"Out-there Asia Minor
Heading overseas? If the weak dollar has put that trip to the Alps just out of reach, consider looking a bit farther out to the relative bargain slopes of a place like Turkey. There are a half-dozen or so decent resorts in a wide range of terrain, accessibility and nearby goings-on.
Saklikent, above the costal city of Antalya, is close enough to the warm waters of the Mediterranean for an apr�s-ski dip. Erciyes, nearly dead-center of the country, is located on a volcano. Uludag, the closest to country's commercial and cultural capital of Istanbul, may be the Ionian Mt. Olympus, but it is has lately become better known for its bars and bustle than divine skiing.
For the biggest and best, look to the mountain fastnesses of Turkey's Wild East: Palandoken and Sarikamis. These areas are really just beginning to develop, with limited amenities and essentially nonexistent nightlife. But the summits come well over 10,000 feet, the powder snow runs deep, and, with nearby cities like Erzurum and Kars among the oldest in the world, it is a rare chance to experience the Cradle of Civilization slopeside.
Cautionary note: Turkish resorts tend to take a more relaxed view of operations than liability-obsessed Americans. Obstacles are rarely marked, and the lifts can be quirky. In other words, safety is definitely not first -- nor even a distant second.
Rates vary wildly depending on the mountain and type of accommodation, but they will be far less than half the cost of anything similar in the U.S. or Western Europe. That goes for the food and drink, too. In the winter, a ticket on Turkish Airlines from Chicago or New York to just about anywhere on their home turf can be had for $600 or even less."
Cut fresh trails at unusual ski destinations
