Use points and miles to plan your ultimate ski vacation: A guide to booking flights, hotels, lift passes, and more

The 2024-2025 ski season is just around the corner. Iconic resorts across the U.S., including Vail, Colorado; Park City, Utah; and those around Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border, are set to open by mid-November, while Colorado's Wolf Creek Ski Area is already welcoming visitors after an early October snowstorm. Now is the perfect time to start planning (and budgeting) for your winter adventure.

A budget-friendly ski trip can still cost anywhere from $200 to $500 per person, per day, factoring in lift tickets, gear rentals, meals, lodging, and transportation. Add in private lessons, flights, or upgraded accommodations, and the cost can soar quickly.

But your next mountain getaway doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag. In fact, you can offset a significant portion of the cost with points and miles. Here’s how to make it happen.

Use points and miles to book your ski trip flights

Flights often make up one of the largest expenses for a ski vacation, but they’re also one of the easiest areas to save using points and miles.

If you’ve accumulated airline miles or have a credit card that earns transferable points, you can use them to book award flights directly with airlines. The best deals are typically found either last minute (though hotel prices may not be as favorable) or well in advance. We recommend starting your search early, as most airlines offer calendars showing the best value dates.

Here are some great flight options we've come across.

*Prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Flights to ski resort airports

There are two approaches to flying into a ski destination. The first involves booking a flight to a smaller airport close to the slopes. While this is convenient when everything runs smoothly, keep in mind that these smaller airports are less likely to offer nonstop flights, and you’re more prone to delays or cancellations due to unpredictable mountain weather. A few years ago, TPG's Summer Hull found herself stuck in Aspen, Colorado, for days due to a snowstorm (fortunately, she had trip insurance via her Chase Sapphire Reserve®).

Additionally, flights to these smaller airports can be expensive, especially during weekends and holidays at the peak of ski season. However, some great award flight deals are available that can get you to your favorite ski destinations for nearly nothing.

For example, United Airlines often offers Saver awards from various U.S. cities to top ski resorts for 15,000 MileagePlus miles (plus $5.60 in taxes and fees) each way.

You can often save even more by booking these flights through Turkish Airlines' Miles & Smiles program or Avianca LifeMiles. For example, the same United flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) costs just 12,500 LifeMiles (plus 51,351 Colombian pesos, about $12) each way when booked through LifeMiles.

American Airlines offers flights in January to Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Wyoming from East Coast airports like Miami International (MIA) and Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) for between 8,500 and 11,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, plus $5.60 in taxes and fees each way. There’s also a lot of availability for flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) and Dulles International (IAD) near Washington, D.C., for just 6,000 miles each way. This is a great deal considering these flights would normally cost $200 to $400 one-way, giving you a value of over 3 cents per mile (AAdvantage miles are valued at 1.6 cents each according to TPG's November 2024 valuations).

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers award availability to Vail’s Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) from major hubs like Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) for only 7,500 miles and around $20 in taxes and fees each way. With flights typically costing over $400, this provides exceptional value of more than 5 cents per mile.

While Southwest Airlines doesn't serve many smaller ski destinations, it does offer flights to Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. For example, you could fly from Houston William P. Hobby (HOU) to HDN for less than 10,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points each way this January. Plus, if you have the coveted Companion Pass, you can bring a companion for just the cost of taxes and fees. You'll also get two free checked bags, a huge benefit when bringing along ski equipment.

While most airlines are less generous with baggage, holding an airline cobranded credit card often earns you at least one free checked bag.

Flights to larger airports

You may opt for flying into a major airport, even if it’s a bit farther from the slopes. Common choices include Denver International Airport (DEN), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), and Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), depending on your ski destination. This can give you more flight options and potentially better award deals.

For example, Delta Air Lines offers flights to Denver for as low as 10,000 SkyMiles each way from cities like Seattle (5,500 miles), Minneapolis (6,500 miles), Chicago (7,000 miles), and Boston (9,500 miles). United is currently offering flights to Reno starting from 13,300 MileagePlus miles from New York City or 10,100 miles from Seattle. American Airlines has award space to Salt Lake City for about 10,000 AAdvantage miles each way from places like Miami, Dallas, and Charleston.

Since Southwest doesn’t fly to most smaller mountain airports, opting for a larger airport will open up more opportunities for Southwest fans to use their Rapid Rewards points, Companion Pass, or credit card benefits.

The downside of this method is that you’ll need to arrange transportation from the airport to your final destination. Fortunately, many ski resorts offer shuttle services, and there are also public transit options available. Additionally, several rental car services let you book with points or miles – we’ll dive into that in more detail soon.

