FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA – Vacation rental search engine, HomeToGo, has revealed the results of its annual Ski Season Report for 2021, ranking the top 55 ski destinations in the U.S. based on affordability. The study includes this year’s most popular ski destinations across the country, uncovering a mountainous gap between both budget-friendly and top dollar ski resorts in terms of lift ticket and accommodation prices.
HomeToGo also uncovered a shift in how skiers are planning to travel as they adapt to this uncertain ski season - including booking shorter, last-minute stays and spending more time at vacation rentals versus apres-ski festivities.“The 2021 winter season already looks very different this year - U.S. ski weekends have lowered in price and skiers are clearly booking with safety and comfort in mind,” said Caroline Burns, Head of PR and Travel Expert, HomeToGo. “Cabins and slopeside homes with strong WiFi, full kitchens and outdoor space reign as the accommodation of choice for ski enthusiasts. With many restaurants closed and regulations still in place, accommodations offering homely comforts and a short walk to the lifts will help make for a safer ski weekend.”
Based on the average price of a one-day lift ticket and HomeToGo’s own accommodations data for the 2021 ski season, here’s a snapshot of the top rankings from the annual report:
Most Affordable Ski Spots in the U.S. for 2021 - Ranked by Price
| Ski Area | State | Nightly Average Accommodation Price Per Person | Lift Ticket Price | Total Nightly Price Per Person |
1 | Titus Mountain | NY | $52.58 | $39.00 | $91.58 |
2 | Bridger Bowl Ski Area | MT | $48.28 | $63.00 | $111.28 |
3 | Mission Ridge Ski Area | WA | $38.13 | $77.00 | $115.13 |
4 | Bolton Valley | VT | $19.37 | $99.00 | $118.37 |
5 | Whiteface Mountain | NY | $81.80 | $60.00 | $141.80 |
Most Expensive Ski Spots in the U.S. for 2021 - Ranked by Price
| Ski Area | State | Nightly Average Accommodation Price Per Person | Lift Ticket Price | Total Nightly Price Per Person |
51 | Alta Ski Area | UT | $242.93 | $141.00 | $383.93 |
52 | Vail | CO | $197.11 | $199.00 | $396.11 |
53 | Aspen Snowmass | CO | $295.20 | $194.00 | $489.20 |
54 | Beaver Creek | CO | $313.65 | $199.00 | $512.65 |
55 | Deer Valley | UT | $286.28 | $229.00 | $515.28 |
2021 Ski Travel Trends
- Slopeside homes reign as the most popular type of booking. Despite the closure of many on-hill bars and restaurants, homes located within half a mile of a ski lift are nearly twice (2x) as likely to be booked compared to homes located farther afield.
- Cabins are also seeing a massive boost in popularity for skiers. Cabin bookings have increased by 345% annually compared to other accommodation types.
- Short last-minute ski trips are the new normal, with the time between booking and check-in averaging 13 weeks (previously 23 weeks) due to the uncertainty of 2021 travel and changing local regulations.
- COVID-19 bringing on self-cooking means travelers want a bigger kitchen. Homes with well equipped kitchens, including freezers, dishwashers, and ovens are receiving 15 - 40% more bookings this ski season compared to last year.
- ‘Home Away from Home’ amenities have increasingly become decision making factors in the booking process. More skiers are looking for homely comforts like fireplaces, outdoor space, as well as internet access and kid-friendly furniture.
