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Here’s how to play the ski reservation system

When Steve Cooney first heard that Ski resorts They were going to use reservation systems to help maintain social distancing, he thought that would mean Fewer people are on the hill. There is no such luck.

“I am amazed at how crowded the resorts are,” says the founder PowderChasers, A snow forecasting website, and a passionate sample of what to expect.

Besides the constant rush to get outdoors, the various crowd control systems make going skiing even more difficult. You can’t just show up in the ticket window in the morning, Cooney says. Resorts often sell their daily quota of tickets days or weeks in advance. At some resorts, even having season tickets or pre-booking offers no guarantees.

But don’t let challenges get you off a ski trip in the spring – even if it’s a spontaneous one, Cooney says. He has traveled to seven resorts across the western United States on multiple occasions this winter, including stumbling upon Snowbird, Utah during a 100-inch storm in February. Often books a week or less early.

“If you really want a reservation, you can usually get it, but you might have to be patient and persistent,” he explains.

Here’s how to manipulate the system:

Learn the rules

Almost every resort has some type of limiter to control numbers of skiers. Most of the major resorts, including all Elephant For the properties, use the online reservation system. Some limit daily ticket sales. And a little like Snowbird-Monitor numbers with reserved parking. Check resort websites to see what you’re dealing with.

Read the nitty gritty details

Many resorts require reservations for day tickets, but not season tickets and some multi-mountain passes. But even this varies from resort to resort. For example, Jackson Hole Does not require reservations for Mountain Collective card holders on the two free days, but applies to Ikon Pass holders.

Skiing in Utah
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Start with the weekend

No wonder, book weekends first. Often weeks before, Cooney says, Snowbird sold out all its weekend parking passes for the entire season. His advice: Book the weekend part of the cruise first and then work from there.

Don `t give up

More than ever, travel plans are in flux. This means that tickets booked are also. “People are constantly booking and canceling, especially at the big resorts,” says Cooney. When he can’t find the dates he wants, Connie is constantly updating the search. “Availability usually pops up,” he says. “Lots of people cancel the day before or even that morning.” When they do, act quickly or else someone else will hold them back.

Abolish culture

If you won’t be using a reservation, be sure to cancel it. Not only does it give other skiers a chance to go, but the resorts do cater. Resorts can, and do so, prevent non-reservation skiers from making future reservations.

Family book too

Don’t assume the travel industry’s troubles are spreading to the ski hotels. “If anything, hotel room rates have gone up,” says Cooney. “There is high demand.” His trick to finding affordable housing: Find a city or two.

Get used to it

Some ski industry insiders saw reservation systems coming ahead of the pandemic to cope with the growing crowds at the larger resorts. They could be the new normal. “I don’t see canceling reservations anytime soon,” says Cooney.


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Written by Joseph

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