I know it sounds silly but we are already planning our winter ski trip. Instead of going home to Switzerland to ski, we thought we would go out west. Thinking of the second or third week of March 2007. We would like to stay slopeside..you know ski in and ski out. Has anyone skied there?

Tschuss

Sue

Have you considered Banff, Canada? Wonderful snow, few people!! Sunshine Village has an AWESOME ski in, ski out facilities. Fly into Calgary and drive 90 min west.

We have been skiing in Colorado, New Mexico & Utah - - Banff is our favorite!!

Check out:
www.skibig3.com

I skied Taos many years ago! I remember is was not for the inexperienced what so ever! LOTS of moguls. I remember everyone moaning and groaning at dinner when they went to sit down! Their knees all hurt! LOL. Anyway, we stayed at a B and B back then. I do remember there were lots of places along the slopes. Have fun

I've skied Taos twice with family. It was great for the expert skiers and fine for an intermediate like me. We stayed at the Inn at Snakedance and the Hotel Bernard, both ski-in,ski-out. We preferred the latter. The town of Taos has many nice restaurants and is a short drive from the ski area. Both times we had plenty of snow in early March, but have heard that this is not always the case.

Our family went to Taos for ski vacations in March of 2004 and 2005. It's one of our favorite U.S. ski destinations -- much less of a "scene" and more reasonably priced than some others. It is definitely better for the expert skiers, but I'm an advanced beginner and did fine. Snow can be an issue -- in 2005 they had record snowfall and the skiing was phenomenal. This year it was the opposite, I understand. But this can happen anywhere.

We also stayed once at the Bernard, which is owned by a Frenchman named Jean Mayer. It's half board, dinners are a set menu with communal seating. Many clients have been returning annually for more othan 20 years. The town of Taos (17 miles away) offers a lot in the way of small museums, art galleries, the Taos pueblo and the laid-back attitude of its citizens.

Need to correct myself -- it's the Hotel St. Bernard. Also, Taos Ski Valley doesn't allow snowboarders, which can be a plus or minus.

My question would be "why Taos?" I don't have anything against Taos, but there are so many other areas that are wonderful.

If you are not hooked on New Mexico, I would try Beaver Creek in Colorado. I love this place because all the slopes begin and end in the village center. It has ice skating and depending on the time you go, world class entertainment.

Also, Deer Valley! SOOOO posh, but worth it! No boarders, so we don't go anymore since 4 of the 6 of us Board. The food is great in Deer Valley.

And then there's Tahoe! You cannot beat the scenery of Snow and the lake. The slopes are great as well.

Taos is limited and geared more for advanced skiers. Although, they do have an excellent ski school. Sante Fe is close by, but not close enough to go for dinner after a day of skiing. YOu would have to skip skiing to see SF.

Also something to consider, SPRING BREAK! I would think about going the first week of March or the last because all of us Texans will invade ski resorts during our SPRING BREAK which usually falls the middle two weeks of March.

Food for thought.

Teresa

It's been awhile but we took a ski trip to Taos, but combined the skiing with a lot of sightseeing in Taos and Santa Fe.

I am an advanced beginner. It was a bad year for snow, and conditions were icy. It was very difficult for me. My husband is a much better skier than am I, and he threw himself face down in the snow at the bottom of the hill. He just layed there for about 5 minutes. It was definetly difficult and not fun.

However, everyone told us that the conditions were the worst they had had in years. We ski at home on ice, but the hills around here are very easy. Taos and ice was a bad combination.

I can't help with ski in and accomodations, as we stayed at a B&B in Taos.

We went to Taos last christmas break. I rented a house in the town. I was not skiing so I drove my husband and two boys to the slope and back. There was not snow! They had brought in artificial snow and only opened green slopes, which was fine with my boys (8 and 6 yrs), but my husband could have used more adventure. So may be you should choose some other place as snow can be an issue for serious skiing.

But my kids loved the whole experience. They were very concerned about Santa not knowing where they are. My husband hid all the present we lugged all the way from Dallas, TX until the morning of 25th. Kids believed that Santa brought them. They enjoyed the fire (real wood and not fake gas logs as we have at home), hot tub and running around and playing after whole day of skiing. Kids never tire.