Planning a skiing holiday isn’t something you often do, especially given the pandemic that’s been affecting the way people travel and move around. Even if it’s not your first time, the amount of preparation is most likely still the same, or even more extensive this time. If it’s been so long since you last hit the mountains, you want your next trip to be one for the books.
A ski vacation isn’t like any other getaway you’ve had in the past. It’s exciting and can be a great opportunity to bond with friends or family.
Whoever you’re with, it’s crucial that you piece together everything you need to have the best possible skiing experience. To help you out, here are some pointers you could use when preparing for your next skiing holiday:
1. Find The Best Ski Resort
One of the earliest preparations you need to make is searching through the best ski resorts in the US. You’ll find countless options, but not all ski resorts are created equal. Your choice of place can make or break your skiing holiday, and so it’s essential you consider several factors first before making a decision.
One factor that can help you decide is your company. Are you going with your friends or family? If you’re bringing your family, you want a resort that’s kid-friendly so the youngsters can have as much fun as adults.
More than the fun and thrill, of course, you also need to ensure the location’s safety, especially if you or your gang are beginners at skiing. Some places are more hazardous than others because of their harder slopes, so be sure to look into that before picking a resort.
Take the time to research different resorts and find out what they offer. Do they have several activities that everyone can enjoy, regardless of age? Some features you might want included are a snow park, efficient ski schools, tree skiing, and off-piste skiing, to give you an idea. And don’t forget to ask if the resort has several good restaurants in the area.
2. Create An Ultimate Packing List
Packing is always one of those not-so-fun parts of going on a vacation. It’s time-consuming, and most of the time, you can’t accomplish it in one go. If you’re not invested enough, there’s a big tendency that you’ll end up forgetting something.
Remember that you’ll be up in the mountains, almost in the middle of nowhere, and it’ll be difficult to find supplies or personal effects that you don’t have. The best way to tackle your packing is to prepare a checklist to ensure you’ll not miss anything.
Clothes will take up most of the space in your luggage, given the weight and bulkiness of the winter clothing that you’ll need. Don’t forget to pack appropriate footwear, scarves, gloves, hats, bonnets, and swimwear.
Make room for your ski gear and accessories, too. Your ski jacket and trousers should be windproof and waterproof. Pack your ski socks, visors or goggles, helmets, and face masks.
Other essential things to add to your checklist include toiletries, medicines, and sunscreen. Pack a separate bag for personal effects and important documents such as your passport, IDs, wallets, credit cards, cash, boarding passes, cameras, phones, headphones, chargers, and tablets for your kids.
3. Plan Your Activities
It’s apparent that you’re going on a skiing holiday to ski, but it doesn’t mean you can no longer enjoy additional activities. At some point, you’ll be yearning for a different kind of fun, and so this is where your talent for planning can go a long way.
Depending on the amenities that your chosen resort offers, you can choose from a range of recreation that’ll keep you entertained when you’re not on your ski board.
Skiing will likely make up for 50% to 70% of your holiday. When you’re not skiing, you can take on other pursuits to enjoy with your company. You may try ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, and sleigh riding.
Kids will indeed have a great time going on a dog sled ride, especially if they haven’t tried it before. You can also check if the resort offers services such as massages, yoga, spas, and other wellness alternatives.
Above all, what’s important is you get to soak up all the goodness and chill that winter has to offer. Thinking beyond your ski gear allows you to have a well-rounded vacation that you won’t easily forget.
4. Get In Shape Before Your Trip
A skiing holiday is set to consume your energy and make your muscles sore. You don’t want to spoil the fun and end up staying in your room on your vacation because you’re feeling tired, weary, or with recurring leg cramps that won’t let you walk or run. That’s why it’s recommended that you get your body in shape weeks or at least days before your trip. That way, you can make the most out of your adventure.
One effective way to do so is by doing regular jogs to develop a good fitness base level. That should be enough to give you enough cardio endurance.
You could also add exercises such as planks, jump squats, and wall squats to gain core strength. Even when you’re not planning to hit hazardous slopes and terrain, conditioning yourself can make the skiing adventure bearable and more enjoyable.
5. Arrange Other Preparations And To-Dos
When you’re done with the essentials, remember the other arrangements you need to make for a successful and eventful skiing holiday.
Make preparations at work so you won’t have to worry about missed deadlines or any pending projects you need to finish. The same goes if you’re a student traveler or have kids who are in the middle of their academic year.
If you’re renting your ski gear and accessories, reserve or pay for them as early as you can to avoid the rush, particularly if you have the trip during a peak skiing season.
Check with your credit card company if your booking comes with ski insurance. If you’re coming from another country, exchange some currency in advance rather than doing it at the airport. Lastly, always check the weather forecast so you can pack accordingly while also preparing yourself emotionally and mentally for your much-awaited holiday.
Conclusion
A skiing trip is supposed to be fun and worth the wait. If you want yours to turn out that way, make sure you prepare thoroughly and take care of what needs to be done as early as possible. Find and book the best ski resort, know what to pack, plan your other activities, be physically, mentally, and emotionally ready, and make sure everything is prepared and on schedule.
