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For those of us who enjoy the many ski resorts that Colorado has to offer, in more recent years - locals or tourists, we all can agree how difficult it has become to get there in a timely fashion. Many travelers will be headed to these resort towns for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years from all over Colorado and the world. Most out of state travelers begin considering their options well in advance for these peak times and look for the best deals on the various online travel sites and most in state travelers begin strategizing and speculating on the best day and time to head up the mountain.
There aren't many alternatives for those arriving by air or leaving from home and gearing up to travel the I70 corridor through the front range into the mountains. So what do we do? We still make the trek because we love to ski and spend time with those we care about most at the best ski resorts in the world.
What is the core problem with getting to these places and what is the solution? I personally don't have an opinion but I'd like to share a few suggestions to consider when planning your next getaway - whether you live in Denver or elsewhere.
Consider your options...
(1) You can fly into Denver, Eagle (Vail) or Aspen on a commercial flight - take a shuttle or rent car to the resort. (2)You can drive to the resort - a viable and obvious option if you live in state.
Consider the true costs of today's options, especially if you're coming in from out of state and even if you live in state, consider what's most important to you such as the value of your time and how many turns you may or may not get in.
Consider your alternatives...
(1) You can charter a private jet to the airport of your choice - still with the need for a shuttle or rental car. (2) If you're lucky enough, you could end up scoring an empty leg to the airport of your choice.
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Comparing the two...
To prove my point which I will get to in a minute here - we will compare an average family of five traveling from Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Mexico City to Vail (Eagle-Vail Airport) over Thanksgiving this year.
Traveling from Denver - If flying on a commercial flight, you will be restricted by which day of the week you wish to travel and can only fly United nonstop for $502 per person roundtrip or $2500 for the family. After two hours at the airport and an hour flight, it's definitely not worth it. Not to mention the need for a shuttle or rental car.
Driving may be your best option here in most cases but for those who cherish their time and their short-window of time to be had on the mountain, I recommend considering the alternatives here.
You can score an empty leg for under $1k in some instances take the Colorado Mountain Express up or back to Denver. You can charter a turboprop or jet for $2k roundtrip... not the most viable option but it exists.
Traveling from Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Mexico City - Flying into Denver and driving is going to cost to start at $405/person to $1k/person depending on where/when you depart... let the reality set in. Is it worth it to rent a car or charter a jet? I don't know the answer but I suggest considering both options and again weighing what is most important to you - budget or quality family time?
Flying direct on a commercial flight into Vail is going to set you back starting at $1k/ person for a flight with two to three layovers/connections and a 16-hour travel day. This later option is far from convenient in that it requires two full travel days which could be time you spend on the mountain with your family. And it's not cheap by any means.
Consider the only viable alternative: Charter a private jet from any of these destinations directly into Vail and you'll get there in five hours. Depending on each unique situation/need, it may or may not be two, three, four or five times the cost but it comes down to how you value your personal time with your family.
Notably, Summit County's five resorts including Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone owned by Vail Resorts, and then the Roaring Fork Valley's four resorts including Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk owned by Aspen Ski Company are amongst those requiring patient skiers and boarders because travel time to and from is lengthy - in good and bad weather (not to mention the construction).
Consider all of your travel logistics when booking your trip... do I want to spend two days traveling or do I want to drive three hours to Vail after a long travel day (and deal with the threat of weather) etc.
Other options exist and you should thoroughly research all options prior to booking your next ski trip. If you're a savvy traveler, you'd consider ALL of the alternatives - not just those on Hipmunk, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, Kayak or your local travel agent.
By Timmy Wozniak
Timmy is the Co-founder and CEO of Fresh Jets, an app that aggregates private jet schedule and pricing information and matches inventory to the travel needs of businesses and individuals instantly. Become a member today by signing up here.