Aspen Ranks as Most Expensive Ski Resort in North America, Survey Finds

January 28, 2013

Aspen, Colorado's ski resort is the most expensive in North America. Cheaphotels.org made this discovery after comparing 30 ski resorts in the USA and Canada based on the price they are presently charging to lodge there. In coming up with the rankings, the survey specifically examined the amount travelers would currently have to pay for a minimum 3-star hotel room situated inside or near the respective resorts.

That investigation revealed that skiers heading to Aspen in February or March will have shell out an average of $241 nightly to stay in the cheapest available double room. Those resorts coming in at the number two and three spots, however, weren't much less expensive. Olympic Valley in California and Utah's Alta/Snowbird resort are charging overnight rates of $239 and $236, respectively, during the same timeframe.

In Canada, the most expensive ski resort was found to be the Kicking Horse resort. Located close to Golden in British Columbia, this Canadian ski lodge is currently charging an average of $204 per night.

Following is a comparative ranking of the lodging rates for 30 ski resorts in the United States and Canada. The rates shown reflect the average price a traveler will have to pay for the cheapest available double room in a minimum 3-star hotel during the months of February and March 2013.

In the United States

1. Aspen (CO) $241
2. Olympic Valley (CA) $239
3. Alta/Snowbird (UT) $236
4. Breckenridge (CO) $223
5. Vail (CO) $214
6. Snowmass (CO) $212
7. Telluride (CO) $204
8. Keystone (CO) $203
9. Beaver Creek (CO) $199
10. Copper Mountain (CO) $192
11. Teton Village (WY) $164
12. Big Sky (MT) $159
13. Bretton Woods (NH) $145
14. Steamboat (CO) $136
15. Crested Butte (CO) $134
16. Stowe (VT) $132
17. Park City (UT) $129
18. Jackson (WY) $112
19. Sun Valley (ID) $107
20. Heavenly (CA) $94

In Canada

1. Kicking Horse (BC) $204
2. Big White (BC) $179
3. Mont Tremblant(QC) $157
4. Whistler Blackcomb (BC) $154
5. Silver Star (BC) $143
6. Panorama (BC) $142
7. Lake Louise (AB) $132
8. Fernie (BC) $123
9. Sun Peaks (BC) $94
10. Banff Mt. Norquay (AB) $84

About the Methodology

The survey was conducted on January 21-25, 2013. For 30 ski resorts in the USA and Canada, the price for the cheapest available double room was established for the following periods: February 6-10, February 20-24, March 6-10 and March 27-31. An average price per night for each resort was then calculated. Only those hotels with 3 stars or higher and with a location inside or less than two miles from the specified ski resort were considered. Hotel rates were established based on a search of the leading hotel-booking sites: Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz.

Press Contact: Barbara Adams, press@cheaphotels.org, 1-805-308-9660