Choosing a Winter Resort

Are you planning a vacation to a winter resort this year, or are you just looking for a good ski area? The key to choosing a winter resort is knowing what you’re looking for in a vacation. The perfect resort for your friends’ honeymoon may not work so well for your family vacation, and vice versa. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your ideal winter wonderland.

What skill level are you?

Whether you ski or snowboard, it’s important to take your skill level into consideration when choosing a mountain getaway. Ski resorts with beginner and intermediate classes for both adults and children are best if you or members of your family are still learning. Vacation packages that provide equipment rentals and lessons are also ideal for beginners, intermediate skiers, and families.

No matter your abilities, though, make sure the resort you choose has plenty of variety for your skill level. A ski area geared toward advanced skiers, with just a few token bunny slopes, isn’t going to be a very good experience for a beginner. Likewise, an advanced skier is likely to get bored at a resort where most of the symbols on the map are green and blue. Look up the ski resort online: The resort’s website, as well as online reviews, should indicate how many of the trails are in each skill level.

Is this a family vacation?

Finding a winter resort for a family vacation is very different than finding one for just the adults. Of course, you will need to consider your children’s skill levels, and whether the resort provides ski classes, but there are other things to consider as well. For instance, daycare and babysitting are two things you might want to look for, especially if you want to be able to enjoy the area’s nightlife after a day on the slopes. A good resort for families will also have plenty of activities other than skiing and snowboarding, such as sledding, ice skating, sleigh rides, tobogganing, ziplining, snow tubing, and indoor swimming.

Many winter resorts offer special packages for families. Look for things like free daycare, free ski lessons, and free kids’ lift tickets. Also, look for a resort that stresses the importance of safety: Kids’ equipment rentals should include helmets (and lessons should require them), and instructors should be certified in CPR and first aid.

What’s your budget?

As much as we hate to feel like we are being cheap about our vacations, budgeting is important. Luckily there are many options when it comes to winter resorts, ranging from either end of the spectrum. For instance, if you are on a tight budget, you might look for a local ski resort, whereas those with more money to burn can choose from winter resorts all over the globe.

There are other ways to save money while still enjoying your vacation, too. One trick is to ski during the week, when everything is cheaper, from overnight stays to lift tickets and lessons. Using your own equipment or renting from somewhere in town (rather than the resort itself) is another way to save money. Finally, check into ski vacation packages, many of which offer a lot of freebies and discounts on lessons, lift tickets, and equipment rentals.

Are you concerned about convenience?

You may have to pay more for it, but convenience can make your vacation much more enjoyable by leaving you less to worry about. For instance, some resorts allow you to do everything in the same place: get your lift tickets, sign up for lessons, get your equipment rentals, and so on. When compared with a resort where you have to go somewhere different for each of these things — sometimes even off-site for your equipment rentals — you can see the advantages of convenience.

A slopeside condo is another convenience that you will likely find makes your vacation that much more enjoyable. Instead of having to hike or drive to get to the ski lifts every day, you can simply ski right out onto the slope.

Vacation packages are yet another convenience, and if you choose well, this one can actually save you money with freebies such as kids’ lessons, kids’ lift tickets, and so on!

What’s everyone else saying?

Finally, don’t forget to do your research before making mountain reservations at a winter resort. Personal recommendations can be invaluable, but don’t forget that what worked well for your friend may not be as ideal for you. Take friends’ and family members’ recommendations more seriously if the focus of their vacation was similar to yours (i.e., a family vacation, a romantic getaway for the adults, etc.) and if their skill levels are comparable to yours.

If you haven’t already, get online and look up the resorts you are considering. They will most likely have their own websites, plus you can find customer reviews online. Consider factors such as how busy the resort gets (crowded slopes can be stressful for beginners) and the resort’s altitude (colder is better!). You can also get online to check resort stats for information such as snowfall and the percentage of green, blue, and black trails.

When researching winter resorts for your vacation or even for a day of skiing or snowboarding, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the options available. Your best bet is to consider what you want out of your vacation, then narrow down your options to the resorts that are geared toward what you want or need. Remember, just because your friends who are frequent skiers recommend one resort doesn’t mean it’ll be fun for you and your family of beginners! Take your time researching winter resorts, and keep your unique needs in mind, and you will have a better chance of finding a resort you’ll love!