The Most Expensive Ski Resort Getaways

Ask any skier or snowboarder why they love their winter sport. They’ll tell you its the adrenaline rush they get navigating the seemingly dangerous terrain down hill. It’s the wind rushing by their ears and the soft powder under their feet that adds to the excitement. But there’s also an adrenaline rush getting up to the top of the slopes as well. It’s the over all cost of renting or owning the ski and snowboard equipment, winter sport clothing that protects you from the freezing outdoors, the gondola lift tickets, and of course for anyone that wants to improve their skill, more coaching and training so you can one day tackle those black diamond slopes.

Winter resort lovers in the U.S. spend billions annually to feed their passion of fresh mountain powder. International skiers and snowboarders can spend up to four times as much as Americans. Thats why luxury winter ski resort getaways and time shares are popping up to feed this demand. The Ritz Carlton has their own exclusive members only  resorts in Aspen and Bachelor Gulch. Be careful, their membership dues of $180k goes up to $520k plus association fees are for the extreme lovers of the great outdoors. If you can swing that kind of purse to be part of the best ski slopes, you will be treated like royalty with concierge, nanny service, ski valet and boot masters.

If thats not expensive enough for you, take a look at Spanish Peaks in Big Sky, Montana. They have the audacity to charge members from $500k all the way up to $1.3 million for private access to thousands of acres of ski slopes. In addition you will also get access to an 18-hole golf course if you need a break from the down hill speed. Another resort, Tallus at Mammoth Lakes charges members $800k plus quarterly fees and annual dues.

This is a demonstration of the hot demand for consumer adventure vacation destinations. Even more modest ski resort getaways are taking notice. They’re either sprucing up their accommodations, ski packages, or even selling themselves to the highest bidding competition like Mammoth Mountain in California did when they sold to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

As skiers get older, they tend to have more wealth yet couldn’t take the same dangerous slopes like their younger self did years ago. This poses a dilemma for ski resorts on how best to satisfy this aging wealthy market. Resorts have started upgrading their lifts, adding child care, renovating their restaurants, ski schools, and equipment rental shops. To top it off, increasingly resorts are adding high end shopping to accommodate a more affluent clientele.

When you book your next ski vacation you can either experience the same slopes as you did last year or you can kick it up a notch and join the exclusive club of affluent winter sport lovers. You will definitely leave with a smile on your face.

Related posts:

1. Resort Getaways: Best Activities for Your Winter Getaways