Credit card portals and perks

When searching for flights, don't forget to consider credit card travel booking platforms where you can redeem your points for flights at a fixed rate. For example, many Capital One cardholders earn 1 cent per mile on Capital One Travel purchases, while those with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve can redeem for 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point, respectively, using the Chase Travel℠ portal.

With these portals, the points or miles needed are usually aligned with the cash price of a flight. If you come across a discounted flight to your ski destination, this could be a perfect opportunity to book with points or miles. Plus, since these flights are often considered paid revenue flights by airlines, you’re likely to earn airline miles or points on them too.

Another option is to pay for a flight with cash and then redeem your points or miles for a statement credit to cover the cost. For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card lets you earn 1 cent per mile while also offering benefits like trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

Make sure to take advantage of other card benefits as well. Airline credit cards often offer perks such as free checked bags or upgrades to better boarding groups. Some cards even provide cash back in the form of statement credits for incidental airline charges. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers an annual statement credit of up to $200 for airline incidental fees (enrollment required). This can cover things like checked baggage fees, which can really add up on a family ski trip, or seat assignments to ensure your group can sit together.

Simply owning certain credit cards can unlock valuable discounts on award flights. For instance, Delta's TakeOff 15 program offers eligible cardholders a 15% discount on flights booked with Delta SkyMiles, while the United Quest℠ Card gives two 5,000-mile rebates on award flights each year.

Book hotels for your ski trip using points and miles

If you’re an avid skier, you’re probably familiar with the high cost of lodging at ski resorts during peak season. The good news is that many of these hotels are part of major loyalty programs like Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy, so you can use your points, miles, and free night certificates to make your ski trip more affordable.

Even better, most of these hotel chains offer online calendars to help you find the best rates and dates for your winter getaway. Here are some of the top deals we’ve found at popular loyalty programs.

*The prices listed were correct at the time of publication.

Hilton Honors

If you’re a Hilton fan, there are plenty of opportunities to redeem your Hilton Honors points at hotels located at or near ski resorts. Hilton doesn’t use a fixed award chart, but instead relies on dynamic pricing, except for standard room rewards. Each hotel has a specific range of points required for standard room rewards, which you can explore using Hilton’s Points Explorer tool.

While most dates during ski season typically fall under peak pricing, leading to higher award rates, there are still some reasonable options available. For instance, the Hampton Inn & Suites South Lake Tahoe charges between 47,000 and 70,000 points per night in January.

If you hold a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (after spending $15,000 in a calendar year) or a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you might consider using a free night reward for a stay. However, it’s generally not recommended. These certificates are highly valuable, allowing you to redeem them for any standard room reward worth up to 150,000 points. Instead, it's wiser to use the free night at a property like the Waldorf Astoria Park City, which costs 110,000 points for a standard room reward. During ski season, cash rates there can easily exceed $1,000 per night.

The details regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have been gathered independently by Dinogo and have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

As with many of Hilton’s ski resorts, the Waldorf Astoria Park City is categorized as a resort property, allowing Aspire cardholders to utilize their biannual (up to) $200 Hilton resort statement credit here. Other Hilton ski resorts include the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge, Hilton Vacation Club Lake Tahoe Resort South, Homewood Suites by Hilton Mont-Tremblant Resort, and Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa.

Hilton offers several cobranded credit cards that can help accelerate your Honors points accumulation. Many of these cards also grant you elite status, which not only enhances your experience during your stay but also allows you to book a fifth night free when using points.

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt program remains a favorite among travelers due to its use of an award chart, which often leads to excellent redemption opportunities.

While premium ski resorts typically require 25,000 to 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night, there are some hidden gems within the program. For instance, Hyatt Place Keystone / Dillon and Hyatt Place Park City are both Category 4 hotels, meaning they cost only 18,000 points per night during peak dates. If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, this is an excellent opportunity to use your annual Category 1-4 free night certificate.

Maximizing your points is often best done at higher-category properties. For example, the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, a Category 6 hotel, charges 29,000 points per night on peak dates. Cash rates can average around $1,300 during ski season, giving you a redemption value of approximately 4.5 cents per point — significantly higher than the 1.7 cents per point valuation of World of Hyatt points as of November 2024.

When looking at award rates for a specific hotel, click on the "Points Calendar" to view the dates with the lowest rates. While most ski season dates will likely be at "peak" pricing, you might still find some deals. Keep in mind that the calendar only shows you potential prices based on availability, not that the rates are confirmed for your selected dates.

