In North American
ski
Skis are runners, attached to the user's feet, designed to glide over snow. Typically employed in pairs, skis are attached to ski boots with ski bindings, with either a free, lockable, or partially secured heel. For climbing slopes, ski skins c ...
lodging, slope side is accommodation "on the slopes", within walking distance from the ski lifts. Such lodgings are usually at the bottom of, or right beside, the ski hill—hence the term ''slope side''. It's also sometimes called "ski in, ski out" lodging.
Due to their proximity to the lifts, and their desirability, slope side units are usually more expensive than off-hill units. Slope side accommodation is desirable for a number of reasons, mainly:
* Driving and parking a car at many ski resorts is inconvenient and time-consuming. By being slope side, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience and have quicker access to the ski hill.
* Skiers staying in slope side lodgings can return to their rooms more easily for a break, or, with kitchen-equipped lodging, to cook and eat lunch.
* Those who have finished skiing for the day may return easily without disrupting those who may have accompanied them.
Adding slopeside lodging can make a ski resort more appealing to travelers.
Some resorts, such as
Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant () is a mountain of the Laurentian Mountains, reaching an altitude of 932 metres. It is located in the province of Quebec, Canada, in Mont-Tremblant National Park, about 15 km northeast of the town of Mont-Tremblant and east ...
in
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
,
Sun Peaks Resort and
Whistler-Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb is a ski resort located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. By many measures, it is the largest ski resort in North America and has the greatest uphill lift capacity. It features the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between ...
in
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
, feature ''pedestrian villages'' at the base of their mountains. Lodgings within these villages are considered slope side by the resorts, as the lifts are within walking distance of each unit.
In some cases, the ''slope side'' designation is used to describe
hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...
s from which a
shuttle bus
A shuttle bus is a bus that travels a shorter route in comparison to most bus routes. Typically, shuttle buses travel in both directions between two points. Shuttle buses are designed to transport large groups of people who are all travelling ...
is required to reach the hill. This is generally seen as stretching the term beyond what may be considered reasonable.
References
{{Reflist
Ski areas and resorts