When you book a vacation rental property in a ski resort, there is an indisputable magic in the phrase ‘ski-in, ski-out’. It conjures up images of a lovingly restored log cabin on the edge of an impeccably groomed run, of watching other skiers make graceful turns from their living room window, with the occasional spray of snow against the window pane. He suggests heading out the front door, clicking on the skis, and sliding down the slopes to the elevator. You can anticipate avoiding the crowd waiting for a warm, soggy pizza at the mountain restaurant by using your own chalet as … a mountain restaurant. And, perhaps best of all, you can look forward to skiing back to your doorstep in the late afternoon and forgetting about walking the trails and the indignity of crowded shuttle buses.
The reality can be very different. Knowing the power of the term ‘ski-in, ski-out’, it is quickly used by vacation rental providers to cover a wide variety of different arrangements and a variety of proximity to the slopes. Here are some things to keep in mind:
1) The ‘ski-in ski-out’ house which is actually a ‘walking distance’ to the slopes. The economics of hillside housing development means that when an area is developed alongside the slopes, only part of it is actually next to the slopes. There is almost certainly an interior of properties that have access to the slopes … through paths, steps, roads, etc. The routes may or may not be short. Be sure to ask exactly how far a particular property is from the actual ski slope and what the path really is like – is it a level walkway or a series of dozens of icy steps?
2) The house with direct access to the ski slopes reached via a neglected path through the forest. When these houses were originally built, the developers paved a way for them so they could be sold as ‘ski-in, ski-out’. However, these trails are often too narrow for a snow cat to use; furthermore, it is highly likely that they are privately owned and the elevator company that fixes the slopes may not have any responsibility for them. Only if the owners of the properties served by that trail get together and make private grooming arrangements will you find the trail in good condition for safe use.
3) The ski-in, ski-out house that offers good access ski-in, ski-out … if you have chosen one of the 2 weeks of the year when the snow has dropped to that level. Many resorts that offer ski accommodation are located in the valley, and global warming has caused the snow line to increase and the number of weeks snow is on the ground at particular elevations to decrease.
4) Finally, there is nirvana: a house with direct access to the ski slopes that is what it claims to be: located on the slopes that are covered with snow throughout the season and conditioned by the snow cats of the company of lifts daily. This is what is often now known as “true ski-in, ski-out”. However, you may find that because this real estate is so scarce, it is also very expensive or alternatively developed with fairly high-density and charmless accommodation. The poplars in Whistler are a good example of this. The situation is perfect, right on the slopes, but the accommodation is mostly quite spartan.
The lesson here is simple. When you book ski-to-door accommodation, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. If you are booking a resort like Whistler, where there are many gradations of accommodation with direct access to the ski slopes, check with one of the local property management companies like Holiday Whistler and ask them closely about your exact location before booking your Whistler ski lodge.