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Julie
from Moreau, NY
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Apr 1, 2008 |
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Overall Rating: 1.8   |
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I have two issues with Stratton both involve false advertisement. Stratton advertises their terrain as having all levels. The whole mountain is beginner to intermediate. There is no black diamond terrain even though they claim to have it. I find this to be a disservice to all skiers. Advanced skiers will be wasting their money and beginner/intermediate skiers will be deceived into thinking they can ski a black diamond which may result in getting hurt at another mountain because the terrain is much more difficult then they expected.
The other false advertisement is there accommodations. They are falsely portrayed on there website as being very nice. The picture shown for the Liftline Lodge is not what the place looks like inside. Apparently Stratton operates the Inn and the Liftline Lodge. We stayed at the Liftline Lodge and spent sometime at the restaurant and lobby area of The Inn. Both places were very dirty and in disrepair. My husband had surprised me with a weekend ski vacation. He bought a ski and stay package at Stratton. We were excited until we got to the Liftline Lodge. We could not believe how filthy and disgusting the accommodations were. This is slope side lodging run by Stratton so you would think it would be at least clean. Not only was there mold growing all along the ceiling and top of the bathroom walls but the shower curtain was full of mold and mildew also. The floors were not much better with dirt and filth everywhere, including a used bandage on the bathroom floor. I actually stuck to the bathroom floor in one spot, not sure what that might have been. One of the pillows had a big black stain on it, the bedspread was grey and dingy looking and there were spider webs hanging from the sprinkler system. I am allergic to dust mites and mold and usually just get mild sinus congestion and itch eyes when exposed. The accommodations at the Liftline were so nasty that I woke up and not only could I not breath but my eyes were almost swelled shut. In addition to the filth the room was in disrepair. The smoke alarm had fallen out of the wall and was just hanging, a nail was protruding about ¼ inch from the headboard, and when we attempted to open the window the entire thing fell out of the frame. Now my husband and I am not the type of people to complain so we kept our mouths shut and toughed it out figuring skiing would make the whole trip worth it. Unfortunately the weather was unbearable and after a few hours we had to call it quites. We spent the remainder of the trip in the lobby at the Inn because we could not stand to go back to the filthy room. Thinking back now we should of complained but at the time we felt it would be pointless because its not like it would of changed anything, the Liftline Lodge is a dump, simple fact. So to sum it up we spent over $700 for the whole trip and it was total hell. I just dont understand how a slope side lodge run by Stratton could be so dumpy. There website advertisement is so deceiving. I feel bad for others that may get sucked into this deal and have to endure the Liftline Lodge. Anyways, after thinking back on this awful experience I felt the need to complain to someone since I passed up the opportunity to do so when we were there. I contacted Stratton with my complaint and basically they could careless.
I will never return to Stratton and hope this review will discourge others or better yet make Stratton clean up their act. The mountain has great potential to be a beautiful resort for beginner/intermediate skiers but it is being terrible mismanaged.
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Kolyan
from Boston
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Mar 31, 2008 |
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| Overall Rating: 2.0 |
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Coming from somewhat an expert new england skier:
do NOT go here. The mountain is FLAT. The ski park (jumps etc.) cost extra $15 which is ridiculous since you already paid a full ticket price. Greens = cross country skiing, blues = greens, and finally all those blacks and double blacks = to blues anywhere else.
90% of guys skiing, bar at the lodge was pretty bad.
i suppose its a good place to ski if you are a beginner. For all other people I suggest Stow, Killington, Sugarloaf, Sunday River......
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steve
from NJ
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Mar 30, 2008 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.2 |
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Well this was my first trip to VT so it's hard for me to say anything negative. The mountain is great since I'm an intermediate skier who is just starting to ski black. My 12 year old is a snow boarder and he said the terrain park was not so great. Stratton says they have 5 terrain parks but we did not see anything that amazed my son. Two of the parks are very small and one was closed because they just had the US Open the week before. The other two were ok.
