No one ever said a family ski vacation was cheap, but the feeling you’ll get standing at the top of the mountain with your brood, surrounded by snow-capped peaks in all directions, is priceless. However, that doesn’t mean you should pay more than you have to. By following these tips you can enjoy top winter destinations while also saving some serious coin.

1. Be flexible.

If your dates and desired destinations are flexible then you will have the best shot at snagging a good ski vacation deal. Certain times of the ski season, like Christmas Day through New Year’s Day, President’s Day week, and spring break will always be busy. If you can take the kids out of school during less popular periods, you’re bound to find a deal that will work for you. Also, be flexible when choosing departure airports. Where you fly from and to can greatly affect how much your ticket is and it might even open up more convenient flight options.

2. Choose resorts that are close to major hubs.

Airfare can be a big chunk of a ski vacation—especially for a large family. By going to resorts close to places like Denver and Salt Lake, travelers can avoid paying a premium for tickets on planes with fewer seats flying into smaller airports. Flying into Denver and Salt Lake City helps save money when it comes to ground transportation, too. Lake City International Airport is less than 40 minutes from most of the ski resorts. Denver International Airport is about two hours from a great selection of Colorado ski resorts, including Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Vail, and more.

3. Take advantage of early booking deals.

Booking early (August) is a good way to get a great ski vacation deal while also pinning down hard-to-get lodging during peak travel periods. Getting your desired accommodation (especially the spacious condo with a full kitchen or the hotel with kid-friendly amenities) is critical for ultimate enjoyment on your family vacation.

4. Package lift tickets with lodging.

If you’re looking for a lift ticket deal, the worst thing you can do is wait to make your purchase at the ticket window once you arrive at the resort. By bundling your entire family’s lift tickets with your lodging package, you will receive the best lift ticket pricing available. At Ski.com, our negotiated lift ticket rates provide you savings of up to 40 percent off what you would pay at the ticket window.

You can save even more money on top of our discounted rates by purchasing a lift ticket and lodging package. In many cases, these package deals include a free night of lodging and a free day of skiing with the purchase of at least four nights. At Keystone, simply stay two nights (at a Vail Resorts-managed property) and kids 12 and under ski and ride free. Other package deals offer up to 50 percent off lift tickets.

5. Select a condominium with a kitchen.

One of the biggest ways your family can cut spending on your ski vacation is by not dining out for every meal. Choose a condo with a kitchen or kitchenette, buy groceries and cook all or some of the meals back at the unit. If you can land a ski-in, ski-out, or slopeside condo you can even ski back to your unit for lunch instead of spending a small fortune on your clan’s lunch at an on-mountain restaurant. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save. Keystone’s River Run Condominiums is a popular property that features full kitchens, plenty of space, and convenient access to the base village and slopes.

6. Choose a resort that offers free activities.

Keystone’s Kidtopia is one of North America’s best experiences for families looking to save some money. Kidtopia runs Thanksgiving through April and features free cookie hour, playtime in the ultimate snow fort, free fireworks, ice cream, star gazing, a parade, the opportunity to meet the rescue dogs, and much more. Breckenridge also has some noteworthy family-friendly, free activities, including Engine No. 9 at High Line Railroad Park, a narrow-gauge locomotive that served the historical mining town for more than 50 years.

7. Take advantage of travel experts.

There is a lot of information on the internet, and trying to determine what’s right for you and your family can be daunting, to say the least. Planning a ski vacation should be fun, not stressful. The easiest way for you to find the best deal quickly is to call or email a trusted travel advisor. We can help you cut out hours of online research. We have access to the best ski packages, including thousands of accommodations at ski resorts worldwide. It’s our job to sort through all the options and find the best package, destination, or deal based on your family’s requirements, interests, and budget. Let us do all the legwork, so you can save your legs for skiing.

For assistance choosing a ski resort to match your family’s skill level and budget, contact the vacation advisors at Covington Travel.

Covington Travel is pleased to recognize Ski.com as a valued partner and sponsor of this post.