I’m the “ideal guest”, according to the review of an AirBnB host in a Colorado ski town.
One reason I’ve earned this uncommon distinction is I know how to select an AirBnB that meets my needs. This means there are few surprises, uncertainties, or situations to trigger an anxious call or text to the host.
Since I’ve been using short-term rentals from VRBO and AirBnB to book lodging for our family ski vacations for many, many years – and with very positive experiences – and since so many hosts and guests struggle with less than positive experiences, it seemed time to share tips on how to select an AirBnB for a ski vacation so you, too, can earn the distinction as the ideal guest.
What’s Really Important to You in a Ski House?
I used to be just fine with nothing but a couch or mattress on the floor if it meant affordable skiing in the West. But today, it’s vital that I have a quiet, home office area to work, dependable wifi, and a full kitchen so we can cook real meals – and I’ll admit I like a real bed these days.
It’s also vital that the house is reasonably close to the mountain. Ski in – ski out is preferred, of course, but the closer the house to the lifts, the higher the price. I place a premium on proximity to the lifts because you need to be on the snow early when it’s a powder day. It’s just awful missing out on the fresh goods while driving for hours in a blizzard at a snail’s pace or worse, sliding off the road.
But not everyone I travel with cares about skiing fresh powder first thing in the morning. In fact, some people even prefer to ski on sunny days in the afternoon and avoid powder days (yes, for real, I know…).
Some like to eat at restaurants rather than cook at home, and they appreciate sleeping in on a firm mattress on a high quality king bed with luxurious, high thread count sheets. One of my favorite ski buddies even considers having a washer and dryer in the house as essential amenities and a deal breaker when booking a house.
All of these needs and wants mean fewer and fewer houses meet the criteria and the costs get higher and higher. That’s why it’s vital to figure out what you really need in a ski house, what you’d like to have if possible, and what you really don’t need. Then, you need to figure out how much each of the different amenities and conveniences are worth to you in real dollars.
If ski in – ski out is important then pay up and stay on the mountain. You may need to squeeze everyone into a one-bedroom condo with a kitchenette to meet the budget but don’t worry – you figured out what’s important, you’ll eat on the mountain, and everything else can work itself out.
Or, if people really want a luxury vacation experience with extreme comfort in a breathtaking house overlooking a lake, then stay farther away from the mountain. You may miss out on fresh tracks and the convenience and vibe of staying in the village but the trade off is worth it if you’ve thought about what’s truly important.
This process of assessing what’s important can be quite challenging when traveling with your own family. Can your kids share a bedroom a week or longer? How about your whole family? Now try finding the ideal AirBnB when traveling with three or four other families. “Our kids don’t like bunk beds,” “We’re not splitting the cost evenly if we get the smallest bedroom,” “We’ll make lasagna for everyone,” “Our family won’t eat lasagna…”
Property Search Process
To streamline this process and ensure everyone enjoys a positive vacation rental experience, determine the must-haves and the deal breakers first. Then search the AirBnB platform using these filters. In most cases, an extra bedroom or prime location will drive the price up by a larger margin than a dedicated workspace, gas grill, or foosball table.
Can your group manage walking a bit to catch a bus to the mountain? Or, can the kids manage in the same bedroom without major troubles? Often these relatively simple accommodations massively widen the list of potential properties and translate to saving a significant sum of money.
It’s quite a moment of triumph when you finally see the ideal AirBnB show up in the search results. It has a hot tub, four bedrooms with four baths, a Playstation, a heated garage and a piano? Before booking or messaging the host, scour every word in the description and check the entirety of every photo. Is there really a hot tub or is it in the community clubhouse? Is the dedicated workspace a private workstation with a desk or just the kitchen table?
And be sure to review the reviews. One negative comment isn’t usually an issue. Often, it’s a miscommunication that sparks outrage rather than a serious problem with the house.
I look for recurring issues mentioned in several reviews that might suggest an inattentive host or a misleading listing. Multiple reviews questioning the cleaning and sanitation, or problems with the lock box on the front door are red flags.
In other cases, we, as guests, need to uncover information that may not be volunteered in the listing. When I was considering a condo in Winter Park, Colorado, for example, every review was positive but once in a while, the guests were angry about the freight trains outside the window.
Checking the aerial view on Google maps, the condo was, in fact, right next to the train track – the same track that the famous Amtrak Ski Train uses to get to Winter Park – Mary Jane. The noisy train was not a deal breaker for me and when considered along with the other pros and cons, this condo made a fine choice.
It’s important to know as much as possible in advance to avoid surprises. Hosts would be wise to disclose as much as possible even if it seems like oversharing since it’s very difficult to know exactly what bit of missing information a guest may consider important to know.
It’s also important to verify as much as possible before sharing the link with your group and facing a flurry of questions. It’s very easy for people who aren’t doing the research to dismiss a house for a minor issue without offering an alternative solution.
Selecting the right AirBnB for your ski vacation is about balancing priorities, managing expectations, and doing thorough research. When you know what matters most to you and your group — whether it’s proximity to the slopes, luxury amenities, a private office, or simply having enough space to stretch out – you can navigate the options with ease.
By prioritizing your needs, scrutinizing reviews and details, and staying flexible, you’ll find a rental that ensures everyone has a memorable trip. And when you leave, the host might even bestow the coveted title of “ideal guest” on you, too.
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