Through July 1, you may cancel your spot at any time and receive a full refund. After July 1, the following cancellation fees apply:

For cancellations received from July 1 - August 31, $200 fee. For cancellations received from September 1 - December 31, $500 fee. After January 1st, 2014: no refund. These fees apply regardless of other SKI BUMS trips for which you are signed up or would like to sign up, and regardless of our wait list status.

View the full SKI BUMS cancellation policy or submit your cancellation >
Buy travel insurance. We cannot stress this enough.

A travel insurer can provide a refund even when SKI BUMS cannot. Just in case you need to cancel your trip because of work or health reasons, you should purchase travel insurance within 30 days of your initial trip deposit.

There are many travel insurers. We especially recommend
travelinsured.com.
$1499 per person for double occupancy

-- or ---

$2199 per person for single occupancy
(there are limited single occupancy spots available)
$500 deposit due at sign up | If you've received an offer for a space, sign up for the trip >

Balance due by October 1 |
Make a balance payment >

Late payments are subject to a 5% late-payment fee. It is up to you to submit your payments on time. You may always pay early.
You may pay with any major credit card, cash or check.

Online payments: We use PayPal to process all online credit card payments. PayPal is the internet's most trusted online payment portal, and you do not need to be a PayPal member to submit a payment. If you would ever like to use PayPal to send a manual payment (from a smartphone, for example), our account address is: payments (at) ski-bums.org.

PayPal mobile apps: iPhone / iPad / iPod TouchAndroid

Payment by phone: we use Square Payments to process payments over the phone. To pay by phone, please contact us.

Payment by cash or check: please contact us.


Upon arrival in Banff, all participants receive a detailed itinerary with meeting times, events, & helpful tips. Here is an overview of our trip, to help you think through scheduling, packing, etc.
Tuesday is a travel day. After landing in Calgary, you'll probably want to head directly to Banff. Plan on a 2-hour travel time from the airport to our hotel. (See "Ground Transportation," above.)

After checking in, take some time to relax, hydrate and soak up the mountain atmosphere! Pick up equipment rentals, explore our resort hotel and have a bite to eat.

The official SKI BUMS fun begins at 8 PM. You'll meet the other BUMS at our welcome reception and meet & greet at the hotel. Our trip leaders will hold a brief welcome and info session, and you'll receive your lift tickets, SKI BUMS member tags and the official trip itinerary.
Our trip leaders design an itinerary that gives you the best way to explore the terrain and get to know your fellow BUMS. It's published in a printed handout and updated on a devoted Twitter feed, with up-to-the-minute announcements you can receive on your cell phone.

The on-mountain adventure begins bright and early on Wednesday. We divide into skill level groups that help you identify the other skiers and snowboarders who enjoy the same terrain that you do, and then we divide and conquer the mountain!
Learn about our skill level groups. >

We'll have passes for Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt. Norquay; the itinerary will name a resort where the group will spend each day. That'll allow us to travel together, gather as a group for lunch, etc. In general, you'll spend most of the day in a smallish group of four or five skiers or boarders -- but that's up to you. The BUMS are a social crowd, so it's always easy to find others to join in the fun.

You and your group will set your own pace, and it's common to mix it up with a few different groups throughout the week. This is your vacation, so you're always free to break away and do your own thing.

For two of our evenings, we'll dine together at some of Banff's best restaurants. Your other nights are free for you to enjoy as you like -- you may want to head out on the town with your new friends, or take a night to
chill out at the great on-site restaurants inside our hotel.

On Saturday night, we'll celebrate with a delicious dinner and a final night party.
Tuesday, February 18 to Sunday, February 23, 2022
You'll relax in the classy four-star luxury of the sprawling, historic Fairmont Banff Springs. Built more than 125 years ago yet modernized for today, it's got more than 700 rooms, a gorgeous spa, outdoor hot tubs, an impressive breakfast buffet and stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

You may select single or double occupancy. Single rooms have one king; double rooms have two double beds. We're happy to arrange roommates for you
(see Roommates, below).

