Breckenridge, Colorado Travel Checklist and Tips

Skier Checklist

What to bring on your ski trip to the Alpine Villa:

Ski Clothing

Ski pants (water proof)
Suspenders
Ski socks (wool
Thermal underwear
Outer ski jackets (for water proof)
Inner ski jacket (for warmth)
Ski sweater
After ski boots
Neck warmer
Ear warmer or helmet liner
Ski gloves

Ski Equipment

Skies (sharpened and waxed)
Ski boots
Ski poles
Equipment bag

Snowboard Equipment

Snowboard
Snowboard boots

Accessories

Sunglasses
Goggles
Sun screen
Lip balm, moisturizer
Helmet
Walkie-talkies
Camera and film
Sports radio or mp3 player
Snack bars
Lift ticket
Hand and toe heaters
Fanny pack for storage
Camel back or water bottle

Visitor Checklist

What to bring on your visit to the Alpine Villa:

Clothing

Swimsuit Warm-ups
Shirts and sweaters
Pants
Underwear
Socks
Shoes
Belts
Dresses
Jewelry
Jacket
Shoes
Hat

Travel Items When Driving

Snacks
Sandwiches
Water
Drinks
Travel games
Trash bag
Paper towels
Maps
Snow chains

Miscellaneous Items

Medicine
Aspirin or ibuprofen
Books
CDs
DVDs
Money
Credit cards
Drivers license
Proof of insurance
Keys

Recreational Items

Gym/court shoes (non-black non-marking soles) for basketball or racquetball
Racquetball racquets for racquetball court
Rock climbing shoes/gear for climbing rock wall
Snow shoes for hiking in national forest
Fishing pole and accessories for fishing in river
Mountain bicycle for mountain bike trails behind retreat
Hiking shoes

Mike's Ski Trip Tips

1) Drive attentively, especially under icy conditions. Take or rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle if available. Driving is rarely a problem as long as you respect the conditions, e.g. leave plenty of distance on snow/ice to come to a slow stop.

2) Familiarize yourself with the contents of the "Alpine Villa instruction manual" upon arrival. It explains how to operate the audio/video system, heat the house, lock the doors, suggestions on where to eat out and other important information.

3) Drink plenty of water, especially on the 1st day, to minimize any high altitude sickness. Take an ibuprofen or aspirin to lessen 1st day headaches. Take it easy for the first day. Limit or avoid alcohol on your first day.

4) Dress in layers to accommodate changes in the weather. A sunny spring like ski day can quickly become cold and windy when clouds roll in. Wear layers that can be easily zipped and unzipped. (Don't let your socks "ball up" in your boots.) Avoid cotton. Cotton retains moisture and has poor thermal characteristics. Wear polyester "dry-fit" shirts and underwear. Wear wool socks.

5) Pay for ski parking at the resort and enjoy parking near the lift and ticket counters. Pack a lunch and store it in the car. Walk to your car for lunch. Leave your key in your wheel well or gas tank compartment for those that might come to the car early.

6) Your mental skiing ability will usually surpass your physical ability. Instead of depending on someone you know to instruct you, take a lesson. Carry a trail map with you. Don't assume that all trails lead to the same base mountain area. Carry walkie-talkies if you have them.

7) Take a break after skiing 2-3 days in a row and enjoy the variety of winter activity available. Other activities include tubing at Keystone, Nordic skiing at the Breckenridge Nordic centers, ice skating, snowmobiling at GoodTimes Tours or snowshoeing.

8) Don't go to the grocery store between 4:00pm and 6:00pm, especially on busy ski days. It's very crowded. Do your grocery shopping after dinner. Before grocery shopping, take an inventory of the items left in the refrigerator by prior guests.

9) If there are more guests than bedrooms, use the lofts. There are sleeper sofas and mattresses that you can put on the floor. Both are also out of the way of late night or morning traffic.

10) Don't leave your ski boots in the car overnight. Your feet will never warm up the next day. Leave your skis and poles in the car. Bring your helmet, gloves and boots into the garage or house (the garage is heated). Let your gloves dry out each night.

11) You are significantly closer to the sun at 10,000 feet. Put on plenty of sun block, moisturize your lips and cover exposed skin where possible. Wear UV protective goggle lens or sunglasses.

12) Don't sleep with the heaters on too high. You'll end up opening the windows and getting cold. Wear comfortable exercise pants and jackets around the house. Put an extra blanket on your beds that you can easily pull up or take off.

13) Take care of the accommodations. You can help to keep both of our costs down and make the next guest's visit more enjoyable. Most damage that we see is done by unattended children. Please emphasize respect for property to any children.

14) Report damage and problems to us. We understand that accidents happen and that things wear out. Please don't delay in letting us know of any issues or broken items so we can fix them before the next guest arrives.

15) Review the departure checklist in the Alpine Villa instruction manual prior to leaving. These are simple checks to avoid security, safety and unnecessary expense issues. People that don't do this ALWAYS miss something. Please check it.

16) Return our keys promptly and enclose a short note. Tell us how you found everything during your stay at the Alpine Villa. Your feedback is important to us. If you think of anything that could make your next stay more enjoyable, let us know.