For my senior trip

[monkeybones]

Ok just be patient with me on this topic. Next year for my senior year of college, I want to go out to BC and ski Whistler for our winter break. I have looked around and seen a few advertisements for skiing a lodging (5nights+4 days lift) for around 300-350ish. I live in the midwest (Chicago) so I would drive out with a few buddies. Now the question is, how far in advance should I book such a deal to get the best price? Like 2-3 months? Our break starts like beginning/middle of December and we come back beginning of January. So either go before Xmas so we can be home for it, or go out after xmas and ski and maybe spend New Years there. I was also thinking of maybe hitting up Colo or even Jackson on the road trip out there. I know this is a year in advance, but i would like any useful input you could give me.

[Trackhead]

You should be planning how you are going to get to Utah now!

Long drive to BC from Chicago. Might want to think about flying.

[Squirrel99]

Cool man. Chicago, represent! Damn, that's a long drive. I did many a drives from Chitown to Boulder and that'll run you 15 hours to start so if I were you, pending on expenses- I'd plan on taking all of your winter break and hitting up the whole intermountain and/or West Coast regions. I spent a Christmas once travelling with friends- awkward away from home, but had blast. Nice thing with a car is you can be flexible with the snow conditions and adjust based on weather. If you're heading this way to Whistler- you can pretty much plan on a good 36-48 hours of driving from Chicago. Plane fare to Seattle can be as low as $179 RT. You could also catch a cheap flight to SLC or Denver- and rent a cheap car from there.

Another thought, lodging is much more expensive the week after Christmas and you may endure more crowds- but the upside is spending New Year's in a sweet place like Whistler, Park City, Fernie, Vail, or Tahoe, etc...

I'd put together a tentative itinerary. Enough mags on this board live everywhere so pending on the size of your group- you may be able to find quite a bit of crash space (or in between the hotels/apartments, etc.). Not to mention, more importantly some 'local' guides to show you around the mountain(s).

If I was driving out from Chitown and had 2-3 weeks- I'd go straight to Colorado (15 hour drive) spend a night on the town in Denver- hit up Vail, WP, or A-Basin. Maybe Aspen. Hwy 40 through Steamboat enroute to Park City/Alta-Bird, then up 4 hours to Jackson- and keep snaking my way toward Whistler via Big Sky/Bridger, Fernie, Red connection. But damn that's a lot acreage! Good luck, sounds like a great time.

[Arty50]

You'll have to book Whistler way in advance. Both times I've gone have been for President's Day weekend. The first was booked the previous April. The second we booked in October as I recall. The busy weeks/weekends fill up fast. So get on it early.

[monkeybones]

dang i didnt know it was that far to BC. I guess I was a little ignorant. I would fly, but since Im under 25 it would be hard for us to rent a car. Maybe I should just hit up the rockies.... ie Utah, Colo and Wyoming. But Whistler keeps calling me to go there. Just the stories I have heard. Man!!!!!

[Trackhead]

Dude, go to Colorado (closest to you) and drive. You'll get more ski days than driving two days to B.C. and two days back. End of story.

BC is cool, but it's a long ways to drive. Especially with crude oil at $50+

You could hit multiple places, or even go anywhere in the Wyoming, Colorado, Utah area that has the best reports for storms, etc.

Get a truck with a shell or a van or something. Sleep in it and chase the good snow for a couple weeks.