Good place to stay in Killington?

I am looking for a decent, cheap hotel in Killington for a couple of
nights. We want to ski Killington on Friday, Okemo on Sat, then drive
home after skiing. So, I guess it would be best to stay cloder to
Killington. Looking for a cheap, but decent place- maybe with a pool.
Any suggestions?

Mary Malmros wrote in
:

TS writes:

I am looking for a decent, cheap hotel in Killington for a couple of
nights. We want to ski Killington on Friday, Okemo on Sat, then drive
home after skiing. So, I guess it would be best to stay cloder to
Killington. Looking for a cheap, but decent place- maybe with a pool.
Any suggestions?

Actually, if it were me, I'd look at Ludlow, where Okemo is
located. It's probably cheaper and definitely much more to my
tastes. The best description for the Killington access road area is
"aggressively charmless and tacky".


Don't you believe for a minute that anything in Ludlow is
less expensive than Killington.

However, I go by the Salt Ash Inn in Plymouth Union fairly
often. It's almost exactly half-way between Killington and
Okemo (Indian word for "flat mountain"). Truly and Bed
and Breakfast type of place, but I understand thay serve
dinner and have a bar.

As tacky as the Access Road is, it's the best after skiing
nightlife in the eastern US. There is almost nothing like
it in Ludlow. Charactors (a bar/restaurant) has aspirations
of being a night club, but the neighbors complain to the
town fathers too often for them to really pull out all the
stops.

Ludlow and Killington are DIFFERENT. The whole feel and
experience is different. Ludlow is an old village. The
only village in Vermont with a ski area withing walking
distance. Yes, you can walk to the base lodge from the
village. I did it many times back in the late '50's.

Killington essentially has no village at all. There is
sort of a town center on River Road, as far from the
ski areas as they could get it.

Okemo has done a wonderful job of attracting families with
money to come, ski, and build second homes. Drive up from
Rt 103, past the new Jackson Gore hotel, up though the
Solitude developement and see the homes that have been
built and are being built.

You need to go over to Top Ridge at Killington to see
anything like this except that the homes in Ludlow are
a bit more attractive than Top Ridge.

Killington, OTOH, has terrain and lots of it, and if you
haven't sampled the night life too well, it's fun and
challenging. I occasionally ski at Okemo, too, because
I have lots of clients there.

As for lodging, the high-priced spreads may have heated
pools but a "cheap but decent place" will certainly not
have a pool. With maybe one exception. The Grey Bonnet
Inn on Route 100 north of Killington, but that's in the
wrong direction for Okemo.

I'd ski Killington on Friday, Pico (a part of Killington)
on Saturday and Okemo on Sunday.

Killington is great when there are no crowds.
Pico never is crowded, but the lifts are slow.
Okemo has a half-day morning ticket for Sundays.

hope this helps.
RW

(Richard Walsh) writes:

Mary Malmros wrote in
:

TS writes:

I am looking for a decent, cheap hotel in Killington for a couple of
nights. We want to ski Killington on Friday, Okemo on Sat, then drive
home after skiing. So, I guess it would be best to stay cloder to
Killington. Looking for a cheap, but decent place- maybe with a pool.
Any suggestions?

Actually, if it were me, I'd look at Ludlow, where Okemo is
located. It's probably cheaper and definitely much more to my
tastes. The best description for the Killington access road area is
"aggressively charmless and tacky".


Don't you believe for a minute that anything in Ludlow is
less expensive than Killington.

I haven't priced it (have you?), but it doesn't seem beyond the
realm of possibility.

However, I go by the Salt Ash Inn in Plymouth Union fairly
often.

But how often do you stay there? There IS a problem with asking
locals where to stay ;-)

It's almost exactly half-way between Killington and
Okemo (Indian word for "flat mountain"). Truly and Bed
and Breakfast type of place, but I understand thay serve
dinner and have a bar.

As tacky as the Access Road is, it's the best after skiing
nightlife in the eastern US. There is almost nothing like
it in Ludlow. Charactors (a bar/restaurant) has aspirations
of being a night club, but the neighbors complain to the
town fathers too often for them to really pull out all the
stops.

