This winter's top ski destinations and deals

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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Need ideas for a ski trip this winter? Here are some ski destination lists and deals to inspire.

TripAdvisor’s ski list focuses on overlooked and under budget destinations. We’re talking resorts like Jay Peak in Westfield, Vermont; Solitude Mountain in Solitude, Utah; Taos Ski Valley in Taos, New Mexico; and Diamond Peak in Incline Village, Lake Tahoe.

Orbitz’ list highlights the most popular ski destinations, calculated by hotel and vacation package bookings. Lake Tahoe comes in first, followed by Mammoth Lakes, California; Park City, Utah; Breckenridge, Colorado; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

If getting a deal is paramount, there are also a number of offers to look into this winter. Avid skiers in New England may find the Powder Passport more economical than individual lift tickets.

Vacation rental company ResortQuest is offering a snow guarantee that allows people to switch destinations if snow conditions aren’t good enough at their pre-booked location. Ski.com has teamed up with United to offer a kids fly free deal, good for children 12 and under skiing with their families at select resorts in the Rockies. That deal also includes free skiing and equipment rentals for kids at Vail and Beaver Creek resorts.

(Editor’s Note: SmarterTravel.com is published by Smarter Travel Media LLC, a member of the TripAdvisor Media Network.)

Have a great travel tip you’d like to share? Send your insider travel strategies to editor@smartertravel.com.

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