Its about that time of the year again for my annual "where should I go skiing this year?" thread. So here it is.

We're finally ready to take the next step and go out west finally. We're looking at 7-9 days including travel time. Couple of factors to consider include:
1. Price. We're not doing this on the cheap per say, but we aren't looking for top of the line prices by any means. I'm still a bargain hunter at heart.
2. Location relative to major airport. We'd like to keep out travel time as low as possible, so within reason, the less we have to drive, the better.

Thanks in advance.

Vail, CO

I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen.

Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge

How about Mt. Bachelor in scenic Bend, OR?

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'll check them out. Keep 'em coming.

I've only looked at Keystone so far, but it looks pretty nice and very affordable.

This.

And Park City offers some fantastic deals (e.g., free lift tickets).

Keystone is great, look for a deal with three day ski passes that include one day at Vail. If you are all the way out here then you might as well have one great day at Vail.
Also, if you are looking for good night life, try and find a place in Breckenridge. They have by far the most going on after the sun goes down. The drive from Breck to Keystone isn’t more than 15 minutes and parking at Keystone is a breeze.

Whistler BC

I'm looking at Keystone right now. 7 nights w/ 5 days lift tix for two people (optional two days at Vail or Beaver Creek). Its a 1 bedroom condo w/ full kitchen for $1,522. Or 6 days lift tix (3 at Vail) for $1,602. So far that seems to be the best deal I can find, add to that I've heard good things about Keystone and we could spend a day or two at Vail, and I'm close to sold.

Steamboat Springs is fun too if you want to go further North in Colorado. Not too far from Breckenridge

I like the Utah idea.

Edit: Make that $1,466/$1,546 respectively.
That sounds like a good deal to me, but I can only base that off of what I've looked at the last two days as I have no point of reference for Denver area ski trip costs. Is this a decent deal?

So I just booked my trip for Keystone. Super stoked. So this is what the lift ticket policy says:

So what's the best way for a first time Colorado skiier to spend his five days out there?

I look forward to this thread every year.

Oh, I don't know. The French are assholes.

snowmass in aspen is great... its huge so you can go all day without repeating runs

When I saw the new title, I thought B was gonna go apeshit in this thread.

It's pretty much the RM version of the groundhog checking to see his shadow.