How to Ski Breckenridge on a Budget by Emily Gerson

If you’ve been dreaming of going skiing this winter but don’t want to spend a fortune, Breckenridge is one of your best bets. According to Ryan Whaley, Communications Coordinator for Breckenridge Ski Resort, it is the most 20s-friendly ski resort in Colorado and can be very affordable if you know where to go.

“Breckenridge is great for young people – it’s a bit of a cheeseburger and beer town, but we have a nicer scene if you want that, as well,” Whaley says. “We have more than 60 bars and restaurants, a big park and pipe scene, huge events like the Dew Tour, and a popular night scene.” Other nearby ski resorts are lively during the day, but because they are smaller and geared toward an older demographic, they get quiet at night. Breckenridge is a true town, so there is always something to do, even in the wee hours of the morning.

How to enjoy Breck without breaking the bank:

Some think that visiting a Colorado ski resort is a very pricey vacation, but it doesn’t have to be. Below are several tips from Whaley on how to save money while enjoying Breckenridge:

• If you can be flexible with your dates, you are more likely to find a good deal

• Consider staying on a Sunday night or mid-week for better rates

• Go to Breckenridge during off-peak season rather than in the middle of peak season, when rates are highest (peak season includes Christmas, spring break, and Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend)

• If the regular accommodations at the Breckenridge Resort are too expensive, stay at the Breckenridge Mountain Lodge, which is more affordable 

• If you plan to do a lot of skiing, you can buy the Epic Season Pass. The pass may seem pricey at first, but it allows unlimited skiing the entire season (basically a full year) and is also good at Vail, Keystone, Beaver Creek, and Heavenly ski resorts. If you ski more than seven days that year, you’re saving money.

Best twentysomething hangouts:

Some nearby ski resorts, such as Beaver Creek and Vail, are popular but cater to the more affluent, older crowd. Breckenridge is a haven for younger people; according to Whaley, “Breckenridge has a great night scene that goes until 3 a.m.” Here are some of the places he says are very popular with the twentysomething crowd:

• Stop by the Crepe Stand, which is a popular after-drinking stop; it’s open until around 4 a.m. and serves delicious crepes

• The biggest and most popular bar is 320 South, which has great live music, mostly rock

• Cecilia’s is also a popular bar; it is more of an underground club, and it’s popular with the pro skiers and snowboarders

• The Dredge is where all the local twentysomethings hang out, and they have $1 Miller High Life every day; it is a floating bar on a river

• Breckenridge hosts the Dew Tour, which is the biggest event in the area after the X Games. If you love extreme winter sports, you will enjoy watching these.

I went to Breckenridge twice when I was younger, and the skiing was fantastic; I just wish I had been old enough to participate in the nightlife! After learning all of this from Whaley, I have a feeling I’ll be going back soon.