Buyer beware … or at least be informed

“Bob’s Ski Area reservations. How may I help you?”

“I’d like to book a ski lesson.”

“OK. Is that a full day or a half day? Is this for you, or a spouse, or a child? Group lesson or private? Do you want to book multiple days now?

“Uhhhh … I’d like to book a ski lesson.”

It should be so simple – you just call the resort, give them a credit card number and … DONE! But is anything really as simple as we’d like it to be? Before you pick up the phone, know what you’re looking for. What are your expectations?

For now, I’ll just talk about the booking process and how to figure out what you want. Later, I’ll talk about what to expect the day of your lesson, and how to get your money’s worth. Lessons for kids is another topic all together.

First, arm yourself with information. Go to the resort’s web site and find as much info as they’ll give you on lesson packages. Are there discounts for booking multiple days? Or maybe discounts for enrolling more than one person? Give yourself some time to weigh the cost difference between a group and a private lesson – sometimes, you reach a point where it’s as cost effective to book a private lesson for several people as it is to take separate group lessons.

Ahhh … the group versus private dilemma. In the best of all worlds, everyone would be able to afford one-on-one instruction and personalized attention. But $700 a day? Wow. There ARE benefits to dropping that kind of cash, though. There’s no getting around the fact that you have the opportunity to learn more when all of the instructor’s attention is focused on you and the lesson plan is tailored to your needs. You get to cut the lift lines. It’s a less pressured environment – no worries about being able to keep up with a group. In most cases, you’ll also be able to request a specific instructor, and develop an ongoing relationship with someone who sees your skiing evolve. A good instructor can even ski with your whole family, and make the lesson valuable for kids and adults. You get the best of both worlds that way – you learn more about skiing, and you get to ski with your family.

Ok – quick anecdote. I was skiing recently with a family – Mom, Dad and 3 kids. I was skiing with Mom, helping her down some new & challenging terrain. I had the kids waiting at the bottom of the run, and they started throwing snow at each other. One of them yelled out my name, followed by “he started it, make him stop.” Mom started laughing and said “Now THIS is a vacation. They’re yelling for you, not me.”

Back to groups vs. private lesson … The “pro” of the group lesson is that there is an instant camaraderie and it can be easy to make new friends, or at least find a new ski buddy for a few days, in a group setting. Be sure to find out what the resort’s maximum group size is, though, and see if you’re comfortable with it.

You'll also want to know about times and meeting places -- can you make those work based on where you'll be staying? What about rental equipment -- is it included? Do I have to buy a lift ticket in addition to my lesson, or is that included in the price?

So which is right for you? I don’t know. You will actually have to educate yourself and think about what you want before you pick up the phone. Lastly, know the resort’s cancellation policy in case you want to make changes.