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Why Ski Resort Lodging Has Gotten So Expensive, and How To Find the Best Deals

Evie Carrick
·6 min read

This article originally appeared on Ski Mag

Now that the season is over (for most of us mortals, at least), reasonable folks are starting to look into booking trips for next season. As with most things in the travel industry, locking in your rates early usually saves you money. But these days, the number one question on everyone's lips is "What the world is going on with lodging rates?"

Across the board, the modest condos, hotels, and AirBnBs that used to be the go-tos for skiers looking to save a buck here and there are now priced like slopeside luxury units--even when they're a ways away from the mountain. And the actual ski-in/ski-out units? Many are solidly out of reach--think upwards of $1,000 a night or more in many destinations.

Related: When Is Ski-in/Ski-Out Lodging Worth the Money?

So, what is going on? It's all about volume. Since the pandemic, skiing has been getting more and more popular. The 2021-'22 season saw a record number of visitors, and this last winter is following suit, showing a 6.6 percent increase in visitation in 2022-'23. A record snow year across much of the country didn't hurt, either.

All those added skiers result in higher demand--and higher prices, particularly when it comes to lodging. According to DestiMetrics, an arm of Inntopia, room rates in Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho were up over 43 percent compared to the last full pre-pandemic season. That means that the $150 hotel room you might've scored in 2019 is now $215 a night.

To highlight places where skiers can still rest their heads without breaking the bank, we're sharing some tactics to employ in your lodging search:

  • Book in the early season. Yes, you're taking a chance on the conditions, but the early-season lodging deals can be worth the gamble. It'll be less crowded, too.

  • Stay further away from the resort. If you don't mind a drive or a shuttle, you can save big.

  • Go no-frills. Opt for a less updated condo or a budget motel and you can often stay in a great location for a lot less money. Who needs granite counters in a kitchen you'll be using for a few days?

  • Direct contact. Whenever possible, contact a property owner directly to avoid the booking fees on sites like AirBnB, Vacasa, and VRBO.

  • Visit a less-popular resort. The West is filled with up-and-coming gems that don’t attract the skier volume of an Aspen, Whistler, or Park City. Less volume = more units on offer.

We did some digging to find hotels, lodges, resorts, and condos that are still relatively affordable. Each of the Western ski areas below have lodging that's within an hour's drive of the mountain (and in most cases, much less) and a nightly rate that's $150 or less. If you're booking for next season, this is a great place to start. And perhaps now more than ever, it's imperative to lock in that lower rate before all your fellow powder seekers get the same idea.

6 Spots To Find Reasonably Priced Lodging Next Season

Big Sky Resort, Mont.

Huntley Lodge Big Sky
A bunk bed room at the Huntley Lodge. (Photo: Courtesy of Big Sky Resort)

In the early season, both The Lodge at Big Sky and Huntley Lodge have rates that fall under $150 a night. The Huntley Lodge, which is owned by the resort, has a better location at the base of the Explorer Lift, but The Lodge at Big Sky tends to have lower prices and the rate always includes a daily hot breakfast and access to the ski shuttle.

Bogus Basin, Idaho

If you only have time for a quick, and cheap, ski trip, make your way to Boise, where the Motel 6 near the airport starts at $89 a night and is less than an hour from the slopes of Bogus Basin. The rooms are simple and clean, and your commute to the mountain will almost be as easy as your commute back to the airport on your departure day.

Park City Mountain, Utah

It doesn't get more central than Vacasa's Park City Bliss ski condo. The 1-bedroom unit is a short walk from the Town Lift that transports skiers from downtown Park City onto Park City Mountain. The average nightly rate is $147 and it's worth noting that while the condo is a 1 bedroom unit with a loft, it can sleep six.

Park City Bliss condo
Two-story units like this one maximize space to help keep per-person prices in check.

If you prefer hotel living, rooms at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Park City start at $132 a night and the property is a 10-minute drive (or 25-minute bus ride) from Canyons Village, the northernmost base area of Park City Mountain.

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Ore.

Motel 6 Bend
Bend’s no-frills Motel 6 gets the job done. (Photo: Courtesy of Motel 6)

From Bend, Oregon, Mt. Bachelor is an easy 30-minute drive, making the city an affordable basecamp for a ski trip. The Motel 6 in Bend is basic and clean, and rates hover around $85 to $89 a night all winter long. If you don't want to rent a car, you can hop on the 30-minute shuttle that goes from the city to the mountain and costs $12, round trip.

Steamboat Ski Resort, Colo.

The vacation rental company Vacasa manages this ski rental, which has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and is near the free Steamboat Transit shuttle that drops skiers off at the gondola. Average nightly rates for the Sunray Meadows unit hover around $129 a night.

For another $34 a night (on average), you can forgo the shuttle ride and stay at the base of the gondola in the smaller but more accessible Sunrise Condominium which costs $163 a night, on average.

Heavenly Mountain Resort, Calif./Nev.

Heavenly straddles the California-Nevada state line and has base areas in both states, allowing skiers to choose either state as their ski-trip base camp. One of the cheapest options on the California side is the Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe, which is 10 minutes by car from the California Lodge base area and has rates starting at $79 a night. (Even on weekends during high season, rates are expected to stay under $150 a night.)

Holiday Inn Tahoe Ridge
Tahoe Ridge’s efficiency kitchens help keep dining costs in check. (Photo: Courtesy of Holiday Inn)

Meanwhile, on the northern, Nevada side of Heavenly, the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Tahoe Ridge Resorts (better known as Tahoe Ridge Resort) has a mini gondola that takes guests directly from the resort to the Stagecoach Lodge base area. The ease of getting on the mountain from Tahoe Ridge comes with a higher, but still relatively affordable price tag of $151 a night.

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