Colorado ski resorts offer early-season deals

Colorado ski and snowboard resorts are rolling out a variety of inexpensive early-season bargains to lure schussers onto their slopes. Here’s a sampling:

Colorado Gems Card: This discount card is good at the eight Colorado Gem resorts (Arapahoe Basin, Eldora, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Ski Cooper, Ski Granby Ranch and Sunlight). It offers deals and discounts for skiers and riders of all ages and abilities.

In addition to the resorts’ upgraded season-long deals, there is a new component to this year’s Gems Card: Flash Deals, which are special promotions and ways to save that are unique to each Gem resort and will be announced at the last minute throughout the season.

The participating resorts announce Flash Deals in the Gems newsletter, on social media and at ColoradoSki.com/gems. Only Colorado Gems cardholders will be able to take advantage of Flash Deals.

Arapahoe Basin: The Legends 4 Pass is valid for four days of skiing or riding at Arapahoe Basin for $158. It is available for purchase until Dec. 14 and has no blackout dates.

Powderhorn P-Card: This costs $69 and gives the buyer one free day of skiing or snowboarding and additional days at 20% off a regular single-day adult lift ticket for the rest of the season. The resort also is selling a $170 Deca Card that allows the holder to purchase 10 half-price lift tickets with no blackout dates.

Aspen/Snowmass: This year the Limelight Hotel in Aspen has a Ski Free package. Guests can get two lift tickets per day with a three-night minimum stay, based on availability. Some blackout dates apply. Ducats are good at all four Aspen/Snowmass ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass.

Copper Mountain: Guests can pre-purchase three to six nights of lodging and reserve the rooms throughout the season with the Powder-to-the-Pillow deal.

Purgatory: The Rocky Mountain Getaway lets skiers and riders ride the lifts and spend the night for $95 per person per night. The package includes two days of lift tickets and two nights lodging at Durango Mountain Resort. Not valid Dec. 24-Jan. 4.

Steamboat: Travelers can save 20% on lifts and lodging for four nights and three days, with deals starting as low as $394 an adult. It’s also offering a Boat Launch pass that features three days of skiing and riding through Dec. 14 for $129. Additional savings can be found with Steamboat’s airfare sale, with flights as low as $150 into Steamboat’s Hayden Airport. United, Delta and American Airlines have deals from locations including Los Angeles. Travelers need to book by Nov. 30 for the best savings.

Winter Park: Guests can book five flexible nights of lodging for $169 a night at the Vintage Hotel and receive a free Winter Park season pass. The resort is also offering 25% off lodging at properties such as Zephyr Mountain Lodge, Fraser Crossing, Founders Point and Vintage Hotel. Blackout dates are Dec. 26-31 and March 10-14.

For more bargains, go to Colorado Ski Country USA.

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