There are plenty of trails(90) to keep me interested in the place and we stayed for 4 days.
Since it was end of season March 26-30 2008 so the crowds did not exist. On Wed,Thur and Friday the gondola had no wait. On Saturday the wait was about 15 minutes for the gondola but the American Express(6 pack) still had no wait.
We stayed at the Long Trail House and all was good there. They have a nice big fire place in the lodge.
I have to say some of the staff were not as friendly as I expected them to be. After all I'm spending lots of money here. I have been to less expensive vacation spots and was treated better.
Maybe they are tired of the crowds. The village was very cool and we ate at Mulligans and Mulberry Street toow of three times. Prices are ok. I expect to pay more for food on vacation so I was fine with it.
Overall I will be going here again next year since its a 5 hour drive and I dont see any reason to drive further north to other ski resorts.
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Rob H
from NJ
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Feb 18, 2008 |
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| Overall Rating: 2.2 |
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The only reason to go to Stratton Mountain is if you have a family and don't want to drive further North into VT. Don't believe the hype.
Stratton Mountain is a decent Southern Vt mountain that Interwest has messed up.
The mountain itself is good with some decent trails and a good layout. The snowmaking and grooming is very good which means that you will have good conditons most of the season. The problem is that there is not a lot to challenge you there. Its nice if you just want to cruise. Most of the trails are the same pitch and length.
The beginner area is very small and crowded. Mainly because the pack a ton of families into the place. The learnig area short carpet is a cattle call with pushy parents and kids ruining your day. If you or your kid are first timers this can be very discourging.
The ski school left my 7 yr old behind in the meeting area(looks like a cattle corral). If i did not see this after picking up my younger daughter who knows what would have happened. When i went to speak to managment they first tried to bow me off. Then hustled my kid to another group and tried to tell me to have a nice day. Not untill i demanded an apology and to speak to a supervisor did I get any kind of explanation. They ended up giving me a refund for the lesson and giving both my kids a private lesson the next day. All of this could have been avoided with better organization.
Lift lines on the weekends and holidays are horrible. The lifts are slow and they do not manage the lines well.The gondola is a joke and nothing else at the base goes to the peak, so its packed. Again, Interwest trying to pack too many people into the space.
We stayed at the Long Trail House in a decent one bedroom. Just like other interwest properties they did things on the cheap. It shows if look around the place. Oh yeah the pool, hot tub area smelled like a cat box.
The village is attractive and nice. However when its packed eating out is a nightmare. There are only a few places to eat and at dinner time your wait might be 1-2 hours. Tough to deal with when you have younger children.
Go sonewhere else if you want a good skiing experiance. Sugarbush, Gore, and Whiteface are much better places. If you want a village and place to hustle kids around in go ahead. But plan on dealing with rude service, rude pushy snobs, and hard to deal with infrastructure.
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Bla Bla
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Oct 7, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 3.6 |
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Terrain:
Greens: Operated by a slow chairlift (Tamarack), most of the greens are there. Average greens with a big variety of choices and pretty long, but that chair is SO slow! 6/10
Blues: Either from summit (icy) or mid mountain (10+ min. lines), the blues are good at mid mountain but I have trouble with black bear at the top at the summit and I can easily do every double black at the mountain except World Cup when it is icy. The ones at mid mountain are A LOT easier than the ones at the summit and should be greens at other mountains. 3/10
Blacks: Crowded, yet can be found everywhere on the mountain. Upper Standard gives the steeps and moguls to the side, Lower Spruce gives a relatively flat trail but icy moguls, Upper Tamarack gives a narrow steep trail, and Polar Bear is a nice cruiser down to mid mountain. Great blacks! Usually at least one black on the mountain is left empty, usually Lower Spruce. 9/10
Double Blacks: They are easy, but there the funnest evar!
Upper Spruce: Starts steep but becomes extremely narrow and flat in the end. Has biggest moguls on the mountain, yet everyone pretty much agrees that this should be a black. Left empty.
