I spent $1,200 on a weekend ski trip, but I could've saved $500 if I avoided these 5 money-sucking mistakes

I've lived in Denver, Colorado, for over a year and have experienced firsthand that the outdoors aren't as cheap as some might imagine.

My climbing shoes cost $100. A hiking backpack cost me $60. The water bladder for said hiking backpack cost $20. Even a can of bear spray can cost upward of $60.

And that's just scratching the surface. Since moving to Colorado in June 2021, I've likely spent thousands of dollars on gear, clothing, campsites, and the other odds and ends that are often needed to access the outdoors.

So when I planned a weekend of skiing and snowboarding in Winter Park, Colorado, in January 2023, I knew it wouldn't be cheap. But when my expenses tallied up to be over $1,220 — nearly as much as my rent — I was shocked.

Reflecting on the trip, I made some money mistakes and estimate I could've saved about $500 if I had done a few things differently.

While I wasn't thrilled to board Amtrak's Winter Park Express train before the sun was up, there were a handful of perks I was looking forward to because of the ride.

The early-morning train, which was a direct, two-hour ride from downtown Denver to Winter Park, meant I'd be one of the first skiers on the slopes. I also thought it was a stress-free ride compared to the traffic and icy roads drivers often face on the highway leading to the resort.

In my opinion it was a worthy splurge, but I didn't think it was cheap. The round-trip train, which included a departing ticket on Saturday and a return ticket for Sunday, cost $118.

Meanwhile, gas to and from Winter Park would've cost around $30, according to the US Department of Energy. So I already was spending $90 extra just by choosing to take the train instead of a car. Plus, if I carpooled with four friends, my share of gas would've been even cheaper at $7.50.

A car would've also saved me from spending extra money on an Uber ride or a commuter train ticket to and from the Denver train station. I took one each way, which cost a total of $15.

Together, carpooling would've saved me close to $125.

I booked my hotel 11 days before my trip. The trip was scheduled over a holiday weekend, and as I started scrolling through my lodging options, I realized there wasn't much scrolling to do.

Nearly every hotel was already full. And since I was taking the train and wouldn't have a car, I wanted to be close to the resort and stay somewhere serviced by the town's free shuttle bus. One of the only available options I spotted that fit those needs was the Winter Park Mountain Lodge.

When I booked, there were just two rooms left at the lodge. I reserved the cheapest room, which had two queen-sized beds, for $316 after taxes and fees.

If I planned my trip earlier or traveled during a less popular weekend, I could've saved a lot of money. For example, rooms at the Winter Park Mountain Lodge cost an average of $180 a night, according to Choice Hotels — about $130 less than what I paid.

And if I had a car, I could have saved even more by booking a cheaper hotel farther from town. For example, about 20 minutes north of the resort, lodging at the Valley Hi Motel starts at $80 and a room in the Hideaway Mountain Lodge costs $120.

Without being restricted distance and dates-wise, I estimate I could've pocketed $150 in savings.

I didn't have a kitchen in my hotel room, nor the forethought to pack supplies for meals, so I dined out for the entirety of the weekend.

I quickly regretted my decision. When I was handed a menu at the Derailer Bar in Winter Park, the cheapest thing I spotted was the queso, which cost $10. Entrees ranged from $20 to $29, and besides the queso and fried pickles, there was only one vegetarian option for me: a Beyond burger.

I ordered the burger, which cost $29. After taxes and a tip, it was closer to $40.

That was just one meal of five. Eating out for the entire weekend totaled $110.

If I packed a few PB&Js, protein bars, and simple breakfasts, I estimate that I would've saved around $80.

To get onto the slopes, whether you choose to ski or snowboard, you need a lift ticket, and those can sell for hundreds of dollars.

At Winter Park Resort, lift tickets cost between $113 to $239 depending on the day of the week and how far you purchase in advance, according to their website.

My one-day lift ticket cost $212. For my second day in Winter Park, I spent $263 on a ski lesson and a lift ticket.

If I had been more strategic about when I visited Winter Park, I could have chosen one of the cheapest days, and would have saved $99 on the single lift ticket.

I don't own skis or a snowboard and had to rent gear for both days at Winter Park.

I thought it would be easiest to rent my gear from the resort's official rental site. It was near the train station, and since I knew I wanted to rent both skis and a snowboard, swapping between the two was convenient since it was close to the slopes.

For the first day, I rented a snowboard and boots. This cost $84, which included taxes and a $5 damage-protection fee. On the second day, I rented a pair of skis, ski boots, and poles, which cost the same as a snowboard after taxes and fees. In total, I spent $168 for two days worth of rentals.

It definitely was easy, but I paid extra for that convenience. Those prices were marked up compared to other off-site rental places I saw.

My hotel lodge, for example, had an in-house Beaver Sports Shop. If I rented from here, I would've paid about $118 for the same gear, which would've saved me $50.

Some parts of my weekend, like the Amtrak ride, were worthy of a one-time splurge. Other parts, like a $40 burger, were, in my opinion, not.

So for future frugal-focused weekends in Winter Park or elsewhere, I won't make the same mistakes again.

I'll be shoving protein bars in my ski jacket, jamming to music while I carpool with friends, and renting gear from less convenient, yet cheaper places.