Set on a hilltop overlooking the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, the plucked-from-the-Gilded-Age Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club is just a two-hour drive from New York City and Boston. The historic Cranwell Mansion, built in 1894, is the centerpiece of the 380-acre resort which boasts golf courses, 6 miles of cross-country skiing trails, and an award-winning spa. It's the only four-diamond resort in the Berkshires. This winter, Cranwell is offering a Two-Night Berkshire Ski Package, with rates starting at $272 per adult (kids stay free, so it's $544 for a family of four) Sunday through Thursday and $299 per adult (or $598 for the family) on weekends and holidays. The package is being positioned as a deal for families, but is it really? We crunched some numbers. The package includes:
- Two nights of Superior Resort accommodations for two adults and two children under 12 sharing one room (worth $610 for a “resort double” room, weekend stay)
- Two Country Buffet breakfasts for two adults and two children under 12 years (worth $20/adult and $13/child 5-12, for a total of $66)
- Two lift tickets per adult to nearby Jiminy Peak (worth $224) or Butternut Ski areas (worth $220 on weekends)
- Unlimited cross-country skiing at Cranwell (trail passes worth $16/day x2 adults + $12/day x 2 kids 6-12 = $56, equipment rental not included)
- One casual dinner at Sloane’s Tavern for two adults and two children under 12 years (valued at $90, figuring $35/adult and $10/child)
- Complimentary access to the resort’s 60-food heated indoor pool and use of the spa’s saunas, whirlpools and steam rooms for adults (always offered at no charge to all guests)
For a two-night weekend stay, this package costs $598 for a family of four with two kids 5 to 12. Note, however, that this ski package doesn’t include lift tickets for kids, which on a weekend will set you back an additional $172-$196 for two days at Jiminy Peak or $180 for two days at Butternut. So your total spend would be closer to $868 (2 days of Butternut lift tickets = $180 + $598 package price).
If you purchased the package's elements separately, the same two-night/three-day weekend stay would cost $1222 (including $180 for two days of kids’ lift tickets at Butternut and one-day trail passes for cross-country skiing), so the package saves you $354. (If you chose to ski at Jiminy Peak, where lift tickets cost more, you'd save another $20 with the package).
Deal or no deal? A deal! For active, skiing families that like luxury, this package delivers posh surroundings at the Cranwell plus three days out in the snow. Since the regular weekend rate at the Cranwell runs $610 for two nights, you essentially get three meals and lots of slope time for just $258 extra—a 29% savings on what those elements would normally cost.
Note: Blackout dates are January 16-28 and February 13-21.
