Stay connected for lift-ticket deals

November 15, 2009|Marty Basch, Globe Correspondent

Savvy skiers know that one of the best ways to find discounted lift tickets is online, where more and more ski areas are offering deals through their websites.

“The ability to get the word out now is instantaneous,’’ says Tom Horrocks, Killington’s communications manager. “We have the technology to do this ourselves.’’

Last season Killington (www.killington.com) unveiled Deal Grabbers, where skiers could score a limited number of lift tickets for as little as $25 on certain days. Again this season, it plans to offer the low-priced tickets, a considerable savings to the Vermont mountain’s $82 Saturday and peak price, and $77 Sunday to Friday, off-peak cost.

Skiers and riders with flexible schedules can reel in deals. And they can sign up online for newsletters and alerts; ski on non-holidays, midweek, and at night; buy multiday tickets; or purchase discount cards.

Wachusett’s Text for Deals (www.wachusett.com) program enters its third season with alerts on mobile devices that can yield $10 savings off lift tickets at the Princeton mountain.

“I think text messaging today is what e-mail was five or 10 years ago,’’ says Tom Meyers, Wachusett marketing director. “We are seeing more interest in terms of people wanting to have these kinds of inside tracks on getting information.’’

Discounted online purchases will be available for the first time this season at Wachusett.

Okemo (www.okemo.com) in Ludlow, Vt., is offering Online Thursdays. Sign up online for $39 Thursday lift tickets on select days as well as select $39 Ladies’ Day Tuesdays.

“People are definitely taking the extra time to find deals,’’ says Karl Stone, Ski New Hampshire marketing director. “Traffic was up about 20 percent last season on the deals section of our website.’’

Granite State ski areas have a host of non-holiday two-for-one deals. Bretton Woods (Wednesday), Cannon (Tuesday and Thursday), Cranmore (online only, Monday to Thursday), Crotched (Tuesday), Gunstock (Monday), King Pine (Tuesday to Thursday), Mount Sunapee (Wednesday), Ragged (Tuesday), and Wildcat (Wednesday) all take part.

Some other deals include:

Roll Back the Clock Day Jan. 26 at Mad River Glen in Waitsfield, Vt., with $3.50 lift tickets.

Ticket Roll Back Day Dec. 18 at Cranmore in North Conway, N.H., with $3.30 lift tickets.

Wildcat’s Nine Dollar Fridays Dec. 18, Jan. 22, Feb. 26, and March 26.

Waterville Valley’s $1 tickets on AprilFools’ Day.

Mad River Glen’s St. Valentine’s Day Kissing Special on Feb. 14 rewards those who kiss each other in front of the ticket booth with $14 tickets. Skiers who wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, pay $17.

There are even ways to snag free lift tickets:

Drive a hybrid and ski free Jan. 23 and March 20 at Cranmore.