Snowboarding trips are some of my favorite vacations. On these trips you get to ride for an extended period of time, enjoy aprés ski food/drinks and breathe in some crisp mountain air.
Depending on your type of trip, there could be a lot to coordinate between which resort to go to, how to get there, what to pack, etc….
Below is a list of questions I’ve put together to help you plan your next trip. This isn’t meant for your weekend drive-up to a local mountain, these questions can help plan a bigger extended trip.
Check out my resort reviews for more info. Have fun shredding!
Questions:
Budget:
Are you planning to go to a resort in driving distance or will you be flying? If you are flying are there non-stop flights available or will you have a layover?
Layovers on your arrival could be risky due to bad weather or checked luggage not making it to your final destination
Do you have your own equipment or are you renting equipment?
If you have your own equipment, you will need to factor in the cost to check your equipment if you are flying
If you are renting, check out what options are available at the resort. Look for lift ticket and rental packages for some savings
If you are flying, will you need a shuttle service to and from the airport or will you be renting a car?
If you are renting a car, make sure you have a vehicle capable of driving in the snow
What type of lodging accommodations do you need (hotel room, condo, house/villa) and what availability is remaining for your travel dates?
Do you have a season pass or are you buying daily lift tickets?
If you don’t have a season pass look for a multi-day pass to save some money
Make sure you check if the resort requires reservations or has blackout dates for certain passes
Type of Resort:
Terrain:
Do you prefer a resort with a large skiable area or a smaller area?
Does the trail split between beginner, intermediate and expert matter to you?
Are you looking for glades, moguls or wide open groomer trails?
Do you need a resort with terrain park features?
Are you looking for a resort with a bowl or backcountry area?
Mountain Conditions:
How are the snow conditions at the resort, is most of the terrain open?
What is the weather forecast for your trip, if available?
Be careful if there is a large storm forecasted as it could impact your travel plans or cause white out conditions on the mountain making riding difficult
Mountain Amenities:
Do you prefer a resort with a notable learning center to take lessons?
Do you need a resort with a kid play area or daycare?
Do you prefer certain types of lift to others (i.e. gondolas, bubble lift, high speed, t-bar, rope tow, etc…)?
Does the mountain need lockers to store your equipment while you are riding or overnight?
Resort Village:
Do you want the resort to have a village with shops and restaurants or are you planning on staying in at your lodging?
Are you planning on staying on the resort or in a nearby town?
Does the resort/town have public transportation to help get around, especially important if you don’t have a car?
Other Activities:
Are you looking to do other activities in the area (e.g. snowmobiling, hot springs, shopping, etc…)?
Comments