Happy Birthday Colorado

Did you know that Colorado just turned 139 years? And it still looks beautiful!

Colorado Day, the anniversary of the day President Ulysses S. Grant who officially made Colorado a state in 1876. Colorado became the 38th state 100 years after America celebrated its independence from England earning the newly formed state the nickname the centennial state. This year Colorado celebrates its 139th year in the union.

So many people love the state and there are so many reasons why people like to travel to Colorado. According to Conde Naste, the main reasons are:

•          some of the best ski resorts in the world
•         national parks
•         the art
•         nature
•         good food and good beer

      We hope you love the state as much as we do. Share your favorite Colorado stories with us!

And hey, how about celebrating by planning a ski trip to Colorado this winter?

The Snow Sport Team would love to assist you!

Happy Colorado Day!

Have a great week,

Janine

How to Book the Best Snow Vacation, EVER!

Here's a fun Q and A to to answer some of those FAQ'S...

Q: When is the best time to book my next snow vacation?

 

A: As soon as you know your schedule and how many people you are traveling with.  Lodging choices at the snow resorts are not abundant like beach resorts or big city convention hotels.  Also, there are lots of 'early booking' discounts.  Last, if you need to cancel, penalties are minimal with advanced notice; so there's lots to gain and little to lose by planning early.. Here's some great lodging suggestions.

Q: How do I get discounted lift tickets? 

A: Be sure to order your lift tickets with your lodging. Look for an EARLY BOOKING or STAY FREE / SKI FREE promotional lodging / lift package; you will pay more if ordered separately.  Lodging / lift inclusive packages typically give 15% - 40% off your total for both. Snow Sport Vacations specializes in discounted lodging / lift ticket packages. Lift Rates

Q: How do I pick the right snow resort for me? 

A: Ask an expert!  At Snow Sport Vacations, the agents know snow!  They know the differences between the resorts and can help you with budget, ease of access, best amenities for families, singles, or business outings and which resort best suits YOU!  We will spend the time needed to customize your snow vacation for each member of your group or family.  Ski Resorts

Q: When should I travel to get the best deal?

A: Early December and early April will give you the biggest bang for your buck.  However, there are great deals from early January until mid-February and then again in early March.  Mid-week stays can be cost-effective, too.  If you can, avoid the school breaks ie. Christmas - New Years, President's Week, and Spring Break in late March.  You will get the best value if you can stay at least 4-nights, as longer stays always give better deals, especially on your lift tickets. Book Early Lodging Promotions

Q: What should I include in my package to help save money?

                                 

A: To plan a complete, best value, snow vacation package, you should always include flights, accommodations, airport transfers or your car rental, lift tickets, and equipment rentals. Vehicle rental rates typically go up as you approach your travel dates, so lock-in your price right away. Walk-up' rates on lifts and equipment rentals can be at least 20% higher when you get there.  Be early; be thorough.

Airline Flight Request

Shuttles and Car Rentals

Equipment Rentals

Have fun out there!

Joyce

It’s all about communication

Isn’t this what you hear about good relationships? Relationships and marriages only work if you communicate with your partner? Apparently, this also goes for your business relationships. I experienced this to be true!

The more I communicate with my clients, the more I get to know them and the better I can serve them.

Sooo…let’s communicate and get to know each other.

 

Here are some facts you might want to know about me:

I have worked for Snow Sport Vacations for almost a year. Before that I have mainly been in the hotel industry. I am originally from Germany and studied Tourism and Leisure Management in the Netherlands where I graduated 2 years ago.

I try to treat my clients the same way I want to be treated. That said I want to be honest with them as well as fair. I am not going to lie to you about locations or how beautiful a hotel is if it’s really not.  I am not going to send you somewhere when I know this isn’t the right place for you.

But to know which is the right place for you, I need to get to know you.  Here are a few things that help me to steer you in the right direction:

• -       Where will you be traveling from?
• -       Will you be driving or flying?
• -       Are you on a budget or have you saved up a bit more for this trip?
• -       Are you planning on going skiing/snowboarding only or do you want to explore town as well?
• -       Are you a beginner/intermediate/expert skier/snowboarder?
• -  How many people will be in your party? How many bedrooms will you need? What bed configuration?
• -       Do you want to be close to the slopes or are you fine taking a shuttle every morning?
• -       Do you want certain amenities like a kitchen, fireplace, hot tub, etc.?

Just a few questions but a lot of information! It really helps to get a feeling for what you expect during your vacation. The Snow Sports team will be able to provide you with a much better custom vacation package.

So lets start communicating! Email me if you are interested in a ski vacation!

Janine@snowsportvacations.com

I look forward hearing from you,

Janine

Tupperware and Cyber Conversations

As part of my job, I am delegated to find out what my customers' want.  Then, I am supposed to create conversations??? through various social media channels ie. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.  The experts tell the business practitioners "Don't create content like you are advertising. Create relationships. Socialize. Contribute to chat groups.and TALK about all kinds of stuff."
They go on to say: "Remember the Tupperware parties from the old days?" Well, not really if you are any age under 60, but regardless. Those ladies didn't sell Tupperware per say, but they fed you coffee and cake, and you wanted Tupperware.  And that's exactly how I should sell you your next mountain vacation, haha!