Upper Slalom Glade: Any day a black, but it's double because it shoots out onto World Cup. Moguls. Left empty.
World Cup: Medium sized moguls and very steep, hardest slope on the mountain. Left empty.
Upper Downeastern: The best run in the east! May have moguls, but usually not. One of the steepest runs in the east and very short and narrow. My fav fun evar. CROWDED.
Bear Down: Icy moguls and kinda steep, it's fun! Left empty.
Grizzly Bear: Turny, steep in the end, icy, moguls! Crowded.
Freefall: May have moguls, but when not, crowded and icy! Actually always icy...
Double Blacks: 9/10 (a bit too easy)
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thomas brown
from Houston, TX
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Jul 17, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 2.4 |
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I have family in Vermont and have gone to Stratton for the last few years. I was there at xmas this year (2006). That was the last straw for me. I have never been treated with such rudeness. They lost my child during private lessons, and were indifferent about it, despite having ruined my day while I was looking for my son. Startton Mountain is great but the staff, especially management, is horrible. For that reason, the value is way down for me There are too many other resorts close by. I will never go back to Stratton. Never. And that is after going there for the last number of years, every year, spending my money in their shops. NO MORE!!!
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Darryl K. Lewis
from Jamaica, New York
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Apr 6, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.0 |
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SkiTown Review
Ski resort reviews can be helpful only if you know the skill level and skiing perspective of the person authoring the review. My perspective is focused on the actual skiing experience (Terrain/Crowd/snow/factors), and not so much on the ancillary aspects surrounding skiing. I am a middle-age advanced skier with no interest in jumping off cornices or cliffs. I will often at high speeds hit a small lip in the terrain and get a little air, but thats about the extent of it. I venture in and out of moderate mogul fields in an attempt to become a better all-around skier, but I tend not to spend a majority of my ski day dealing with the bumps. If I had to describe the type of skier with which I most closely identify, it would be a high speed cruiser who enjoys medium to giant slalom turns. I decided to take my 10 year-old granddaughter with me on my final spring skiing trip of the season. We researched the southern Vermont area for the resort displaying the best conditions and the greatest percentage of available terrain (courtesy of the SkiTown website), and then headed for two days of skiing at Stratton Mountain, Vermont (Stratton).
Terrain Rated 3.0:
For me, Stratton was a very difficult mountain to rate. The layout of Stratton is magnificent. It is extremely symmetrical with many of the trails being true fall-line trails. It is a medium size mountain that skis a great deal larger than one would anticipate. For the cruiser in me, who just returned from a challenging trip to Utahs Cottonwood Canyons, Stratton was a pleasurable, ripping, laid-back, walk-in-the-park skiing experience. An added bonus was that the trail coverage was quite good despite the warm and wet springtime weather. I had an absolute ball for two days. It is truly a cruisers delight, and that extends to many of the black-diamond trails. But that may be the crux of Strattons problem. For those advanced/expert skiers who would like to take a day off and cruise all day long, its absolutely great! But for those who want some real challenge to their skiing, Stratton can get kind of ho-hum. They claim to have some glades, but I must be honest and say that I didnt seek them out. I encountered a black-diamond moguled trail which was not too intimidating. I also didnt find the trails particularly steep. My granddaughter, who often reverts to a modified wedge when in trouble, had been bugging me to allow her on a black-diamond trail. After skiing the black-diamond trails of Upper Tamarack, North American, and Upper and Lower Liftline; I decided to give her a shot at what I thought were very mild black-diamond runs. She started out cautiously, made wide turns, and did quite well (Earlier this year she skied blue runs at Whiteface Mountain, which were more intimidating than those aforementioned Stratton black-diamond trails). It was worth it to see her beaming with pride at her first so-called black-diamond experience. Stratton is an exceptional family mountain with many options for novices and beginners. Some of their trails meander through the woods and adjacent to several of the luxurious slopeside condos. For two days I enjoyed Strattons terrain, but in deference to the lack of any extensive challenging terrain, I had no choice but to give Strattons terrain a mediocre rating.
