When booking your trip to Park City, Utah, why not take an early morning flight? Even from the East Coast, and sometimes even with a connection, you can arrive at the Salt Lake City International Airport before noon. I'm not a morning person, but if I can ski for free, I'll gladly trade that extra hour or two of sleep!
Before you leave, register for Quick START (Ski Today and Ride Today) to obtain a free lift ticket for that afternoon with your same day boarding pass.
The SLC International Airport is moderate in size and very manageable, allowing you to quickly grab a shuttle or rental car and take the short 35 minute drive to Park City.
Call the ski resort ahead of time to arrange for ski rentals to be ready if you need them. In the middle of the day, you should be able to get in and out of the rental shop quickly.
Tips for using Quick START :
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Register before you leave and print out all documents, including two copies of your boarding pass and the voucher sent to your email after registration. Airlines such as Southwest keep the original one, and you can't obtain the free lift ticket without it.
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Grab food and water! Either pack some food for your trip, or grab a quick bite at the airport and eat on the way. If you can hold off, there will be lots of great places for a quick bite at the base of the mountain. Make sure you hydrate as you head up to a base elevation of over 6,000 feet.
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All three resorts in Park City will accept your Quick START voucher: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, and Canyons. In my opinion, Park City Mountain Resort is the perfect choice. Parking is close to the base, the mountain is easy to navigate, and the runs are perfect for that afternoon warm up.
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Most mountains close around 4:00pm, but at Park City Mountain Resort, you can make a few extra laps as their operations continue at night under the lights!
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Quick START is NOT valid December 22-January 1, and NOT valid February 18-March 31st, 2012. Utah residents are not eligible, and you must present a valid I.D., your SAME DAY printed boarding pass from a commercial airline, and your registration confirmation. Other restrictions apply, so read the rules carefully.
If you check the afternoon rates at Park City Mountain Resort, for example, it works out to a $220 value for a family of four. Its a great way to start off your trip and get you warmed up for the days ahead. Sometimes a great deal really is good enough to be true!
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Comments
Comment posted by Allison on January 26, 2012 10:15 AM MST
This is great! I've done this many times and the up front planning is well worth it. I love it because you basically get a free afternoon to warm up, adjust to the elevation and get a head start to a great ski vacation!
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Comment posted by Gwen on January 26, 2012 11:02 PM MST
If you're only able to get to Park City for a few days, this is a great way to start the trip. Just plan ahead and you get a free lift ticket!
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Comment posted by Annie on January 28, 2012 4:11 AM MST
Thanks for the tip. I love your quick tips!
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Comment posted by Sue on January 28, 2012 4:34 AM MST
What a great tip! And a nice way to jump start the ski vacation. We pack all skiing related clothing in ou boot bags; we can grab and go.
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Comment posted by Eric on January 28, 2012 4:59 AM MST
Is it valid for night skiing at PCMR?
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Comment posted by Kristen on January 28, 2012 6:30 AM MST
What a great idea! Thanks for all of the wonderful information.
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Comment posted by Craig on January 28, 2012 11:33 AM MST
Park City had some great snow. Those 20" certainly made for some awesome skiing. There's nothing quite like new snow and a Utah blue sky for skiing. Those new "EZ pass" gates for lift ticket checks are really a nice addition.
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Comment posted by Kathleen on January 28, 2012 6:41 PM MST
Great tips, Kristen! Thanks for the advice. We are headed out there in March and are really looking forward to it.
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Comment posted by Beth Kingkiner on January 29, 2012 3:41 PM MST
Great tip!! Thanks!!
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Comment posted by Amber on January 30, 2012 9:06 AM MST
That's one of the great thing about PCMR: accessibility. In Colorado, most of the resorts are such a haul from the airport, it would be difficult to get a resort on the same day as flying in.
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Add Your Own Comments
The views expressed on Snowmamas are those of the individual authors, who are independent contractors of Park City Mountain Resort, and may not be factually accurate. These views are not intended to reflect the opinions of Park City Mountain Resort, its owners, its management or its employees. Snowmamas' authors have or will receive a paid trip to Park City Mountain Resort or will receive other compensation for their participation as an author.
Response posted by Kristen on January 31, 2012 7:05 AM MST
It is a perfect way to start the trip! Sometimes just that half day is enough to get your ski legs back and make the altitude adjustment!
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