Eh. Well. Look. I don't do a lot of so-called "apres-ski"
wherever I go, so I'm no expert. But it does seem to me that
"apres-ski", such as it is, has become rather a one-note in these
United States. Loud bars, lots of alcohol, specials on godawful
drinks made with Rumple Mintz or something equally barf-worthy,
specials on deep-fried platters of unidentifiable animal bits, truly
bad bands, etc. And, driving up the access road in Killington, it
sure looks a lot like every single place on the strip is of that
same ilk. If so, saying that Killington has "the best after skiing
nightlife in the eastern US" is kind of like saying that Framingham,
MA is the hamburger capital of the eastern US, because it's got
seventeen and a half fast food joints per block. Yeah, there's an
awful lot of it, but so what? One or two is sufficient if it's all
the same low-rent Coors Light commercial.

Ludlow and Killington are DIFFERENT. The whole feel and
experience is different.

Yeah, that's why I said that I personally would prefer Ludlow. Some
people like the Killington thing, but not everyone.

[snip]
Okemo has done a wonderful job of attracting families with
money to come, ski, and build second homes. Drive up from
Rt 103, past the new Jackson Gore hotel, up though the
Solitude developement and see the homes that have been
built and are being built.

Er, yeah. That's Okemo's contribution to aggressive charmlessness.
It is beyond condoland.

[snip]
Killington, OTOH, has terrain and lots of it, and if you
haven't sampled the night life too well, it's fun and
challenging. I occasionally ski at Okemo, too, because
I have lots of clients there.

Well, we didn't go there, because OP stated intention to do a day
at each. IMO, though, one day is puh-lenty at Okemo, and on a
return day, I'd do both at Killington.

Killington is great when there are no crowds.

Yah. Not sure when that would be, but everything is relative. I
will have to score me a midweek pass sometime.

--
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mary Malmros
Some days you're the windshield,
Other days you're the bug.

Mary Malmros wrote in
:

(Richard Walsh) writes:

Mary Malmros wrote in
:

TS writes:

I am looking for a decent, cheap hotel in Killington for a couple
of nights. We want to ski Killington on Friday, Okemo on Sat, then
drive home after skiing. So, I guess it would be best to stay
cloder to Killington. Looking for a cheap, but decent place- maybe
with a pool. Any suggestions?

Actually, if it were me, I'd look at Ludlow, where Okemo is
located. It's probably cheaper and definitely much more to my
tastes. The best description for the Killington access road area is
"aggressively charmless and tacky".


Don't you believe for a minute that anything in Ludlow is
less expensive than Killington.

I haven't priced it (have you?), but it doesn't seem beyond the
realm of possibility.

I have a conspiracy theory that all innkeepers talk to
each other to find out what everybody else is charging
so they won't over or undercharge and wonder why they
are so very popular or not getting any business at all.
Actually they don't need to talk, just look at the
competition's web sites.

However, I go by the Salt Ash Inn in Plymouth Union fairly
often.

But how often do you stay there? There IS a problem with asking
locals where to stay ;-)

Guilty as charged. If I were to look for a place to stay
at/near a ski area, I go for dirt-bag cheap. I'm there for
the skiing and a shower and a meal after. If I have a beer
with dinner, I'm unconscious by 9:00PM and I don't care if
there is a pool or a hot tub or anything else as long as
the water is hot, the sheets are clean and the food is good.
BTW, I'm planning a road trip to Sunday River and Sugarloaf
in February. Any suggestions for overnight are welcome.

It's almost exactly half-way between Killington and
Okemo (Indian word for "flat mountain"). Truly and Bed
and Breakfast type of place, but I understand thay serve
dinner and have a bar.

As tacky as the Access Road is, it's the best after skiing
nightlife in the eastern US. There is almost nothing like
it in Ludlow. Charactors (a bar/restaurant) has aspirations
of being a night club, but the neighbors complain to the
town fathers too often for them to really pull out all the
stops.

Eh. Well. Look. I don't do a lot of so-called "apres-ski"
wherever I go, so I'm no expert. But it does seem to me that
"apres-ski", such as it is, has become rather a one-note in these
United States. Loud bars, lots of alcohol, specials on godawful
drinks made with Rumple Mintz or something equally barf-worthy,
specials on deep-fried platters of unidentifiable animal bits, truly
bad bands, etc. And, driving up the access road in Killington, it
sure looks a lot like every single place on the strip is of that
same ilk. If so, saying that Killington has "the best after skiing
nightlife in the eastern US" is kind of like saying that Framingham,
MA is the hamburger capital of the eastern US, because it's got
seventeen and a half fast food joints per block. Yeah, there's an
awful lot of it, but so what? One or two is sufficient if it's all
the same low-rent Coors Light commercial.

