Ski Trip Planning Tips | Backside Tours

Start planning and book early. Whether a large group or just a few people, there is a stigma in travel tourism you can get a last minute deal. Simply put, this is rarely the case. Since ski resorts are typically only really operating for 5 months a year, there is a pent up demand (especially from snow riding crazies like us here at Backside lol) for the limited amount of hotel rooms at each destination. For 2017 season, before end of October, we were already booking for on-hill groups in March with bulk of inventory taken up. Crazy! Remember, you are competing for room availability with local tour operators (like us who book huge blocks of rooms for our groups), with wholesale operators (who send people from abroad to our rocky mountains), and others like you who just want to get out of town/city and ride. The longer you wait, the less chance you have to get what you want when you want. The deals are all found in booking EARLY.
Avoid Family Day Weekends and Holiday Travel. (re New Year's and Christmas) Unless you are booking with an operator like Backside, since operators already use buying power to have trips pre set up, avoiding the holiday and high traffic timeframes, it is a good idea to consider an alternate date. During holidays, all resorts and accommodation inflate rates knowing the demand will be super high (hey they are businesses and this is smart business). Let alone, most accommodations have multiple night stay minimums so your costs get even higher during this time. We often have Family Day weekends (BC & Alberta) requested all the time from private groups and U-Drive travellers. As an operator, we can always try to make this booking on your behalf, but remember, if you travel during these high traffic times, you will also be standing in the longest lift lines of the year.
Don't get hung up and where you are staying. This all depends on how you look at a ski trip. If you are the type who wants a quiet getaway relaxing next to a fireplace with your family, then disregard this advice. However, if you are the atypical skier/boarder who is going to out to not only shred, but also have a blasty blast, don't get caught up on having to have a nice fancy place to stay in. Let's be honest, its a place to put your head on a pillow. You will be spending most of your time on the mountain or with your friends enjoying the ski and snowboard mountain culture. Often times, with an apres pint or caesar in your hands. Don't sweat the small stuff. Enjoy the good times, and great trip.
Consider off-hill accommodations. We are lucky to have some amazing on-hill relationships all over BC and Alberta. Thus, we are able to access some amazing accommodations other tour operators don't have access to. However, we are a rarity, and so are the swanky on-hill properties!

We know all those ski films you have watched and the commercials you see on TV show you the ski in and ski out snow lodges we all want to stay in. Yet it is unrealistic to believe there is always access to these very in demand options at resorts, and if we do have access, they come with a serious price tag and building security to tell you to turn down the music. So why not consider staying off-hill in one of the amazing and picturesque ski towns situated all over Alberta and BC? Why stay off-hill you may ask?

Don't be a Snow Snob. If there is grass on the field, play ball. If there is snow on the mountain, slide on it. Winter is winter, so don't wait to see if the snow will be dumping on the weekend or weekday you want to go. As per above, room availability will go bye bye fast, and mother nature does not care about your schedule or interest in surfing only pristine winter resort conditions. Book where you want to go, and ride it like it was your last day on earth! A crappy day at the resort is still better than your best day at work!

Just because no snow on the ground in the city/town, doesn't mean there is no snow in the mountains. It amazes me so much each year when bookings drop off, and it almost always coincides with the onset of good weather in Alberta/BCs major cities/towns. Even when there has been no snow on the ground here in Edmonton and Calgary (re Feb 2016), the mountains have been holding snow and getting new snow consistently. In fact, spring snow (known to avid riders/skiers as HERO snow) is some of the best conditions to be on. Soft, wet snow to dig edges into, mild weather and people in silly costumes on the hill. What's not to enjoy? So when the weather turns, make sure to let your gaze fall toward the Alberta and BC Rockies. We will be riding those magnificent beasts waving at you to come and join us!

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