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By Lloyd Langlois, February 26, 2011 6:15 pm

When’s the last time you paid less than face value for a ski ticket?  I would be willing to bet it’s been a while, if ever.  Although the mountains are definitely getting a lot better at drawing skiers and snowboarders in with special deals, mostly on their quietest days, bargain ski tickets are still hard to come by.  Especially online.

Enter liftopia.com.  Their tagline is “Ski more. Pay less.” which pretty well encapsulates what most of us are trying to do.  When I first came across this site last year, I thought it seemed too good to be true, but no – it’s actually a fully legitimate and super easy way to find cheaper lift tickets to ski hills all over the world.  Yes, including Québec.

The site was created by a couple of guys originally from Hotwire.com, a leading site for discount travel, who saw that there was a gap in the ski industry – many mountains were not equipped to sell tickets online.  The short of it is, they’ve partnered with more than 150 ski resorts, including 32 here in Québec, and work with the mountains to set prices based on a whole bunch of variables, including weather forecast, time of week, time of year, and even cost of gas (!!!).  According to the site, tickets can be bought for up to a 90% discount.  I have yet to see a rate cut that deep, but still, it’s pretty common to see resorts like Tremblant, Le Massif and Mont-Sainte-Anne reduced by 30% or so.

Here are the pros:
- Cheaper tickets, bought online.  You can even sign up for “deal alerts” to let you know when tickets prices are bottoming out.
- The process is easy.  You buy online, print a voucher, then take it to the ticket counter when you arrive.
- The site is nicely organized, so the best deals are visible right up front.  Search works well too, and they are well set up for people to leave comments and reviews on each mountain.
- They sell gift cards, a nice way of giving someone the gift of skiing at the hill of their choice.

Here are the cons:
- You have to buy in advance.  The latest you can buy your ticket is one day ahead of time – which means that if you wake up and it’s -30 out, or pouring rain, you’re stuck with your ticket.  No cancellations.
- Each person needs to pick up their own ticket, and show ID.  Not a huge con, but it does mean that you can’t send one person up to pick up tickets for the whole gang.
- Not a lot of deals for Saturdays.

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By Lloyd Langlois, February 14, 2011 1:23 pm

This is worth a quick mention for any ladies available for skiing mid-week… For the whole month of February, Mont-Sainte-Anne is offering all kinds of great stuff for women every Tuesday. Tickets are two for one, instructors from the hill are giving free lessons (if you book ahead of time), and Rossignol will be there with demos – also free. At the end of the day, a troupe of massage therapists from ZoneSpa will be offering free massages, and you can top that off by heading over to the bar for live music from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Men’s Day is coming soon, right guys?

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By Lloyd Langlois, February 4, 2011 12:46 pm

The area around Québec City has amazing skiing. A higher average snowfall, longer seasons, more metres of mountain. Mont-Sainte-Anne is no exception. It’s a gorgeous mountain with runs over 5 km long (3.5 miles), an average snowfall of 468 cm (185 in) and an infamous spring skiing season. Situated alongside the Saint Lawrence River, the views from the hill are stunning, and all the while you are just a short drive away from Québec City, the capital of the province of Québec.

When you make the trip up to Mont-Sainte-Anne for the weekend, location is the key. Do you want to be close to the action in the city, or are you more into mountain culture? Both options are available, and whatever your preference there are lots of ski and stay packages on offer.

To give you a frame of reference before I get started, a single-day ticket at Mont-Sainte-Anne normally costs $64, and a 3-day pass goes for $186.

Accommodations on or near the mountain:

Château Mont-Sainte-Anne
This is an easy choice. It’s the only full resort that’s right on the hill, so if you’re looking for ski-in/ski-out accommodations that also offer amenities like an outdoor hot tub, indoor pool, movie theatre, kids’ playroom, game room, fitness room, and the list goes on, this is your pick. Other perks include the Spa Chateau right on the premises, a fabulous bistro restaurant, and a shuttle to take you into Vieux Québec for the day – the charming old city with all its cobbled streets, and quaint shops and restaurants (the shuttle will set you back an extra $25, but is still cheaper than a cab). At the Château Mont-Sainte-Anne, you can be certain that the rooms are all tidy, bright and modern, and of course, there are packages when you are there to ski. The White Sale package gives you your third night and third lift ticket free, when you reserve for three nights. This package is available until February 25, Sundays through Thursdays. The alternative is the Alpine Package, which includes meals and lift tickets, and is available throughout the season. Prices are variable.

Chalets Mont-Sainte-Anne
A great option if you’re happier in a condo than a big resort. The Chalets Mont-Sainte-Anne are big, airy condos with open kitchens, fireplace, washer & dryer – along with access to a pool and gym. It’s ski-in/ski-out, although be prepared for a bit of a hike to get to the gondola, depending on which of the chalets you are put in. You can make a request to be placed closer to the mountain, but be prepared to pay for the privilege. A diverse range of packages are available, and it’s worth taking a look at their website to see which will be best for you. The Weekend package starts at $98 per person (the price jumps if you are fewer than ten people), and the White Sale is on here, too, with the third night and ski pass free. They also offer single-day packages and deals if you are up for the week.

