Holiday Rates

[Mess]

I decided yesterday to get room near a ski resort so we could ski in the fresh snow today.  I started looking at open terrain and cost for the tickets.  I checked out Shawnee, Montage, Elk, Camelback, JFBB and Greek Peak.  I thought it was funny that they are charging higher holiday rates when the only resort that had most trails open was JFBB.  I am sure they have done the math and it pays for them to overcharge because people will go on vacation for the week but it seems shitty to charge full price when so much terrain is closed.  I also was shocked to find that Greek peak has 1 room left for $500 for last night.  

 

Hope everyone had a good day on the mountain.  I will have to wait a little longer until more is open.

 

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

They charge holiday prices cause it's a holiday week and lodging is all about supply and demand...or at least perceived demand. Your best bet might be just driving to Whitehall and getting a room at the ramada for under $100 a night and driving 15 miles to blue. I honestly think that lift ticket prices are expensive. We had that discussion yesterday at Blue and none of us think we would go more than a couple times a year if we had to pay $70 everytime we wanted to ski.

 

I would have loved to go out west this week but airfare and lodging are $$$$ now and in January it's much more reasonable and less crowds.

 

A good day to go is New Year's Day..still holiday rates but it's a particularly uncrowded day and the weather looks stellar this weekend.

[indiggio]

Tarpon found an airbnb for $38 in Slatington...

[toast21602]

Tarpon found an airbnb for $38 in Slatington...

 

#Toastlyfe

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Tarpon found an airbnb for $38 in Slatington...

He still won't make first chair lol

[JFskiDan]

I decided yesterday to get room near a ski resort so we could ski in the fresh snow today.  I started looking at open terrain and cost for the tickets.  I checked out Shawnee, Montage, Elk, Camelback, JFBB and Greek Peak.  I thought it was funny that they are charging higher holiday rates when the only resort that had most trails open was JFBB.  I am sure they have done the math and it pays for them to overcharge because people will go on vacation for the week but it seems shitty to charge full price when so much terrain is closed.  I also was shocked to find that Greek peak has 1 room left for $500 for last night.  

 

Hope everyone had a good day on the mountain.  I will have to wait a little longer until more is open.

 

Snowmaking is expensive.  lets face it, we live on the east coast, and our ski season is short.  I know for a fact most businesses like to turn a profit, so things need to be priced accordingly.  This is a huge money making week for the resorts, and from what we have seen at Blue, so far this isnt panning out to well.  Most days this week have had some type of weather issue that kept crowds down a bit.  

 

Blue probably has half the trails open.  If they were charging half price this week, words could not describe what a zoo it would be.  There are not enough trails open for the amount of people reduced ticket rates will bring in.  

[toast21602]

Can't really complain. Better skiing now than this time last year...

 

 

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[theprogram4]

me and mark were talking about this yesterday.  we were going up the lift like "I can't believe people are paying $70 for this bullshit."  5 runs with garbage conditions and they are charging full price lol

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

me and mark were talking about this yesterday.  we were going up the lift like "I can't believe people are paying $70 for this bullshit."  5 runs with garbage conditions and they are charging full price lol

Goobers don't care if the conditions are garbage. Remember to them sugar snow is better than ice and powdery but a part of me was thinking yesterday that Blue might charge a little to much.

Can't really complain. Better skiing now than this time last year...

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Quoted for truth.

[Mess]

I understand they have to make their money.  I can't justify paying that kind of money for limited terrain.  I like Blue and Camelback but do not think I will go to either because of the high cost of a lift ticket.  Wish Blue still had that morning ticket but it has been gone for years.

Most of my trips are to JF and Montage because of the discount tickets.  I wanted to go to Montage but they only had a few trails open and it just isn't worth the drive when they are limited.

 

I am sure the resorts have done the math and a lot of people go because they are off for the week but wonder if they would get more business if lift tickets were discounted or cheaper overall.  It could also lead to a bigger shit show with such limited trails and too many people.  Last time I was at blue the lift lines were back to the lower lodge asphalt.

