The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: November fourteenth, with a tip for planning inexpensive ski trips.

It's that time of year when skiers start paying attention to weather reports and hatching getaway plans to hit the slopes. Paying for transportation, accommodations, lift tickets and meals can turn a ski trip into an expensive proposition. Here's one way skiers can keep their costs down. Have a hostel experience.

Although they tend to be associated with cities, American Youth Hostels have facilities in 43 ski areas across the country, from Alaska to Vermont. All provide dormitory-style lodgings for travelers of all ages. Hostels have separate accommodations for males and females, but many also have rooms for couples and families. There are fully- equipped, self-service kitchens, dining areas and common rooms for relaxing and socializing. Many ski area hostels also boast unexpected amenities such as hot tubs and fireplaces. Here's the best part: overnight fees range from just $7 to $25 per person, per night. Furthermore, many hostels have arranged special packages with local ski areas that provide discounts on lift tickets and shuttle buses.

Here's a sampling. Colorado has six hostels near ski areas like Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Purgatory and Vail. Vermont hostels are near Killington, Middlebury, Stratton and Suicide Six. Pennsylvania has eight hostels, several of which are situated near ski areas on state parks. They cross-country ski from the hostels in Minnesota's Itasca State Park and Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation area.

Hostels: one way to enjoy the snow without breaking your budget.

FMI For a complete listing of hostels near U.S. ski areas, call Hosteling International American Youth Hostels at 202-783-6161 or visit their Web site at www.hiayh.org

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