Advise on a ski trip?

[doctorjj]

I’ve been skiing countless times, all over Colorado and Idaho. I took the family to Angel Fire NM last year. It was the first time skiing for my wife and both kids. I would say for beginners, it was the best place. Everything comes back down to one base, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or losing kids. They had a nice progression of bunny slope to beginner slope to typical green slopes. The instructors were top notch for my wife and kids. My favorite place is Vail, but that’s not really for first timers, IMO. Wherever we go, I always get a VRBO. We got a 6 bedroom house, slept like 17, for around $2500 for the week.

The only questionable part about NM is the snow. At Christmas, they may or may not have a ton of snow yet. It’s really different every year there. In Colorado, they will have plenty of snow, even if it’s all man made by then.

 

[tRidiot]

So spent the whole day yesterday trying to talk to The Wife, she is convinced we can't afford it. She's stressing over money lately and I don't really know why. We're not loaded, but I think we can afford it.

So anyways, I'm just letting it go. If she doesn't decide or book something pretty soon, I'll just open my schedule up at work for Christmas week... no need sitting on my ass at home for a week if I can be trying to pay some bills. <sigh>

 

[Mad Professor]

I’ve been skiing countless times, all over Colorado and Idaho. I took the family to Angel Fire NM last year. It was the first time skiing for my wife and both kids. I would say for beginners, it was the best place. Everything comes back down to one base, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or losing kids. They had a nice progression of bunny slope to beginner slope to typical green slopes. The instructors were top notch for my wife and kids.

I haven’t been in many years but Angel Fire was always one of my favorites for skiers of varying levels of experience in NM/southern CO.

Lots of places to ski with a newer skier and then drop off a more difficult trail and meet them again on their trail. I would spend more of my time on the backside of the mountain.

There were several condos at the area you could even ski back to with a 250 yard or less hike to get back to the lift.

The Angel Fire area was also more affordable than others. Neat place to visit in the summer also.

 

[AKguy1985]

If it was me I'd go to Taos or angel fire.

 

[inactive]

I learned to ski at Angelfire, so I wasn't sure if it was good or bad for a beginner (since it was all I knew). But I do remember the bunny slopes, ski patrol, and staff were all easy going and made it fun for a beginner. Easy mountain to navigate.

 

[Snattlerake]

Two words come to mind about my first and last skiing trip, orthopedic surgeon.

 

[MacFromOK]

Two words come to mind about my first and last skiing trip, orthopedic surgeon.

That beats Sonny Bono's last skiing trip... :/

 

[dennishoddy]

I haven’t been in many years but Angel Fire was always one of my favorites for skiers of varying levels of experience in NM/southern CO.

Lots of places to ski with a newer skier and then drop off a more difficult trail and meet them again on their trail. I would spend more of my time on the backside of the mountain.

There were several condos at the area you could even ski back to with a 250 yard or less hike to get back to the lift.

The Angel Fire area was also more affordable than others. Neat place to visit in the summer also.

Angel fire and Red River are only an hour apart. Stay at either and ski both. Just be careful driving the road at night. The elk are a big danger and they are tall. They will come through the windshield and a 500 lb + animal is going to do some serious harm.
I elk hunt that area and drive those roads.

 

[AKguy1985]

Angel fire and Red River are only an hour apart. Stay at either and ski both. Just be careful driving the road at night. The elk are a big danger and they are tall. They will come through the windshield and a 500 lb + animal is going to do some serious harm.
I elk hunt that area and drive those roads.

Back in April when I was out there I was heading towards Taos and there was a whole herd of elk in the road. Thankfully, I was driving slow enough to see them and stop in time and give em a tootle of the horn. They moved out of the way thankfully.

 

[nofearfactor]

Skied Red River as a kid, parents kept a place there, loved it... As an adult have skied from Lake Tahoe to CO, prefer CO... I live partime in NH and a lot of nice resorts there as well as VT but really pricey... Think CO is your best bet for price.