Ski Travel Hacks
Here we’re adding to the collected wisdom of our staff and customers, to bring you the most useful and least well-known ski trip travel hacks that can make your trip better. Let me know if you have one I’ve missed!
Travelling to your Ski Holiday
- Book a rental car instead of transfers. They’re usually cheaper in the Alps and you can explore other resorts if conditions are poor where you’re staying
- Don’t order the smallest rental car unless you’re certain your skis will fit in. Driving through a blizzard on the motorway with one window open was not fun and could have got me stopped or fined with my skis sticking out.
- Get an air tag for your checked bags. It can be really helpful to tell your airline which country your skis are currently sitting in when they say they’re lost.
- Get a double-ski bag (with wheels) and either pack clothes in to avoid another checked bag, or share with someone to halve the cost of ski carriage.
- Don’t insist on a super high altitude resort for a short break or ski weekend – they take so much longer to get to, and your limited slope time is precious.
Before You Go and Ski Packing Hacks
- Take spare gloves because putting on wet gloves is a rotten way to start your day. This is essential when taking kids, as their gloves always get soaked.
- Don’t pack your favourite clothes around freshly edged skis as they can arrive with little slits in!
- Don’t check-in your boots if you can help it. This means you’re still skiing comfortably on the inevitable trip where they lose your baggage. For extra ski-certainty, fill your boots with first-day essentials like base layer and gloves/goggles, and pack in your trousers (wear the ski jacket).
- Girls (or boys) buy gift packs with your favourite lotions and potions in much smaller packable sizes.
- Cut your toenails before you go! There is nothing worse than having them jabbing into the front of hard boots all day.
In Resort and On The Mountain Tips
- Embarrass your kids by publicly wrapping up extra croissant etc at breakfast and stuffing in your pockets. It saves a fortune on the mountain later and keeps the youngsters from getting hangry or moany.
- Check the temperature of boot dryers/warmers if you have thermally fitted boot linings as they can totally ruin your fit.
- Pack protein bars or mixed nuts for the day, as they release energy slower than simple carbs.
- Never get complacent about sunblock, and that includes high SPF lip balm. Put it on your face in the morning and again at lunch.
- Keep a secret stash of jelly babies hidden, to give to kids when they’re crashing, and you just need another 10 minutes focus to get them down the hill.
- Take the lifts back down if your legs are gone. There’s no shame in “downloading” and you’ll avoid end-of-day injuries that could end your trip.
Ski Gear, Clothing and Equipment Hacks
- If you ski once or twice per winter, Buy Boots, Rent Skis. Having your own boots fitting perfectly transforms your skiing and your holiday, but trying out the new ski tech each winter it fun.
- Buy skis or boots at the end of the winter in the clearance sales, but do it in a shop, not online, or those half price boots could become a £200 door stop.
- Use a collapsable/squashable water bottle in your backpack or pocket, so it can’t hurt you in a fall.
- Take hydration tabs to put in one of your daily bottles of water, because you sweat a surprising amount. This also helps fix an après ski morning-after.
- Gloves with touch-screen tips are a game changer when it’s too cold to take them off but you just have to Insta.
- If you have space for a luxury, it’s amazing how great a little massage gun feels, and buying one costs half the price of a single professional massage.
For more ski holiday tips and hacks, check out:
