Portillo this September?

[Gary]

Hey gang......Came back from a memorable ski vacation last year (and a great way to start the ski season) from sking awsome runs, beautiful bowls and some of the best food around at Portillo.

Upon my return, my wife said, "don't plan on going back without me"...well....we're going back with Clendenin. It's a great program where you are with your instructor till 2 and then can free ski to end of the day....It's a trip you'll always remember and the terrain is spectacular.

I heard from John Clendenin and there were 2 or 3 rooms available..Sept 4-12th. You can check his web site for more info...I've got pictures I can email anyone interested.

Would love to see any and all...it's a great experience with super people and the best food.

Best, G

[midwif]

Well, I sure would love to go, but have a prior committment that month.
Yours truly will be hanging out in beautiful, sunny.....Haiti.

I volunteered shortly after the earthquake. They needed folks further down the road to continue providing obstetric care and training of native haitian midwives.

Gary, sounds like a wonderful place to go. It's on my bucket list. One of these days.

[LivingProof]

Gary,
I'm reminded of the classic Warren Miller line "If you don't ski it this year, you will be at least a year older when you finally do it". I would love to join you and Alice, two of my fav people to ski with, but not this year. I wish I had a noble reason, like Lynn's volunteer work in Haiti, but mine is more problematic in that my wife, the tennis diva, has veto power. Not to mention that it would blow my ski budget for the year.

Still, I can dream.... someday!

[Gary]

Thanks guys....it would be great fun to have you both there for sure.

Lynn...that's awesome that you're making the time to help in that fashion. I know it will be a rewarding experiece!

And Mike..."gotta do it while the body sitll can"...is my motto! I do understand budgets etc...but this guy who at the age of 61 loved hiking the Adirondak Mountains with his hiking club....a couple of weeks ago he took a step to begin his climb and threw some kind of clot that killed him on the spot....crap...61. He was not at risk for this in any fashion, had just recently had a stress taste, blood levels where all normal....just his time I guess....

Just saying....ya gotta make the time to complete our bucket lists...cause hey...who knows!

Best, g

[Ron]

nioce Job Lyn!  that's what its about and I truly commend you for what you are doing. makes my obsession so petty and selfish.

That said, heading down myself. We have a group of 8 now heading to Valle Nevado, entire trip should be about 3000-3500 with airfare and a guide.

[midwif]

That said, heading down myself. We have a group of 8 now heading to Valle Nevado, entire trip should be about 3000-3500 with airfare and a guide.

Ron, thanks for posting that. Nice to have an idea what it can be done for. Something to aim at..... the south american piggy bank account!

Feeling envious, I am.

[LivingProof]

That said, heading down myself. We have a group of 8 now heading to Valle Nevado, entire trip should be about 3000-3500 with airfare and a guide.

I took a quick look at JC's webite and the listed price per person is about $4300 w/o airfare (Newark to Santiago is about $1100 from a very quick search) so Ron's price of $3500 is about $2K less expensive.?

Is this comparison valid? Food & lifts = ??

[Gary]

Not sure what the final tally will be for Ron...

But John's trip includes: all transportation to and from the mountain...nice bus.
the last day we return to Santiago for a tour (tour bus and tour guide included) of the city and a fantastic dinner at a 5 star restaurant,
instructors ratio about 1 to 4 or 5, video analysis,all food included at the hotel, free skiing in the afternoon with the instructors who act as guides around the mountain.

Not sure how the final number translates but if you can get there for a summer ski trip...it's worth every buckaroo!

Best,
g

[Ron]

John's clinic is a full-service clinic, we are hiring a guide and free-skiing.? We put together a group of about 10 now and going as a group. John's clinic is a 5-star clinic, highly organized and includes full-time coaching and instruction, don't compare what we are doing with JC's clinic!  I just posted that to show if you don't want to do a clinic and are on a budget (and I am this season) you can go cheaper. valle Nevado and Portillo resorts include lodging, breakfast and Dinner (NOT LUNCH)  and lift tickets. transfers via bus is about $150 pp. 

Hey if John's kicking in lunch everyday that's huge, lunch there is not cheap.

[LivingProof]

Gary and Ron,
Thanks for the updates. I assumed (incorrectly) that Ron was going with the same trip he did last year with Dan Egan and his bud Eric. I remember Gary describing the JC experience last year and it sure sounded like a 1st Cl. trip. I did look at the ski areas on the net and it must be way cool to ski there. It was interesting to see that pricing is quoted inclusive, minus lunch, for room, food and skiing. How's the beer?

 Enjoy and share the pics!

Someday .....!!!!

[Ron]

not to hijack this thread as John's clinic is a great experience.  I can start another one if preferred.

If you stay at the resorts you can't separate out the food and lift tickets. You can stay at LaParva, an a joining mountain and stay at locally owned condos. Otherwise, it's an all-inclusive deal.  Undoubtedly, you could go for less if you could buy your own food but they have you by the cojones. We found substantially lower rates than what is shown on the Valle Nevado website even with their buy 5 nights, get 2 free promotion when going through tour operators. I am pretty sure this is the setup, they offer what looks to be huge savings but the reality is that what they offer is pretty much what the rate should be. So for instance, we have recieved rates of 1900 double occupancy including transfers. (includes lodging, 2x daymeals, lift's). The website is showing with thier promotion of about 3K.  Dan  charges about 3500 for his clinic, so if you do the #'s it just didnt work out. 1800- 3500= $1700, No offense to Dan, but not worth 1700 additional dollars.  that's 285 per day for "instruction". You can hire a guide for a fraction of that. granted, he and other clinics need to make money but I am not looking for a clinic experience, just want to ski with friends. 

[jbotti]

My only trip to Chile was done in the summer of 2003 and I wasn't much of a skier back then. I do remember the rates at Valle Nevado being very reasonable vs North American prices. We did the package which included lift tickets and breakfast and dinner and it was very inexpensive. Four of us went and we all used miles to fly (also a different era) and because it was so far we all flew business class. I realize not everyone has miles but using them made the trip incredibly inexpensive.

I know I have a few more Chile trips in me, maybe even one this summer. You just can't beat skiing in July or August!! It's a beautiful thing.

[Ron]

FYI- looks like Portillo includes lunches in the rate. i wish VN did that.  Also, the main hotel at Portillo is much more upscale. The VN hotels are more than adequate but not posh. The food is good but since Portillo is owned by a US family, they are much more US focused, VN is really geared towards the SA and european skier, often the staff speaks little english and things work a little different......

[jbotti]

But VN is alot closer to the airport in Santiago!! I was nuts on my trip. We took a red eye, landed in Santiago at 6:30 am, took a car to VN and then skied the whole day. We chose VN specifically because of its proximity to the airport and because we could ski a full day on arrival day and on departure day. In hindsight it was nuts!! All of us came home sick and we should have just taken a few extra days and relaxed a little more.

[Ron]

that's pretty much all you have to work with. going to into SCL- Santiago you have flights that land at 4:30AM and 7:15AM.