Tips for Choosing a Ski Lease: The Remote Worker's Guide to Relocating to a Ski Town
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Snow-capped boulders along the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, during winter
When you hear “remote work lifestyle” you may envision someone working on a laptop in a tropical beach paradise, but if you’re like me- the idea of having the freedom to work from anywhere means spending more time on the ski slopes. For the last few years I’ve been living and working remotely from a number of locations across the US, Europe, and the Middle East, and some of my most memorable stays were monthly ski leases I rented in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and in Chamonix, France.
There are many benefits to relocating to a ski town, one of the most important being that it could be more economical— When you invest in a season pass, monthly accommodation, and your own gear, you could potentially save money when comparing to costs for daily lift tickets, hotels, and gear rentals. If you have the flexibility to relocate to a ski town, you can spend more time on the mountain and lower your average cost per day for all of your skiing-related expenses.
This article describes a few tips and recommendations to keep in mind when choosing and booking a monthly rental if you’re considering relocating to and working remotely from a ski town.
1. Book early
Researching and deciding on a ski lease can be a lengthy process with many factors to consider, so the earlier you get started the more options you will have to choose from. I’ve found that the summer months are a great time to plan ahead for winter, because most other travelers will still be in the mindset of visiting warm-weather destinations. Additionally if you are looking for a rental on Airbnb, hosts’ calendars tend to open up six months in advance so you could be the first to reserve a great place as soon as it becomes available.
2. A season ski pass can help you narrow down the options
If you are a season pass holder for a specific resort or chain of resorts, your options for mountain destinations could be dictated by where you’re able to use your pass. Purchasing a season pass is an effective way to lower your average cost-of-skiing per day, and most passes are available at discounted rates if you purchase them early. Additionally, if options are limited when searching for a single accommodation for an entire season, you could consider splitting your stay between multiple destinations where you could use the same season pass.
3. Search across various platforms
Aside from the standard vacation home rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, you could also consider searching for your accommodations on sites like Vacasa or Booking.com, or do a Google search for local agencies that specialize in ski leases or monthly rentals during the winter season. Other options for finding a furnished rental include Zillow, Craigslist, or ForRent.com, which could match you directly to a landlord with whom you would likely have to file an application and sign a rental agreement, as opposed to simply booking directly on a platform as if it were a travel expense.
4. Your length of stay may be guided by the booking platform or method
Depending on which platform or method you use to book your rental, you may benefit from length-of-stay discounts or be subject to minimum stay requirements. Hosts that list their properties on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO typically offer a considerable discount for weekly and monthly stays, the total for which should show automatically when you are conducting your search. If you are looking for a ski lease from a specialized, local ski-lease agency, you may be required to rent a property at a monthly rate for an entire season which in some cases could be three to four months. If you are considering options through traditional rental platforms like Zillow, Craigslist, or ForRent.com, you may be able to find some good options that may require a six-month lease (but when considering your average cost per month, could potentially still cost less than a three- or four-month seasonal rental).
5. Consider international destinations
Broaden your search geographically by considering international destinations. The costs for lift tickets, gear rentals, and lessons are typically more expensive at ski resorts in the US, so you may save money by choosing a destination in Europe where the options for mountain towns and ski areas seem endless, and typically charge less for all skiing-related expenses. Plus, you will have the added benefits of being able to experience local cuisines, brush up on another language, and if you decide on Europe— you could potentially take advantage of the VAT refund on any ski apparel or gear that you purchase while abroad.
6. Winter-only destinations will likely be more expensive
Rental accommodations in ski towns are typically investment properties that the owners hope to turn a profit on, while also benefitting from personal use. In my research comparing monthly rentals in various ski destinations, I would notice that rentals in areas that had a popular summer season and a popular winter season would tend to have more options for reasonably-priced accommodations as opposed to a destination that was only popular during the winter. I assumed this was because rental investors would only have a few months to turn a profit on a property they are paying a mortgage on year-round, whereas a property that generates rental income in both the summer and winter can be offered at more competitive prices.
