You’ve stuffed all of your equipment into those weird roof luggage contraptions on your car, chained the wheels on to deal with the snow, and you’re heading up to the mountains. Actually, back up a little - you forgot to book your home. Here at Plum Guide, we have dozens of homes in snowy locations just waiting for you to grace them with your presence, and considering we only accept the top 3% of homes in any given location, you know that a stay with us is a stay of guaranteed quality. But while choosing, how do you know what you need in your ski chalet? Well, we’ll be letting you in on our biggest tips for picking a spot. In your haste to reserve the most beautiful homes, you might not have thought about the extra space needed for equipment, or the distance of the home from the chair lifts. So, let’s make sure we get this right, as you prepare for an unforgettable holiday on the slopes.
1. A location that makes your life easy
Ski chalet with views of snowy slopes
This might sound obvious, but it’s an important one. You could only have a few days of holiday, so you won’t want to waste precious minutes (or hours) traveling to and from the slopes. You get enough of that commuting for work at home, and this is supposed to be as far from the daily slog as possible. Check each listing you consider for the distance to the nearest ski lift or slopes. Is there a bus service that drops passengers off at the lifts? Can you drive there? Or, for the laziest among you, there’s the ski-in ski-out option. You can almost ski right to your bed.
Over the River, Plum Guide home in Aspen, US
2. Enough rooms to squeeze the whole family in
So, you’re near the piste or the ski lift. Now you just have to make sure there are enough rooms for the whole family. Skiing holidays are ideal for large families or groups of friends. You’ll find yourselves competing as you race down the slopes, later regaling one another with tales of your heroics on the snow at dinner and in the après-ski bars (more on that later). Pick one of our large chalets with multiple bedrooms to make sure everyone has maximum comfort. Besides, you'll need space enough for your big dreams about the following day’s escapades on the mountains.
Illusions, Plum Guide home in France
3. Space for all your equipment
Skiing equipment
It’s not just about the bedrooms when considering what you need in your ski chalet. One aspect that is often overlooked is the amount of space your equipment takes up. A pair of skis can quickly go from being great on your feet to being awkward and cumbersome in a home. You’ll want a home with a little extra space in the hall to hang your skis, boots, helmets, goggles and more. Luckily, we have quite a few homes that’ll do just the trick.
Icy Heart, Plum Guide home in Zermatt, Switzerland
4. A thriving après-ski ambiance
Some of you are simply skiing purists, and are out there for the slopes. But for many of us, the après-ski ambiance is as big a part of a skiing holiday as the rush we get from zooming down the side of a mountain. Each resort is tailored to different needs. For those of you accustomed to the finer things, Aspen is the epitome of après-ski. Try the truffle fries at the Ajax Tavern. For something a little wilder, head to Lake Tahoe. Loosen your inhibitions with the dancers, drinks and discos. Then spend it all at the casinos.
The Edge of Blues, Plum Guide home in Lake Tahoe, US
5. Access to spa facilities
Inside of a sauna
All of that skiing can be tough on the joints. That’s why skiing and spas go together so well: there’s nothing quite like getting a massage, or relaxing in the sauna after a day on the mountains. When looking at what you need in your ski chalet, consider a place in close proximity to spa treatment. Some chalets even come with your own access to spas, so you barely have to lift a ski pole. You’ll find plenty of spas around the mountains of Colorado, for example, that take your skiing trip up another notch. We know, we really have thought of everything.
6. Unforgettable vistas beside the pistes
Views over snowy mountains from a ski chalet
Some skiers don’t want the pressure of having to go out all the time. After all, why pick the best chalet you can find if you’re not going to spend any time in it? When spending time in your home, you’ll want to be greeted with the best views in the world (if only to snap photos and make the folks back home miserable with envy). There’s just something about a snowy landscape in an exclusive Plum Guide home that can’t be beaten.
