Hostels in Ski Resort Areas Keep Costs on a Downward Path

You can ski at many popular winter resorts this season without paying sky-high resort rates.

At hostels, expect dorm-style lodgings and travelers of all ages, with separate rooms for men and women. Many hostels have private rooms for couples and families, but they must be reserved in advance. Most provide kitchens, dining areas and common rooms. Some even have hot tubs and fireplaces.

Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels operates 36 hostels near U.S. ski areas. They offer beds for $7 to $28 per night.

In Canada, independent ski hostels in British Columbia are offering packages.

Switzerland has 24 hostels near major winter resorts.

In Colorado, there are hostels near the ski slopes of Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Durango, Aspen, Vail and Copper Mountain.

In New England, you can find accommodations near popular resorts in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Vermont hostels are near Killington, Middlebury College Snow Bowl, and Suicide Six and Sonnenberg ski areas.

You can view a list of the ski hostels on the Internet at https://www.hiayh.org/skihostels/ski.htm, or you can request a list from HI-AYH Ski Hostels, 733 15th St. N.W., Suite 840, Washington, DC 20005; telephone (202) 783-6161.

Information on nine independent ski hostels in British Columbia is available at a single Internet site, https://www.canadianskihostels.com. The hostels are in Kelowna (two), Nelson, Whitewater and Rossland, and at Big White, SilverStar, Kimberley and Fernie ski areas.

Also in Canada, two seven-night ski packages are available. The Okanagan Ski Valley Getaway costs $306 for six days of skiing, transportation to and from all ski areas, breakfasts, a winery tour, use of hot tub and a keg party. A similar seven-night Kootenay Powder package is available at the same price. These packages begin on Sundays and are available from Dec. 10 until mid-March. You can find details on the Internet site or by contacting Samesun International, 333 Popular Point Drive, Kelowna, B.C., Canada V1Y 6C2; tel. (877) 562-2783 or (250) 862-8940, fax (250) 868-9373.

Swiss Youth Hostels has a new Web site at https://www.youthpalace.ch with information on its 59 locations. Twenty-four are in winter resort areas, including Arosa, Braunwald, Grindelwald, Klosters, St. Moritz and Zermatt. This site has a bulletin board plus listings for all the hostels. The listings include rates, photos, details on each region, links to local services and an e-mail reservations link. The hostels are part of the worldwide Hostelling International network. Nonmembers are welcome, but they pay a $3 nightly surcharge.

Geneva, gateway to winter resorts in Switzerland and France, has independent hostels that offer package deals. Although Geneva has earned a reputation as expensive, it’s a unique city that is home to worldwide organizations such as United Nations bureaus and the Red Cross. It’s well worth a stop and the expense.

For general information about Switzerland, visit Internet https://www.myswitzerland.com.

*

Lucy Izon is a Toronto freelance writer. Internet https://www.izon.com.