Chalets Montmorency
The Chalets Montmorency are actually a sprawling network of condos and cottages surrounding Mont-Sainte-Anne. Some are lovely, modern and well-maintained, and others are a bit more basic. If you’re on a shoestring budget, they definitely get the job done – and most of the lodgings, if not all, come with a well-outfitted kitchenette and a fireplace. If you book here, make sure you ask the right questions when you call though, since the amenities at the different locations can vary, and only some of the condos are ski-in/ski-out (otherwise a free shuttle service is offered). The White Sale package is on offer here too, where the third night and third lift ticket are free until February 25. Once this deal expires, it’s replaced by the Spring Madness package – a similar offering, but at a slightly lower cost, and including dual mountain tickets (also good at Stoneham).

Accommodations in the city:

A few of Québec City’s most sought-after hotels have partnerships with Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham, offering packages including a night’s stay (based on double occupancy), and a pair of lift tickets for the mountain of your choice.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
The Fairmont hotels have a reputation for their historic settings and for the exceptional level of service and charm they offer. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is no different. It’s a stone fortress that hovers majestically over the entire city, and tourists always make a point of stopping in, even if they aren’t lucky enough to be staying the night. The ski package includes either breakfast at the Château, or a shuttle to the mountain. Rates start at $369 for two people, for one night.

Hôtel Manoir Victoria
This historic hotel in the heart of Old Québec has all the charm and great service you could want, with the same classic feel, but perhaps slightly less opulence than the Château Frontenac. The ski packages start at $239 for two, based on a two-night stay. If you’re staying only one night, it goes up to $249 for two people.

Courtyard Marriott Québec
While the Marriott isn’t quite as quaint as the other two, it does offer a very reliable level of quality – and one major difference is that this hotel is located in downtown Québec, while the others are in the old city. Both locations are great; it’s really just a question of personal preference. Ski packages go for between $257 and $287. They have a shuttle service to and from the mountain for an additional $25 per person.

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By Lloyd Langlois, January 14, 2011 1:27 pm

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again – it’s so very worth the effort to investigate prices before you book your ski day. Depending on where you go and when, there are some amazing promotions offered directly through the ski resorts themselves, and the discounts can be significant. I’ve done my homework so you don’t have to – so next time you’re planning to ski or ride, especially mid-week, check this list first. I promise you won’t regret it.

Owl’s Head has $15 days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Sounds too good to be true, but there’s nothing hidden between the lines here. It’s just a genuinely good deal, and one that should definitely be capitalized on. See the deal.

Bromont brings the price of a full day lift ticket down from $49 to $42.99 if you buy online. See the deal.

Mont Saint-Sauveur offers a whole bunch of weekday discounts, including “2 for 1 Mondays” and “Ladies Day Tuesdays”. It’s worth checking out the whole list. See the deal.

Mont Sutton has a weekday special that gives you 1 ½ days for the price of one. A bit confusing, but the bottom line is that if you get to the hill late in the day (after 12:00 p.m.), you can buy a full day ticket (instead of a half-day) and you will pay a second full day of skiing at half price. See the deal.

Mont Blanc offers an $8 coupon that you can get from their Website by filling out a quick form, as well as $18 Tuesdays (for ladies only) and $18 Wednesdays (for gentlemen). See the deal.

If you’re going to be spending a fair amount of time at Orford this year, they have a loyalty card that will set you back $57, but the savings start to roll in after the second visit. See the deal.

Last tip – some mountains, including Owl’s Head and Sutton, offer special discounts to CAA members. Their list changes often, so I don’t want to provide anything definitive here, but it’s definitely worth inquiring about when you buy your tickets.

Once again, this list is not totally comprehensive, so added suggestions are very welcome. Happy skiing!

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By Lloyd Langlois, January 13, 2011 10:32 pm

It’s funny. We won’t buy gear without hunting around for the best prices (steepandcheap.com anyone?). Skis and boards require all sorts of devious negotiations and, honestly, I won’t even gas up my car unless I’m sure that the pump two blocks over isn’t selling at $0.03 cheaper. But when it comes to lift tickets, we all just amble up to the teller at the foot of the mountain and pay whatever is asked of us.

Let’s put a stop to this. With a little investigation, you can find lift tickets to some of the best hills in Québec at a reduced price. Yes, it requires a bit of planning ahead, and perhaps some driving around, but seriously – who wants to pay more, when you could be paying less?

Oberson Sports
Oberson’s pre-sells discounted tickets to Orford, Sutton, Bromont and Owl’s Head. The upside is that you save up to about $8 per ticket. The downside is that you have to go into the store to purchase the tickets (locations in Laval and the South Shore of Montréal) – although actually, they have great deals on pretty much everything ski and snowboard related, so it may be worth a trip. Details on their Website.

Sports Experts

Carte blanche

Similar to Oberson, Sports Experts offers discounted rates to Owl’s Head, Sutton and Bromont – with the advantage that they have quite a few more stores all over the province. They also give away the “Carte blanche” loyalty card at nearly all their locations. It’s essentially the ski equivalent of the Subway Sandwich stamp cards we all carried around in our wallets back in the day, and it’s valid at Owl’s Head and Sutton. The card gives users a 10% discount on tickets the first time out, and discounts get steeper every time you use it. More information on the Owls’s Head and Sutton Websites.

Costco
Costco offers a deal that gets you two tickets to Tremblant, plus two $10 lunch vouchers and 50% off equipment rental for $127.99. May seem pricey, until you consider that an adult full-day pass at Tremblant goes for $75. You have to be a Costco member (or know one) to take advantage of this, but for members, the deal is available online or in-store. Get details on the Costco Website.

Hope this helps you have even more awesome ski days this season – and because this is by no means a comprehensive list, please feel free to add your suggestions! Stay tuned tomorrow for part two – info on some of the best promotions offered by the ski resorts themselves.