Steal of a deal to Salt Lake City

By Clara Bosonetto Maerz

For ajc.com

Here's proof that you can indeed land a steal of a deal on airfare to a fabulous year-round destination - Salt Lake City.

A relatively easy to find deal on American Airlines to Salt Lake City of $72 one-way ($93.20 including all extra fees, taxes) is good on trips taken through October 13, 2010. And, this deal is good any day of the week (based on availability) with just a 3-day advance notice of travel.

There are just a few blackout dates to avoid: Nov. 20, 28, 30; Dec. 18, 19, 23, 24, 26-30 and Jan. 2-4.

That completes the rules. Now you just have to get going to buy tickets because this offer won't last for many more hours.

Buy tickets at your favorite travel web site or at American Airlines, http://www.aa.com

Fly early enough in the day and you can be hitting the ski and board slopes at Deer Valley Resort, The Canyons Resort, or Park City Mountain Resort on the same afternoon. Talk about convenient. Park City is located just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport (http://www.parkcityinfo.com).

The Park City Quick START program lets you present your same day airline boarding pass into a same-day lift ticket. To qualify, complete the required redemption voucher and print and present with your boarding pass, and photo I.D., to the resort ticket window.

Quick START is valid through Dec. 24; Jan. 3-Feb. 12 and from March 28 to closing day.

Here's the link to the required registration form and other details, http://www.parkcityinfo.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=1047

Did you know that you can reach a number of our finest National Parks in under six hours from Salt Lake City?

Arches National Park is 235 miles, or a 4 hour drive. Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Great Basin National Park and Zion National Park are a 4.5 hour drive.

Get to Grand Teton National Park in about 5.5 hours (329 miles) and expect a six hour drive to Yellowstone National Park.