NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - You don't have to live out of a Volkswagen van and work as a lift operator to ski cheaply, especially this year. Many mountain resorts are already offering discount packages and reducing their minimum stay requirements -- a rare move during the holidays and high season. In Utah, where the 2002 Olympics may actually put a damper on tourism, the deals are particularly sweet. In fact, many hotels in the area are handing out $20.02 coupons for every day their guests buy a lift ticket.
While this year might be particularly good for bargain-hunting, finding deals is always a matter of when and where you ride and the decisions you make once you get there.
Timing is everything
If you want to avoid standing in endless lift lines and paying top dollar for a mountain getaway, you'll want to plan your vacation around everyone else's. Though this year may be an exception, Christmas is almost always the most expensive time to ski, says Bruce Rosard, president of Moguls Mountain Travel. In many cases, the holidays are about 30 percent pricier than regular season, which is typically February through March. (Regular season's not that cheap either.)
You're apt to find the best deals in early December when everyone else is Christmas shopping, in early January when they're paying for all of that shopping and in spring when they put away their skis for the season. In fact, early and late season trips are about 30 percent cheaper than those in the regular season.
The only trick with this low-season strategy is making sure there is snow on the ground. If you plan an early season trip, don't book your tickets until you know where the snow is. If you hold off until spring, target resorts that had particularly plentiful winters and can withstand warmer weather.
All mountains are not created equal
There are nearly 500 ski resorts in the United States and loads of others just over the boarder in Canada. You'll want to narrow down your choices according to their terrain, their atmosphere and their accessibility. "Every mountain has its unique characteristics. Until you know what you're looking for you can't begin to choose," says Mogul's Rosard.
For some suggestions, check out Ski magazine's Resort Finder. (Ski magazine is published by AOL Time Warner, CNN/Money's parent company.)
Annual snowfall might be one of your first considerations. Though some resorts almost always get (or make) plenty of snow, occasionally they'll come up short. Last year, for example, the East Coast was blessed with loads of fresh stuff, but the snow came late in the West. This year, most eastern resorts are having a tough time keeping their man-made snow from melting, while the Rockies, Cascades and Sierras have been getting snow by the foot.
Though most resorts cater to beginner and intermediate skiers, some devote more of their terrain to experts than others. You get an idea of the "green circle" to "black diamond" ratio at a resorts by checking out their trail map, which is available on most resorts' websites. Also keep in mind that some resorts have very different philosophies on grooming. Deer Valley in Utah, for example, takes grooming to the extreme, sprucing up and smoothing out the snow regularly. Alta, which is not far from Deer Valley, appeals to a different group because it lets Mother Nature have her way on most of its runs.
Atmosphere is something else to consider. At some resorts, like Aspen and Park City, the boutique shopping and après skiing are as much an attraction as the skiing itself. At Mad River Glen in Vermont, no man-made snow and an old single-person chairlift appeal to skiers who prefer quaint to glitz. If you're bringing your kids along, opt for the more family-friendly resorts where kids ski free or can be looked after in daycare or ski school.
Accessibility is another issue. If you don't have a lot of time, you may want to focus on places that are a direct flight and short ride away from home. Salt Lake City resorts and Colorado "I-70" resorts offer this kind of accessibility. Others, like Telluride and Jackson Hole, are either a day's drive or prop-plane flight from major hubs and not always that easy to get to. (Some skiers prefer these resorts precisely for this reason.)
Your choice of resorts will make a big difference in the overall price tag. Lift tickets at low-key resorts are almost always cheaper than those at the glamour ski spots. Hotel bargains are easier to come by if you plan your winter vacation in summer destinations, like Jackson Hole and Banff. And if you take your U.S. dollars to Canada or Europe, you'll save money on everything.
The little things add up
Once you have a rough idea of what you want in a resort, shop around for package deals, which are almost always cheaper than buying your trip a la carte. "If you buy a package, you can save on lift tickets, lodging and even airfare," said Ben Rifkin, editor of SkiNet. You can check out some of the latest package deals at MySkiTrip.com.
If you skip the package and plan a trip on your own, understand the "law of elevation": The closer you get to the mountain, the more you'll pay for everything, including rentals, clothing, food and especially hotels.
There is no denying the convenience of staying right on the mountain. But there's usually a high price for this proximity. "Everyone wants so-called ski in and ski out, but it is definitely more expensive," said Bruce Rosard. What's more, some so-called ski-in and -out accommodations are still a hike to the lift.
You'll get more room for your money if you stay at the bottom of the hill. Most hotels -- and even the towns themselves -- provide free and frequent shuttles going to the mountain. "Taking these shuttles instead will save you about 20 or 30 percent on lodging," said Rosard. "And these shuttles will usually take you anywhere you need to go, be it dinner or the grocery store."
If you don't get your lift tickets through a package, see about buying them on the resort's website or at a local ski shop or grocery store, where you'll get a discount for buying your tickets before you get to the hill.
You can also save money by skipping the resort cafeteria, where prices are always higher than they should be. Eat a hearty breakfast before you get to the hill and consider packing lunch.
Finally, if you don't think you can ski a full eight hours every day, sleep in and buy a half-day ticket, which is typically at least $10 cheaper. 
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