Keystone Lift Tickets

There are a number of ways to purchase Keystone lift tickets. The process is easy and straight forward. Purchasing Keystone lift tickets in advance will save you a considerable amount of money. Depending on your travel plans, there are a number of ways to get the best price. Purchasing lift tickets at the ticket window is always the worst option for Keystone or any other ski resort.

The Keystone ski resort is located in Summit County, Colorado. It is the first ski area on the southern side of the Eisenhower Tunnel. Although it was once cursed with the distinction of being a family resort, suitable for intermediates, the recent addition of the A51 Terrain Park and the Keystone Backcountry Adventure Tour improved its status with expert skiers and snowboarders. The resort is often one of the first Summit County resorts to open.

Keystone is a member of the Vail Resorts family of ski areas. The company also owns Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Vail. They manage Arapahoe Basin, so access to this resort is included in some of the company's multi-resort lift tickets. Lift tickets are also valid at Breckenridge. You can also choose to upgrade a multi-day lift ticket for access to Vail or Beaver Creek.

In fact, from December 23rd through April 2nd, you can take a bus from Keystone to Vail. The bus leaves Keystone at 7:30 a.m. and arrives at Vail at 9:00 a.m. It leaves Vail at 3:30 p.m. It is available on Tuesday and Thursday and costs $25 round trip. This may sound like a good deal of money but keep in mind, driving conditions over the Vail Pass can be tenuous. It's best to trust your transportation needs to a professional.

The Vail Resorts Peak Rewards program allows you to earn points toward lift tickets and lessons at any of the resort ski areas. You can earn points for all your on-mountain purchases, including the cafeterias, gear shops and ski school.

You can only earn these rewards by purchasing your Keystone lift tickets on the Keystone website. Tickets purchased at discount outlets are not eligible. If you plan to ski at Keystone or any other Vail resort on a regular basis, in the long run, the Peak Rewards program is more economical than searching for one-time discounts.

Anyone who plans to spend at least six days at Keystone, or any of the other Vail Resorts ski areas, should consider the Vail Resorts Epic Pass. This unrestricted season pass usually goes on sale at the end of the previous season. It is also available in the fall, but for a somewhat higher rate.

In 2009, the Epic Pass was priced at $599. It included unlimited and unrestricted access to Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Heavenly, which is located in Lake Tahoe. Epic Pass holders receive a one-year subscription to Ski magazine. Linking your Epic Pass to a credit card allows you to go cash-free on the slopes. You can use your pass to pay for cafeteria meals, gear shop purchases and ski or snowboard lessons. Epic Pass holders also receive substantial discounts at certain on-mountain shops and cafeterias.

The Keystone ski resort designates opening day, which is usually in early November to November 29th as early season. In 2009, a three-day adult Keystone lift ticket package costs $159. During the Christmas season, the price of that same three-day pass may increase by close to $100.

The cheaper, early season ticket prices are tempting, but keep in mind; you get what you pay for. Only a limited amount of terrain is open during this time frame. At the end of the day, skiers and snowboarders have to descend a narrow, icy trail. This is not a pleasant experience. In most cases, it's best to wait until more terrain is open, even if it means paying more money.

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