Snow falls on blooming rhododendrons Tuesday, April 27, 2010, in Saranac Lake, N.Y. A late-season storm is expected to dump up to a foot of snow across the hills and mountains of northern New York and Vermont before moving east into the rest of northern New England. (AP Photo/Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Lou Reuter)
If you’ve been thinking about buying a season pass for next ski/snowboard season, now’s the time to act quickly if you want to same money.
Why? Because the end of April is the time ski resorts end their discounted season pass rates. Waiting will mean paying hundreds of dollars more if you decide to buy your pass in October. For example, many of Okemo’s passes increase $200 if you buy them after Friday.
Here are details from some of Connecticut skiers’ and snowboarders’ favorite resorts in Vermont.
Killington in Vermont has a Thursday deadline for its discounted passes that range from $999 for an unlimited pass good any day to $329 for college students. The $399 midweek pass (with some blackout days) is a good option. The Beast also has a payment plan where you can pay in three installments. Details here.
Stratton’s season passes will also increase on Friday. By far the best deal is its Midweek Superpass good at Stratton, Okemo and Mount Sunapee for $310. For details check here.
Okemo’s deadline for discounted passes ends Friday. Best deal is the forementioned midweek $310 pass good at three areas. Details here.
Same deal for Mount Snow with a Friday deadline. Wait until mid-October and you’ll pay $300 more for a season pass. Best deals: a $399 midweek pass; $299 for seniors. Its Classic Season Pass, with 12 blackout dates, is $549. Mount Snow also has a three-payment plan. Details here.
You have until Monday to lock into Sugarbush‘s season pass deals. Best ones: $319 for college students, a $499 adult midweek pass and if you’re 80 or older and still ski (God bless you) you pay $139. Rates are lower if you just get a Mount Ellen pass.
Today, the only ski areas remaining opening is Sugarloaf in Maine with 24 trails. They plan to close Sunday. Jay Peak in Vermont will reopen Thursday and close this weekend.
Jay filed this report this morning … it’s not an April Fools joke:
I expect single-day weekend passes to cost well into the eighty-dollar range next season. So when deciding to buy a season pass, it’s just a matter of doing the math. How many times you plan to ski verses the cost a lift ticket. Often you break even after using the pass six times.
