Shannon, who has visited most of the ski resorts in Colorado, shares that the first thing he thinks to pack when embarking on a ski trip is plenty ... doesn't break the bank.

that's not the only strategy to make a ski trip affordable. Here are five tips he and other experts recommend if you're considering a mountain vacation and don't want to break the bank.

Aspen, Colorado, and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, attract celebrities and wealthy travelers. I've visited both and prefer the more affordable ski town.