I just checked out Salt Lake City airfares--they've plummeted. Round trip on
Delta out of
O'Hare is now $137 and the first checked bag (skis plus boots) is $15 each way.

--- In skibudz@yahoogroups.com, Ray <treesnmoguls@...> wrote:
>
> Greetings Budz,
>  
> Five guys are definitely going so far!
>  
> Below are updates.  Here are the highlights:
>  
>
> My airfare estimate was a bit light as I forgot that baggage fees are each
way.  Delta's is
pretty stiff at $50 each way for a second bag.
> Southwest is still not very competitive, but I am hoping they will be soon
(they don't like
to quote out very far).
> My current estimate is $967 plus meals other than breakfast.
> If we use Fox Car Rentals (an off airport discounter), the bill could be
considerably
lower.
> Here's the updated form:
>  
> "The Greatest Snow on Earth":  Salt Lake City, Utah area
> Thursday January 8 to Tuesday January 13, 2009
>  
> This is SkiBudz first official trip of the 2008-2009 season for all ability
levels (sorry
Jackson Hole fans!).  It consists of the following events, plus whatever else we
"invent"
along the way (you decide Budz, because this trip is for you!):
>  
>
> Fly to Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday January 8, 2009.
>  
>
> Check in at the Royal Garden Garden Inn, which is in downtown Salt Lake City.
> Four days of skiing/riding four different resorts (Friday, Saturday, Sunday
and Monday). 
We will definitely go to Snowbasin one day (http://snowbasin.com/).  The other
three will
be by consensus (most likely The Canyons in Park City as well:
 http://thecanyons.com/). 
Other contenders are Brighton (http://www.brightonresort.com/), Powder
(http://www.powdermountain.com/), and Park City Resort
(http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/index.html).  We are renting SUV's with
ski
racks (we are still waiting for them to invent board racks, meantime boarders
please bring
bungee cords) at the Salt Lake City airport (that's "slc" budz and girls!).  You
can check out
areas through http://www.skiutah.com/ and http://rideutah.com/. 
> Downtown Salt Lake City nightlife where there's a smorgasbord of restaurants
and two
gay bars (not exactly Sidetracks…but they're "private clubs".).  
>  
> Pluses of this trip:  We will be going to a different resort each day.  The
terrain and its
variety and the snow are second to none, the ease of and time involved in the
travel to Salt
Lake City are minimal, the low cost of the downtown lodging and the included
breakfast,
the non-resort nightlife, discount lift tickets and a full service ski/board
shop steps from
the hotel and potential for champagne powder!   Overall, an excellent value.
>  
> Carpool Captain volunteers needed:  To minimize costs, we need guys who own a
car or
otherwise have auto liability and collision insurance (that they would be
willing to apply) to
rent SUV's.  Right now, I am finding that they go for around $500-$800 (with
tax) for our
five day period (anybody get corporate/special rates?).  Please look for good
deals and go
ahead and reserve them now.  Fox Car Rental, which one of the Budz has used and
recommended, has much lower rates (http://foxrentacar.com/), though they are
"off
airport".  If we have too many, we can always cancel.  Please reserve both a
"standard
sized" (like a GMC Jimmy-smaller one) and a "premium sized" (like an Explorer
that seats
five adults) with a ski rack.  When we get close to the trip date, we'll decide
which vehicles
to rent based on the pools we form.  This will be based on the number of guys
going. 
When you have reserved a vehicle, please forward the
> reservation to me (ray@...) so I can track them.  We need to fill these pigs
up!!  At the
end of the trip, the "Carpool Captains" collect from the riders.
>  
> Steps to book this trip
>  
>
> Make a reservation at the Royal Garden Inn in downtown Salt Lake City.  I
recommend
you do this even if you are seeking to share a room as you can always cancel
without
penalty if you follow the restrictions.  My suggestion is a room with two queen
beds if you
are considering sharing the room.  You can book on-line or call.  I would try
both and
compare.  Look for and ask for AAA discounts (they do not verify membership). 
No
deposit is required, just a credit card.  Beware of cancellation restrictions. 
Here's the
website:  http://www.bwgardeninn.com/.
>  
>
> Volunteer Carpool Captains:  Reserve those SUV's (see above)!  Thanks for your
help!
>  
>
> Book a flight to Salt Lake City, Utah (airport code:  slc).  As we get closer
to the trip date,
we may designate a particular flight as the SkiBudz flight.  Since Southwest is
not yet being
competitive on this flight (as of 9/6/08), I will hold off on doing so. 
>  
>
> If you need to rent gear, or need anything else, there is a Canyon Sports
adjacent to our
motel.  Here's the website (it is the downtown location): 
http://www.canyonsports.com/. 
If you need assistance with rentals, please let me know.  Other shops are near
our motel
as well.
>  
>
> Send me an email with your flight information (ray@...) and whether you are
bringing or
renting gear.
>  
>
> Go to the pre-trip "meet and greet" which will most likely be at Crew.  This
will be
announced around the New Year.  This is also an opportunity to find a Bud to
room with if
you so desire.
>  
>
> A few days before departure, let me know if you are seeking to share a ride to
the
airport.  Include your address and whether you are bringing gear.
>  
>
> If there is a Carpool Captain at the airport at the time of your arrival that
has room, they
will put you in their SUV to go to the hotel.  If not, the Hotel has a courtesy
shuttle.  Call
them at 801-325-5386 to arrange for pickup.  If you're in a hurry to put your
eyeliner on
before we go out, you can just cab it (not far).
>  
> Cost Projections as of 9/23/08*
>  
> Airfare:  $327 ($227 plus $50 each way for a second bag each way on Delta. 
Travel
light, girls!)
> Motel:     $225 (my room is $450 with tax.  Assumes double occupancy)
> SUV share with
> Fuel:         $ 175 (help me find better rates on SUV's please!)
> Lift tix:    $ 240
>  
> Total      $967 plus meals other than breakfast, plus gear rentals, if any
> *These costs are estimates based on rates on the date above.  No one is
responsible for
any errors.  Lift tickets rate is an educated guess.  Verify all information
before relying on
it.  Beware of baggage handling fees.  Check with the airlines.
>  
>
>  
>