Getting to go on a snowboarding trip, either with friends or family, can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. It will take some effort to plan properly but it’ll ensure you have the best time ever. This snowboarding travel guide will provide all the information you need to prepare for an adventure you’ll always remember!
I’ll discuss what you should expect in terms of budget and planning, how to chose a ski resort destination, what to look for in lodging and transportation, what gear to bring and how to pack for airport travel.
Let’s get started.
The Ultimate Snowboarding Travel Guide
How to Start Planing a Snowboard Trip and Setting a Budget
How to Choose a Resort Destination(s)
How to Find Lodging and Transportation
What to Bring and How to Pack
How to Start Planing a Snowboard Trip and Setting a Budget
You’ve decided you’re going on a snowboarding trip! This is a very exciting time.
You need to first come up with a plan. And the first part of a plan is deciding how long your trip will be. Is it for a 3-day long weekend? Maybe you plan to be gone an entire week? Maybe even longer?
But you need to decide.
Once you know how long your snowboarding trip will be, the next step is to decide where you want to go. Do you want to go to a mountain resort in your own country? Or, are you thinking of traveling internationally?
Can you drive to your destination and make a road trip out of it?
Or, is traveling by airplane the most convenient?
These are details you will need to figure out.
Next, you need to set how many people are going on this trip. Is it just you going by yourself to visit a friend out west for a weekend? Or, is there going to be a whole group that can split the costs of food, lodging and car rentals?
Once you know how many people will be attending this trip you can start piecing together a budget.
How much does a snowboard trip cost?
Depending on the specifics of your trip the price will vary, but on average a snowboarding trip will cost you thousands of dollars. If you’re doing a smaller, short trip on a budget, you can expect to spend around $2,000 – $3,000. If you’re doing a trip for a week or longer you should budget around $5,000 – $6,000. And if you’re planning a family snowboarding vacation with high-quality lodging and amenities, you can budget closer to $10,000 or more.
What Should You Budget for?
There are a number of costs and expenses to consider for a snowboarding trip. Here are some that you should keep in mind in this snowboarding travel guide:
- plane tickets
- hotel/lodging
- food and drinks
- lift tickets
- transit pass or car rental (plus gas!)
How to Choose a Resort Destination(s)
In order to choose which snowboard mountain resort you’ll be visiting, you need to decide if you’ll be staying at one resort your whole trip or if you’ll visit multiple resorts.
Most mountain ranges have many different ski resorts in the area that can be anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours drive from each other.
It’s always possible to plan a trip where you’ll fly to the closest airport near your desired destination. Then you can rent a vehicle to road trip between different mountains, which allows you to hit up a couple locations in a single trip.
The easiest way to research is using Google. You can find hotels, compare plane ticket prices and discover travel routes using Google Maps.
You’ll probably already be starting with a dream destination in mind as you start planning your snowboarding trip. It’s a good idea to do some research about the resort.
If you’re going on a snowboarding trip with a group of people, you need to make sure the terrain is appropriate for the skill level of each rider in your crew.
Some other things you might want to consider is if you want to visit a more touristy mountain resort where there’s lots of nightlife to explore after snowboarding during the day. Or, you might want to find a resort that is more family oriented that provides more activities than just snowboarding.
Once you’ve got some criteria for picking a mountain resort to visit, choosing the destination for your snowboarding trip becomes easier.
How to Find Lodging and Transportation
Alright, now you know where you’re going for your snowboarding trip. Now you need to start figuring out how you’re going to get there. And then where you’ll stay once you’re there.
Most people fly to their destination, so start by searching online where the location of the closest airports are to your desired mountain resort.
You may find that public transit, like a bus, can take you from the airport all the way to a bus stop in the main village area of the mountain resort. Then you just need to walk and carry your luggage for a bit to get to your lodging.
Other times, you might discover public transit won’t be optimal. You might learn that renting a vehicle is the best route. You’ll need to find where the nearest car rental service is located from the airport. Also, keep in mind how many people are in your crew. You may need to rent multiple vehicles to transport everyone.
Best Kind of Vehicle to Rent for a Snowboarding Trip
If you are renting vehicles for your snowboarding trip, I would recommend getting SUVs or crossovers. They should be able to provide the storage you need for your equipment and luggage. You may have to drop a seat in the back to fit everything. I’ve found you can usually fit 3 adult people and all their belongings into one SUV. You’ll need to consider renting additional vehicles if you have more than 3 people in your crew.
How to Pick Lodging for Your Snowboarding Trip
The best is if you can get slopeside lodging. This is sometimes referred to as “ski in/ski out”. These are lodges near the base of the mountain and usually a short distance to gondolas or chairlifts. However, this type of lodging is usually the most expensive.
You’ll generally find more affordable lodging further away from the mountain’s base. Sometimes you’ll have to book lodging that is off-site from the mountain resort and you’ll have to either drive or take public transit to the mountain.
However, the main thing to consider is making sure there are enough beds for everyone. When researching online you may notice that some lodges don’t list the number of beds but instead say “sleeps 6”, for example. Be cautious, especially if you’re looking for lodging for a larger group, as this could include a pullout couch or a foldout cot in a closet. You want to ensure your sleep is on a bed, preferably.
Depending on the size of your crew, you may need to consider booking multiple rooms at some hotels or lodges.
What to Bring and How to Pack
Alright, now you know where you’re going for your snowboarding trip, you know how you’re getting there and where you’re going to lodge. The next step in our snowboarding travel guide is figuring out what to pack.
For a snowboarding trip, you’re generally going to pack 2 bags: your snowboarding equipment bag and then your standard luggage bag.
A Snowboarding Bag with Wheels is Best for Airport Travel
You’ll want a durable snowboard bag that has wheels as it’ll be easier to lug around through airports.
You should be able to pack all of your snowboarding gear into the bag. I’m talking about your snowboard, boots, bindings, jacket and pants, helmet, gloves, googles and a tool! If you pack your bindings by disassembling them from your snowboard you create a bit more room in your bag. Usually enough to fit a second snowboard deck!
Then your standard airport luggage bag can carry the rest of your clothes, base layers and toiletries. Depending on the length of your trip it may be a good idea to have two or more base layer outfits to cycle through wearing. The hotel or lodge that you booked may not have laundry on site. It could be a while before you can access a laundry mat. So you’ll have to pack all your clothes keeping in mind how frequently you’ll be able to launder them.
Lastly, you may want to pack a backpack for your laptop and any video camera gear you may want to bring along to document the trip.
Now You’re Ready to Go on a Snowboarding Trip!
You’ve got your destination picked, you know how you’re getting there and where you’re staying and you’re all packed and prepped!
I’ve prepared for you a few snowboarding travel guide bonus tips. These are extra little things to keep in mind and be prepared for before you travel.
Bonus Tip #1: Travel Insurance
Every snowboarding adventure has its own risks to be considered. If you’ve ever suffered an injury while snowboarding, the chances that you’ll re-injure yourself increase. If you’re snowboarding internationally, it becomes even more important that you have health or travel insurance.
Research for the best policy that suites your budget and needs. Consider including:
- Coverage for medical treatment
- Repatriation should you need it
- Extra protection for your snowboard equipment and other valuables
Ultimate Tip: check your credit card to see if it comes with travel insurance.
Bonus Tip #2: Before You Leave
Here is a list of things you should have in order before you leave for your snowboarding trip. They are in no particular order
- make sure your passport and IDs are valid. Make arrangements to renew if anything is expired.
- get any necessary vaccinations (ie. COVID-19)
- don’t forget to turn off the carrier on your mobile phone to avoid roaming charges.