Ski season has officially begun. The early season is when skiers can find the best deals—crowds and prices jump at Christmas. But snowfall is unpredictable now, so consider the higher-elevation resorts of the West, where many areas plan to open by Thanksgiving.

Stay three nights at the Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa, in Jackson, Wyo., for $330 per person, which includes two lift tickets and breakfast daily (Dec. 1–20; tetonlodge.com). Book by Nov. 16 and stay two nights with two days of skiing at Breckenridge’s Liftside Studios ($160 per person; breckenridge.com). Colorado’s smaller ski areas offer some of the best prices. Loveland offers a four-pack of tickets for $109 with no blackout dates (skiloveland.com). Monarch Mountain’s $27 early-season tickets are valid through Dec. 14 (skimonarch.com).

Beginners get the best deals, as the ski industry wants to win new customers. Learn to ski or snowboard for $25, rental gear included, Dec. 8–9 at California’s Lake Tahoe (squaw.com). Kirkwood offers a $5 discount for tickets bought online (kirkwood.com). For more ski deals, check wholesalers like ski.com, which buy and resell large blocks of rooms and tickets at reduced prices.

—Paul Tolme