Ski trips available at affordable cost
by Caren Penland, reporter

    “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy,” Jack Nicholson’s character chants in The Shining.

   As spring break approaches, students start planning for their play break from school work.

   So how about that ski trip beckoning just out of range financially?

   The lure of breakneck speed down a steely mountain, breathtaking views, the chance to meet new people or just the desire to learn how may only seem like an unattainable goal.

   So many students are discouraged when travel agents and even internet sites, such as TsunamiSearch–Discount Travel, start quoting trips at $500 and up for a three-day deal.

   And these often do not include rental rates, food or airport transfers, if they include airfare at all.

   Danette Smith, a travel representative for Emerald Travel & Cruises in Grapevine, revealed that one solution to the money problem could lie within New Mexico’s borders.

   “Angel Fire, Red River and Taos are all good places to go skiing. They’re not that far away, maybe an eight-to-10-hour drive, and they’re cheaper than Colorado,” she said.

   Smith also pointed out that New Mexico skiing is not as crowded as Colorado and has a much more relaxed feel to it.

   “I guess I’m biased though,” she laughed, “I grew up skiing there. It’s great for the beginner. It’s also great for the more advanced because between the three places, there’s a lot of variety, so you don’t get bored.”

   Smith would not quote a price for New Mexico, however, claiming not to have much information. She said that an Internet search would be advisable.

   An Internet search revealed several vacation possibilities.

   What the agents fail to mention is there is a very simple way around their pumped up prices, it’s called international youth hostels.

   Available at http://www.hiayh.org/hostels/index.html is a list of ski hostels with rates ranging from $12 to $28 per person, per night, or a weekly rate for as low as $120 per person.

   Most hostels include breakfast, and some even include dinner.

   The Abominable Snowmansion just outside of Taos, for example, offers dorm style accommodations, a pancake breakfast, custom packages, which can include lift tickets, ski equipment, lessons and specialty clothing.

   Groups are discounted further, but private rooms are available.

   These hostels are located in many of the Rocky Mountain favorite resorts as well, including Durango, Breckenridge and Aspen.

   So perhaps Colorado is not out of reach if someone does not find the long drive intimidating.

   That original $500 quote is beginning to look more like $300, maybe even less, when taking into account that the hostels are a much better deal.

   The best bargains on the market are not in the weekly travel section of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram or the Dallas Morning News.

   The best deal is to load up a group of friends in a couple of cars, split the cost of gas to get to the resort and have fun with like-minded others in those dirt cheap hostels. Some camp grounds cost more than than the hostels.

   In an e-mail, David, who answered a request for more information about the Taos ski hostel, explained that the local schools and the TCC spring break correlate, so reservations must be made quickly before they fill up.

   When booking at hostels, one should keep in mind that they often require a 50 percent down payment. The other 50 percent plus tax will be paid upon arrival.

   There is only one small catch: hostels require membership, but the annual fee is only $25 and could come in handy for the next vacation, perhaps over the summer.