Watch a video about the Fairmont Banff Springs >
Your trip includes four lift tickets; one-day lift tickets for each of the four resorts we're visiting: Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village and Kicking Horse.

Note: If you or your travel partner do not ski or snowboard, we can remove the lift tickets from our package; contact us to make arrangements. (See "non-skiers," below.)
Your stay includes a daily hot breakfast buffet at our hotel; it's pretty fantastic. Huge selection.

We're also including
two pre-paid dinners at two of Banff's best restaurants on Wednesday and Saturday night. These meals are included; you'll simply pay for your drinks.
Five night stay in Banff, double or single occupancy accommodations | Four single-day all-area lift tickets | Five breakfasts and two dinners in Banff | Two professional SKI BUMS trip leaders
As with all SKI BUMS trips, space is limited, and this trip is now SOLD OUT.

You must be a registered member to join a SKI BUMS trip; only those who sign up via the SKI BUMS website may join us. At this point, we cannot accommodate additional members.

Sign up for SKI BUMS membership >
We are happy to arrange roommates for you. Typically, half of our participants ask us to match them up with a roommate. We'll ask a few easy questions and accommodate your preferences.

Single occupancy: a limited number of single occupancy slots are available. (If our signup form permits you to select one, then a single occupancy slot is available for this trip.)
About half of our participants rent skis or snowboards -- in part to avoid traveling with extra bags. Rentals are not included in our trip price; you should budget about 35 CAD per day for rentals. We recommend Chateau Mountain Sports, an excellent shop conveniently located inside our hotel.
All four of our resorts are well-suited for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. On ALL SKI BUMS trips, we begin by dividing into skill level groups so you can identify those who enjoy the same terrain that you do. See how our groups work >

Beginner: Although there is ample beginner terrain here, we anticipate that there will be very few beginners on this particular trip. Please plan on spending the first day day or two in lessons.

Intermediate: Be prepared to be wowed -- and prepare for a healthy challenge. You'll have plenty of company for those who want to enjoy the wide open groomed trails and picturesque views at a relaxed, leisurely pace, and if you're ready to advance to the next level, this is a perfect opportunity.

Advanced: if you're looking for a challenge, you'll find it. The stunning beauty of the rocky peaks and gorgeous trees will take your breath away. Steeps, moguls and glades are easy to find, with well-placed access points and convenient chair lifts that make exploring easy. We expect a large number of advanced skiers and snowboarders to participate in this trip.

Expert: Kicking Horse and Lake Louise will likely serve up the greatest thrills, yet all four resorts have excellent advanced terrain. We anticipate a good number of expert skiers and riders on this trip, including a number of veteran BUMS who have waited a long time to cross Banff off their lists.
If you would like to book additional nights at the Fairmont Banff Springs, contact the hotel directly. SKI BUMS cannot assist with trip extensions, and we cannot provide roommates for those who are booking additional nights on their own. We do encourage you to coordinate with other trip participants, and our Facebook page is the most enjoyable way to do so.
Air transportation is not included.

Calgary, Alberta is the nearest large airport serving Banff. We will have participants who are flying in from multiple destinations, so we do not recommend any one particular flight. Our trip officially begins with a meet & greet cocktail reception at 8 PM at our hotel on Tuesday the 18th.

PLANNING YOUR AIR TRAVEL

ARRIVAL | An early afternoon arrival is best; be sure to plan your flight with an consideration of ground transfer times. (Late arrivals may lead to more expensive private taxis). If you arrive before our guaranteed check-in time (3 PM), the hotel can happily store luggage for you while you take some time to explore the hotel.

DEPARTURE | You'll be free to head out anytime on Sunday the 23rd. but keep ground transfer travel time in mind. (An early flight could require a very early private taxi.) If you'd like to stay an extra night, you'll need to book your extension directly with the hotel.

