A photo of a skier descending a snowy mountain slope. The skier is wearing a bright orange jacket and black pants. They are skiing diagonally across the mountain, leaving parallel tracks in the fresh snow. The background reveals more of the mountain, with multiple ski runs. The sky is clear, with a few clouds. The overall image has a cold, blue hue.

Ski holidays in North America can be expensive, but new research suggests booking ahead of December can save skiers money.

According to Ski Safari, savvy skiers and snowboarders who book before December can save over $3,215 (£2500 GBP) on a 10 night vacation.

Bookings that are made earlier could see the benefit as hotels and transfer providers offer as much as 40% off standard in-season rates. Lift tickets are another way that people can save money, but the prices are said to increase when the season begins in December.

In a press release, Ski Safari’s Canada & USA Product Manager, Rupert Hatfield, says: “Many skiers like to wait to see what the snow is doing before they book their holiday. However, it doesn’t really work like that in North America unless you have very deep pockets.”

Early bird gets the worm for North America ski holidays

“Plus, you don’t really need to worry about the snow! In my experience, a ‘bad’ snow year in North America is still better than an average snow year in Europe.

“Eight metres of snow was considered poor in Whistler last winter. The snow is already falling and resorts are gearing up to open in November, while the high chance of a La Niña winter has our team very excited for what’s to come.”

“For those hoping to grab a late booking discount, any late offers won’t come close to the price increases that happen in December once lift passes go up in price and early booking discounts end.”

Most of the ski resorts in North America open at the end of November, with some not officially opening until mid-December. The closing of the season varies too, with some being in March and others staying open until July.

Some of the most popular areas to travel to for skiing or snowboarding include Utah, California, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Image: via Ideogram

By Sophie

Sophie is a digital journalist and content writer for a range of B2B and B2C clients. Her work as been published by The Femedic, Readwrite, Hull Daily Mail, and more. She started out her career winning a Print Futures Award for her commitment to journalism.