .co.uk site
2,249.27 AUD using the .com.au site

Will have to keep an eye on it

I'm tempted to stay in Frisco with a hire car and get the Epic Pass so I can try all the resorts in the area

That is definitely the way to go !

Do it Do it Do it Do it Do it Do it

Epic pass is the way to go, and is the only real reason I am heading back to the USA again, and the Mc Resorts and not going somewhere else.

 

[wangster]

haha ok, I think I may have to start fierce planning and saving

 

[skiflat]

How long are you thinking of going for ?
Traveling alone or with other/s ?

 

[wangster]

Nothing definite yet. That's the kind of trip I'd like to go on with some friends because I think the +1 would get a bit bored, to be honest. But alot of my friends are doing crazy things like having babies and buying houses so options are limited in that regard....

I'd like to go for a couple of weeks. I've always felt that flying to North America for less than that isn't worth it

 

[skiflat]

As long as you can get at least 1 mate to come you are set!

 

[wangster]

Trick is to finally make the +1 fall in love with skiing (or snowboarding, I'm not fussy), so she's happy to come!

 

[skiflat]

Trick is to finally make the +1 fall in love with skiing (or snowboarding, I'm not fussy), so she's happy to come!

Indeed - I did that with the current +1. She in fact was prompting me to book the airfares and the accommodation ASAP as she had a blast this time.

I think the several visits to the outlet malls for shopping, and a few nice massages from the day spa's helped though

 

[CarveMan]

You guys have lots to learn. CarveGirl, unbeknownst to her, was taken for a ski interview. She subsequently passed, judged by a panel of experts, so the courtship could commence.

 

[skiflat]

You guys have lots to learn. CarveGirl, unbeknownst to her, was taken for a ski interview. She subsequently passed, judged by a panel of experts, so the courtship could commence.

But... you are probably the only person on the forum that lucky

I also have no problem stocking up on cheap Calvin Klein work shirts for $30 and a few nice lazy massages though