ski
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"......we thoroughly enjoyed
the expert advice and skiing tips you gave us gordon, especially
in powder"
henny and peter, germany
"......thank you, this was
the best ski vacation ever and all down to you guys"
cheyenne, phoenix -
arizona
if you're looking for something
special then you'll find it here. we offer programmes both ready
made or tailored to suit you and your family's needs in resorts
that are both friendly and charming with world class skiing on
the doorstep.
the one thing that we do not organise
for you is your air travel. with so many excellent offers we feel
that you can get fares as cheaply on the internet.
SKI
RESORT WINTER RATES 2006/2007
If you wish to book,
please read the conditions below before looking up specific resort
details.
Please click on the buttons below to access lodging rates.(Errors in pricing
are not binding and prices are subject to verification).
Booking and
cancellation conditions below.
We have set out our pricing on the
following pages so that you can quickly see how much your holiday
will cost. Please note that all prices are in US Dollars. For
our international clients, if you look in your daily paper you
will find the exchange rate that is current when you make your
reservation. If you book using MasterCard or VISA then you will
automatically receive the commercial rate of exchange which is
somewhat better than the ordinary rate. By keeping our prices
in dollars we can guarantee that there will be no surcharges to
you. We have priced the rooms and condos as a unit so if there
are two of you in a room you divide the price by two to arrive
at a per person cost. When more than two are sharing a room then
there will be an additional charge per person. Please see individual
price panels for this extra cost. US taxes are not included in
the prices.
Irwin Lodge pricing is different and is
based on a per person rate. The rates are split into how many
are in a room, for example if there is only one person then the
rate is obviously higher than if there are two or three. Four
is the maximum in a room, in most rooms there are two double beds
so if there are 4 guys then you need to let us know and we may
be able to sort out bunk beds for you. All meals are included
in the pricing for Irwin and of course the snowcat skiing as well.
The Powder Puppy weeks also include expert powder instruction.
This is, in our opinion, the best value powder clinic around.
Tips are not included in the price and as
a general rule of thumb it is usual to tip a porter/bellboy about
$5. In restaurants it is usual for Americans to tip up to 20%
of the meal price, however between 12% and 15% will be fine. Of
course if by some chance the service was not up to expectations
then you should say so and reduce your tip accordingly. At the
bar a couple of dollars will be fine for each round.
Equipment
Rental
Costs vary from resort to resort but is
always good value as the equipment is the best available. For
those of you bringing your own skis. If you are looking to buy
equipment out here in the states then we can also help with discounts.
We do recommend that you buy boots back in the UK so that you
have the possibility to wear them in-doors to get a great fit
and then, if necessary have the shop adjust them. We personally
recommend that you try Snow+Rock, for their excellent knowledge
and staff.
Transfers
Cost of transfers from the airports serving
each resort are set out in each section. Cost of transportation
between resorts varies with the number of people travelling together.
For one or two people the cost is obviously higher than for a
larger party.
Ski School
We can recommend the Ski Schools in all
of our resorts. Group lessons are arranged differently from European
resorts and it is likely that you will not have the same instructor
every day. If you prefer to have the same instructor you would
be better to take private lessons and if there is a group of you
this is a good way to ensure that you all have the same instructor
for several days. If you are an advanced skier in need of instruction
in the bumps or the steeps then all of the ski schools have excellent
programmes for these specific areas.
Air Fares
Within the US there are good connections
to the Colorado resorts via Denver or directly into the local
airports of the ski resorts. Aspen for Aspen, Montrose or Telluride
for Telluride, Gunnison or Montrose for Crested Butte, Eagle for
Vail, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge.
For our European clients there are great
flights with British Airways direct from Gatwick into Denver,
Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Denver, and excellent connections
on United from Germany and the UK. The time and the cost of air
travel has been drastically cut . This makes it now a very affordable
and less tiring prospect to ski in Colorado. There is even another
great alternative on BA with direct flights into Phoenix and then
onward connections to Aspen, Telluride, Durango, Montrose and
Albuquerque airports on America West Express. The connections
within the UK on BA are also very good from the regional airports
into Gatwick. The price of air fares through your travel agent
or direct through British Airways reservations or their many travel
shops, are really great bargains, especially this winter and for
the summer too.
Deposits
For all reservations we require 20% deposit
or two nights accommodation, whichever is greater, within 14 days
of booking. The balance is due 50 days prior to arrival date.
For cancellations prior to 50 days there will be a $100 cancellation
fee per room. For cancellations after 45 days prior to arrival
there will be a 50% cancellation fee. For cancellations after
30 days prior to arrival there will be a 100% cancellation fee.
For International clients
we require proof of insurance to cover winter sports injuries
and repatriation. We can recommend insurance agents in the UK
to you if you need this.
Lift passes and equipment
hire must also be paid 14 days prior to arrival in order to benefit
from our special rates.
Booking
and cancellation conditions
For all reservations we require
20% deposit or two nights accommodation, whichever is greater,
within 14 days of booking.
( Irwin Lodge 1 night deposit per
person ).
The balance is due 50 days prior to arrival date.
For cancellations after 50 days
there will be a $100 cancellation fee per room.
For cancellations after 45 days prior to arrival there will be
a 50% cancellation fee.
For cancellations after 30 days prior to arrival there will be
a 100% cancellation fee.
Wilderness Ways 2006/2007
For all reservations please call
us direct in Colorado on:
970 349
2773
or from the UK or Germany
(001)
- 970 349 2773
(after 3 pm UK time.)
e-mail:
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the main web site from individual pages on the web
angela and gordon,
the directors of wilderness ways, moved to the heart of colorado's
ski country 10 years ago after having spent seven winter seasons
in the alps and some down-under too. they came because the snow
was and is the best there is. even in a bad year the snow cover
is excellent. if some of you have seen the french or austrian
resorts in a bad year you'll know that the bottom of some of the
runs are brown not white. although in a good year the alps are
great to ski you can never be sure that the snow will be there
when you are. tour operators have to offer snow guarantees just
to get people to book. operators featuring colorado resorts don't
need to give such guarantees because even if for some reason the
snow is late all the resorts start making artificial snow before
the season begins in november. this snow makes a perfect base
for the natural stuff to stick to and acts as a refrigerator to
keep the real snow in good condition. the legendary colorado champagne
powder is so dry that it remains light and fluffy days after a
snowfall. skiing powder is really much easier here. how many times
in europe or the east coast have you ventured "off-piste"
even just a couple of feet away from the edge of the runs and
fallen flat on your face as the "powder" has engulfed
your skis and dumped you over the handle bars. in colorado even
in snow three feet deep you'll feel like you're floating in air,
which is really what you are doing. the individual snowflakes
do not compress together so easily ( lousy snowball fights ) and
keep lots of air trapped between the crystals. this is what makes
powder skiing so much fun here. when was the last time you could
pick up a handful of snow and blow it off your glove with one
puff?
after skiing there are plenty of
activities to keep you occupied. snowshoeing, cross-country skiing,
snowmobiling, hot tubbing, hot air ballooning horse riding and
even fly fishing if you're a keen fisherman!
come and join us in paradise and
then let your friends know.
click here to access
the main web site from individual pages on the web