The country may not yet see snowy slopes and winter flurries, but expert skiers and their families are already planning their next ski vacation. Sure, there are only a handful of open ski resorts in the US, and most of them already offer a whole new set of attractions that don’t involve making snow angels.

But making arrangements this early has a couple of advantages. To name a few:

overcoming the rush

Imagine having to book your ski trip at the last minute, and you’re halfway there only to realize you’ve left your skis behind! Or what if you take a chance on cheap hosting that looks good on paper (or on the web) and then arrive only to be disappointed? This happens when you plan your vacation in panic mode (Read: less than a month before peak season). When you plan your getaway ahead of time, you still have plenty of time to research the best accommodations and create an itinerary everyone can agree on. It also allows you to plan your wardrobe and decide what equipment you will need.

The early riser gets the best accommodations

When you book your vacation in advance, you get the first privileges in chalets, apartments or first class hotel rooms. You can even request a room a stone’s throw from the slopes! Booking in advance also means you can choose your flight times, slots in day care and ski schools for your kids, and the best table at your favorite restaurant.

And big discounts too!

Many ski resorts offer a host of early booking incentives for those who plan ahead. Enjoy big savings on lodging, airfare, bulk ski passes, and lift tickets when you book well in advance of everyone else.

When the high season or the beginning of the ski season arrives, the prices start to rise up to premium rates.

Flexible payment terms

In addition to discounts, ski resorts may also offer down payment options for ski passes and other fees to those who book early. For example, you can pay half the price now and then pay the rest in September. This allows you to save for the getaway you and your family have been dreaming of since the end of the season, without running up credit card debt and interest.

You can always risk finding last minute deals. But you could miss out on many early bird promotions that could save you big! And while planning your winter getaway while everyone else is getting ready to hit the beach and get a tan might seem strange to others, you’ll be giving yourself a thoughtful ski vacation that you and your entire family will surely appreciate and enjoy.