On average, how much will a ski trip (3-day-2-night) cost for a family of 4 (2 adult and 2 children)?

Question

Let say, go to a ski resort and lodge in the medium price range.

Answer 1

First, there's airfare, and since I don't know where you're going or coming from, I can't answer that part for you.

Most mountains (and I'm a former ski instructor and was involved in marketing at mountains) have some packages.  As a rule, they include lift tickets, basic dinners (w/o alcohol), maybe lessons, whatever.  Part of the trick is to bundle in stuff that you may not want, maybe you do.  I don't know if you need lessons or not.

Lift tickets now are running $50 to $60 at major resorts.  If you do a half-day (typically after 12:30 or 1) it might be $10 to $12 dollars cheaper.

Bundles might include hotel rooms, running $100 to $160 a night (or much more for a condo).

So, two nights for two adults and two children (and you don't say how old they are, and resorts trim the age down considerably) I think you're looking at $200+ for tickets per day, and another $140/night, putting you in the $750 range, and don't forget the cafeteria at the lodge, which is usually priced like food at movie theatres.  I'd budget at least $1000 plus airfare.

Let me say, though - and I don't know where you're traveling from - there are LOT'S of small resorts with affordable food, ticket prices - oh, and I forget rentals - if you don't have your own equipment figure maybe another $40+ per person per day.  I've skied at lots of major resorts, but sometimes you can have a great time for a fraction of the price at a small resort.  And it may not even be a "resort" (implying lodging, ect) but simply a ski area.