Connect with the other BUMS on Facebook if you'd like to coordinate travel with others.
+ Tue Feb 18: Travel day: fly to Calgary; check in at our hotel after 3 PM

+ Wed, Thu, Fri: ski & snowboard at
Lake Louise, Norquay, and Sunshine Village

+ Sat Feb 22: daytrip to ski & snowboard at
Kicking Horse

+ Sun Feb 23: Travel day: check out at our hotel, return to Calgary for flights home
Cars won't be necessary during our trip. There are several ground transportation options; Banff Airporter offers convenient pickup and drop off in 2 hours or less. View rates and reserve online >
Each resort on our itinerary is varied and fun -- most of the BUMS were hard-pressed to name a favorite when we visited a few seasons ago. Lake Louise, Norquay and Sunshine Village are collectively called "The Big Three," offering up a total of more than 8,000 skiable acres, although Lake Louise is the largest of the bunch. Kicking Horse arguably offers most challenging terrain, with massive open bowls and impressive steeps. Mid-February is an ideal time to visit, when dry, fresh powder regularly blankets the beautiful Canadian Rockies.

SKI Magazine's informative resort profiles: Lake Louise | Norquay | Sunshine Village | Kicking Horse
Air transportation | Ground transportation to Banff | Lunches | Three dinners | Skiing or snowboarding instruction | Equipment rentals
Airfare booking tips:

Set up a price alert at
kayak.com, and watch fares for a while before buying.

How to set up a price alert >

Fares often fluctuate for flights to Calgary by as much as $200 CAD; a Monday return may provide extra savings.


Sunday's our travel day; we'll check out of the hotel and go our our merry way. Some participants will opt to remain in Canada for more sightseeing -- or to score better return airfare -- feel free to post a message on our Facebook Wall if you'd like to coordinate travel with other BUMS!
Our rooms are guaranteed after 3 PM Tuesday. You'll simply visit the front desk and check-in under your own name. if you'd like to arrive earlier, the hotel can store your luggage for you.
Relax in classy luxury and explore stunning vistas at one of the world's most beautiful ski areas.

As soon as we returned from our last trip to Banff, the BUMS were asking when we could return. Very few towns can wow you the way Banff does; it's nestled in the cradle of the dramatic Canadian Rockies and surrounded by hills of thick evergreen pines. It truly feels like the perfect mountain town.

Lake Louise is Banff's largest and most famous resort, while Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village offer up far more than a full day of fun. We'll return to Kicking Horse, too, where dramatic views and untracked trails draw adventurers to a stunning BC powder paradise. In the evenings, rest your head with five nights at the historic and luxurious Fairmont Banff Springs.

SOLD OUT | Please add your name to our Wait List >
There are free ski buses to Lake Louise, Norquay and Sunshine Village which pick up and depart directly from our hotel. For our daytrip to Kicking Horse, we've got our own private charter bus.

Travel time from our hotel to each resort: Mt. Norquay (20 minutes), Sunshine Village (30 minutes), Lake Louise (45 minutes), Kicking Horse (110 minutes).
This trip is a great choice for those who do not ski or snowboard and would like to join us. The hotel is a resort unto itself, with a fantastic spa, a huge array of winter activities and its own charming history. The town of Banff offers hundreds of cafes, galleries and shops that are well-worth enjoying (learn more). Simply contact us to arrange a custom trip without lift tickets included.
We want to make it easy to connect with other SKI BUMS members who have signed up for trips -- or are thinking about coming. New this season, we've got specific Facebook groups dedicated to each major trip, and they're open to anyone.

If you're curious about this trip -- or want to see who's coming, simply
sign up here >

Our main Facebook fan page is a fantastic way to keep an eye on all the fun we're having. Our Twitter and Tumblr will keep you up to date on the latest news. We host cool trip videos on Vimeo and pics on Flickr. And on Spotify, we curate fun-loving playlists that are perfect for the slopes!