One major perk of redeeming points at Hyatt properties is the waiver of resort fees on award stays. Additionally, parking fees are waived for Globalist members when booking award stays.

Marriott Bonvoy

If you're planning an annual ski getaway, it's a good idea to start earning points with Marriott Bonvoy now. The program boasts an extensive collection of ski-friendly properties, ranging from luxurious ski-in, ski-out resorts to more affordable options not far from the slopes.

Marriott has transitioned to dynamic pricing, with ski season typically reflecting the highest rates. To find the best deals, check the "Flexible dates" option when setting up your search.

Affordable options include the Residence Inn Steamboat Springs and Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, with award rates this winter generally falling between 60,000 and 75,000 points per night. Both properties feature full kitchens, allowing you to save on meals by cooking your own.

As with Hyatt, Marriott's high-end properties can offer the best value for your points—if you have enough to book them. For example, a weekend at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe in January costs around 125,000 points per night. With cash rates reaching $1,300, this gives you a return of over 1 cent per point, which is a solid deal considering TPG's November 2024 valuation of Bonvoy points at 0.85 cents each.

Other high-end resorts worth considering include The Cloudveil, Autograph Collection in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as well as The Sky Residences at W Aspen and The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon, Colorado.

Unlike Hilton and Hyatt, Marriott does impose nightly resort fees, even for award bookings or guests with elite status. While you will receive a free night when booking with points, it will be applied to your least expensive night of the stay.

Certain Marriott credit cards offer annual free night certificates that can be redeemed at a variety of properties. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card awards new cardholders 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers 30,000 points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months.

Other hotels and vacation rentals

While we've discussed some of the most popular points-based hotels, there are plenty of other options worth exploring for your ski vacation.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has a selection of properties close to ski resorts, such as the Holiday Inn Steamboat Springs, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Park City, and Holiday Inn Club Vacations Tahoe Ridge Resort. Many of these hotels cost 40,000 IHG One Rewards points or less per night, which means you can use your annual free night certificate (up to 40,000 points) that comes with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Cardholders also receive a free fourth night on consecutive award bookings.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts offers some affordable options located a bit farther from the main ski resorts, resulting in lower point costs. For example, the Super 8 by Wyndham Dillon/Breckenridge Area is a short 30-minute drive from Breckenridge and Keystone, Colorado, and costs only 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night. Note that some Wyndham resorts may require a minimum stay of two or three nights, so it's worth checking availability for longer stays.

Choice Hotels features a handful of properties near ski destinations, such as Comfort Inn Near Vail Beaver Creek in Colorado and Quality Inn Near Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California. However, keep in mind that you won't be able to book using Choice Privileges points until 100 days before your stay.

If you're leaning toward a vacation rental—perhaps due to a larger group or to save money by cooking meals—there are several options to book rentals with points through services like Vacasa, Marriott Homes & Villas, Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt, and Bluegreen Vacations. Additionally, some credit card travel portals, like Capital One Travel, offer vacation rental options. You could also book through platforms like Vrbo or Airbnb with cash and use credit card points or miles to pay off the cost.

Credit card travel portals

Much like booking flights, you can also use your credit card's travel portal to book hotels with points or miles. This can be especially beneficial if you're a cardholder of Chase's Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve cards, as they offer enhanced redemption rates—1.25 cents per point and 1.5 cents per point, respectively—when you book through the Chase Travel portal.

In addition, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a $300 annual travel credit for cardholders, but this benefit is only applicable if you book your travel through the Capital One Travel portal.

Use your points and miles to cover lift tickets and ski equipment rentals

After securing your flight and hotel, you might think the major expenses for your ski trip are covered. But don't overlook the cost of lift tickets, ski passes, and equipment. These costs can quickly add up to several hundred dollars per person. Fortunately, there are ways to use points and miles to help offset these expenses.

Lift tickets and passes

A great way to save money or points on lift tickets is to purchase them in advance. You can buy single-day tickets or multi-day passes ahead of time, often at a lower price than buying them at the resort. If you're planning multiple ski trips, a season pass may be a good investment, and it could even save money on a single weeklong trip. Keep in mind that prices for passes typically increase as the season approaches, and early-bird sales often end in the fall.

When using points for lift tickets or ski passes, you have a few different options. Many rewards cards allow you to redeem points for past purchases through a statement credit, effectively reimbursing you for your ticket. However, the value of your points and the eligible categories depend on the specific card you have.

