10 Tips for Getting Cheap Lift Tickets

Skiing is fun, but it’s not always cheap. While the discounts offered during the pandemic aren’t as substantial as they have been in the past, it’s still worth your time to try one of these tips for getting lift tickets for less. 

Try Using Liftopia, Ski.com, or Snow.com

Liftopia is an online provider of discount ski lift tickets around the world. Whether you’re looking to ski in Switzerland, New Zealand, or Colorado, there are a lot of deals listed here. For the greatest discount, try purchasing your tickets far in advance. 

Although Liftopia is the most popular discount lift ticket retailer, there are plenty of other websites that sell cheap lift tickets, such as snow.com and ski.com. Snow.com offers savings up to 15% with a four-night or longer stay with three days of skiing. 

Tourism and Visitor Centers

Often, these can be the best source of information if you’re looking for lift discounts. They sell them directly, or they can point you in the direction of a retailer that does. Salt Lake City, Utah, for example, can point you in the direction of retailers that offer discount ski tickets, such as Canyon Sports, AJ Motion Sports, Utah Ski & Golf, SkiNSee, and more. 

Free Ski Schools for Kids

You won’t have to look too hard to find discount ski tickets for kids. In Colorado, for example, kids in kindergarten through the fifth grade can register for the Epic SchoolKids pass that includes a four day lift ticket at Vail, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte, Keystone and Breckenridge. For this one, you’ll need a lot of advance planning as these spots fill up quickly.

REI Lift tickets 

REI has discounts for ski lift tickets for a number of ski resorts throughout the U.S. Online offerings include resorts like Solitude, Big Bear Mountain Resort, Mountain High, Waterville Valley Resort, Homewood Mountain Resort, Snow Valley, Killington, and more. Discounts range from 15% to 54%. There may be other tickets available in stores.

Costco 

Tripadvisor reports there are often ski lift tickets available at the Costco near the ski resort. While the pandemic has dampened these offerings, it doesn’t hurt to check. 

Student and University Discounts

Universities located near ski resorts will often have discounted lift tickets. If you’re a student, staff, or faculty member, you can find lift tickets at a discount at the student services or outdoor activities desk. Students may also be able to find substantial discounts on season passes directly from the ski resort.  

Ski at a Less Popular Time

If you can hit the slopes at a less popular time (like at night or mid-week), you’ll be rewarded with cheaper lift tickets.

Buy a Package Deal 

Look for packages sold from hotels near the ski resort you want to go to. Sunlight Mountain Resort near Glenwood Springs, CO., for example, has a kids ski, swim and stay package that offers free lift passes for kids with a paying adult. It also includes admission to the popular Glenwood Hot Springs Resort.   

Buy Multiple Days 

Some resorts offer a discount for skiing multiple days. Homewood Resort in Lake Tahoe, for example, offers a midweek 3-pack for $199, making the daily cost a mere $66. In some cases and for some resors, it may even make sense to buy a full season pass. 

Try Skiing a Lesser-Known Resort

You’ve probably heard of the name brand resorts like Vail and Park City, but if you’re just looking for a budget ski day, you’ll find other resorts nearby that don’t cost nearly as much. Here are a few examples of name-brand resorts with their budget alternatives. These are often located within an hour of the first resort. 

Name-brand resort, price for single-day ticket	Budget option, price for single-day ticket
Vail, from $208	Copper Mountain, from $99
Killington, from $149	Pico, from $40
Park City, from $185	Brighton, from $85
Whistler Blackcomb, from $138	Cypress Mountain, from $93
Lake Tahoe, Heavenly from $158	Homewood, from $66 per day
Aspen Snowmass, from $164	Sunlight, $49 – $72

The savings can be substantial if you’re willing to visit a local favorite instead of a popular tourist spot. 

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