Buy the Colorado ticket which is good at Vail, Beaver Creek, Brekenridge,
Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. Get a Peaks card and load the Colorado ticket
on it. Daily lift tickets are $70+ in CO. Safeways in Frisco sells
discounted tickets as do some rental shops. Rent a car from Alamo, Denver
it's worth skiing different areas. It's worth skiing Aspen when you are out
there. Aspen Highlands take the snow cat to the ridge (free) and hike the
peak unforgettable in fresh snow especially Highlands bowl is the best then
Snowmass, Ajax/Aspen Mountain. At Vail the back bowls are south facing and
get destroyed by sun so head for Blue Sky basin, north facing bowl. It's
worth doing the back country run Minturn mile off the Game creek bowl via
the back country gate and get a taxi back from Minturn to Vail or hitch a
ride like I did. Beaver Creek is a good choice offering surprisingly decent
skiing off Birds of Prey. There is a relationship between Copper Mountain
and Winter Park so a dual ticket may be possible. Experience Keystone
outback and night skiing and the rated mountain top restaurant there that
people get ski lift to even at night (needs booking). The Lionshead side of
Vail is the cheapest side to eat at particularly at the base. If there are
queues at Vista bahn use Golden peak chair. At Winter Park ski the nearby
area Berthoud Pass. Ask locals about it. Finally enjoy Colorado "Disneyland
on skis" then progress to Utah and Lake Tahoe resorts that average more
snow.
Paul

"Ian Lowry" wrote in message
...
After many years skiing in Europe I'll be spending my first skiing
holidfay in the US (a week in Winter Park followed by a week in Vail
(starting 5th March)).

I've noticed that the lift tickets for vail are very expensive. Does any
one have any advice on best way to buy and from where? I'd probably be
looking for a 5 days out of 6, 5days out of 7 or possibly 6 days skiing.

Also any other general advice? eg, Any problems with queues and how to
avoid? Good places to drink/eat?

Any views on which of the other resorts covered on the Vail ticket is
worth time out of my first week there?

Thanks in advance.Ian!