Hello, there.  My name is Leslie  and I'm at Ski.com, 800-908-5000, extension 3671.  I specialize in South American ski vacations.  While Bariloche is definitely very interesting and has a lot of character, Portillo and Valle Nevado are by far the easiest to get to.  Valle Nevado offers the most variety in skiing, and the most terrain in Chile, with three areas interconnecting.  It's quite popular with families.

If you would like, I could offer some pricing in both areas - Bariloche and Valle Nevado.  With Bariloche, you would fly to Buenos Aires switch airports and then fly to Bariloche.  We recommend and overnight in BA on arrival to decompress after the long flight from the States.  In Bariloche, we offer accommodations both at the mountain and in the town (20-25 minutes from skiing).

In most cases with very few exceptions, properties require a seven night stay - Valle Nevado books Friday to Friday stays and Bariloche books Saturday to Saturday no exceptions for properties on the mountain.  Properties in the town are a bit more flexible at certain times.

You must both have valid passports, of course, and there is currently a $100 per passengers visa fee upon entering Chile.  They'll stamp the visa right into your passport.

Are you looking for economy, mid-range, or deluxe accommodations?  You can send me an e-mail with all pertinent information to:  leslie@ski.com.  Hope to hear from you soon!