How to take a ski trip and still pay off your student debt

By Kassondra Cloos | Published on October 21, 2025

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Skiing and snowboarding are pricey, and if you have student debt, that kind of spending might feel tricky to justify. But loan payments don’t have to prevent you from enjoying your winter. There are a number of ways to make a vacation more affordable — allowing you to plan a well-deserved ski getaway while keeping your debt repayment on track.

With a little extra planning, these strategies can help you significantly cut costs. Here’s how to save money on ski trips this winter.

1. Start saving early

The secret to vacation planning is to get a big head start. If you know you want to ski next winter, start saving now. Open a new bank account specifically for your vacation fund. Then, rework your monthly budget to trim excessive spending. Even if you can only save an extra $100 per month, that’s still a $1,200 boost in your vacation savings over the course of a year.

If you have a travel credit card, start using it for everything. (Just be sure to pay the balance off on time and in full each month, which is a great way to build credit.) Put friend-group dinners on your card and have your friends pay you back via cash or Venmo. If you can, put your health insurance, car insurance, subscription fees, and other recurring expenses on that card, as well. The more points you rack up, the less you’ll have to spend on plane tickets later.

You can also ask your employer for help. Some company wellness programs offer stipends or reimbursements for fitness expenses. While many employees use these stipends to cover gym memberships or workout classes, you might be able to convince your employer to reimburse you for your ski pass instead.

2. Go to local mountains

Wherever there’s a big-name resort you’ve heard of, chances are there are smaller, “locals-only” mountains nearby, too. Colorado, Vermont, and Utah, in particular, are chock-full of these hidden gems, where lift passes and day tickets are regularly cheaper than at the bigger resorts nearby.

These places don’t have fancy ski-in, ski-out hotels or restaurants, and some have no on-slope lodging options at all. But don’t brush them aside. They can be extremely friendly to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, with affordable lessons, snow tubing, expert-only terrain, and well-equipped Nordic centers for cross-country skiing.

3. Buy tickets ahead of time

If you know you’re taking a ski vacation next winter, try to book both your airline tickets well in advance. You can also save money by flying mid-week. Use the Google Flights calendar feature to zero in on the cheapest days to fly, and set up alerts for price drops. The earlier you start this process, the higher your odds of finding affordable plane tickets.

The same goes for lift tickets. Buying day-of tickets at the mountain is the most expensive way to ski in North America. After all, some resorts these days price single-day lift tickets at well north of $200. Instead, to save money, buy your lift tickets online ahead of time. Research bundles — like multi-day passes with gear rentals, and ski-and-stay package deals — especially during weekdays and off-peak weekends.

4. Don’t rent gear on the mountain

Renting skis or snowboards on the mountain can be convenient—there’s no need to haul your gear to or from the parking lot, and you can often change out your boots for no extra fee if you accidentally rent the wrong size. But these conveniences often come at a high cost. Instead, plan ahead and stop at a rental shop on the way to the mountain. (You can also rent skis at home before you fly in, but you’ll have to factor in baggage fees if you go this route.)

5. Stay in a hostel

Hostels aren’t just for backpacking trips in Europe. Many American ski areas also have boutique hostels and guesthouses where solo travelers can grab a bunk for just a fraction of the price of a hotel room. Many of these hostels also offer services like discounted rentals, shuttles to the mountain, and free events to foster community among guests. Many hostels also have public kitchens, which means you can save even more money by going to the grocery store and cooking your meals instead of paying a premium for on-mountain dining or pricey après eateries.

6. Know where to watch for deals

Sign up for emails from the resort where you plan to ski, or regularly check their website and calendar for deals. Many resorts offer early-bird pricing for ticket packs and season passes. (Just keep an eye out for blackout dates; some passes and packs are unusable on certain holiday weekends, like Christmas and New Years.) Also sign up for email updates from airlines you like to fly. Southwest and Frontier, for example, both regularly offer flight deals to cities throughout the West.

7. Be strategic about your ski pass

Depending on how much you want to ski, buying a season pass might be more economical than buying a handful of day tickets. This is especially true if you plan to take multiple trips throughout the ski season, or if you plan to stay at a single ski resort for a week or more.

The IKON Pass, Epic Pass, and Indy Pass, offer access to famous resorts throughout the U.S. and Canada, like Aspen, Whistler, Lake Tahoe, Snowbird, Vail, Park City, and many more. The IKON and Epic can both be pricey, but the Indy Pass tends to be significantly cheaper and offers skiers a couple of lift tickets for each location on its long list of small, local resorts. That makes it a great choice for out-of-town skiers who want to visit multiple mountains over the course of the winter.

If you plan to ski just one resort, a single-mountain pass might make more sense for you. If you can take a full week off work to ski, see if they offer discounted midweek passes. Another hack for parents: Some resorts let kids ski free if they’re under a certain age. Double-check your resort’s policies before you buy.

Pass companies generally offer their best prices in autumn before resorts open, so plan as far in advance as you can. Also, keep in mind that many passes come with a limited number of discounted tickets for friends.

8. Bring friends

Rally a group of friends to travel with you so you can all share the costs of a rental car and vacation rental. Plus, if you have enough people to affordably rent an Airbnb or vacation home, you’ll have access to a kitchen, so you can take turns cooking meals and share the cost of groceries, making this a great group alternative to a hostel. Some mountains, like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, also let you park in the good lots for free if you have a certain number of people in your car.

9. Thrift your gear

If you plan to ski a lot but don’t have the cash to buy brand-new ski gear, check out Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and secondhand sporting goods stores. You may be able to score a full set of ski equipment this way. It won’t be the fanciest, highest-tech stuff, and it might need a bit of TLC. But even if you have to take it to a ski shop to get it tuned up, you’ll likely still spend much less than if you bought new.

10. Consider refinancing your student loans

Planning a budget-friendly ski trip isn’t just about finding ways to cut costs on the mountain. After all, the smarter you are with your personal finances at a holistic level, the more you can afford to save throughout the year. If you’re looking for new ways to save money for ski trips this winter, consider taking a closer look at your monthly expenditures. If student loans are eating up a big chunk of your budget each month, it might be worth checking to see if you qualify for a refinance.

Refinancing your student loans lets you exchange your current student debts for a single new loan with new terms. This can be a great way to consolidate existing debts and streamline repayment. Plus, if you meet your lender’s eligibility requirements, you could also score a lower interest rate, which could lower your monthly payment, save you money over the life of the loan, or even help you get out of debt faster². Want to see if you’re a good candidate for refinancing? Check your rate with Earnest today. It’s completely free, and it won’t affect your credit score.

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About the Author

Kassondra Cloos

Kassondra Cloos is a writer, editor, and former Earnest client. She refinanced her own student loans with Earnest after graduating and has first-hand experience with the refinancing process. She has been writing about personal finance and student loans since 2017. She also writes about sustainable travel and adventure for The Guardian, Outside, Backpacker, and many other publications. You can find more of her work via her travel newsletter, Out of Office.