Top Skiing Bargains Near Philadelphia

Are you a man? Discount. Are you a woman? Discount. A student? Discount.

You get the picture. It sounds like the effervescent TV tout of auto insurance fame. In this case it's Pennsylvania ski and snowboard resorts offering a broad array of discounts for most human conditions. Matter of fact, if you're a Super-Senior (70 +) you'll ski free at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Jack Frost and Big Boulder among a few others, 7 days a week. However, most discounts are reserved for mid-week. Keeping in mind that lift tickets in Pennsylvania typically sell for between $40 and $58, here's how to latch onto slopeside savings at the most popular regional resorts. -Jay Lloyd

At Spring Mountain near Schwenksville, men score $15 tickets on Mondays. The same deal for women on Tuesdays. A business card gets you a $5 discount on Wednesdays and all students pay only $18 on Thursdays. Friday is college night with an $18 lift ticket. For all the details, go to: http://springmountainadventures.com/dailyprices.php

Bear Creek Mountain Resort near Macungie in Berks County salutes all active and retired military, active police, fire department and EMS personnel with a $10 discount Monday through Friday. Children of active military are also included. On Mondays, college students score $20 tickets and on Wednesdays, members of ski and snowboard clubs pay just $15. See all the discount deals at: http://bcmountainresort.com/winter/winter_rates.aspx

Heading to the Poconos and Blue Mountain near Palmerstown there's a $10 price break Monday through Friday for college students. Men get the $10 cut on Mondays, business people on Tuesdays and women on Wednesdays. Active military and the over 65 crowd takes $10 off 7 days a week. Find all the pricing info at: http://www.skibluemt.com/SkiBlue/tickets-and-passes/daily-specials.aspx

At sister resorts Jack Frost and Big Boulder active, reserve and retired military members and their dependents rate a $20 lift ticket on weekdays, $30 on weekends. At Jack Frost, college students harvest a $25 ticket on Wednesdays while Big Boulder offers a nighttime Wednesday tag for $15. For more deals, check out: http://www.jfbb.com/plan/deals-and-packages

At Camelback Mountain near Tannersville, the Pocono's largest ski and snowboard complex, active duty military musters with a $43.75 ticket. That's a $14.25 break on weekends. Women who ski in pairs can pick up 2 tickets for $48 on Wednesdays. The two for one deal is good for on-line purchase only. For more pricing info, go to: http://www.skicamelback.com/SkiCamelback/Tickets-and-Passes/Ticket-Rates.aspx

Shawnee Mountain near Marshall's Creek has teamed up with the classic Shawnee Inn Resort to offer a $99 midweek package that includes lodging and an all-day lift ticket. It's $88 if you just want to spend a day in the snow tube chutes instead of on the slopes. Shawnee has also posted a variety of discount coupons that include $8 adult midweek breaks and $5 discounts on weekends. To print the coupons, go to: http://www.shawneemt.com/tickets-passes/discounts_deals.html

A few tips:

-- Check your favorite ski shop for discount tickets and low priced Customer Appreciation Days.

-- Many suburban municipalities offer discount lift tickets. Some towns offer package trips that include bus transportation.

-- Popular ski and snowboard resorts now post discount prices if you buy your tickets on-line.

-- The month of January is "Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month" at most Pennsylvania resorts. They offer low cost packages for beginning skiers that include lift tickets, lessons and rental equipment.

So, go play in the snow without cracking the piggy bank.