Canadian at par. Those are the sweetest words any Canadian can hear when they’re travelling to the U.S. The Canadian dollar is often very low compared to the U.S. dollar. What that means for Canadian travellers is that we often pay far more on our trips to the States.
This post has been updated to reflect 2020 information.
At an exchange rate of 1.3 to 1.4, we can pay hundreds more for trips to the US versus trips to Europe or even domestic getaways. Sometimes that means staying in country and not visiting the US at all. BUT, that doesn’t always have to be the case. Here are some great U.S. Ski resorts that take Canadian at par.
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US Ski Resorts For Canadians Skiers
If you love to ski and you’re planning a trip to the states, this will be a big help! You do have a limited pool to choose from, but in my frugal opinion, I’d rather have a smaller list of places to choose from than pay hundreds more for my trip.
Jay Peak
Jay Peak accepts Canadian at Par – with one caveat. You have to pay cash. Although this makes it slightly more inconvenient, it still saves you a ton of money. And since it consistently receives 4 to 5 stars, it makes a great choice.
Smugglers’ Notch
Smugglers’ Notch is another resort that takes Canadian at Par – again, with a caveat. You must book at certain times of the year. For example, they recently offered a package deal for one of three summer vacation packages. You’ll have to keep an eye out for the deals for this destination, but they are highly rated, so it’s worth it. Last year we visited Smugglers’ Notch together as a family and we loved every minute of our visit. The mountains are amazing and the people are what makes Smugglers’ Notch top notch award-winning family travel every time.
Also, Smuggs is amazing all year round and easily accessible from Toronto, Quebec and many other spots in Canada. In July of 2019 we visited Smugglers’ Notch for the first time in summer and genuinely loved the experience. Hiking, family science classes and mountain biking were highlights of our adventure.
We are returning next month for March break actually. Can’t wait!
Stowe Mountain Resort
While Stowe Mountain Resort doesn’t offer Canadian at Par outright, it does offer up to a 30% discount to Canadian visitors, which is essentially the same thing. You’ll have to make inquiries about packages, but a 30% discount is pretty much the same thing as taking our dollar at par outright. And that’s a great deal. We hope to visit Stowe soon, so hope to have the information firsthand on how that works and why Stowe is a good option for family travel.
Titus Mountain
Titus Mountain is another resort that takes Canadian at par, but only if it’s cash and only if you book a ski and stay package. Titus Mountain is in the Adirondack Region of New York. It’s not entirely straightforward, but it’s worth the substantial savings and relatively easy to drive to if you live in Ontario.
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole is a gem for those of us looking for resorts that take Canadian at Par. They take it at par with no cash requirement, and they take it for lift tickets and lodging. In addition, packages can also include $200 or $300 flight credits per person. I have been to Wyoming twice on media trips and have yet to make it into Jackson Hole. That said, Jackson Hole’s reputation is well known as a beautiful all year round destination for outdoor adventure lovers and families. One day soon I will make it here.
5 Great Ski Resorts that Take Canadian at Par
While your selection is a bit limited when looking for a ski resort that takes Canadian at Par, all of these resorts are top notch, which means you don’t have to worry about sacrificing quality to save a buck. If you’re looking to scratch the skiing itch, consider any of these great resorts that take Canadian at Par. Read the fine print, and do your homework.
Don’t miss this post if interested in visited Smugglers’ Notch in summer.
For your information also: Holiday Valley in Ellicottville update New York, which is roughly a three to four hour drive from London, Ontario offers a Canadian at Par – Canadian Friend’s Week every January. Check their web site for details if you plan to go. It is often the first week of January and only once a year. You will need to take cash or a cheque in order to cash in on that deal. Check out my How to Save Money at Holiday Valley Ellicottville post.
Good luck and happy skiing!
This was a very interesting read. I’ve never though about how costly it could be for Canadians to take a trip to a resort in the states. This is going to help a lot of people.
Stacie: Yes it really can be brutal for Canadians crossing the border to travel when the Canadian dollar is low compared to yours. I skied in Vermont last year with many US skiers and they were all vacationing that year in BC because the dollar worked in their favour. So I guess it was good for tourism in one way.
This is a great list! I was just telling my husband we should go skiing this year! Thanks for the suggestions.
I have never been skiing before. My kids and husband do a father daughter ski weekend every year and they love it. I’ll have to try one of these days!
I have never been skiing before but all of theses pics and talks of ski resorts makes me want to go!! Thanks for the great post!!
I have never been skiing before. I would love to visit Jackson Hole one day.
So many great Canadian ski resorts! I would love to take the whole family to Jackson Hole.
Jackson Hole is in the US but it takes Canadian $$ at par which is good for Canadian travellers.
That is great to know!! Planning a vacation can be expensive but throw in the exchange and it can be costly. I love that the ski resorts are welcoming to Canadians. Great to know
WHAT?!? How awesome is that. I have never heard of resorts that take Canadian money at par. AMAZING! The conversion rate between Canada and the US plays a big role into where people decide to go for vacations.
This is a great resource for those who are planning a ski holiday to the US. Thank you for sharing this.
I had no idea about it! I’ll bring my family there, it would be fun for sure.
Such a brilliant tips! I’m sure my Canadian friends would love to see these places.
I have always wanted to visit a ski resort! We don’t live to far from Colorado and I thought about heading out there many times. Someday we will get to do it!
Ooh I bet these are all such great resorts! I’d love to visit – I love Canada! I don’t go nearly as much as I wish I did – I’m in NY so it’s fairly close to!
This was really interesting. Living in Michigan it is really easy for me to cross bridges and head into Canada. Because these cities are right on the border most of them take US Currency as well as many places here in MI take Canadian currency so no exchange rate is necessary.
This sounds like fun and is something I definitely want to try one day! Thanks for recommending some good ones!
Silvia
http://www.lovelysilvia.com
Glad that you found a few places that you can ski at in the states without having to pay extra. I’ve been to a few places where US money is worth less so I understand the additional financial concerns.
That sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve never been to a ski resort before. I’d love to go and show my girls how to ski!
I am not much of a skiier, but all of these places sound amazing. Smuglers’ Notch is my favorite from this post!
This is a great list! I was just telling my husband we should go skiing this year! I’ve never gone skiing in my life! Can you believe it?
I think it sucks that you guys end up losing out because of the exchange rate! However, it is fantastic that there are places willing to meet you at par!
I haven’t been skiing since I was a teenager. I wasn’t very good at it either. I love saving money so it makes sense booking a ski trip somewhere that offers deals.
My family has never gone skiing together, but it is definitely something I want to do in the future. My kids are all the right ages to really enjoy it. Thanks for this great list of resorts we should consider.
Seriously?! I had no idea that there were resorts that did this, that’s fabulous!!
I had no idea! This brings a lot more possibilities into reach. Thank you!
Oooo o have been to two of these resorts on your list!!!’ I just love skiing!!!! Ski trips are the best