As always, the Boston Globe Ski & Snowboard Expo aims to save skiers and riders a bundle of money this ski season. Resorts and vacation planners will offer up dozens of ways to save money when making those plans for the slopes this winter - lift ticket giveaways, season pass specials and show-only travel packages. Check out some of the great deals.
Early bird Specials - Nov. 11th, Noon to 4 p.m. Only
Saddleback, Maine
In honor of Veterans Day and our Troops, Saddleback will offer a special Seasons Pass for Military Personnel at only $99 from noon to 4 p..m. on opening day, Thursday, Nov. 11. And college students can take advantage of their Expo only special, the College Student Season Pass, also only $99. Military and college ID's are required for purchase. All Saddleback season pass products will be available at their booth throughout Expo.
Shawnee Peak, Maine
Shawnee Peak Maine will be offering, from noon to 4 p.m. a $99 3-Pack of Lift Tickets (tickets valid anytime except MLK Weekend) and/or a $99 Night Season Pass (no blackouts). Both offer great savings, $40 on the lift ticket pack and $50 on the night season pass.
To be announced! Ask Skier's Edge staff about their "Early Bird Special" when you visit their booth on Thursday, Nov. 11, noon to 4 p.m.
Deals To Look For On The Expo Floor
Aspen/Snowmass, ColoradoWith discounted lodging and lift ticket for nearly every day of the 2010-2011 season, Expo visitors have good reason to stop by and book a trip to Aspen/Snowmass. For a second straight season, Kids Ski & Stay FREE packages are now valid during both March and April when booked in advance. New this season are extended book-by dates, allowing guests to book up to two weeks before their visit.
Banff, Canada
With most of Banff's visitors coming in the summer months, winter is the low season for lodging pricing.
Look for a load of early season specials at Banff as it partners with over 20 different lodging properties in offering "Ski For Free" packages. Set in surroundings so spectacular that the United Nations has declared the region a World Heritage Site, Banff is home to three major resorts, Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village, all in the protected Banff National Park, just 90 minutes from Calgary.
Bolton Valley, VT
Bolton will be offering three special packages at Expo for those who make reservations on the spot. Kids 17 and under Ski and Stay Free Packages start at $158/night when accompanied by an adult. The package includes one night lodging, one day of skiing/riding, breakfast and access to the Sports Center for a family of four. Price is per room per night based on up to two adults and two youth ages 17 years and under, in the same room, and applies to rooms at the slopeside Inn at Bolton Valley only.
Book a room at the slopeside Inn at Bolton Valley at Expo and save up to 25%. Pick up a 2-for-1 lift ticket voucher at Bolton's Expo booth. And from Dec. 19-24, the per person rate of $54.50 based on double occupancy is offered at the slopeside Inn at Bolton Valley.
From Dec. 19-23, Bolton is offering ski/stay packages for $54.50 per person, if booked at Expo. All package rates are plus tax and service, inventory is limited, some restrictions apply.
Boston Ski and Sports Club
The Boston Ski and Sports Club has two great Expo-only specials: $100 off any ski vacation and a free travel bag. Choose from Cortina, Italy; Three Valleys, France; St. Anton, Austria; Crested Butte & Telluride or Steamboat Springs & Winter Park, in Colorado. Also, get a $50 savings on the BSSC Holiday Pack, which includes a BSSC Day trip, an annual BSSC membership and a t-shirt for the Expo-only price of $100. Stop by BSSC's Expo booth and pick up their 2011 Day & Weekend Ski Schedule for special savings on trips all winter long.
Cranmore Mt., NH
Sign up for Cranmore's E*news letter at Expo and be entered to win a ski and stay package at a local inn or resort. Be sure to stop by the Cranmore booth to get a free lift ticket valid on Jan. 7, 2011, which is Tickets Roll Back Day at Cranmore, when tickets are just $9 but for Expo visitors, it's FREE.
Or ski Cranmore with an Expo-only purchase price of $99 for their 3 Pak; that's skiing for only $33 a day, a savings of $26 and valid all season long. This special is only available at Expo, is non-transferable and for one person only, and may not be combined with other offers.
Visitors young and not-so young will also want to stop by and meet C-more the Penguin, their mascot who has become a staple attraction at Expo.
Eastern Boarder Sports, MA
Expo's lead boarding retailer, Eastern Boarder is on the bandwagon of great deals this year. They will be handing out a pair of FREE Loon Mt. lift tickets every hour. A purchase at Eastern Boarder during Expo earns one entry into the giveaway.
Another Expo first is Eastern Boarder's demo sale of Burton 2009-10 boards, bindings and boots at prices that promise to be truly amazing. This demo sale has never been done before! And look for their pro snowboarders signing posters at Eastern Boarder's Expo outlet. On Friday afternoon, the Shape/Eastern Boarder team will be offering up a skateboard demo and on Saturday, it's the Think demo team along with the Fall Brawl skateboard contest. Lots of action at Expo from Eastern Boarder. Check out their blog, www.easternboarderexpo.blogspot.com for more news updates.
Friends of Tuckerman Ravine
A new membership in the non-profit group, Friends of Tuckerman Ravine, not only supports a worthwhile organization, it earns a free New England lift ticket and other retail discount opportunities when signing up for a membership at Expo. More than 20 ski areas are participating in the lift ticket program. For more information, visit www.friendsoftuckermanravine.org.
Jackson Hole, WY
Olympic downhill gold medalist Tommy Moe will be greeting Expo visitors on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at the Jackson Hole booth, signing posters and talking powder to would-be Wyoming skiers.