Service Rated 4.0:
The overall service was quite good at Stratton (at $75 for a weekend lift ticket, it had better be). The gondola was not in operation, but it really didnt matter. Strattons high speed lifts were right on the money. No matter how many times we rode the lifts up, the lift attendants always had something nice or funny to say to my granddaughter. At lunchtime during the second day of our visit, the cafeteria staff actually allowed me to taste the soup prior to purchasing. I had a cup of broccoli and cheese soup which was tasty but a little watery. On my first day at Stratton, I had my customary cup of chili. I had a choice of adding onion and cheese, and they also suggested a bit of sour cream. The flavor and combination of those ingredients were very good, but once again, Wheres the beef!!! Chili is supposed to have chunks of ground beef!!!
Crowds Rating 5.0:
Its great when the urban dwellers of this region see grass, experience 60 degree temperatures, and then decide to put away their skis. We skied on a Monday and Tuesday during the first week of April and nobody was there. Stratton is well known for their usual crowds and long lift lines, and I was ecstatic to discover that it wasnt living up to that reputation. Strattons main lodge cafeteria probably seats several hundred patrons. Maybe fifty were present at lunchtime. When I decided to ski the Upper and Lower Liftline trails extending directly down the fall-line of the face of the mountain, I was the only skier present throughout the entire vertical. There were no lift lines at any of the lifts. The majority of the times on the upper mountain trails me and my granddaughter may have been the only ones skiing the particular trail.
Activities Rating .4.0:
Of course Stratton is the unofficial home of snowboarding, and has a well renowned half-pipe and at least four terrain parks. South-central Vermont is chocked full of traditional towns and hamlets that make you want to stop in and just browse. I am not a shopper, but you have to visit Manchester. Shop-a-holics will think that they have died and gone to heaven at the number of designer outlet and discount stores. In Weston, Vermont there is the Vermont Country Store, where you will find unique items to buy. In addition, there is also the Weston Village Store where you can pick up a good selection of syrup, Christmas collectibles, and Vermont cheeses. Also, the town of Ludlow is only about 40 minutes from Stratton Mountain.
Value: - Rating 4.0:
I am truly betwixt and between when attempting to give Stratton a value rating. I am a blue collar skier interested only in the rush I receive when ripping a mountain. I dont care about underground parking, little boutique base villages, gourmet lunches, and ski bunnies in Bogners drinking cosmopolitans around the fireplace. But for some, that environment is the essence of skiing. Stratton, similar to Utahs Deer Valley and New Hampshires Bretton Woods, attempts to cater to that portion of the skiing population that feel that those things are necessary in a skiing experience. Somebody has to pay for such an environment, therefore Stratton aint cheap! My lunch of a cup of soup and a Dr. Pepper soda cost me just short of $10. You can enjoy Stratton without paying the exorbitant ticket prices by taking advantage to the many mid-week ski and stay packages that are thankfully offered by Stratton as well as the many of lodging facilities in the vicinity. I saved one third off the window price for lift tickets by staying at the Colonial House Inn under their mid-week ski-and-stay package. I recommend them highly (take a peek at my review of the Colonial House Inn). I have rated Stratton based upon my personal expenses under the protection of a great ski-and-stay lodging package. Otherwise, with Stratton exhibiting the highest weekend lift ticket prices in the east (even higher than the beast of the east, Killington), you would therefore have to rate Stratton a 1 with respect to value.
In summary, I had two good days of invigorating skiing, and I would definitely return to Stratton under a mid-week ski and stay package only. For a blue-collar ripper like me, paying the full lift ticket price cuts deeply into my overall skiing budget, wont present me with the challenge that I sometimes need, and isnt worth the additional money. But, suit yourself, Different strokes for different folks.
