Spring Break Snows: 25 Percent Off Gear, Free Kids' Lift Tix and Meals in Colorado

During spring break, many students hit the sands or the slopes for a much needed break from studying and this is a great deal for those heading chilly.

To fit in with most students' non-existent budget, the large rental gear outfiter Skiset has announced a "Spring Break Special" making it more affordable for high school or college students to rent skis and snowboards at their favorite resort.

According to the company, they have long offered student discounts to their customers in Europe, where the company was founded in 1994 by a group of former world champion skiers and independent ski rental store owners including Annie Famose, Patrick Lepeudry and Leo Lacroix. The company now has more than 750 stores in 11 countries on two continents, and last year served nearly 2 million customers with a turnover of US$520 Million (EUR350 million). This year, students skiing in Europe will benefit from the best offer -- a 45% discount on gear rental.

Tony Lyle, VP North America for Skiset adds, "North America is just as important and our Spring Break special is only the start of specials for college students." To access the rental discounts, which range from 25% to 45% depending on location and gear package, students have to pre-reserve a package on the Skiset USA website.

Since you may have booked transportation and lodging already, instead of waiting till you get to the mountains, go online in advance, book and save. That way, as Skiset says, young customers will be "guaranteed quality equipment and will save valuable money for that all important apres ski!" When you book on their site, you'll have to use the promotion code: springbreak

And if you've convinced the whole family to head to Colorado this spring -- and have younger siblings -- through April 18, 2010, Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa is offering a special Kids Ski and Eat Free package. Families who arrive on a Sunday or Monday night, and book four or more nights, will receive two complimentary three-day children’s ski passes valid at Vail or Beaver Creek, and free dinner for children 12 and under at the hotel's Terra Bistro restaurant.

The ski passes are available for up to 2 kids ages 5 to 12. To enjoy the free dining perk, families will have to be seated for dinner at 5:30pm -- it sounds early now but after a day on the slopes, you'll probably be delighted to eat early. Kids will be able to select what they want from the kids' menu, and big kids will be done eating early enough to plan some apres ski fun.

In addition to the free ski passes, everyone in the family can expect complimentary daily breakfast, entrance to the Vail Athletic Club, free ski storage and a shuttle to the mountain each day.  To book you can visit the Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa website or call 866/326-6094.

If you're not getting rental equipment from the shops at Vail or Beaver Creek, you can still take advantage of Skiset's offer at Alta, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Big Sky, Breckenridge, Brighton, Buttermilk, Canaan Valley, The Canyons, Crested Butte, Deer Valley, Heavenly Lake Tahoe, June Mountain, Killington, Kirkwood, Mammoth, Moonlight Basin, Park City, Powder Mountain, Sierra At Tahoe, Snowbasin, Snowbird, Snowmass, Snowshoe, Solitude, Steamboat, Sun Valley, Timberline, Winter Park, Wintergreen, and Winterplace.

In Canada Skiset have stores that cover the mountain resorts at Fernie, Kimberley, Lake Louise, Marmot Basin, Mt. Norquay, Panorama, Revelstoke, Sunshine, and Whistler Blackcomb.