Planning a Ski Vacation
Submitted by kevin on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 4:30pm
Whether it is your first time planning a ski vacation to Colorado or your umpteenth time, there are always tricks and shortcuts everyone can learn to avoid missteps. Most of the time, people learn by doing, especially on a ski trip. You will most likely learn your own way of doing things, but here are some simple rules and guidelines to get the ball rolling so you can plan a successful ski vacation this winter.- Booking ahead of time: No matter what you are booking, most likely it will be cheaper and available the earlier you book. Lodging is especially important to book during the busy parts of the ski season. These include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, President’s Weekend, and of course, Spring Break. Along with lodging, transportation is also important. No ski trip would exist if you couldn’t get there. This includes flights and shuttle services. Everyone knows that flights are cheaper the earlier they are booked, but so are shuttles.
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Knowing what gear to bring and what not to bring: When packing your bag for a ski trip, do you think flip flops and swim trunks are necessary?
Of course they are! Nothing soothes the body better than a good soak in a hot tub after a long day of skiing. What about dress clothes and high heels? Dress clothes are OK for a fancy, fireside dinner, but you may want to leave the high heels behind. They don’t do well in the snow. Most importantly, check the weather before you pack your bag so you’ll know what the temperature will be like. Layers for cold days, sunscreen and lip balm for those warm, sunny days. Sunglasses are always beneficial as we are closer to the sun than most areas. Most importantly, if you are planning to ski or snowboard, bring only what you will need. Remember, you can most likely always rent or purchase something if you forget it.
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Plan activities around skiing and snowboarding: OK, so you’ve gotten your family to the mountains safe and sound, checked into an awesome
hotel and are planning to ski the next 4 days. That’s a lot of skiing. It’s often smart to plan an ‘off day’ where you can rest the body while still being able to enjoy a beautiful, new environment. Or maybe your family doesn’t want to ski from 9 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon every day. There are tons of activities that cater to those who need a break from the mountain. A few of these activities include shopping, dogsledding, snowmobiling, visiting the town recreation center and pool, or just hanging out at the hotel.
