5 Things (and a Bonus) to Check Before Confirming Your Ski Vacation Rental

Nov. 16, 2023

That’s it—after spending a few hours comparing vacation rental listings online, you’ve found the apartment of your dreams! The photos look great, there seems to be a bed for everyone, and the location looks good according to Google Maps. Eager to click “Book”? Take a few minutes anyway to check these 5 “details” that aren’t really details—to ensure a memorable ski trip (in the best possible way)!

1. Is the apartment (really) right on the slopes?

Walking with ski boots on your feet and skis slung over your shoulder… What a nightmare! Between the weight of the gear and the risk of an uncontrolled “slip”: it’s usually an experience you put yourself through once (out of ignorance rather than by choice), but not twice.

The “ski-in/ski-out” selling point is therefore heavily promoted by vacation rentals and hotels located near the ski area. But what exactly does “ski-in/ski-out” mean?

In most cases, “ski-in/ski-out” simply means that you don’t need to take any form of transportation (shuttle, car, etc.) to reach the ski area. But the term “ski-in/ski-out” doesn’t specify how close the property actually is to the ski slopes (20 meters? 100 meters? 500 meters?). Nor does it provide any details about the quality (or difficulty) of the path you’ll have to take to reach the slopes. “Come on: 100 meters isn’t that far!” Yes, but… if those 100 meters are on an icy slope, they’ll seem endless.

Before booking an apartment for your ski vacation, make sure you make an informed decision. Call the property owner to ask for details about access to the ski area, which trail levels (green, blue, red, black) are available, and how close it is to the meeting point for your children’s ski lessons… Also, look at the photos, read customer reviews, and so on.

At Altitude Résidences, we’re transparent about this! Our residence, Chalet Hôtel Turquoise (at Belle Plagne), is located right on the slopes. It doesn’t get any more “ski-in, ski-out” than this: you can put on your skis right at the residence’s door.

Our Le Quartz residence in Tignes , is right across from the base of the slopes; this means you’ll have to walk or slide about 100 meters (on flat ground) to reach the nearest ski lift (but you won’t have to rush in the morning to catch up with your kids’ ski instructor—or your own!).

The same goes for the Le Lodge des Glaciers residence in La Rosière: the nearest ski lift is 200 meters away (but it’s easy to walk there on flat ground).

2. Is the view from the apartment what you were hoping for?

At first glance, you’re sure to be treated to some spectacular sights during your stay, whether you’re going on a ski vacation to La Plagne, La Rosière or Tignes. But for some (especially non-skiers, who spend more time inside their vacation rental than skiers do), the view from the apartment window is an important detail.

An unobstructed view of a mountain peak you love, the sun gently warming you with its rays in the morning at breakfast time, or in the evening after a wonderful day spent in the mountains… These are all little pleasures that make it worthwhile, all things being equal, to choose an apartment whose perfect exposure justifies the higher price.

Feel free to ask your host for more details about the view from the window of the apartment you’re about to book. At Altitude Résidences, we know every one of our apartments in Chalet Hôtel Turquoise (in La Plagne), the Lodge des Glaciers ( La Rosière), and Le Quartz ( Tignes). So if you’re torn between two apartments for your ski vacation, we’ll be happy to help you decide!

By the way, did you know? The large floor-to-ceiling windows are among the most distinctive architectural features of our residences. When you love the mountains, you make sure you can admire them from sunrise to sunset…

3. Does the apartment's layout meet your needs?

It's rare to go on a ski vacation with people who all have exactly the same lifestyle.

Are you traveling with your family and young children? You’ll need to pay close attention to where their beds are located so you can provide them with a calm and peaceful environment during nap time or at bedtime—without, however, requiring the rest of your travel companions to observe complete silence starting at 8 p.m.!

Are you going on a ski vacation with 15 people spanning three generations (parents, children, and grandchildren)? You’ll have to find a way to accommodate everyone’s seemingly incompatible habits and personality traits: early risers, night owls, loners, extroverts…

Choosing an apartment that guarantees everyone the privacy they need is a key factor in making your mountain vacation a success. A duplex or triplex apartment, for example, will allow each “subgroup” within the family to have some privacy when needed, while also providing the perfect setting for large gatherings thanks to a spacious common area where everyone can come together for drinks or dinner. Long live large, lively gatherings and friendly mountain meals featuring a delicious raclette or fondue!

Before booking accommodations for your ski vacation, take a look at the apartment floor plan and make sure it meets the needs of your entire group—whether large or small. Feel free to ask us for advice if you have any questions: we know every nook and cranny of our apartments like the back of our hands and can help you find the vacation rental that’s best suited for your group.

4. What services are actually included in the apartment rental?

“Parking nearby,” “raclette sets available,” “the residence has a spa.” So many enticing amenities… but they’re still rather vague!

Booking an apartment for your ski vacation is no small matter. It’s often one of the biggest expenses (in addition to lift tickets for skiers, and possibly transportation, depending on how far you have to travel to reach your vacation rental). So be sure to carefully review every detail of the apartment description before confirming your reservation.

At Altitude Résidences, there are no unpleasant surprises when it comes to the services we offer! A parking space is included with every apartment rental at our three residences in Belle Plagne, La Rosière and Tignes (as is the ski locker, which is huge and equipped with boot dryers).

Our residences— Chalet Hôtel Turquoise (in La Plagne) and Le Quartz (in Tignes)—feature a wellness area (sauna, steam room, hot tub) that’s available at no extra charge (unless you’d prefer to rent a bathrobe and slippers at the front desk instead of packing your own in your suitcase).

We also lend out fondue and raclette sets free of charge upon request at the front desk. We also provide baby gear for your baby, etc.

5. Is the advertised rental rate for the apartment the lowest you can find?

The apartment you have your eye on for your next ski vacation is probably listed for rent in several places online. Do you usually book through Booking (or another accommodation booking platform)? It’s time to develop a second (good) habit: checking the apartment owner’s website to see what price they’re renting it for.

In fact, the more intermediaries there are between you and your dream apartment, the higher the price will be. By cutting out all the intermediaries, you can save up to 15% in platform fees. That’s a significant savings, which could even allow you to choose a larger apartment or one with better exposure without exceeding the initial budget you set for yourself.

Beyond the savings, dealing directly with the host allows you to benefit from personalized advice (at no extra cost): the layout of the apartment, the view from the window, north/south exposure , and so on. Why pass up such a wealth of information when it can turn your wonderful ski vacation into an exceptional experience?

Bonus: Does booking the apartment entitle you to any other benefits?

While lodging is one of the biggest expenses when you go on a ski vacation, the second-largest expense is likely activities: ski passes (and equipment rentals), dog-sledding or snowshoeing, zip-lining, sledding, ice diving, and so on.

Can't decide between two vacation resorts for your mountain vacation? Take a look at the list of partners for each one and the benefits you can enjoy (or not) by renting an apartment at one or the other.

When renting an apartment at Chalet Hôtel Turquoise (Belle Plagne), at Lodge des Glaciers (La Rosière) or at Le Quartz ( Tignes), you’ll enjoy special rates withAltitude Résidences ’s partners: ski and snowboard rental shops, activity providers, vacation services, and more. It’s the perfect way to spice up your ski trip and try out traditional or unique activities… so you’ll have even more adventures to share over coffee when it’s time to head home!

So? Does the apartment you’re about to book pass the test of the five details to check before clicking “confirm”? If not, take a look at our residences in La Plagne: La Rosière and Tignes… We’re sure we’ll pass the test with flying colors ;)

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