VST: What we DO

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Vermont Ski Tours has been organizing group ski vacations since 1968, offering a simple, affordable way for people to enjoy the best mountains in Vermont and Upstate New York. Each winter, VST runs two types of trips: private group charters, where a school, club, or organization books its own dedicated bus and custom itinerary, and open bus trips, where individual skiers and small groups can join a scheduled departure from a ski shop or community pickup point. Whether a group fills an entire coach or just wants to join a shared departure, VST handles every major component of the weekend—transportation, lodging, breakfasts, lift tickets, and optional meals, rentals, and lessons.

Across both trip types, VST’s role is to make group skiing easy. We bundle all the major costs into one package, use reputable motorcoach companies with professional winter drivers, secure discounted hotel and lift ticket rates through long‑standing partnerships, and provide on‑trip escorts to keep everything running smoothly. After nearly six decades and hundreds of thousands of skiers, VST continues to offer the same core promise: a safe, well‑organized, cost‑effective ski weekend where the logistics are handled and the group can simply enjoy the mountains.

Vermont Ski Tours has spent nearly six decades building relationships with hotels, ski resorts, restaurants, and transportation companies throughout Vermont and Upstate New York. Because of this long history and the volume of travelers we bring each season, VST purchases all major trip components at wholesale, contracted group rates—prices that are not available to the general public and often not even available to individual groups booking directly.

These wholesale relationships allow VST to secure:

• Lower hotel rates than groups can obtain on their own
• Discounted lift tickets through long‑standing resort partnerships
• Bundled meal pricing at group‑friendly restaurants
• Preferred motorcoach rates with reputable, fully insured carriers
• Priority access to peak‑season weekends that often sell out

Because VST buys these components in bulk and packages them together, we can offer significantly lower per‑person pricing than a group would pay if they tried to book each piece separately.

 When groups attempt to book lodging, lift tickets, meals, and transportation independently, they typically face:

• Higher retail hotel rates
• Higher price lift tickets
• Limited availability on peak weekends
• Higher transportation costs for a single charter
• Multiple deposits and cancellation policies
• Time‑consuming coordination across several vendors

VST eliminates all of that. By bundling everything into one package, we spread costs across the entire group, pass along our wholesale discounts, and lock in guaranteed availability long before the season begins.

This is why VST trips often cost significantly less than assembling the same weekend on your own.

 Bundling through VST doesn’t just save money—it saves time, reduces risk, and ensures a smoother experience:

• One price covers transportation, lodging, breakfast, lift tickets, and taxes
• One deposit and one payment schedule instead of juggling multiple vendors
• One point of contact for questions, changes, and coordination
• One contract instead of four or five separate agreements
• One set of refund and cancellation rules, clearly defined

For group leaders, this means fewer surprises, fewer headaches, and a predictable, affordable ski weekend

 Groups that try to “DIY” their ski weekend often discover:

• Rates are significantly higher
• Hotels require large deposits or multi‑night minimums
• Resorts limit group lift ticket availability
• Motorcoach companies charge more for one‑off bookings
• Coordinating everything becomes a full‑time job

VST solves all of these problems by using our long‑standing partnerships, wholesale pricing, and proven systems to deliver a better trip at a better price.

Vermont Ski Tours operates on a seasonal rhythm that helps groups secure the best dates, the best room blocks, and the best pricing. Because demand for winter weekends is high—and because hotels and resorts allocate only a limited number of group rooms—timing plays a major role in planning both private charters and open bus trips.

Private Group Charter Timeline

Most private groups begin planning months before winter, especially if they have a preferred destination or a specific weekend in mind.

• Spring (March–May): Room Blocks Reserved   Many groups reserve their hotel room block as early as spring. There is no cost to reserve a block, and doing so ensures availability before popular weekends fill up.
• Late Spring to Early Summer (Memorial Day–July 4): Pricing Becomes Available   Resorts and hotels release their group pricing for the upcoming season during this window. Once pricing is available, VST provides formal quotes and begins confirming trip details.
• Fall (September–October): Finalizing Details   Most private groups finalize their trip in early fall—rooming lists, lift ticket counts, rental needs, and transportation details. By this point, dates and destinations are locked in, and the group begins collecting payments.

Because room blocks and charter buses are limited, groups with strong preferences benefit from locking in early.

Open Bus Trip Timeline

Open bus trips are designed for individuals and small groups who want to join a scheduled departure. These trips are extremely popular and typically sell out.

• April: Save‑the‑Dates Announced   VST releases the upcoming season’s open‑trip calendar in April so skiers can plan ahead.
• Around Labor Day: Pricing Released   Final pricing for open bus trips becomes available in late summer. Once pricing is posted, registration opens—and seats begin filling quickly.
• First Come, First Served   Open bus trips almost always sell out due to limited bus capacity and high demand. Early registration is the best way to guarantee a seat.