I have a sticky situation. We have bought a ski pass for our dd at one ski area here in Colorado. One of her friends's mother's invited my dd to ski with them and stay over at their condo. That's fine, but a one day lift ticker at their area is over $100. We already spent an arm and a leg for our pass.
Yes, we can afford it and it won't put us in bankruptcy, but that's a heck of a lot of money for one day.
What would you do?
They are letting you stay at their condo for free so doesn't the free lodging cover the cost of the tickets?
Oh boy, I'd jump on that! Mom of an 'only' here-- $100 is a small price to pay for having a weekend alone with my husband. ;) Even if that weren't the situation, I'd try to find a way to make it work as a 'one time special occasion' thing. What a kind offer!
Three things to keep in mind:
You can ask if they have a guest rate or know of any way to keep the cost down.
You can ask your daughter to chip in (if she received any money for Christmas etc, does she want to buy this as a gift for herself?).
But also - You posted in April about your daughter having social problems and in January about your daughter needing to get away from certain friends. If THIS friend is a nice person, you might want to look at this as part of the cost of "cultivating" a valuable friendship. (And the next time they want to ski together you can invite her to your place so she will pay next time.)
If this is a once-a-season thing, I guess it would be fun for your dd. I'm assuming she has her own equipment, so $100 for a day of skiing and an overnight at a ski lodge would be fun.
The problem would be if someone says "hey, let's do this again next weekend!" instead of "we should do this once every season". So you'd have to make it clear to your daughter that she's not to agree to making this a routine event, but more like a birthday celebration that happens once a year. If your daughter is on board with that, then I think it would be fun. Prepare your daughter ahead of time, by helping her phrase a polite response, like "thanks, but we already bought season passes at Mount A, so I can't waste those and pay for additional skiing at Mount B".
I get it - sometimes just because you CAN afford it, doesn't mean that it makes financial sense. And sometimes we do stuff for our kids that doesn't make financial sense. It's a thin line sometimes.
You don't mention how old your daughter is. Is there a way she could contribute to the cost of the ticket if she really wants to go? We asked our kids to contribution to more expensive activities and it worked out great. They had a vested interest in going and they also learned to make some decisions about what they wanted to spend their money on - just like adults have to.
Otherwise, I'd check around to reduce cost like Groupon or whatever might offer a coupon. If the inviting party has a season pass, they might also have access to a reduced price guest pass. Finally, can she arrive at like 3 or 4 pm and take advantage of the discount that comes along with starting later in the day?
Good luck - these kinds of things are tough!
Here, it's more like $65 for a day pass for a teenager. 2 days is just over $100. I'm wondering if the $100 is for two day's pass where they are staying overnight at the condo?
I'm with Fanged Bunny - I'd check to see if they know of a more affordable deal.
If it were me, and they got 2 full days of skiing for $100 and a night away with friend, I'd consider it. For one day skiing, no.
Totally a personal decision. I'd wish it was at the same mountain we go to but it'd be worth it to me to have someone else drive my child and provide overnight accommodations at no cost to me. So you have to weigh if it saves you those costs bc it saves you a trip and then how much she wants to go. It's very nice of them to offer. Taking a friend skiing carries a higher than typical willingness to take on some risk and responsibility. Things happen to the best skiers. And usually buying ahead lowers the cost vs at the ticket window. I wouldnt ask for a buddy pass. If they wanted to give one, they would. They may feel they're providing enough and want to save them for other people.
Yes, it's a lot of money but you can afford it and it will be a wonderful experience for your daughter. I totally understand where you are coming from and why you don't want to pay more for skiing when you already bought an expensive pass. But, rather than thinking about the price of the lift ticket, think of the mini vacation your daughter will get and the opportunity for her to have a fun and special weekend with a friend. It sounds like her friend's family is also covering the cost of her food for the weekend, so try to think of this as an entertainment expense and not specifically a lift ticket.
How old is your daughter? Maybe she can split the cost of the ticket with you.
If I was in the same situation, I would let my child go, even though it's painful to think about paying for that ticket!
It is a personal choice. I pay $185 for my sons to ski for 3 days here. They could go for half that at a closer place but their friends also go to the one they sign up for so I pay the extra. That is my choice, you have to make yours.
Is she a big ski lover?
If I wanted to give her a trip and fun, I would go for it. If you want to rationalize it, you are saving money on housing and you could have the weekend to yourself (or with partner).
I would mention in conversation you already have a pass for resort A and see if that would be a place they like to go. Maybe they have knowledge where you can get a deal for the one day pass at their location.
Ask if they've got a guest pass or discount lift ticket option. You can offer them the same at the mountain you've bought a season lift ticket at. It's really about the overnight and the social aspect of skiing with a friend more than about skiing as such.
Go for it.
F. B.
Is saving money or having your daughter spend time with her friend. Which do you value more? Money or friendship? Perhaps 40% for money and 60% for friendship. It's not an easy decision when you value both. Perhaps looking at the question in that way would help.
I agree with asking the friend's mom, do they have a guest pass rate or discount, and how much would the lift ticket cost for your daughter? I wouldn't surprised if they did have some kind of deal, or even if she would offer to pay for the lift ticket for your daughter. After all, she invited her, so it would certainly be possible they would make the offer. I wouldn't ask them to pay, but just by starting the conversation about lift ticket cost, she may offer. If it's a high cost, then I guess you'd have to consider whether it's a worthwhile special experience for your DD, and consider she is getting lodging, and probably meals with her friend's family too. Not sure about my DH, but I'd probably say yes if my DD really wanted to go
"Thanks for the invitation, but we already purchased a pass for another area." Any reasonable person would understand.
Tell her "Thanks for the invite but we're already spent our budget on a lift ticket elsewhere so I'm afraid we'll have to decline.".
How well will it go over?
Well, how about you invite the friend over to your area and see if she's in a rush to spend $100 for a day?
Her answer will probably sound a lot like the one you just gave her.
Sounds awesome! I'd let her do it!
So you live in Colorado and have a ski pass for your daughter in your area. Is this pass a season pass thing? Or a one day pass that is for the same day? So the pass you bought is worthless if she goes to the friends to ski that day?
A friend invited her to go for a day to another ski place but you have to pay for her trip and she is going to stay with this family for more than one day or she wouldn't need to stay in their condo?
Is she going to ski one day then do something else the other day/days? Or are you looking at more than one day of passes?
I would think about what this activity would be for, the reason. If it's so she can spend time with her friend then I might suggest that they do something together that is at the place you already bought a pass.
But if you have the money and they are good friends I'd probably let her go. If money isn't that big of a deal then let her go with her friend. If your girl's pass is for another time maybe you can invite the other girl to come go with her the day her pass is good.
Sounds like you already know the deal. Skiing is expensive, and not all families go to the same place.
Can't you just ask them if they have any guest or at least discounted lift tickets? Sometimes if you're a season ticket holder this is an option.
If not then you already know the answer. Unless they have specifically offered to pay for your daughter's ticket the cost will be on you.
