Delta drops R/T rate to Hayden, Colo., to $259

Just under a month ago I highlighted a deal to Steamboat Springs here with round-trip airfare rates slightly over the $300 mark.

Well, today the prices have dropped further for trips taken all the way through the peak ski season!

So alert your passionate ski friends to this deal that gets them slopeside while eliminating the dreaded drive from Denver with a rental car.

And if tickets are purchased today, travelers will have the huge advantage of booking with no blackout dates with Delta Air Lines (that’s likely to change within the next 24 hours). Delta offers one daily non-stop flight between Atlanta and Steamboat Springs-Hayden starting December 20 and through March 28.

Today’s deal, inclusive of every tax, fee and fuel surcharge, is $259 round-trip to Hayden on trips completed by March 28.

To realize how great of a deal this is, compare it to today’s lowest going rate to Denver during March, 2009 at $379.

To qualify for the $259 rate, head west Sunday-Wednesday and return Tuesday-Friday. Add $20 more each way for other day combinations.

Delta requires a Saturday night stay. Another participating airline, Frontier, doesn’t post a minimum stay requirement and United’s minimum is any two nights.

All participating carriers require a three-week or more advance notice of travel.

Blackout dates on Frontier are: Nov. 30; Dec. 1, 19, 20, 23, 26-30; Jan. 2-4, 13, 16; March 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29.

United’s blackout dates include Dec. 23, 26-30; Jan. 2-4; March 13-15, 20-22, 27-29.

Delta posts a ticket-by date of Nov. 10 for this offer, but ignore that and act fast to land this deal.

http://www.delta.com

http://www.frontierairlines.com

http://www.united.com

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Ski Town U.S.A., Steamboat Springs, offers an ‘Early Rewards’ package that features a four nights lodging and a three-day lift ticket for as low as $302 per person - a 20 percent savings - when purchased by November 3, 2008.

Also, to offset airline baggage fees, guests booking this Early Rewards along with airfare by November 3 will receive a $25 American Express prepaid card per booked air seat.

http://www.steamboat.com, 1-877-237-2628

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If you’ve never skied before and you seek a winter or early spring getaway with the family, Steamboat’s your ticket. Kids adore this place for its kids-only lifts and terrain; slopeside daytime programs; “Kids Night Out” evenings and childcare programs for ages six months and up (two and older kids can combine child care with a ski clinic and rental equipment rentals).

The Rough Riders ski and snowboard programs are available for those 7-15 years with kids placed in age- and skill-appropriate groups. When you have the luxury of staying for a week, the group stays together with the same ski coach. There’s also a Teen Ski Challenge at Steamboat for ages 13-17. The special area for kids programs is indeed a kid-only zone with Wild West touches from a log cabin playhouse to teepees.

Families love Steamboat’s more laid-back western feel without the high glamour found at other resorts along with the many choices to enjoy other wintertime fun such as tubing, horseback riding, snowshoeing to sledding and skating.

Those seeking a challenge on the mountains will find it here - at Colorado’s third largest ski resort - with its 164 trails on 2965 acres of terrain.