Actually I don't do a lot of apres ski either. Except I
did like the Red Rob Inn's half price sushi before 6:00PM
last Saturday night.

Decent bar, interesting band made up of ski instructors
doing covers of classic rock but with the words changed
to become topical to Killington. The sushi was great and
the bill was so cheap that I asked the bar tender to check
again, I felt the establishment was being cheated.

Ludlow and Killington are DIFFERENT. The whole feel and
experience is different.

Yeah, that's why I said that I personally would prefer Ludlow. Some
people like the Killington thing, but not everyone.

One of the more poorly kept secrets at Killington is the fact
that you don't need to drive the access road, especially if
you are coming from the east. Turn left at the SkyeShip base
as if you were going to Bear Mountain, but don't turn at Bear,
just keep going and you will land in SnowShed parking lot near
the Grand. You will pass nice houses and, as you get closer to
SnowShed, some condos. I almost never use the access road as I
live east of K.

[snip]
Okemo has done a wonderful job of attracting families with
money to come, ski, and build second homes. Drive up from
Rt 103, past the new Jackson Gore hotel, up though the
Solitude developement and see the homes that have been
built and are being built.

Er, yeah. That's Okemo's contribution to aggressive charmlessness.
It is beyond condoland.

And some of them are my clients.

[snip]
Killington, OTOH, has terrain and lots of it, and if you
haven't sampled the night life too well, it's fun and
challenging. I occasionally ski at Okemo, too, because
I have lots of clients there.

Well, we didn't go there, because OP stated intention to do a day
at each. IMO, though, one day is puh-lenty at Okemo, and on a
return day, I'd do both at Killington.

yup.

Killington is great when there are no crowds.

Yah. Not sure when that would be, but everything is relative. I
will have to score me a midweek pass sometime.

Most weekdays and I can almost always finde good skiing
with no lines on even a busy weekend.

Last Saturday for instance. Because of where I was assigned,
I had to use the K1 some and the line was fairly big there,
but it moved fast. Superstar was generally uncrowded and
NeedlesEye, Canyon, Glades and SouthRidge never had more than a
three person wait all day long. I never did ski Bear that day.

RW

(Richard Walsh) writes:

Mary Malmros wrote in
:

(Richard Walsh) writes:

Mary Malmros wrote in
:

TS writes:

I am looking for a decent, cheap hotel in Killington for a couple
of nights. We want to ski Killington on Friday, Okemo on Sat, then
drive home after skiing. So, I guess it would be best to stay
cloder to Killington. Looking for a cheap, but decent place- maybe
with a pool. Any suggestions?

Actually, if it were me, I'd look at Ludlow, where Okemo is
located. It's probably cheaper and definitely much more to my
tastes. The best description for the Killington access road area is
"aggressively charmless and tacky".


Don't you believe for a minute that anything in Ludlow is
less expensive than Killington.

I haven't priced it (have you?), but it doesn't seem beyond the
realm of possibility.

I have a conspiracy theory that all innkeepers talk to
each other to find out what everybody else is charging
so they won't over or undercharge and wonder why they
are so very popular or not getting any business at all.
Actually they don't need to talk, just look at the
competition's web sites.

Depending on the size of the town, they probably do talk quite
openly. Undercutting is unfriendly, or so they see it.

However, I go by the Salt Ash Inn in Plymouth Union fairly
often.

But how often do you stay there? There IS a problem with asking
locals where to stay ;-)

Guilty as charged. If I were to look for a place to stay
at/near a ski area, I go for dirt-bag cheap. I'm there for
the skiing and a shower and a meal after. If I have a beer
with dinner, I'm unconscious by 9:00PM and I don't care if
there is a pool or a hot tub or anything else as long as
the water is hot, the sheets are clean and the food is good.

I will confess to a fondness for hot tubs, but that's about the only
amenity that might tempt me -- that and a wax room, if they've got
the "no waxing in yer room" reg. Aside from that, I'm like you: hot
running water and a bed and I'm set.

