Let’s Make a Deal | Get out on the Slopes—and Stay in Your Budget
As always, we’ve found some great lift ticket deals for you this season, from $1 for a day of skiing to $5 for Friday nights under the lights to a plethora of frequent-use cards, themed discount days, and a few downright bizarre promotions in between, all of them designed to save you bucks and get you on the slopes. Check them out—you’re bound to find a few that are right for you.
BOLTON VALLEY
You can’t go wrong here with their $25 lift ticket special, in effect Dec. 17 through Christmas Day. How about a $19 Saturday night ticket starting in January? And don’t forget about $19 college student day tickets, Jan. 7–18.
BROMLEY MOUNTAIN
Bromley would like you to purchase tickets online and will reward you for doing so. New this year is Two-for-Tuesdays; tickets must be purchased online at least 48 hours in advance. Consecutive day ticket purchasers save $15 per day online. Family Fridays are back: Every paying adult can purchase three junior tickets for $15 each. Feb. 8 is Mom’s Day Off where mothers who present a picture of their child at the ticket window ski or ride for only $15. Then there’s the $71 Sun Mountain Card valid for one freebie and $10 off every day ticket purchased.
BURKE MOUNTAIN
New this season is their $799 unrestricted “The Judge” season pass, also valid at Jay Peak. If you present a current season pass from another mountain, Burke will sell you a day ticket for $45. Their Vermonter rate this season is $52 while Quebecers are offered daily two-for-one tickets. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, those 55 and older ski or ride for only $30.
COCHRAN’S SKI AREA
How does $5 for Friday night skiing and riding sound? It’s less expensive then the movies and healthier too. All day weekend/holiday period tickets are a mere 20 bucks with tax included. Their refreshments are reasonably priced as well.
JAY PEAK
Their popular $55 Vermont resident ticket is back and can be reloaded on a Radio Frequency Identification ticket for only $50 per day. Nonresident lift ticket prices were dropped from $75 to $64 this season. If you’re a bona fide farmer, you ski and ride free on Jan. 25.
KILLINGTON
Your best bet other than a season pass product is their $99 direct-to-lift Express Card linked to a credit card. Cardholders can purchase tickets for half price midweek and 25 percent off during prime time. Pico tickets can be had for only $29 midweek and $39 weekends with the card. New this season: Your seventh ticket is on the house with the Killington Express Card.
MAD RIVER GLEN
You can actually ski a day for one dollar here, either on a Friday or Monday. The caveat is you have to purchase a two-day weekend ticket. Nice deal for three-day weekenders. Or, $3.50 buys a ticket on Jan. 29 Roll-Back-the-Clock Day. If you’re romantically inclined, smooch with your significant other at the ticket booth and ski for $14 each on Valentine’s Day. Feel like doing something foolish? Save it for your performance at the ticket booth on April 1 and ski for half off. Got an AARP card? Present it at the booth on Sundays for a $10 discount.
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
Besides a season pass, the best deal here is their $59 Magic Card. Cardholders can purchase midweek tickets for only $25 and receive a $10 discount on weekends. One freebie ticket in March is part of the deal.
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL
Their everyday prices are a great value again this season: Only $25 midweek and $46 on the weekends. Midd alumni save even more on the weekends.
MOUNT SNOW
Their $79 Fan Fare Card is back and is good for 50 percent off midweek tickets, 25 percent off weekends, and a 10 percent discount during holiday periods. Jan. 6 is Youth Pay Their Age Day for 6- to 18-year-olds, and everybody skis and rides for only $17 on St. Patrick’s Day.
NORTHEAST SLOPES
Looking for affordable weekend skiing and riding? Try this 12-trail area in East Corinth for $15 tickets; $10 for a half day.
OKEMO
Food Drive Days are back on Dec. 15 and March 30. Donate five or more nonperishable food items to purchase a discounted $39 lift ticket. Wednesdays are called “Wonderful” here for Vermont and New Hampshire residents who get to ski and ride for $39. Their $89 Super 7 Savings Card is a graduated discount card offering savings of 10 to 40 percent depending on how many tickets are purchased. Your seventh ticket is free with this card. Online specials will also be popping up on the mountain’s website throughout the season.
SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT
From “Business Monday” to “Vermonter Full-Throttle Friday,” Smuggs offers a nonholiday, shall we say ordinary time, midweek deal every day. How’s “College Turn-on Thursday” grab you? College students pay just $29 on this retro ’60s moniker day. Check out smuggs.com for all their daily deal details.
STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Say good-bye to the Stowe Points Card and “hello” to the $5 Evolution Stowe Card. It’s a reloadable RFID (radio frequency), direct-to-lift card that offers substantial ticket discounts. This year the rack rate at the ticket booth is $92, but with this card, you pay $79 for a single day and can reload ticket credits online or by phone. Once you purchase the card, it’s valid for future seasons.
STRATTON MOUNTAIN
New this season is the PG-29 Card. No, it’s not a new movie rating but rather an acronym for “Post-Grad 29,” a $299 unrestricted season pass for 18- to 29-year-olds. Their $89 direct-to-lift X2 Card returns. Cardholders receive one free ticket and daily ticket discounts from $10 to $30.
SUGARBUSH RESORT
Their $99 SugarDirect Card is available through Dec. 17. The card offers ticket buyers discounts of 20 to 25 percent and additional discounts in other departments. You get a freebie ticket on the 11th purchase with the card.
SUICIDE SIX
Two-for-Tuesdays are back where $43 buys two lift tickets. On Fridays, a 20-dollar bill buys you lift access for the day.
