Planning Ahead - RSIII Let's hear from you!

[Gary]

Hey gang.....I know Ron, Ed and I already have purchased our tickets for the Steamboat RS III trip.
We arrive on Saturday Dec 13th and are there through the 20th.

I bring this up because this year due to the horrific flight costs, we decided to meet in Denver and rent a car together. There were significant savings with the upside of having our own vehicle on site rather than waiting for shuttles and buses.

There are direct flights into the "Boat" but for the cost, car pooling might be more efficient. If you're interested at all in joining us, please check out flights. Putting 3-4 people in a condo will also help keep cost down as well.

I'm hoping to get commitments from those that want to go so for car rental and condo selections, people could pair up and make the event more financially efficient.

So....let's get the dialog going and see about making some arrangements. It's going to be an absolute blast and would love to have many show. Steamboat rocks and the snow last season was "SWEET"!

Whether you come for 3 days or 7.....you won't want to miss Steamboat, RS III, 2008!

Thanks,
Gary

[Ron]

yes folks, most flights come in around 10 Am. We can coordinate a caravan if necessary. It is always a blast; no worries about skiing level or how much orange you own.... 

[jim-ratliff]

All:? ?

I will confirm Gary's research that flying into Denver is cheaper than flying direct to Steamboat if you can double or triple up on the rental car.? There weren't any direct flights from Washington DC to Steamboat last year, so I did the drive from Denver to RealSkiers II and the price differential is even greater this year.? Drive is about 3.5 hours; you go from Denver to Dillon on I-70 and then head north.? Only high altitude part of the trip is Rabbit Ears pass just before you get to Steamboat, and they appear to keep that very well plowed (there had been a good snowfall the night before I left last year) and is very passable if you are at all comfortable driving on snow packed roads.? And, for me, it was a nice bonus to have a vehicle while there to explore the town.

Ron/Gary:

Thanks for posting the dates and info so that I can have a target. Make me a definite maybe.? I would love to spend some time laughing and
skiing with the group again this year (even Ron's injury was, sadly, an object of extreme hilarity).

[Ron]

With clear roads you can make it 3 hours easy. I am glad to be a source of laughter and levity.....

I am also thinking that if we have a big enough group, we can hire a van. It may be cheaper than renting.

[bf_hill]

I'm Thinking.....  We have plans to go to Vermont for Christmas, Dec. 23rdish to the 30thish.  Hmm....Southwest has a flight from Tampa to Denver in October for $119!  The aren't accepting reservations for November yet.  The average cost was $139  hmm....

Thinking.....Thinki ng......

Nephew lives near Denver, 1hr from Steamboat.  He is renting from some ski professional that has ski tuning equipment in his basement.  My boys stayed with him when they went boarding (where did I go wrong?) this past season.

[Ron]

Near Denver one hour?  Not so close to Denver then or not so close to Steamboat..... 3 plus hours from Denver.

[bf_hill]

Near Denver one hour?? Not so close to Denver then or not so close to Steamboat..... 3 plus hours from Denver.

Okay, I looked it over.  You're right, of course.   It was Breckenridge he went to.  I see Steamboat is further out. 
I'll just change my original post and no one will be the wiser.   Except we have to do something about YOUR post......hmm...whe re exactly do you live??

[Ron]

I live in NJ and during the winter I spend at least one week per month out west. I have a condo in Steamboat and plan to start living there on a partial basis within the next couple of years.

[gregmerz]

I was looking yesterday and the flights right into Hayden for the December timeframe seemed to have dropped noticeably from the last time I looked...

[Gary]

Let's go Greg....get those flights booked...you can always pound on the airlines for a credit if they drop significantly.

Hope you can be there.

Gary

[Ron]

Gary, will the airlines actually give you a credit? Have you been able to do that? That's cool if you can.

[Gary]

I actually had purchased a ticket last year more than 6 months in advance and the prices came down a signigicant amount. So I called the airlines, I think it was United, and told them they've had my money to use for over 6 months and I would appreciate a credit or refund.

I think we got a voucher of some kind....but hey...it's always worth trying.

G

[Ron]

that's great to remember and I will try that if I can. It's raelly only fair to the consumer.

[gregmerz]

I'm gonna make this one.? I'll be in there on Sunday the 14th, ski Mon Tue Wed 15, 16, 17 and out on the 18th...

Flights straight into Hayden were real reasonable I thought...

Ron's buying the first pitcher of SPA in the Sheraton...

[Gary]

Hey Greg...you're locked in...awesome...

SO....what skis ya bringing???   

Ok...so far is this the confirmed list??:

Greg
Lynn
Jim
Ed
Ron
Me

Let's hear from the "oh gosh, I'm really going to try, and maybe my spouse will let me go"

All are invited.....

Best,
Gary