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The travel industry has seen many changes over the years, and while some of these changes have promised to revolutionize things, few have ever delivered on this promise. Perhaps one of the biggest changes to have really put the industry on its ear has been the increased accessibility of the ski lodge. For years, it seemed as though the ski lodge was the winter playground of the super-rich, a place that regular folk could never dream of hanging out. But with the travel industry vying for every consumer dollar, more people are able to plan their dream ski lodge vacation.
To be honest, for a lot of folks, ski lodges aren't really all that different from each other, or at least that's what they tell themselves. Most of this stems from the fact that they just don't know a whole lot about what a ski lodge offers guests, or maybe it's because their idea of a ski lodge is somewhat antiquated. Whatever the case may be, ski lodges have become quite the hot ticket when it comes to winter accommodations, with popularity as significant as one would find for a standard hotel room. Why the explosion in popularity?
Well, it's a secret.
Ha! Just kidding! It's no real secret, really. Honestly, travelers just need to be a bit more mindful of what's changed in the travel industry over the last few years. In part, with the rise of vacation rentals, you no longer have the big hotel chains running the show. Even they have to start working to get customers in the door.
Ski lodges also tend to have this image of being remote and disconnected because, of course, the super-rich don't want others to spoil their good times. Not so. It turns outs that the best ski lodges are actually really tuned into the towns in which they are located. There is no separation between the entities, which is nice. Residents don't feel as though they're outsiders in their own communities and ski lodgers don't cast their eyes around their noses at "townies". Moreover, this symbiotic relationship actually creates yearlong tourism. The idea of a busy season or a peak season seems of little use when it behooves the entire town (ski lodge included) to come together & welcome visitors.
Of course, you can't mention a ski lodge without skiing, right? But don't forget about snowboarding, tubing, and all manner of automated, all-terrain vehicle exploration! The thing to remember, though, is that every year brings different weather. This means that the snow you saw or heard about one year won't be promised the next, so call ahead or check local city & area websites for info about skiing conditions.
Perhaps the one big 'secret' every traveler should know about any ski lodge they travel to is that they should expect to encounter some really amazing natural scenery. You're not booking a trip to a ski lodge to read a book or check out the area's local internet connection. You want to breathe in the crisp, mountain air, hike the trails, and maybe even cast a line in a local freshwater stream.
Booking a ski lodge sounds pretty sweet now, huh? Considering it's more accessible than you imagined, has more to offer than you expected, and may not be the budget-buster you thought it was, a ski lodge may be worth another look as you plan your next big trip or weekend getaway.
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