I paid over $1,200 for one weekend of skiing — nearly the same cost as my rent. Take a closer look at how expensive the sport really is.

Travelers often expect to pay hefty prices in ritzy ski towns like Aspen, Colorado, and Courchevel, France — two ski resorts known for luxury and their celebrity clientele.

Read more: A chalet girl at the world's most luxurious ski destination shares what the winter wonderland for the wealthy is like. Take a look around.

2023-02-03

But even beyond ski resorts beloved by the ultra-rich, the high price of skiing or snowboarding can cause a double take. I learned that the hard way on a recent trip to Winter Park, Colorado.

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Winter Park is home to 3,000 acres of skiable terrain. It's also been named the best ski resort in both Colorado and North America, according to Colorado's 5280 Magazine and USA Today, respectively.

Source: Winter Park Resort, 5280, USA Today

And outlets like Planet Ware and Sky-Hi News have previously ranked Winter Park as one of the most affordable resorts in Colorado.

Source: Planet Ware, Ski-Hi News

But from lifts to lessons and lodging, I thought that was far from the truth. A one-night, two-day trip in mid-January cost me $1,219.26.

My first expense started with figuring out how to get to the ski resort from my home in Denver, Colorado.

I've experienced the nightmare of ski traffic firsthand, so to minimize stress and soak in mountain views, I boarded Amtrak's Winter Park Express, a train that takes skiers on a direct two-hour ride from Denver to Winter Park.

Read more: I was one of the first people to ride Amtrak's Winter Park Express train to a Colorado ski resort this season. Here's what it's like.

And while I successfully dodged bumper-to-bumper traffic, the round-trip ticket did dig into my budget with a cost of $118.

Read more: I took Amtrak's seasonal ski train in Colorado during opening weekend. Here are the 6 best and 4 worst parts about the ride.

My next expense came when I disembarked in Winter Park un-caffeinated and hungry, and headed to the resort's Starbucks.

With nearly every breakfast item sold out, I ordered a toasted plain bagel and a coffee, which cost $12.31. Back in Denver, I pay $8.94 for the same order.

I soon realized that expensive food would be a theme throughout my trip. Later in the day, I stopped at Lime Cantina for lunch. Three mushroom street tacos and a tip cost $19.25.

My priciest meal came the next day at Winter Park's Derailer Bar. Here, I ordered a Beyond burger, which came out to $32.73. After the tip, I paid nearly $40 for the meal.

But a $40 burger was cheap in comparison to the actual price of skiing and snowboarding. Getting on the slopes was easily the most expensive part of my weekend.

I picked up gear at the resort's official rental shop where renting skis and snowboards cost the same. On my first day, I rented a snowboard and boots for $84, which included taxes and a $5 damage-protection fee.

On my second day, I rented a pair of skis, ski boots, and poles. Helmets are included in rentals, but I brought my own. Together, two days of rentals cost $168.

I also needed a lift ticket to get on the slopes. For the first day of my trip, I purchased a one-day lift ticket for $212. Lift tickets range from $113 to $239 depending on the day of the week and how far you purchase in advance, according to the resort's website.

Source: Winter Park Resort

On the second day of my trip, I took a ski class. At Winter Park, beginners like me are required to buy a discounted lift ticket for $74 on top of the class, which cost $189. But after paying $212 for my lift ticket the day before, I thought $263 was a bargain for a lesson and another lift ticket.

A hotel room was my other major expense. Since I didn't have a car, I wanted to book a hotel along the resort's free bus route. I chose one of the few remaining hotels with vacancies, the Winter Park Mountain Lodge.

One night in a room with two queen beds — the cheapest room available 10 days before my trip — cost $316 after taxes and fees.

Smaller expenses throughout the trip also added up. For example, I needed a locker on both days on the slopes, which cost a total of $18.

By the time I left the resort, I spent almost as much as I do on monthly rent in Denver.

I admit I could've made smarter financial decisions. I should've packed a PB&J for lunch like I've done on other ski trips. And if I skipped the train and drove, I would've spent around $30 on gas instead of $118 on a train ticket.

Read more: 8 ways I saved money while visiting Aspen, Colorado, one of the most expensive ski towns in the US

Even with those small changes, skiing is still an expensive hobby. But I also get the appeal. There's no other feeling like zooming down a mountain on a sunny day in beautiful Colorado.