7. Get familiar with local transportation and parking options
Your options for getting to and around a mountain town during ski season are also a major factor to consider when deciding where to book your accommodations. If you already have (or have access to) a winter-capable car (with AWD or 4WD) and your destination is within driving distance from where you live, then you will need to consider accommodations that include parking. Also, if your accommodations are not ski-in/ski-out, you should also research the ski resort’s parking options and whether they charge daily, offer a season parking pass, or offer a shuttle from a free parking lot.
8. Consider your car rental options
Renting an AWD or 4WD car long term can be a good option for your travels, but traditional car rental companies can charge a premium for extras like snow tires, and your make or model may not be guaranteed which could be a potential issue if you are traveling with oversized items like ski gear. You could also consider a car sharing app like Turo, which will allow you to filter for winter-capable vehicles and view photos of the exact car you will rent. Some hosts on Turo also offer extras like roof racks and gear boxes, as well as weekly or monthly discounts for longer term rentals. If you are considering skiing in Europe and you are not an EU citizen or resident, you could benefit from programs like the Car-2-Europe program offered by Peugeot, Citroen, DS, and Renault, which allow travelers to do a buy-back-lease on a brand new vehicle, with prices that are often more competitive than traditional car rentals.
9. If you have a winter-capable car, consider broadening your search geographically and commuting to the ski resort
If you have done your research and are happy with your options for parking your winter-capable vehicle at your chosen ski resort, you may consider choosing accommodations just outside the mountain town to benefit from lower monthly rental rates. If you have specific requirements for certain amenities in your accommodation, broadening your search geographically can increase the number of options available to choose from— and if you will be driving to the mountain to ski anyway, a few more minutes to your commute may very well be worth it if you’re able to save by staying a bit further away or on the outskirts of town.
10. If you never been to a destination, consider a rental in between multiple ski resorts
Exploring new destinations is a rewarding travel experience, but when committing to a monthly or seasonal rental, there is a lot more research that must be done to ensure you are happy with your choices. If you are unsure about committing to a single ski resort for your stay, you could consider booking a rental that is close to multiple mountains so you have more options to choose from.
For example: when I booked my stay in the Lake Tahoe area, I opted for an Epic Pass that gave me access to Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood. I had never skied in the area before, but had visited Heavenly during the summer and assumed that I would have loved it. Luckily, I chose a rental that was on the north shore of Tahoe (about halfway between Northstar and Heavenly) and happened to love skiing at Northstar much more due to the ease of parking, the speed of lifts, and lack of crowds compared to Heavenly. Had I chosen a rental that was south of Heavenly, it would have been less convenient to drive all the way to Northstar for daily skiing.
11. Choose a rental that has your required remote work amenities
You’ll be able to filter for your desired amenities on most booking platforms, and be able to choose a place that has wifi, a dedicated workspace, or a private room to take work calls, should you find those to be requirements. Knowing your habits and communicating them to others you may be traveling with, or guests you may be sharing your space with, can help you manage expectations during your stay and ensure you have a great experience and are able to work productively. Your work schedule may also influence the location of accommodation you choose, as your hours or ability to work flexibly can determine how quickly you can get on or off the mountain to address your obligations.
12. Consider options specific for remote workers
With the expansion of remote work capabilities and the rise in popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle, more co-working spaces and co-living accommodations are cropping up worldwide, and more hotels and vacation rentals are offering office-like amenities to cater to today’s travelers. As the trend continues to grow, these types of facilities and resources are also appearing in mountain towns and near ski resorts around the world. A quick Google search can tell you if there are any in the specific mountain destinations you are interested in visiting, and I’d say you could expect to see more options becoming available in the coming years.
Are you considering relocating to and working remotely from a ski town this season? Ask me any questions about my experience in the comments below, and check out my other articles relating to skiing, vacation rentals, and tips for booking on Airbnb:
About the author
Meet Carina Otero, avid skier and the creator of She is Not Lost, an online community for celebrating female travelers and a blog providing helpful tips, useful information, and inspiration for your future travels. Carina’s passion for skiing and love of writing and photography have inspired a new blog to share her experiences and personal favorites relating to the sport:
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