On behalf of being the exemplary student that I am, I must follow the advice of my expert educators. I now spend time exploring comments in various forums on sites such as Trip Advisor.  My mission is to gain further enlightenment about what my customers are chatting about and what they might want next time they visit the mountains. Fair enough.... This is an easy task. Haha again.

What have I learned? EVERYBODY IS AN EXPERT! People giving and taking advice right and left.  It's very noisy out there....

There's no penalty for giving bad advice. They can't find you.

The comments about bad stuff are longer than the comments about good stuff.

Nobody can make teenagers happy on a family vacation.

Lots of people need driving directions.

There are many varied definitions for the word 'beginner'.

 

Now, I must take this invaluable information and sell someone a ski vacation??  Just like Tupperware, so they say.  Never again will I steer the conversation to anything pertinent such as snow conditions, suitable resorts, convenient and reasonably priced flights, activities for non-skiers, kids programs!! Just stick to coffee and cake and it'll all work out.

To all those who are equally 'over-socialized',

Joyce

Bringing the College Kid Home for Summer

Or... The drive through the desert in the "Purple Sauna"

I am sitting at my desk in Vail on a beautiful June day.  The sky is blue, trees are green, and wildflowers are coloring the landscape.  It's supposed to be 80° and sunny today.

I REFUSE TO WRITE A STORY ABOUT A SNOW VACATION TODAY!!

So, I'll talk about one of those 'mandatory' trips.... How about picking up your college freshman and bringing her home for summer break?

Her Stuff...
How did ALL this fit into a dorm room?  And why are we traveling with skis in June in Las Vegas? Are there ANY clean clothes, or is everything 'my laundry'?

An Old Broken-in Car...
I bought that car new when the now-college-age-kid still needed a car seat.  It's no longer pretty; the purple paint is peeling, the seats are torn, and there's a smell (maybe that's the laundry?).  NO AIR CONDITIONING!!! It's 115° in the desert, OMG!  But it's a safe car; reliable, maintained, and perfect for a person who does not yet earn their keep :-)

An Executable Plan...
Drive a total of 16 hours over the course of 2 days.  Leave early in the morning to avoid the 'heat of the day'.  For all stops, park in the shade.  Take lots of breaks and cool down in air-conditioned shopping malls and restaurants.

Highly Essential Mental Game...
Road Trip..... Away Game... Have Fun???  YIKES!

And Off We Go....
Do you know how loud the volume must be to even hear the radio when traveling 80 mph with the windows open?  And how LOUD it becomes when you make an intermittent stop? There's the excuse for so many youth who drive with excessively loud music, right??  And what psycho-minded meteorologist claimed the term 'wind CHILL'??? C'mon...
The wind (filled with bugs) in my hair, the desert air (dirt and debris) on my face, the truck driver tan on my left arm (start a new asymmetrical trend in women's fashions?)... And many cold drinks initiating extra bathroom stops (Where is that next town?)...

Viva Las Vegas...
We decided Las Vegas would be best to spend the very hot afternoon.  It probably has the most cubic feet of air conditioning of any place on earth.  We wandered in a LARGE (they all are) casino to 'dry' off and then enjoyed lunch INSIDE, absolutely NOT on the 90° restaurant patio.
More wandering through the various shopping vestibules.. No buying stuff, however. There's no room in the car to carry much more than a postcard.
We finally came upon the Flamingo Hilton and found a bird sanctuary. Then we told all of the relatives that we went 'birding' today. We called it our mini-vaca' and posted the photos.

 

Onward...
Whoever told you that the desert cools off in the evening was not being truthful, but we needed to move on. And why is it that when the AC fails, the thermostat continues to work perfectly and flash the outside 3-digit temperature in the driver's face endlessly?
We found another shopping mall for a late dinner and were careful to sit far from any other patrons so as not to impose our 'sweat' of the day upon others.  We finally arrived at our hotel and ran straight to the showers, yay!

The End...
We arrived safely the next day.  The ride through the higher altitudes was cool and comfortable.  The car, the skis, the stuff, the 'laundry' and all applicable aromas are now home in Vail... where it makes perfect sense to not replace broken air conditioning in your car, whew!

And the Future...
We think that the fall semester start date should align with a drop in the desert temperature. But if that doesn't work out, we'll grin and bear it! :-)

Make your journey a pleasant one, always! :-)

Joyce

 

Summer in the mountains

Summer time is still the most favorite time to travel for most people. The kids are out of school, the weather is nice and everyone is ready to escape to a different place, away from the everyday routine. For most parts, lodging gets more expensive in the summer though which makes a summer vacation not very affordable. Did you know that this is different for the mountains? Prices for lodging drop in the summer and most hotels offer great promotions

Do you know what my favorite part is about summer time in the mountains? The weather (74 degrees, NO humidity), no bugs (Thank God!) and there is SO much to do.

Just last Sunday, I got to enjoy an adventurous off-road trail that lead to this beautiful lake in the middle of nowhere called Blue Lake. It was gorgeous! Crystal clear water and no other people around! I just had to share this moment with you.

Does this make you want to come to the mountains as well? Call  (866) 981 SNOW or email me at Janine@snowsportvacations.com.

I look forward sharing more of my adventures with you J

Janine