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I was just mentioning how Blue and many others no longer have a morning ticket. When I was a kid before I had a season pass at Blue I would usually get a morning ticket which was 730-1230 and sometimes stay till like 2

 

Trust me Blue wishes they had a shit show with lines back to the asphalt but the weather this week hasn't been conducive to that.

 

And I think it's always worth the drive even if only a few runs are open. If you really wanna ski then what's the big deal lapping the same runs over and over again.

[toast21602]

I think tomorrow might be pretty busy.

 

 

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[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

 

If ticket prices this week were half price at Blue I don't think they'd get double the business. I think they'd get a bit more business though especially from college kids and families.

I think tomorrow might be pretty busy.

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Yup especially because NYE/NYD are historically not that crowded.

[Mess]

I hear you about lapping if you really want to ski but my priorities have changed every year.  Just turned 41 on Christmas and tough to get up every weekend with 3 kids.  My wife lets me go most weekends but I have become a little bit of a ski snob.  I think I might ski Vermont 2-3 times a year and start cutting out Poconos.

[RidgeRacer]

Honestly it would be hard for me to justify a pass if I didn't live the #Toastlyfe next to the mountains. I'm pretty fortunate that I do. Night sessions like this evening would be pretty darn impossible. Proximity to skiing will always be a high priority when choosing where to live. One of the reasons why SLC is so damn attractive for me at some point in the distant future. For now I'm not complaining.   

[indiggio]

It would be interesting to know how Barb comes up with the ticket price each year.

Is it just take last year's price and add some inflationary factor to it based on everything else going up? Or is it based on what profit/loss last year held?  Or some other method (yank it from the yoinker)?

Rumor was during Ray years, he'd wait until others (Cameltoe) would release their prices and he'd set the price below theirs, just to be cheaper.

 

It must be a big gamble at setting the price up front, because there's no telling what the weather holds and how much it will cost to cover the mountain in snow and/or how often it'll have to be done.

Also, they run the hairy edge of putting people off with the ticket price.

Like everything else, if it's priced too high, people won't buy.  If it's priced too low, you're cutting into profits and run the risk of having the place so crowded, it's a bad experience (lines way too long).

 

Wondering how a sliding ticket price like Liftopia might work?

Say you have N number of runs open, you can determine a safe number of people that those trails can safely bear, so you open with ticket prices at a low price to get people out, but ding the late arrivals with higher prices as you approach that safe number.

Heck, with RFID in place, you could even tie everything together and have a floating ticket price, so like in the evening when nobody's there, ticket prices would be super low to bring people out.  Thus, you'd probably pull out more people because of the low price and make some money instead of people not coming out at all because it's too expensive.

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Indiggio I'm sure the people who run Blue think on that level. Sheesh I'm glad 95% of my customers just pay the price we charge while the other 5% haggle or bring lower price quotes from competitors. I couldn't imagine being in the PA ski business...its just so risky. They must have a hell of a credit line at Blue mountain cause I see their cash flow fluctuating a ton. I do believe that during the weekend and holiday periods the average Blue mountain customer is coming from a higher income household. The amount of $100,000 cars from NJ and NY on busy days is astounding. Blue mountain is located in the perfect area to charge the maximum for lift tickets as it draws clientele from some of the wealthiest counties in the country..Bucks, Montgomery, most of North Jersey and NYC. Average income in the Lehigh valley is closer to that of the national average and casual skiers and riders I know from the Lehigh valley don't even go once a season and shake their head at the prices yet drop $100 going to an Eagles game or a couple grand going down the shore every summer or Disney world.. $70 is a lot for a day of skiing for one person. Shit for a family of 5 with rentals you're talking $500 before anybody even eats lunch.

[indiggio]

Mmmm.... I'm thinking they don't think on that level or they would have implemented something already. 

However, I've not heard of any resorts being progressive with their pricing...