BTW, I'm planning a road trip to Sunday River and Sugarloaf
in February. Any suggestions for overnight are welcome.

Wish I knew; I got a group that's willing to pay part of my way to
Sugarloaf if I cover a race.

It's almost exactly half-way between Killington and
Okemo (Indian word for "flat mountain"). Truly and Bed
and Breakfast type of place, but I understand thay serve
dinner and have a bar.

As tacky as the Access Road is, it's the best after skiing
nightlife in the eastern US. There is almost nothing like
it in Ludlow. Charactors (a bar/restaurant) has aspirations
of being a night club, but the neighbors complain to the
town fathers too often for them to really pull out all the
stops.

Eh. Well. Look. I don't do a lot of so-called "apres-ski"
wherever I go, so I'm no expert. But it does seem to me that
"apres-ski", such as it is, has become rather a one-note in these
United States. Loud bars, lots of alcohol, specials on godawful
drinks made with Rumple Mintz or something equally barf-worthy,
specials on deep-fried platters of unidentifiable animal bits, truly
bad bands, etc. And, driving up the access road in Killington, it
sure looks a lot like every single place on the strip is of that
same ilk. If so, saying that Killington has "the best after skiing
nightlife in the eastern US" is kind of like saying that Framingham,
MA is the hamburger capital of the eastern US, because it's got
seventeen and a half fast food joints per block. Yeah, there's an
awful lot of it, but so what? One or two is sufficient if it's all
the same low-rent Coors Light commercial.

Actually I don't do a lot of apres ski either. Except I
did like the Red Rob Inn's half price sushi before 6:00PM
last Saturday night.

Um. Do they do that every Saturday??? Or maybe, pant pant, some
weekdays???

[snip]
Ludlow and Killington are DIFFERENT. The whole feel and
experience is different.

Yeah, that's why I said that I personally would prefer Ludlow. Some
people like the Killington thing, but not everyone.

One of the more poorly kept secrets at Killington is the fact
that you don't need to drive the access road, especially if
you are coming from the east. Turn left at the SkyeShip base
as if you were going to Bear Mountain, but don't turn at Bear,
just keep going and you will land in SnowShed parking lot near
the Grand. You will pass nice houses and, as you get closer to
SnowShed, some condos. I almost never use the access road as I
live east of K.

But you got a pass. If I'm using a comp pass, I probably need to go
to the main base area, right?

[snip]
Okemo has done a wonderful job of attracting families with
money to come, ski, and build second homes. Drive up from
Rt 103, past the new Jackson Gore hotel, up though the
Solitude developement and see the homes that have been
built and are being built.

Er, yeah. That's Okemo's contribution to aggressive charmlessness.
It is beyond condoland.

And some of them are my clients.

Not surprising. The most frequent fliers tend to be either
dirtbags, or condo-owners.

[snip]
Killington, OTOH, has terrain and lots of it, and if you
haven't sampled the night life too well, it's fun and
challenging. I occasionally ski at Okemo, too, because
I have lots of clients there.

Well, we didn't go there, because OP stated intention to do a day
at each. IMO, though, one day is puh-lenty at Okemo, and on a
return day, I'd do both at Killington.

yup.

BTW, did they open up any more of Jackson Gore? Was just the one
trail last year, at least when I was there. Nice pitch in that top
bit, but it was a bit disappointing that that was all there was to
the much talked-about Jackson Gore.

--
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mary Malmros
Some days you're the windshield,
Other days you're the bug.

Mary Malmros wrote in
:

(Snip)

Depending on the size of the town, they probably do talk quite
openly. Undercutting is unfriendly, or so they see it.

Uh-huh

(snip)

I will confess to a fondness for hot tubs, but that's about the only
amenity that might tempt me -- that and a wax room, if they've got
the "no waxing in yer room" reg. Aside from that, I'm like you: hot
running water and a bed and I'm set.

I do have certain standards for a bed, however. Friends
used to own an inn at Sugarbush. Peppers. Best breakfast
anywhere. Worst beds. I preferred to drive the hour home
rather than stay with them because their beds were so bad.
At one stay, the thing sagged so badly that both my wife
and I had to climb uphill and hang onto the outside edge
of the mattress just to not crush each other.

