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Book a ski trip w/points
The mountains are calling, you probably should go.
Colin Stroud
November 22, 2024
New people, welcome!
(There’s a lot of you).
This newsletter helps you find the best points & miles deals all over the world.
I make this stuff simple.
As a reminder, if you like this newsletter and want more, here’s what I can do for you:
Go Somewhere Course: Points & Miles Masterclass
“Confession: I'm a n00b when it comes to miles & points. I go insta-Scrooge when a plane is involved, which means I haven't flown much. With a family it gets expensive FAST. I had a couple clients cancel one day and then saw Colin Stroud had this course. I casted it to my TV at 1.25x and finished it in about 90 minutes. My mind is blown. If I had taken just 2 hours to figure this out in my 20s or 30s, I would have traveled a lot more. Colin Stroud's course is worth 10x the price (but don't tell him that).” - Brian Pulliam
“In an hour of working with Colin, he gave me the information and skills that, within a few days, had resulted in an ROI in savings of over 6500%. That type of return is something you say yes to 100% of the time.” - Hayden Croaxall
“Colin opened my eyes on how to best utilize the points I have accumulated. After meeting with him I realized I don't have to wait 15 years and save up an arm and a leg to go to Europe with my wife. He opened a door for us to take the trip of a lifetime in about 20% of the time and money. Couldn't recommend him enough!” - Danny Riffel
Let’s talk skiing (or snowboarding?)
Ski trips are generally associated with rich people.
And for good reason - it’s an expensive hobby.
But, if you can get flights & hotels using your points, maybe you can afford those Disney priced lift tickets…
If I was planning a ski trip to the Western U.S, I’d focus on using my points for hotels.
Why?
Flights to SFO, SLC, DEN, and other destinations are just not that bad.
Hotels on the other hand? They get wildly expensive in these resort towns.
One of the best deals I’ve seen in a while: The (new) Grand Hyatt Deer Valley near Park City, Utah.
I just drove by this beauty a few weeks ago when I was out there.
Right now, to say 1/24-1/27, the cash price is $1,129/night. However, it only costs 29,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
For all of you sitting on big Chase or Bilt balances, that’s an amazing deal - close to 4 cents per point.
Remember, Chase and Bilt are the only banks that transfer to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.
There’s a number of other Hyatt options around Utah, Colorado, and Tahoe, just to name a few…
Don’t kid yourself into thinking a ski trip will be cheap - but if you know how to use points & miles well, you can seriously reduce your costs.
For your enjoyment, here’s a screenshot of cringe 16 year-old me that videoed himself going down the mountain thinking I was going to be some big vlogger.
If you want a super secret ski trip hack?
Go to Europe. The lift tickets are way cheaper.
See all my other posts about how to get cheap flights to Europe.
And now, something a little different. I had a reader reach out who’s used points & miles to get ski trips to Utah mostly covered wanting to share some of the knowledge he’s picked up over his years of doing this.
This is super helpful info, especially the secret he shares about the Sundance Film Festival.
So I present to you: Jimmy’s guide to booking ski trips to Utah on the cheap!
America is blessed with epic mountain ranges across the west and even the northeast, but the Greatest Snow on Earth falls in Utah! Salt Lake City is surrounded by 10 ski resorts within a 1 hour drive of the airport. And the best part? The affordability of SLC flights! We're talking about a big city airport with mountain accessibility as good as Eagle/Vail (EGE), Bozeman (BZN), Jackson/Grand Teton (JAC), or Montrose/Telluride (MJT), which are far more expensive destinations, but SLC is CHEAP!
Next let's talk lodging... if you're willing to stay 20-30 minutes away from the slopes, Salt Lake City becomes the most affordable ski destination in the USA. Using Hyatt or Marriott points, you can stay in amazing hotels like Hyatt Place SLC/Cottonwood or Marriott Residence Inn SLC/Cottonwood, both of which have a heated outdoor pool and hot tub with views of the mountains so you can properly enjoy the evening after a day on the slopes! These hotels are perfectly positioned within 20-35 minutes of Park City, Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, and Brighton. If the pool/hot tub aren't a priority, you'll find even cheaper lodging options at other Hyatt & Marriott properties nearby.
Did you know that Park City Mountain Resort is the LARGEST SKI RESORT in the USA? If you've never been to Utah, you don't need to go anywhere else! This place skis like 3 resorts put together into one. And even better? If you buy your lift tickets (Epic Day Pass) before November 17, you can ski for less than $110 / day. It costs $115/day to buy a walk-up lift ticket for the best ski resort IN PITTSBURGH. I guarantee you, the mountains are not the same!
Now here's the top secret information you need about Park City... ever heard of the Sundance Film Festival? This year it runs from January 23 - February 2, 2025. But doesn't this mean Park City is crowded? In town, yes of course. The rich and famous are in town, paying astronomical prices for lodging and food. BUT the locals' secret is, these people don't ski! They're watching movies and wining & dining all day. The ski slopes are EMPTY, right in the middle of the peak winter snow conditions. And lodging prices in Salt Lake City are unaffected by the film festival chaos, just 30 minutes away.
Who has an airline hub in SLC? Delta Airlines! They amount to 70% of the traffic at the airport. This means direct flights to a ton of cities across America. And right now, until December 4th, you can open an American Express Delta Skymiles credit card that gives you an automatic $300 flight credit when you purchase your flight for NO ANNUAL FEE for the first year. I picked out my flight on Delta.com, took the credit card offer, was instantly approved, and used the new credit card to buy my flight. My $300 statement credit showed up just 48 hours later! Added bonus: spend $3,000 or more on that card within 6 months of opening, and you'll receive 50,000 Delta miles as well! AND... with this card you can travel with 1 free checked bag... which includes a ski/snowboard bag!
Is it time for you to experience the NATION'S LARGEST SKI RESORT, without the crowds, on a low budget? Free flights, low cost lodging with points, and lift tickets for around $110/day? Book your trip now!
Get those ski trips booked, people!