 

It boggles my mind to see all the cars on a beautiful winter Sat/Sun and knowing they're paying single day prices!

If it weren't for (somewhat reasonable) season pass prices, I surely wouldn't be dropping $70 for a day of skiing, no matter how much I enjoyed it.

 

Back in college, we'd do the $18 Sunday evening ticket and make sure we'd ski enough runs to get to $1/run or less.

Luckily they still did twice daily groomings back then!  Really miss Ray for that!

[Ski2Live Live2Ski]

Would not assume anywhere near all there on a weekend are paying full price. I will be getting 3 weekend lift tix for under $50 this year due to Pocono Ski and Ride Cards and my two kids will each spend a total of $30 for all their PA skiing this year due to the PA 4th grade ski passport program.

 

You don't have to be a pass holder to get a deal and I probably pay less per ski day than all but the most dedicated pass holders.

[JFskiDan]

something i just bumped into.....place up here Pocono snowmobile rentals charges $50 for a half hour for a snowmobile.  $60 if you bring a passenger. 

 

When you look at it that way, an all day lift ticket to Blue kinda looks like a bargain.  

[Mess]

I got 3 tix's at Montage for $99 and 2 at frost for $30 per ticket.  Son has the 4th grade ski for free($30) this year as well. I also still have over $200 in Montage gift cards from last year unfortunately they don't have the morning session anymore and would not let me use the cards I bought last year to buy their $30 Thursday-Sunday deal.

 

How much does the Pocono ski and ride card cost and how does it work?  I saw it is sold out for this year but might have to grab one next year

Edited December 30, 2016 by Mess

[indiggio]

Would not assume anywhere near all there on a weekend are paying full price. I will be getting 3 weekend lift tix for under $50 this year due to Pocono Ski and Ride Cards and my two kids will each spend a total of $30 for all their PA skiing this year due to the PA 4th grade ski passport program.

 

No, definitely not everyone is paying full price as there are bargains out there to be had out there.

Being a passholder, I really don't know how many and of what value exist.

[Ski2Live Live2Ski]

I got 3 tix's at Montage for $99 and 2 at frost for $30 per ticket. Son has the 4th grade ski for free($30) this year as well. I also still have over $200 in Montage gift cards from last year unfortunately they don't have the morning session anymore and would not let me use the cards I bought last year to buy their $30 Thursday-Sunday deal.

 

How much does the Pocono ski and ride card cost and how does it work? I saw it is sold out for this year but might have to grab one next year

It is about $60, exact price depending on where you purchase, and good for one day each at Blue, CB, Shawnee, JFBB and Big Bear. Blacked out through 1/1 and also on MLK and Presidents weekend. So even if you don't bother with Big Bear and Shawnee it is $20/day to ski Blue Frost and CB. At one point it was only available to ski club members but now it seems they are selling to anyone. I bought 3 this year. Ridiculous deal.

 

Will find out which mountains will honor both that and 4th grade deal on same day.

Edited December 30, 2016 by Ski2Live Live2Ski

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Would not assume anywhere near all there on a weekend are paying full price. I will be getting 3 weekend lift tix for under $50 this year due to Pocono Ski and Ride Cards and my two kids will each spend a total of $30 for all their PA skiing this year due to the PA 4th grade ski passport program.

You don't have to be a pass holder to get a deal and I probably pay less per ski day than all but the most dedicated pass holders.

What was your per day cost last season??

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

No, definitely not everyone is paying full price as there are bargains out there to be had out there.

Being a passholder, I really don't know how many and of what value exist.

And think the topic was more that there aren't a lot of bargains during this holiday week. I feel like you have to be tuned into things to get the best bargains like when TV stations and radio stations offer up cheap passes along with ski club deals and deals from various consumer products like soda or gas station deals. I appreciate Enjorales and Ski2Live pointing them out. My guess is this week the majority are paying full holiday prices and some are using recent Xmas gift cards as well or vouchers. Blue finally had moderate crowds today after lower crowds all week.