The story below offers some decent tips on getting that ski or snowboarding vacation for less. Avid skiers and snowboarders will probably already know most of them, but the suggestions - like planning ahead to find lift ticket package deals and being willing to ski out West at the end of the season instead of in the middle - are good reminders for those who visit ski resorts less often.

While we’re at it, I’ve got a snowboarding tip of my own for you. When purchasing snowboarding clothing, consider getting pants that are a size larger than you normally would. While many snowboarding pants are made to be baggy, sometimes that extra room gets lost when you pile on long underwear, etc. When you’re on the slopes, few things are worse than having snowboarding pants that are too tight (trust me, I know this from experience). It’s not only uncomfortable, but it restricts your range of motion and overall mobility.

When you try pants on, ask yourself - can I reasonably fit long underwear or fleece liner pants underneath these in cold weather? Can I sit down and hug my knees to my chest comfortably in these?

If the answer is yes, you’re good to go. If you feel the pants riding up in the store, you better believe they are going to do the same thing on the mountain.

How to Save Big on Your Winter Ski Trip

The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort and Spa in Santa Fe is offering a Ski Resort Package that includes two nights accommodations, two adult lift tickets and a full breakfast for two each day of your stay. Package rates start at $289 and go up depending on the room (i.e. an oversized king room with balcony, fireplace and great view is going to cost more than a traditional king room). That’s not bad when you consider that an all day adult lift ticket at Ski Santa Fe costs $51. The catch? Ski Santa Fe is about 15 miles from Bishop’s Ranch Resort, so you’re getting a deal for the inconvenience of driving to and from the slopes each day.

Those of you lucky enough to be heading to warmer climes this winter can ditch those bulky beach towels. The Lightload Towel is ultra light, ultra absorbent and completely biodegradable. Towels arrive in a compact size no larger than the palm of your hand, but reach a full size of 12″ x 24″ once expanded. You can reuse towels and throw them in the wash, or you can chuck them after you’re done. A great solution for camping, beach trips, messy outdoor activities (mountain biking on muddy trails, anyone?), mopping up the family dog, you name it. And they’re cheap. A 3-pack is $6. You can also buy 100 for $100.

In the world of snowboarding, your best friend could be an air dog, your board could unexpectedly start chattering, but probably not if you’re riding on corduroy. Riding goofy is no laughing matter, and a hot dog promises way cooler things than lunch. Bombing is actually a good thing. And amongst snowboarders, don’t expect a swiffer to clean.

Yah. Betcha didn’t understand all of that. It’s that time of year to brush up on the sno’ lingo. But be warned, you’re better off using your newfound knowledge merely for translation purposes. Boarders can smell poser hoedads and herbs a mile away.

Snowboarding Dictionary

The dangers of winter driving have recently been highlighted in the news by the tragic death of San Francisco’s James Kim, a father who died this week while trying to find help for his family after they became stranded in the Oregon wilderness on their way home from a vacation. While nothing can prepare you for the nightmare the Kims** found themselves in, there are some steps you can take to bolster your piece of mind during your next winter roadtrip:

- For long roadtrips, make sure to keep in daily contact with friends and family. Instruct them to alert police if you are out of contact for more than 36 hours (or a lesser amount of time that you specify).

- Outfit your car with an emergency roadside kit. Even the inexpensive ones usually contain flares and distress banners that could be key in extreme situations and weather.

- Pack essential tools like a small flashlight, lighter, writing implement and pocketknife in your glove box.

- While it’s impractical and a bit paranoid to travel with large quantities of food in most cases, consider packing a reasonable number of non-perishable items and bottles of water in your car when you’re driving long distances.

- When driving in unfamiliar or rural areas, make sure to refuel your car before you sink below a quarter of a tank.

- Compare route maps from at least two major web mapping services before departing. If the routes vary, take copies from both web sites. Also carry a traditional map of the area for back-up.

- Check out MSNBC.com’s 10 Tips for Winter Driving for basics on cold weather road safety.

