How to plan a ski trip

Planning a ski trip is tougher than ever. With changing snow conditions, rising prices, and everyone feeling the squeeze of modern life’s pressures, making sure you’re maximizing your days away and wringing out every ounce of fun and value from your next ski trip has never been more important. But, honestly, where to start?

We’ve been planning ski trips for years and have had far more days on the mountain than we have any right to. We’ve taken trips on shoestring budgets, with families, as groups, and even notched up a few solo getaways. So, we know a thing or two about what it takes to plan a real ski holiday! And if you’re ready to plan your own, take five to check out our guide below. You won’t regret it.

Saved some pennies with your planning? Why not treat yourself to an upgrade with a new ski jacket or ski pants before you go?

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Choose your group

Before you head off on your grand adventure, you’ll need to make an important decision. Who are you traveling with? 

There are generally three options: solo, with friends, or as a family. It might not seem like a super important distinction, but your group determines the right resort for you. 

For example, some are low-key, with family-friendly lodges and hotels. Others, however, are perfect for bigger groups with sprawling hotels, pumping nightlife, and affordable self-catered options. 

If you’re riding solo, go for a resort that has a friendly vibe with plenty of hostels for those who want to socialize or compact single-occupancy options to make your trip as affordable as possible. It all comes down to what you want from the trip, both on and off the slope.

Pick a resort

Okay, so you’ve decided who’s going on this trip. Now comes the really vital part: choosing a resort. We’ve covered how your group might dictate the vibe you want, but come on, we all know that a resort is nothing without snow. So, first question: what’s the average riding level of your group?

If you’re going solo, this is easy, as you can specifically go for something that suits you. For example, are you just starting and want to lap groomers, spend some time on gentler slopes, or maybe grab a lesson or two? One of the big resorts in Colorado, California, or Utah might be a good bet with their myriad of options for learners and great infrastructure for progression.

If you’re traveling as a family, these big resorts may be a good bet, too, especially if the kids need ski school. Though if you’re all capable riders, perhaps you want to shoot for a smaller, less built-up resort. It’ll mean shorter lift lines, lower lift ticket prices, and probably more reasonable accommodation!

As a group, your choice will hinge on your riding level and what you want to be doing after hours. If you’re intent on staying in and having fun at the apartment or hotel, then you don’t need somewhere with nightlife. Instead, look for a resort with the riding you like. Are you chasing powdery descents and challenging runs? Check out Colorado or Wyoming. If nightlife is necessary, then a bigger town is probably in order. California is always a fun trip, as is Utah!

Decide on lodging

When thinking about lodging, you usually have a few options — hostel, hotel, or self-catered. It all depends on your budget and the sort of experience you want. For example, a hotel is an obvious choice for those seeking a hands-off, just-worry-about-having-a-good-time trip. Hotels are usually the priciest option, though. Still, hunting for deals is a good way to find a good balance of affordability and quality!

If cooking eggs yourself doesn’t seem too taxing, then an apartment is a good middle ground. Apartments often offer decent value, especially if you can find something compact that sleeps 4+ people and your group size matches. Space is usually the compromise, but providing that’s one you’re willing to make, an apartment is always a fun choice.

If price is the most important factor, a hostel is best for solo travelers or friends groups. Many hostels have common areas, too, and are often pretty fun! So hitting one with good reviews as a group will usually yield pretty hectic results for a pleasing price.

If you’re in a larger group (usually eight or more), find a chalet or lodge to rent for the ultimate experience! As a small group, they aren’t very cost-effective, but splitting a hefty price tag between 10 isn’t quite so painful. Just make sure they’re people you want to spend a week living and partying with!

Research your travel

Travel is often where the price jacks up! Flights and transfers are notoriously expensive, and if you live in the central north-south band of the US — Minnesota down to Louisiana — and across the southern and eastern coasts, then you’re likely a multi-day drive from serious mountains (or at least ones that have ski resorts!). So if this is you, flying is the best option. 

However, consider flying into a major hub like Denver, Albuquerque, or even Seattle, which often offer cheaper flights. Then, rent a car or take a bus to the resort. This is a pretty good way to cut costs versus flying into a smaller airport and getting a specific transfer.

For those who live in the northeast, along the west coast, or in the central-western United States, you’ll probably be pretty close to a resort by car. And trust us, a 10 or 12-hour drive is nothing! This is by far the cheapest and usually best way to travel, especially with friends or family.

This is our preferred method, and here at MONTEC, we regularly load up and head out for some epically snowy road trips. And with great road links to so many resorts (not requiring a truck or snow chains!), there’s really no reason to overlook this option.

Pack your bags

Alright, so if you’re still here, you’ve got a mental check, check, check, check on the last four things. So now, it’s on to packing! Ski clothes, right? Well, yeah, but Mammoth in May is a heck of a lot different from Wyoming in January!

If you’re traveling by car, loading up with everything you might need is pretty easy. Two suitcases? Don’t mind if I do. But what about the flyers or space-conscious among you? Luckily, you can find out what you’re likely to need pretty easily. 

