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Wes
from SouthCentral, PA
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Jul 5, 2007 |
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Overall Rating: 4.4   |
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Smuggs is great!! We went on a cold, windy day in mid March and we were treated to 4-6 inches of new fluff. We rode blue trails and they are great,(not as much grooming as I like but still very fun). Some trails are narrow in spots. Scenery is awesome. Upper Chilcoot is beautiful as is Catwalk, Drifter and Lower Midway. While your skiing or riding dont forget to look around. You have to hold your hydropack on the lifts and you have to put your lift bar down immediately or get yelled at over the PA system. That was irritating. 2-3 minute lift lines...not bad.
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Felipe Esguerra
from Ft.lauderdale, fl
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Mar 7, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.0 |
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We were there on amazing conditions, The terrein is pretty nice with plenty of options for everyone. One thing to note is that I was there on presidents week and thats a very busy week in ski resort but somehow the crowd were dispersed everywhere in the slopes, the lines were not bad at all each line was a minute or 2 not long, The one thing is that they only have doubles lifts but they work fine in this resort somehow you get to the very top of this resort very fast. I was actually going to Stowe and got lost and ended up in Smugs (don't ask how Stupid navigation system told me to go in a road that was closed in the winter) but anyway I don't regret a bit that we ended up here, we had a blast, great glades great blues and some fun blacks. For the money this resort is great much cheaper than Stowe and you are going to have a blast, but then again we were there on 3 feet of new snow a week before. Food is ok nothing majorly good, but nothing bad, cheap. And the lift ticket it self if cheap considering the resorts around it.
Go to smugs you will love it.
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Bob
from Denver ,Colorado
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Jan 19, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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I Love This Place!!!!!!!! Everyone is nice, the housing is spectacular!!, as is the service!!! I plan to go back again and again!!!!!
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Steve
from Simsbury, CT
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Jan 9, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.8 |
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This is tough to rate, partly because it had not snowed before we went up. We went from the 22nd of December to Christmas and according to the veterans up there, the snow was the worst it has been in 30+ years. What was open did have good conditions however. The activities were terrific, from a kid zone (inflatables, ping-pong, etc.) to teen alley (ages 13+, ping-pong, billiards, video games, computers, television) to a pool with two hot tubs. Since we went before Christmas, the value was great and the crowds were nearly non-existent, again most likely due to the time we went. Overall, despite the minimal amount of trails, this was a great resort and we will most likely go back next year with hopefully more snow!
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max
from VT
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Oct 23, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 3.8 |
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This review is for anybody moving or planning on spending some serious time in VT. Smuggs shines where 99% of tourists cannot see, it is all about the glades and off trail runs. on grounds Smuggs has decent glades, but unfortunatly they labeled alot of them in the past years, adding to more unworthy travel. but any local will testify the best riding is off the maps, for any diehard glades rider the Bulls are where its at, for anybody willing to put their time in and pay homage, Smuggs has alot to offer.
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Eric
from Dartmouth, MA
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Jul 24, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.4 |
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Smugg's does have its ups and downs.
The snow is great, they have the only triple black in NE, and it has 2 different sections: Mourse Mountain (for begginers) and Maddonna and Sterling (for more experienced). I'm not sure if they still do the ticket for both Smugg's AND Stowe (because they are right next to eacother so you can ski between them), but it's good idea.
The unfortunate parts are the lifts. Double on sterling, 2 doubles on Maddana, and 3 doubles on Mourse. They do have a T-bar and rope-tow, but thats it. The good part is 3 of the doubles of midway stations.
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John
from New England
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Feb 12, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.0 |
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the people on here writing reviews are probably not locals- so they can gripe about lifts, prices, etc. cause they only make it up once in a while
The "old lifts" complaint
Smuggs doesn't have quads for a really good reason- all old double chairs have low capacity- keep the uphill- and thus downhill- crowds regulated. it has an old, 60's feel to it. they way skiing should be. don't like it? go to killington or stratton- have fun with those McSki resorts. they can definitely afford to upgrade their lifts, but have decided repeatedly not to.
terrain
don't tell anyone, but it probably has some of the fiercest in and out of bounds skiing in the east- up there with mad river glen and stowe. ask a local- he or she won't tell you so- cause they don't want anyone to know.
Snow- they average more than stowe (even though its right across the notch) and are second to Jay Peak in the east. lasts a while- crowds are usually minimal.
the layout is fine- beginners stay on morse- intermediates and advanced skiers head up the road- to the notch. awesome views. steeps, cruisers, and glades (note: what you see on the map is only half of whats actually out there- follow those tracks into the thick woods if you dare- you'll be rewarded) don't go out of bounds on a perimeter trail unless you know where you're going...
nightlife- good for families. place across the street is tex-mex with a bar. thats about it.
condos are pricy-er to rent. but worth it for families- the ski school is excellent, and its not a get-lost-killington-like place. awesome place to take the fam. trust me. accomadations by the resort are nice, and include alot of extras. i think this place is great- its where i learned to ski 15 years ago.
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Steve M
from Bermuda
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Nov 28, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.8 |
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THE best family mountain on the North American continent. Period. Also, the terrain is varied and challenging. Endless glades, challenging and long chutes, as well as great out-of-bounds skiing if you're so inclined, as well as extensive terrain for skiiers at all levels. Glades for children learning, wary adults, all the way to extreme experts. A great atmosphere, good snow, uncrowded and close to Burlington. The old, slow double lifts are the one significant "minus", although if you ski Smuggs properly, you'll welcome the rest.
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David Bain
from Vermont
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Nov 3, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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Smugglers Notch Resort
Jeffersonville, Vermont
I have two girls 5 and 8 years old. Theyve both been skiing for two seasons. Yes, we started the youngest in a wonderful childrens ski program Mommy, Daddy and Me when the girls were five years or younger. We skied for eight weeks with the same instructor for a scheduled two hour lesson. The girls usually lasted for 90 minutes. It was a great introduction to skiing and within a few weeks both girls were on the lift and cruising the beginners trails off the Village Lift.
It was great for my wife and I, we skied behind the kids group with the other parents. The instructor did what they do best ---- instruct children even five year olds can ski!
The oldest graduated to Smugglers Mitey Might program. Caitlyn (then 7 years old) skied with the same instructor and same group of kids her age for 10 weeks. Caitlyns skills grew and her confidence grew largely due to the instruction she received in the Mitey Mite program. Its a great program for young children.
Weve stayed at Smugglers a couple of times during the ski season. The slopeside accommodations are great for families. The pools, sledding hill, evening activities, FunZone and the general store are all within walking distance. Transportation is available between venues and the other mountains away from the village. We didnt have the need to use our vehicle once we arrived at our unit until we checked-out.
Smugglers Notch Resort advertises itself as Americas Family Resort. The staff at Smugglers goes out of its way to make sure that the kids have a great time. Fun, lots of prizes and lots of feel good activities make it a place for the kids to learn to ski, and have fun on and off the slopes. We would recommend Smugglers Notch Resort to any family with or without children.
Smugglers is a good value for families wanting to expose their children to skiing without breaking the family budget. Happy trails!
