Photo: Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Courtesy of Alterra Mountain Company.

Dreaming of your next Winter vacation already? There are many reasons why booking your Winter ski holiday early on in the year is an exceptionally good idea… and at Scout we’ve outlined the Top 5 to give you a helping hand (and a little nudge in the right direction).

1. Deals… and plenty of them.

Some of the best perks about locking in your ski holiday early are the incredible Early Bird Deals. Half-price lift tickets, free nights lodging, discount rentals, and up to 50% off slopeside and ski-in/ski-out condos are offered by various resorts as a bid to secure bookings early on in the year. Generally, prices tend to rise each year making it a little more costly for families to hit the slopes, however, taking advantage of ‘book before’ dates can significantly reduce then overall cost of your ski vacation. The deadlines can be as early as April for the best deals and as late as November for others. Check out our Featured Deals page and make a note of Book By dates. Many families and seasoned travellers also tend to lock in the ski aspect of their vacation well ahead of time, and know their dates so they can jump on those highly sought after sale airfares and secure the seats they want.

2. Secure those dates in high-demand.

It’s no surprise that the premier dates of the season, including Christmas, New Years Eve, and school holidays are the ones that book out first each season. Families dreaming of a White Christmas, or simply coordinating the best time to hit the slopes around work and school, are all the top reasons why ski resorts fill up fast as soon as bookings open each year. By booking early, you can secure the travel dates you desire, lock in your preferred lodging, and reserve extras that are of high demand including the kids’ ski lessons and heli-ski.

Generally, those dates which book out the fastest are over Christmas and New Years eve, as well as school vacation periods. This can mean different times for different places. Those on Australian school holidays book from Christmas through to end of January and family friendly resorts in Japan, Canada and the USA can be sold out of 2 bedroom condos in key properties by as early as April. For USA the Spring Break school vacations at the end of March are another popular time and European resorts (particularly in France) book up in mid-February when English and French schools take a break. Other dates to keep in mind include Chinese New Year in Japan (particularly Niseko), Presidents Day long weekend (USA), and Martin Luther King long weekend (USA).

3. Have the widest range to choose from and get exactly what you want.

Looking for a ski-in/ski-out condo? Tick. Hot tub on the balcony? Tick. Close to the best après ski bars? Tick. Perhaps it's the best Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) in the village? Tick. Booking early definitely widens your range of choice when it comes to locking in your perfect ski vacation. Naturally, lodges and condos with the best proximity to the slopes and all the bells and whistles are those snapped up the quickest, so taking charge early in the year means you have more choice and better chance of securing the accommodation you desire. Families with specific bedding requirements, and larger groups will also benefit from booking their accommodation early. Getting in contact with Scout early on (like now!) helps, even if you aren't sure of your dates but have a specific property in mind. We have insight into when bookings open and often have early access to register our clients.

4. It won’t break the bank.

Many ski resorts and travel agents only require small deposits upfront to secure your lodging, with many also allowing a great payment schedule. For example, (for most properties) Scout only requires a 25% deposit to secure your ski package, and the balance paid 70 days prior to departure. This means you won’t have to part with all your hard earned cash from the start, and can easily budget throughout the year and pay off your ski vacation along the way. The only exceptions might be specific Early Bird Deal conditions, which may require a further deposit up front, or payment in full by a certain date (i.e. for exceptional lift pass deals), however these are quite reasonable, and save hundreds in the long run.

5. Something to look forward to.

There’s something special about having your ski vacation all locked in ahead of time, knowing that despite the ups and downs of the year ahead, you will soon be strapping on a set of skis, and making those memorable powder turns, leaving the worries of the world behind.

Now that's a perfect reason alone to book your Winter ski vacation early! Contact us at Scout for the best deals & packages.