$77 (2005 prices) a day too steep? Want to save some money? Well there ARE a couple of ways, but they are not easy:

 • The SkE Card - This used to be called the Colorado Card. Basically it is targeted at Colorado residents, but as far as I know residency is not a requirement. Rather they just make this available in October and early November at local Denver sporting goods stores (REI for example). You have to be present to get it. But it does get you some nice discounts on lift tickets (try $55 in 2005).
 • Colorado Pass - The Colorado Pass provides unlimited slope access at Breckenridge, Keystone and A-Basin, as well as 10 days' access to the lifts at Vail or Beaver Creek. The Colorado Pass costs $349 (2005). It is blocked out on certain dates. Available at the same times/places as the Ske Card.
 • Ebay - Friends swear by this. Typically for $10 you can buy a 2 for 1 coupon that was issued somewhere in the country. There have been counterfeits so your mileage may vary.

Discounted tickets for Vail are no longer available at grocery stores on Denver as they once were.

Also, you should sign up for their "frequent skier" program called Peaks . If you attach a credit card, then you can use the card to buy food on the mountain and you'll get Peaks points for that. The points do add up if you have a family and you might get a day or two of free skiing out of it. Just go to a ticket office before you do your first day of skiing to get one.

Avoid the Lines

If you can get on the mountain a little earlier (before 9:30 am) than everyone else you can stay ahead of the crowds and never wait in a line more than 5 minutes. Here are some suggested starting routes:

 • Favorite: Start at golden peak, and take the lift past the first drop off to the top. Get off and take lift 11 (Northwoods) to the very top of the Mt. From there drop into China Bowl or go off to Blue Sky basin. Come back to the front after noon and you'll see a lot of the mountain.
 • Staring at Vail Village. If the Vista-Bahn is really full, take the little two seater chair up. Ski over to Golden Peak and follow along above.

Lionshead - Don't wait for the gondola, take the quad chair. Ski over to the far side (the far side can be LOTS shorter) of lift 2 and up.

AVOID: Chair 4 from mid-vail. Always crowded. Car 11 can get crowded. Check the status boards for the back bowl lift and game creek bowl lifts before going into each as they can fill up and there is only one chair in each bowl.

Child Care

Vail has an excellent child-care center for all ages of kids. For babies to toddlers, the nursery provides great, on mountain, care. As young as 3 years old the Ski School can really teach your kids to ski and give them a fun day too (and free you up to ski with your spouse). All this does not come cheap, but you get a good quality product and don't have to worry about your kids. One note: BOOK EARLY (like a month before you get there) for the nursery. They do fill up.

Eat on Mountain

 • Best value on the mountain is the Combo at the Wildwood shelter. $11 for a great barbeque beef or pork sandwich, soup and side. Plus Wildwood is much smaller than most of the other places on mountain so you can find your group. And there is a good view.
 • Two Elk - This place has beautiful architecture (a giant log structure) nice furniture, but has expensive, average food. And it is huge so it is a pain to find anyone. See it once then head to Wildwood for your next meal.

Ride the Gondola

Typically the Gondola is free for foot traffic from about 2pm on. Good way to get the non-skiers and the kids up to the top. Before that there is some outrageous charge for a single gondola ride.