Sure, the East Coast may have experienced a bit of an "Indian Summer" recently, with unseasonably warm weather, but our Travel-Expert-in-Residence, Rudy Maxa, is back with a cool deal on skiing out West.

So, can we can find skiing deals this time of year? You bet -- right up until just before Christmas, when ski resorts are traditionally filled.

Since the American dollar is so strong against the Canadian dollar, looking northwest to British Columbia is always a good idea. Whistler Mountain has packages running from November 23rd through December 20th that start at just $399 a person -- that's U.S. dollars -- for 5 nights accommodations, lift passes, and transportation to and from Vancouver airport. Now, considering lift tickets at places like Aspen can cost $60 a day, you're getting your hotel and airport transfer for next to nothing. It's based on two people traveling together.

Or, you can go to www.whistlerblackcomb.com and find roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles plus 3 nights lodging for not much more than $400 per person. It would be $510 from New York, but, c'mon, that's not a bad price for airfare alone -- and, when you include a hotel room, it's a deal.

And, for great skiing deals south of the 49th parallel (uh, in the U.S.), resorts such as Telluride, Stratton Mountain in Vermont and Winter Park in Colorado have pre-holiday season deals as well.

Savvy Resources: Whistler Mountain: 800-944-7853 or www.mywhistler.com Other western Canadian deals: www.whistlerblackcomb.com Telluride, Colorado: Hotel Telluride at 866-468-3501 or www.thehoteltelluride.com. Other Telluride offers: 866-287-5015. Stratton Mountain, Vermont, deals: 800-787-2886. Children under 17 stay and ski free from Dec. 1-19 when two adults buy a Lift & Lodging package at rates beginning at $59 per person per night. Winter Park, Colorado: Book the Free4 promotion by Dec. 15 and get a fourth night's lodging and lift ticket free with three-day purchase. Details: 800-979-0332 or www.skiwinterpark.com