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JJ
from Brooklyn
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Mar 22, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 3.8 |
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The crowd issue did not apply to me as I went mid-week, which was even better than other mountains at mid-week - there were never more than 5-6 people head of me and I did not wait more than 2 minutes for a gondola, which was nice.
Gondola seats- VERY uncomfortable. They have to be kidding with their nursery school-sized seats. At these lift tickets prices, I think they can afford to create better seating.
The trails were OK, but a bit mundane - not the like longer, prettier trails at places like Stowe or Jay, but that is to be expected on a smaller mtn.
I don't use terrain parks but people were raving about them.
As for people complaining about tons of NY'ers et al being at these resorts--what do you expect? NY is the 3rd most populous state in the USA VT is among the tiniest! So, yes, you will see NY'ers at VT ski resorts. [The bigger question I wish someone could tell me is why NY state has so few resorts compared to VT. You never hear people cheering about a NY ski resort as you do a VT resort.]
The parking could be better. The garages are small and stuffed with massive SUVs taking up 2 spaces, and the outer lot is tiny.
Staff is very friendly and helpful. & I was happy there was no metal blasting out of the speakers at the lifts!
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Mike
from Wilton, CT and Stratton
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May 3, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.2 |
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I love Stratton. By far my most favorite mountain in the east. It always has perfect snow, a ton of snowmaking, and almost all the trails are groomed everyday. Also, it has fantastic, beautiful runs by the houses and through the nice woods of VT. Sure, the double diamonds are not the most challenging compared to Killington or Tremblante, but they are great. Extremly fast lifts and the lodges are very upscale and large. Also, the gondola is a bit aged, so the easiest and fastest way to get up to the top(to avoid the crowds)is to take the South American lift up to Ursa, or just go over to the sunbowl. Have fun at Stratton!
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Chris
from NJ
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Mar 27, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.2 |
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I found Stratton to be one of the best deals that I've ever found. Intrawest, its parent company, offers some great deals at its resorts for those of us that can't afford five-star ski/ride vacations. Other reviewers that are complaining about the $72 pass are missing the boat. Plan to stay at Stratton for a couple of days and you can't beat the prices. For 3 day ski pass and 4 nights lodging for 3 people I paid just under $800. When booking, I priced out a number of resorts and this was several hundred dollars cheaper than any other.
Although its not the most challenging mountain in the east, I found Stratton to have a nice variety of riding and especially enjoyed the woods. I thoroughly enjoyed my three days there and found that there was enough good riding to make it a great trip.
A couple of negatives: the gondala has to be the most uncomfortable ride ever, as its tiny seat hardly allows room enough to sit down. 12 people is definitely an exageration, unless they're all under 3. The resort is also kind of isolated and the only places to eat/drink are within the resort and therefore expensive. Plan to pay high prices for anything from water/food/beer/etc. or drive a distance to find better prices.
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Nick
from Long Island, New York
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Mar 5, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.4 |
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Have been going to Stratton EVERY SEASON for 3 years now. If u go midweek as a junior or college id or senior citizen pricing isnt to bad but $72 for an adult on a weekend is rediculous. Terrain is awesome, lots of trails for all experiences. Very high mt. Gondola is great when not busy. Service is great. Nice restrooms at ideal points on the mt. & they even have tissue boxes at the lifts :) haha. Overall great experiences. A+
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Quinn
from Albany,NY
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Feb 21, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 3.4 |
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okay,
what makes me frustrated is the fact that , the gondola does not hold nearly twelve people. Now normally that wouldn't get me mad, but this mountain was has hiked up the rate to 72 dollars. it has wonderful wide groomed runs, under the gondolar, might be one of the best cruisers in the east, it's wide, groomed, and long, at a decent pitch. but I just won't go here, even if it's just an extra three dollars. prices have been going up consistantly. I think the extra price is because the mountain is paying for things most don't utilize. it does have a kickass terrain park, and some nice skiing though : )
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N.
from Mass.
