Last minute New Year's vacation with my kids. Got on the Killington website, I guess they own Pico now also, and tried their Book Blind deals. I had a budget of about $1,000 with three kids, and gave it a shot with the two night (minimum) stay. I think I got something like 40% off on lift tickets too. I was surprised that even though I booked via Killington, I was staying at Pico but then learned lift tickets were good for both. Check in time wasn't til 5pm which seemed late to me but I don't ski much so this is new to me.
Drove to Killington early and had a great day but that is a big mountain for beginning skiers. Lifts shut down a little earlier than the advertised 4pm and we were stuck far from our car on accident. There are several lodges on the Mountain and they all look alike. Mountain maps and trail names didn't match up. Shuttles came every 10 minutes, yeah right try 30 minutes. Then when it comes they can take only three. Which kid do I leave behind? The three people behind us were happy.
Finally back to the car, exhausted, wet, and cold. Drove to the Pico Condos. Front desk was pleasant but inexperienced. Went in room and "Oh my". The building seemed dated, one kid asked if the elevator was going to make it. The room was at the end of the building (I am 6'3" and my 14 yr old is taller) and the ceiling had a drastic slant to it. I was also upset that there was no fireplace, since all the pics and descriptions had them. I didn't think changing the room would be a problem since the place looked deserted. The guy at the front desk was a really nice kid and tried to make some calls to help us out. Told us to wait in the room and he would call us in 10 mins. Took my cell# because he didn't know how to call the room??? 30 minutes later I come back to the desk in no mood to argue and willing to cut my losses. I did get a little frustrated when I told the desk guy what I didn't like about the room and he just relayed the part about the fireplace. Sorry but my head hitting the ceiling in half the room, the funky smell, etc. was really the point. Apparently using the Blind booking option gives you no rights what so ever. You got the discount so you take what you get and stop bothering us. I was a little frustrated but just wanted to unpack and get the kids some food on New Year's Eve. The desk kid said he found a room not at the the end, of course he did the place was nearly empty. We went into the 2nd floor room and Wow, what a difference. Fireplace, nicer kitchen, cleaner, everything, now that's what I am talking about. Now we just had to find the key to the wood shed to get wood, nope we got the spare at the desk. It was my B-day so I wanted a glass of wine. The kitchen had everything from a garlic press to a Turkey baster but now cork screw. My son came back with the front desk guy's really nice swiss army knife.
So to rate: the new room was clean, even though $300 is a lot for a night to me, apparently it is low end for ski resorts so a decent value with the lift ticket discounts. I found the bed very uncomfortable (firm). Next day we skied Pico Mountain. This was a better Mountain for us. Never got lost, got down the hill before legs were burning, short walk back to room, not as many people. Ordered Pizza, wings and calzones from the local favorite spot and it was very good and delivered hot and not too late for New Year's Eve. Next night Dinner at the Southwest Grill near Killington. Amazing dinner and service, of course a lot more $ than pizza. Kids loved the chicken in a maple syrup creation, table bread was jalepeno corn bread. I wasn't too impressed with dinning, bar, etc. at the condo's. Again all the thanks in the world to that kid at the front desk, because the people he called on the phone for help at first didn't care about my family at all. I don't think I will book "blind" again with kids but it was an adventure and worked out in the end.