Aspen and affordable usually don't go together, but if you're looking to ski for less, we figured out the secret.

A ski trip to Aspen is often amalgamated with high prices, making it feel less accessible to budget conscious travelers. And while the resort does a decent job of helping families stretch their dollar with family discounts and lodging bundles, if you're looking to ski on the cheap, lower cost options are typically found elsewhere. Later in the season, however, prices begin to shift. Spring can bring a range of discounts across lift tickets, lodging, and gear.

Lift Tickets and Ski Rentals

Starting with lift tickets, non Ikon passholders will see window rates drop to about $100 a day for adults or $81 for kids, teens, and seniors. That's a savings of over 40 percent off a regular season price. Families with kids in tow can get free lift tickets for those aged between 7 and 12 with the purchase of two days of kids' rentals from Four Mountain Sports. No kids? You can still save 15 percent off the price of rentals if you bundle through the resort at least one day in advance.

Bundling gear and lift tickets will help skiers save year round, especially in the spring. (Photo: Courtesy of Aspen Snowmass)

New for next season, the resort has announced 'flex' packs of tickets starting at $679 for adults for four days of skiing at any mountain at any time, no blackout dates. While you're likely to get a better deal waiting for spring pricing, if you're thinking of skiing any other time during the season, including pricey holiday periods, the pass can be a big savings. Prices will increase on June 26, and the pass will likely go off sale sometime in the fall.

Gear Deals

Another massive perk of spring skiing is deals on gear. Aspen has no shortage of ski shops looking to offload this season's gear as they make room for all the new. In the Snowmass mall, the Four Mountain Sports Outlet is offering everything from bathing suits to baselayers, outerwear, and accessories for up to 60 percent off. Everything I Wish I Knew Before Skiing Aspen Snowmass For The First Time. Another locals' tip is to scour regional Facebook and Reddit pages, as many skiers are looking to offload buddy passes and discount codes that won't otherwise get used. It never hurts to ask.

Lodging and Dining

Something important to keep in mind is that much of Aspen shuts down during their 'shoulder seasons.' Aspen's spring shoulder season, usually spanning late April through late May, brings a partial slowdown. Many hotels, restaurants, and businesses close temporarily during this period, along with the airport, as operations scale back between winter and summer. In the weeks leading up to that lull, lodging prices tend to drop. The Limelight Snowmass, a vibrant family friendly hotel at the base of Snowmass, offers some of the lowest rates of the season in April, plus with more availability, your chances of being upgraded to a room with a slopeside view are always higher. The Mollie offers Spring Break deals with discounts on rooms, food, and beverage credits, and free valet parking. Colorado residents can pile up the savings at popular (read, expensive) hotels like The Little Nell, the Mollie, and the Limelight. You can save up to 30 percent and score perks like free breakfast and parking. Add these deals to already lowered spring pricing for ultimate savings.

Dining promotions also appear during this period. For example, the Hotel Jerome has introduced a three course prix fixe menu starting at $55, sometimes paired with programming at the Wheeler Theatre. Even flying to Aspen can be cheaper during the spring. You're also less likely to deal with the weather related delays that plague the winter. And if you're driving from Eagle Vail airport or Denver, road conditions are typically more manageable. Of course, spring skiing is not without challenges. Spring is less predictable when it comes to weather, and resorts may close earlier than originally planned. This year, Buttermilk abruptly closed for the season with only a few hours' notice. The four Aspen mountains have traditionally held different closing days, with Ajax and Snowmass usually open the latest. As of publication time, Snowmass is closed, and Ajax is slated to close on April 19.

Jamie Aranoff is the Digital Editor at SKI. She is an avid traveler, runner, and skier. Before joining SKI, Jamie was an editor at Travel + Leisure and on the ABC News network. Jamie is a lifelong New Yorker: she grew up on Long Island, attended school upstate, and currently resides in NYC. He is a strong proponent of the window seat and her life goal is to ski every continent.

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