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Jan 30, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 2.2 |
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I've heard lots of raves about Stratton, but my family and I won't be going again. We'd rather drive further north and get away from the crowds here.
Despite all the wonderful things we were expecting, the day did not go well. First, the ski school check-in for the kids was crowded and disorganized. It took nearly 35 minutes to get them checked in (though they were preregistered and they had all their gear on and were ready to go.) Lots of pushing and shoving parents, no distinct lines, etc. I figured everything would be fine once the kids got in there, but no dice. My son was placed in the wrong group (after my husband told the person at the desk twice where to place my son.) He spent the morning in a group well beneath his level, and ended up waiting for the instructor and other kids and getting to do very little skiing. My husband checked in at noon, and was able to move my son up a group (the instructor agreed that he belonged in a different group.) But that was a half day wasted. The ski school instructors were very good at their jobs and were kid-friendly (so kudos to them) but the women running the checkout were out-and-out combative with several parents, even those who were patient and smiling while waiting for their kids at the end of the day. And God forbid you ask them questions--they'd blow you off, and if you asked for clarification, or asked your question again, they'd yell at you. (We were waiting for our kids' groups to come in, so we watched them do this with many parents.)
The day was no better for the adults in our party. It was a 45 minute wait from the time we got in the gondola line until we got off the gondola--the crowds were incredible. And the skiing felt rather dangerous. Far, far too many people on the slopes for safety. Because it was so crowded on the runs, people were skiing very nervously, and nervous skiiers are not safe skiiers. We quit skiing at midday, despite the gorgeous weather and snow conditions. It just didn't feel safe. (And the lift lines were very, VERY long.) We do not feel we got our money's worth.
One good point--the people running the ticket sales area and the people at the information booth were kind and helpful. So thank you to them. They were far and away the best things about the mountain. We also found the bus drivers (for the complimentary bus out to the parking lots) were informative and kind.
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Casey
from Saratoga Springs
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Jan 13, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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I love Stratton Mountain. Ive been Snowboarding since 1989 and have gone to every resort in the East. Stratton has great snowmaking and grooming and the best Terrain Parks. There have been a few times over the years where their terrain parks we not managed correctly, but Stratton stepped it up again this season and the parks are off the hook!
Either way you cut it, lift tickets are expensive. Doesnt matter which resort you go to, at least you can stay and ride at Stratton for less then most resorts on the east cost. If you live in Albany or Saratoga then its really easy to get to and one of the closest resorts around.
Two things to do while youre at Stratton.
1 Get wasted at the Green Door Pub
2 Make a trip 10 miles down the road to Hayes Brothers Snowboards Factory Shop and buy a new deck.
Casey Dougall
Web Applications Developer
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Christine Kang
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Dec 30, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 2.4 |
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There is one piece of information about Stratton that I want to share with others.
The X2 pass, which is advertised as being a great savings "every time you ski," is a misleading promotion. What they do not tell you is that the discounts do not apply to half-day tickets. So if you ski after 12pm, using your X2 pass is actually MORE expensive than just buying a half-day ticket.
It's also annoying because with the X2 pass, they automatically deduct money from your credit card - i.e. you do not see a receipt or know how much they've charged you until it's all over.
Other than that - the slopes are pretty decent, though they do get really crowded.
The people working the ticket counters often give conflicting information about prices, promotions, refunds, etc. And I've walked away feeling aggravated more than once.
Honestly, if I didn't have a free place to stay there (which I do), I don't think I would ever return again.
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Rob
from Northeast
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Dec 19, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 2.2 |
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$72 for a lift ticket for what amounts to incredibly overrated terrain and a lot of attitude is just no bargain at all. If you're looking for valet parking and a trendy, crowded place to be seen, this is the place. If you're looking for a a great family resort or a mountain with to notch terrain, look elsewhere (Burke, Magic Mountain, Jay, etc.).
