What you need to know about the 2020/2021 ski season.

Like most everything in 2020, this year's ski season is going to look a bit different. To thoughtfully and carefully help you navigate the 2020/2021 season as efficiently as possible, we wanted to share a few updates with you and help start planning for your winter getaways.

Ski Reservations

This year, most ski hills will be utilizing a reservation system that will prioritize pass holders over individual single-day lift tickets. Here's what we know.

Epic Pass: Vail Resorts (Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek)

• Epic Pass holders can start making reservations online—beginning November 6, 2020—for the Core Season, December 8, 2020 to April 4, 2021. • From November 6 through December 7, 2020, pass holders will have exclusive access to make reservations for the Core Season and will be able to reserve up to seven Priority Reservation Days, or the number of days available on their pass—up to seven days. • Pass holders can make and maintain up to seven reservation days at a time. This means that once you use the first day, you can reserve another one, and so on, so that you always have seven days reserved on the calendar. • For the Early Season—all days prior to December 8, 2020—Vail will release reservation inventory for the upcoming week based on conditions and terrain availability. • Individual, single-day lift tickets will go on sale December 8, 2020. When you purchase a lift ticket through Vail Resorts this season, it will come with a reservation for the specific resort and date that you choose. The deadline to secure an Epic season pass before prices increase is September 17th. A full season, all-access pass is $979 so if you plan to ski seven days or more, the Epic Pass is the best option, both economically and logistically.

IKON Pass: (Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Snowmass & Buttermilk)

While IKON has yet to announce a reservation policy for the 2020/2021 season, we anticipate the likelihood of a reservation process.

At all ski hills, nobody will be allowed on the mountain without a face covering. Employees will require that you wear a mask in the lift line, on lifts, in restaurants and during ski school lessons. Vail Resort executives also “strongly recommend that guests wear face coverings in all indoor and outdoor public spaces throughout… resort towns.”

People skiing in the same party will be allowed to load the lift together and can fill the chair or gondola they are riding. However, in the event that your party doesn’t fill the chair or gondola cabin, new protocols will be implemented:

• Two singles on opposite sides of a four-person lift

• Two singles or two doubles on opposite sides of a six-person lift

• Two singles on opposite sides of larger gondola cabins

Ski Accommodations

The bottom line here, book your ski season accommodations early and reserve your ski pass to maximize your time on the mountain with your desired dates.

Apres Ski and Other Things to Do

There will be open on-mountain options operating in the same manner that many restaurants have adopted since reopening in recent months; this primarily means limited seating for sit-down diners, to enable physical distancing. “Cafeteria-style” restaurants, in which guests had been able to choose between different stations or grab-and-go items, will be reconfigured, primarily offering grab-and-go options. This season, there will be a single line that moves through these communal dining areas, ending at the cashier. Reservations at Vail, Beaver Creek and Aspen restaurants are highly recommended in advance. Local restaurants are limiting their capacities in order to adhere to local policies, which means space is limited and reservations are a must.

Alternatively, host a dinner party with one of Vail and Aspen’s top chefs, all in the safety of your villa. Talented culinary teams specialize in farm-to-table Colorado menus with classic European techniques. We work hand-in-hand with the chef to create a wine pairing menu, casual Colorado fixings, a swanky celebration, or any culinary masterpiece your taste buds desire.

Ready to start planning your winter ski getaway? Contact us today to get started!