BTW, I'm planning a road trip to Sunday River and Sugarloaf
in February. Any suggestions for overnight are welcome.

Wish I knew; I got a group that's willing to pay part of my way to
Sugarloaf if I cover a race.

I'll look into it. A friend, the same one who taped my
whole crash 2 years ago, including the sled ride, calls
Sugarloaf his home mountain.

(and snipp again)

Um. Do they do that every Saturday??? Or maybe, pant pant, some
weekdays???

the sushi, I'll check it out tomorrow after skiing.

[snip]
(and snip a little more)

But you got a pass. If I'm using a comp pass, I probably need to go
to the main base area, right?

My trip description would get you to either "Main base lodge"
(KBL or SnowShed). But, if my observations are correct, a comp
pass is good at any ticket window, but if you have to go tap
someone, like head of ski school, to get the comp in the first
place, you'll need to find him, wherever he is. Head of ski
school will probably be at Snowshed. Head of racing will
probably be at Killington Ski Club, and so on. I'd call the dude
and set up a time and place to meet so as to not lose any time.
If you have a letter, probably you can be helped at any
Guest services desk, including way down at SkyeShip.

I am constantly asked, mainly at the end of day, "How do I get
back to the main base lodge?"

Then I start asking questions. There are two base lodges at K
which qualify, KBL and Snowshed. There there are three more.
Rams Head (all kids programs), Bear (hardcore) and SkyeShip
(latecomers who know they won't find a parking space anywhere
near skiing at the upper areas).

[snip]
(snippity-snip)

And some of them are my clients.

Not surprising. The most frequent fliers tend to be either
dirtbags, or condo-owners.

The high rollers pay my salary.

[snip]
(CHOMP)

BTW, did they open up any more of Jackson Gore? Was just the one
trail last year, at least when I was there. Nice pitch in that top
bit, but it was a bit disappointing that that was all there was to
the much talked-about Jackson Gore.

In spite of the hype surrounding skiing at Jackson Gore, I
don't hold out too much hope that it's any good. It's mainly
to allow ski-in ski-out from their new Grande-style hotel.

I think there are three trails down from the lift including
the lift line. I haven't skied there yet.

I started a sentence on who I'd rather party with (or ski with)
but I decided I might make too much of a gereralization and get
myself in trouble. I might talk about it off-line.

RW

Mary Malmros wrote:

I will confess to a fondness for hot tubs, but that's about the only
amenity that might tempt me -- that and a wax room, if they've got
the "no waxing in yer room" reg.

Can't you wax before you go ? If you need to wax again on the trip you
must be one hairy momma.

BrritSki writes:

Mary Malmros wrote:

I will confess to a fondness for hot tubs, but that's about the only
amenity that might tempt me -- that and a wax room, if they've got
the "no waxing in yer room" reg.

Can't you wax before you go ? If you need to wax again on the trip you
must be one hairy momma.

I wax every day, pretty much. it's like eating oatmeal -- it's the
right thing to do, particularly in New England, when conditions can
change drastically.

--
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mary Malmros
Some days you're the windshield,
Other days you're the bug.

On 22 Jan 2004 06:54:57 -0500, Mary Malmros wrote:

BrritSki writes:

Mary Malmros wrote:

I will confess to a fondness for hot tubs, but that's about the only
amenity that might tempt me -- that and a wax room, if they've got
the "no waxing in yer room" reg.

Can't you wax before you go ? If you need to wax again on the trip you
must be one hairy momma.

I wax every day, pretty much. it's like eating oatmeal -- it's the
right thing to do, particularly in New England, when conditions can
change drastically.

As Roger would say...

Whooooosh!!

--
Alex Heney, Global Villager
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up.

To reply by email, my address is aDOTjDOTheneyATbtinternetDOTcom

(Richard Walsh) wrote in
:

Mary Malmros wrote in
:
(HUGE SNIP)

Um. Do they do that every Saturday??? Or maybe, pant pant, some
weekdays???

the sushi, I'll check it out tomorrow after skiing.

Just for your edification, the Red Rob Inn at Killington
has a PERMANENT sign out saying "Half Price Sushi, 3:00 to 6:00PM"
no other qualifiers.

RW
(and snip the rest)