For example, head to one of the many sites that track average weather patterns for ski resorts. Simply plug ‘<chosen ski resort> average temperature <your month of travel>’  into Google, and it should pop right up. You’ll soon find out whether you need your fleecy thermals. We’d check the average snowfall days and snow record, too, just to make sure you’re packing correctly. 

A quick-fire checklist for any ski trip should always include ski/snowboard socks, baselayers, thin mid-layer, thicker mid-layer (for the cold days), ski gloves, neck warmer/face mask, beanie, and your actual ‘equipment’, i.e., ski/snowboard boots, bindings, and skis/board if you have them. Don’t forget goggles, helmet, and backpack if you ride with one. Oh, and your ski jacket and ski pants, too! To save space, wear your ski jacket to travel, and throw your gloves, beanie, and neck warmer in carry-on. 

Figure out your gear

We’re often asked if you should rent or buy gear for a ski trip. This is a big ‘well, it depends’ sort of answer. 

For example, if this is your very first trip and you don’t know if you’ll like it — rent. It’s way less painless, and you don’t have to schlep your gear everywhere. Instead, just pick it up at the resort, dip in the proverbial toe, and see where the week takes you.

If you know you want to ride in the future and go on more trips, buy. Buying gear is a bigger outlay, but you’ll be able to get modern gear with better tech that’s more suited to your riding level. Plus, modern ski and snowboard boots out of the box will be more comfortable and less worn out than rental gear. Your chosen board/skis and bindings can be tailored to your ability level regarding their flex and camber profiles, too.

Matching your gear to your riding style and owning it will do wonders for your progression. Getting to know your own gear (and learning more about snow gear in general!) is a big help when improving. So, if it’s within your budget, seriously consider taking the plunge and picking up your own hardware for a trip.

Book your lessons and lift ticket

The final thing is to book your lessons and lift tickets. For lessons, there are two options, but each has its positives and negatives. 

Private lessons will be more expensive but way better for progression, as the instructor can focus solely on you. Group lessons are much cheaper (and great for meeting people), but you definitely won’t progress as fast. If you don’t care about progress, go for a group lesson! To maximize your skills early, bite the bullet and go private.

As for ski passes, this one is always an expensive endeavor. If cost is a big consideration, look for family deals, early-bird savings, multi-day discounts, and other ways to take a little off the top. Signing up to a resort’s newsletter is often a good way to score a deal. 

Remember, bigger resorts have more expensive tickets, too. So if you’re all beginners and won’t be using the whole mountain, a small resort with a smaller price tag is probably a good option. Try to weigh cost against the value you’ll get from it.

Money-saving tips

Before we go, we’ll leave you with some of our top money-saving tips to help ensure you score the best deal possible.

Book the deals

Flexibility has always been the name of the game with saving money. If you’re not all that bothered about where you ski or stay, signing up to newsletters with ski holiday providers can often yield great deals. The same goes for lift tickets, buying equipment, and even ski clothing! Check out early-bird options and outlets stocking and selling off last season’s items.

Go as a group

Split fuel, lodging, and take advantage of multi-buy discounts by traveling as a group. Many resorts will offer deals or money off for buying multiple lift tickets or hotel rooms. And we already talked about scoring a sweet lodge for your group and splitting the cost!

Avoid peak times

Resorts hike prices around Christmas and over school holidays. Weekends can be at a premium in some places, too! So if possible, travel when the kids are in school and ride on weekdays to grab the best pricing.

Choose a small resort

Large resorts have big overheads, meaning you pay extra even if you’re not using everything on offer. If you’ve got a more laid-back experience in mind, go for a smaller resort with less to offer but a lower price tag!

Go self-catered

Hotels are notoriously expensive, and going half or full-board is a reasonable option if you want to eat there for every meal. But we often find the best value in self-catered options, where you can bring your own food and drinks and have them when you want. Plus, going out won’t cost you twice like a hotel — i.e., paying for a meal when you’re not eating there plus paying for a meal eating out.

Drive, don’t fly

Despite gas prices rising, driving is often a much cheaper option than flying, especially if you have a few people in the car. Plus, you’re often saving a lot by skipping the transfers, oversized luggage, and other added costs – so long as you don’t mind a longer journey time!

Take supplies from home

Load up with supplies from home to cut down on inflated in-resort pricing. Don’t think bread could be that expensive? You’ve never been to Aspen.

Buy used or last season’s gear

If buying your gear on a budget, don’t go for cheaper or off-brand options. Instead, buy last season’s high-quality items on sale and enjoy having some excellent gear without breaking the bank!

Wrapping up

Well, that’s it! Our guide to planning your next ski trip. There’s a lot to take in and learn for yourself, so don’t fret too much. This is a process – a learn-by-doing exercise. But hey, there’s no such thing as a bad ski trip, so enjoy every second. Happy trails!

Related reading:

• Best night skiing spots in the US
• Women's ski jackets / Women's ski pants
• The highest ski resorts in the world