For example, Capital One allows you to use miles to cover travel purchases at a rate of 1 cent per mile. However, ski passes often fall under entertainment rather than travel, which means you might not get full value. In this case, using Capital One miles for cash back would only give you 0.5 cents per mile, half the usual redemption rate.

A useful way to get around this is by using a website called Undercover Tourist. Several major ski passes, including the Epic Pass, are available for purchase through the site. When you buy a pass through Undercover Tourist, the transaction is categorized as travel, which opens up more opportunities to redeem points and miles.

For example, imagine you purchase a three-day Epic Pass for $330 through Undercover Tourist using your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Since this is classified as a travel purchase by Capital One, you could redeem 33,000 miles to cover it. If you bought the same pass from another retailer where it codes as entertainment, you could redeem your miles for cash back, but you'd need to double the miles to match the purchase price.

Redeem points for ski gift cards

Another option is to redeem your points for gift cards that can be used for lift tickets. For instance, Chase allows you to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a rate of 1 cent per point for gift cards at retailers like REI. Citi also allows you to redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points for gift cards at the same rate, and sometimes you can get up to 1.11 cents per point during promotional periods.

You can also exchange 28,600 American Express Membership Rewards points for a $200 Aspen Snowmass gift card, though we wouldn't recommend this. With a redemption rate under 1 cent per point, it's not an ideal option, especially when TPG values these points at 2 cents each as of November 2024. Generally, it's better to use your points for flights or hotel stays.

Ski for free

Beyond using points and miles, there are plenty of opportunities for children and seniors to hit the slopes for free or at a steep discount. Focusing on resorts that offer special deals for younger or older skiers can save you a significant amount of money, or allow you to stretch your points and miles even further.

Rent ski gear using points

Similar to lift tickets, you can use your points and miles for gift cards or statement credits to cover ski gear purchases. If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you also have the added benefit of using them for ski rentals at various locations.

Through the Chase Travel portal, you can redeem points directly for travel expenses, including ski gear rentals, which can be found under the "Activities" section.

Simply input your travel destination and dates, then use filters like "ski" to narrow your search results.

This is an excellent way to redeem your points, as you'll get over 1 cent per point. Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn 1.25 cents per point, while those with Sapphire Reserve enjoy an even more generous 1.5 cents per point.

Book ground transportation for your ski trip with points and miles

Another important aspect of your ski trip is arranging transportation between the airport and the resort.

Rental cars

If you're planning to rent a car for your ski trip, there are multiple ways to use points and miles for booking. Similar to flights and hotels, you can redeem rental car rewards points directly or use your credit card's travel portal for booking. Alternatively, you can apply cash-back rewards toward statement credits to cover rental costs and additional expenses such as gas and parking.

Don't forget that many travel rewards cards come with car rental insurance, so you can skip the extra charge. Some cards also offer elite status with rental agencies, which brings benefits like vehicle upgrades or a free additional driver, helping you save even more.

Shuttles and public transportation

If the idea of renting a car or dealing with icy mountain roads doesn't appeal to you, consider using a shuttle service or public transportation. It can save you both money and stress.

Epic Mountain Express provides van service (with complimentary Wi-Fi) from Denver airport to various Colorado ski resorts like Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain — and Epic Pass holders can enjoy a 20% discount. The Snowstang bus services several ski areas in Colorado, while Amtrak runs the Winter Park Express train.

Similar to booking ski gear rentals, you can often arrange these shuttle rides and airport transfers through the Chase Travel portal. Plus, many ski resorts offer free local shuttle services, so once you arrive, you may find you don't need a car at all.

Best credit cards for booking ski trips

If you can't book every aspect of your ski vacation with points and miles, maximize your rewards by using the right credit card for your purchases.

For flights, hotels, rental cars, and anything else categorized as travel, opt for a credit card that offers bonus points on travel-related purchases. Many of these cards also include built-in trip protection, which eliminates the need for additional travel insurance and gives you peace of mind. Here are a few top choices:

• Amex Platinum
• Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees)

For non-travel purchases like lift tickets and ski equipment, consider using a card that earns bonus rewards on all purchases:

• Capital One Venture
• Capital One Venture X

*Eligibility and benefits may differ by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For more details, please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, a member of AIG.

Conclusion

Whether you're saving by opting for smaller ski resorts or leveraging your points and miles, there are many ways to cut costs on your ski vacation this season. However, we recommend starting your search early to secure the best deals and maximize your options.

For Capital One products mentioned here, some benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary depending on the product. Refer to the respective Guide to Benefits for full details, as terms and exclusions may apply.