** An important note: None of these tips are meant to suggest or imply that the Kims could have or should have done anything differently than they did. Theirs was a rare, extreme and deeply tragic situation, and our hearts go out to them.

Through Dec. 31, the Inn at Essex in Essex Junction, VT is offering a sweet deal through Luxury Link. For $975, two people receive:

- 4 nights accommodation

- 1,000 bonus miles on either American Airlines or Delta Airlines

- Welcome basket with wine at arrival

- Gourmet breakfast for two each morning

- One three-course dinner for two at Butler’s Restaurant

- Free wireless Internet access

The inn is a AAA 4-Diamond property that bills itself as a “culinary resort” because it houses the northernmost campus of the New England Culinary Institute. So good food is part of the draw. In addition to fab eats, the inn offers tennis, golf, massage services, spa treatments, cross country skiing trails, a bonfire pit, fitness center and three onsite restaurants.

To purchase this package, you’ve got to buy by Nov. 13, 2006 and travel by Dec. 31, 2006. There are some blackout dates, but you’d have to contact the inn directly to figure out what those are.

Inn at Essex Luxury Link Deal

November’s issue of Conde Nast Traveler features the results of its annual Readers Choice Awards. The issue goes on sale Oct. 24th. In the mean time, you can check out the top three winners in each category. Real travel junkies can compare this list to last year’s Readers Choice Awards:

Top Cities - United States:

1. San Francisco, CA

2. Santa Fe, NM

3. New York, NY

Top Cities - Asia:

1. Bangkok, Thailand

2. Hong Kong

3. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Top Cities - Europe:

1. Florence, Italy

2. Rome, Italy

3. Venice, Italy

Top Cities - Africa/Middle East:

1. Cape Town, South Africa

2. Marrakech, Morocco

Top Cities - Pacific Rim:

1. Sydney, Australia

2. Melbourne, Australia

3. Queenstown, New Zealand

Top Cities - The Americas:

1. Vancouver, British Columbia

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

3. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Top Islands - Europe:

1. Mykonos & the Cyclades, Greece

2. Madeira, Portugal

3. Capri, Italy

Top Islands - Pacific Rim:

1. Maui, Hawaii

2. Kauai, Hawaii

3. Moorea, French Polynesia

Top Islands - Caribbean/Atlantic:

1. Bermuda

2. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

3. British Virgin Islands

Top Islands - North America:

1. Vancouver Island, Canada

2. Kiawah, South Carolina

3. Nantucket, Massachusetts

Top Islands - Asia:

1. Maldives

2. Bali, Indonesia

3. Phuket, Thailand

Top International Route Airlines:

1. Singapore Airlines

2. Emirates

3. Cathay Pacific

Top Domestic Route Airlines:

1. JetBlue

2. Midwest

3. Hawaiian

Top Car Rental Agencies:

1. Hertz

2. Renault Eurodrive

3. Avis

Top Large Ship Cruise Lines:

1. Regent Seven Seas

2. Crystal Cruises

3. Disney

Top Small Ship Cruise Lines:

1. SeaDream Yacht Club

2. Grand Circle Cruise Line

3. Regent Seven Seas

Top Resorts - Africa:

1. Singita - Ebony & Boulders Lodges

2. Chief’s Camp, Botswana

3. Chobe Chilwero, Botswana

Top Resorts - Canada:

1. Pan Pacific Mountainside, Whistler

2. Four Seasons, Whistler

3. Westin Resort, Whistler

Top Resorts - Atlantic:

1. One&Only Ocean Club, Bahamas

2. The Reefs, Bermuda

3. Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Top Resorts - Central/South America:

1. Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo

2. Explora en Patagonia, Chile

3. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Argentina

Top Resorts - Asia:

1. Four Seasons Bali at Sayan

2. Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand

3. Banyan Tree, Phuket, Thailand

Top Resorts - Mexico:

1. La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo

2. Royal Hideaway Playacar, Riviera Maya

3. JW Marriott, Cancun

Top Resorts - Pacific Rim:

1. Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, Lanai

2. Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island

3. Voyages Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef

Top Resorts - Europe:

1. Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland

2. Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland

3. Mount Juliet Conrad, Co. Kilkenny

Top Resorts - Caribbean:

1. Malliouhana Hotel, Anguilla

2. Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

3. Sandy Lane, Barbados

Top Resorts - United States:

1. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, AZ

2. Inn at Palmetto Bluff, SC

3. Inn at Spanish Bay, CA

Top Hotels - Asia:

1. Fullerton Hotel, Singapore

2. Amandari, Bali

3. The Peninsula, Bangkok

Top Hotels - Caribbean/Atlantic:

1. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France

2. Ladera, St. Lucia

3. Waterloo House, Bermuda

Top Hotels - Pacific Rim:

1. Rialto Hotel on Collins, Melbourne

2. Park Hyatt, Sydney

3. Lilianfels Blue Mountains, Australia

Top Hotels - Africa:

1. Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza

2. Cape Grace, Cape Town

3. Sofitel Palais Jamai, Fez

Top Hotels - Europe:

1. Four Seasons Gresham Palace

2. Chateau Les Crayeres, Reims

3. Four Seasons George V, Paris

Top Hotels - South America:

1. Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco, Peru

2. Four Seasons, Buenos Aires

3. Swissotel, Quito, Ecuador

Top Hotels - United States:

1. The Peninsula, Chicago, IL

2. Watermark Hotel, San Antonio, TX

3. St. Regis, New York, NY

Top Hotels - Canada:

1. Auberge du Vieux-Port, Montreal

2. Hotel Dominion 1912, Quebec City

3. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City

Top Hotels - British Isles:

1. Buckland Manor, The Cotswolds

2. Gidleigh Park, Devon

3. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Top Hotels - Central America/Mexico:

1. JW Marriott, Mexico City

2. Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas

3. Casa Santo Domingo, Guatemala

Top Hotels - Middle East:

1. Grand Hyatt, Amman

2. King David, Jerusalem

3. David Citadel, Jerusalem

Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards

Eco-conscious travelers take note: The Grand Teton Lodge Company, which happens to be a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, has gone granola and purchased wind-powered electricity for 100 percent of the company’s energy needs. Essentially, the following resorts all run on a clean, renewable source of energy:

Jackson Lake Lodge (pictured)

Jenny Lake Lodge

Colter Bay Village

Snake River Lodge & Spa

Just don’t get the idea that you’ll be seeing windmills behind these properties. Because windpower isn’t readily available in the area, the lodging company instead purchases energy credits from wind farms in amounts equal to its own energy bills. The wind farms then agree to produce that amount of energy for the power grid, in essence replacing what the company takes away from it with an environmentally safe alternative.

Grand Teton Lodge Co. Announces Conversion To 100 Percent Wind Power

Book a vacation package through Ski.com that includes flights on United to Vail, Steamboat, Jackson Hole or Crested Butte, and kids 12 and under fly free. Also, Ski.com will knock $100 off the total price on packages purchased before Oct. 15, 2006.

Ski.com Kids Fly Free deal

Access Trips makes me really wish I had $2446. The adventure travel company’s Hike & Ride Boat Cruise combines riding the slopes in pristine Norwegian backcountry with nightly accommodations on a ship that ferries passengers to various destinations in the Arctic Circle. The 8-day program promises lots of powder and scenic views in a remote part of the world most of us couldn’t explore on our own, but also teaches backcountry safety skills and avalanche rescue techniques.

The trips aren’t cheap, but they will leave you with more than memories. All Access Trips programs combine outdoor adventure with new skills for beginners to advanced levels. Among the offerings are sea-kayaking trips along Mexico’s Baja coast, mountain biking through Cappadocia, surfing in Morocco and rock climbing Italy’s Dolomites mountain range.

Access Trips official site