1. Pre-Purchase lift tickets in advance and save up to $100 on a 6-day ticket when you pre-purchase online at vail.com 14 days in advance of your arrival. Plus, you'll get to skip the ticket window and go straight to the lifts. Don't wait, pre-purchase your tickets today.

2. The Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6) out of Golden Peak to the Northwoods Express Lift (#11) will get you up on the mountain and to the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin faster than any other access point. Take the free town shuttle east from the covered bridge. The shuttle stops just below the Golden Peak base area the Riva Bahn Express lift at Golden Peak.

3. If there is a line at the Eagle Bahn Gondola, take the Born Free Express (Chair #8) to the Avanti Express (Chair #2) and you'll get up the mountain just as fast, if not faster! Be sure to use the catwalk through the trees above the bottom of the Avanti Express Lift (#2) to access the usually shorter line on the opposite (east) side of the lift.

4. Take a lesson/guided mountain tour on your first day at Vail Mountain to learn the mountain and all the hot spots. Whether you want to learn a new sport, improve your skills or just want to find the stashes that only the locals know.

5. Click here to find recommedations on how to have the Perfect Day on Vail Mountain - there's a day designed for every ability level... both skiers and snowboarders!

6. On a powder day, start with an early run down the west side of Sun Down bowl to High Noon Lift (Chair #5). Move on to China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin before 10:00 a.m. when most people are just getting to the Back Bowls and the lift lines grow.

7. Stop by our New Technology Center located across from Patrol Headquarters at the top of Mountain Top Express Lift (Chair #4) and Northwoods Express Lift (Chair #11) to try out the latest in equipment featuring shaped skis, powder skis, and skis designed just for women.

8. If your legs are tired at the end of the day, download on the Vista Bahn Express (#16), the Riva Bahn Express (#6) or the LionsHead Gondola (#19).

9. Look for the Lunch for Less symbol at participating restaurants to get a deal on a lunch meal.

10. If you are heading to Blue Sky Basin, pack a lunch or stop in Two Elk to pick up a sack lunch to take with you. There are no food options once you get back there, only a warming hut with water and bathrooms and a few grills to cook-out yourself.