Reserve, Rent Skis Delivered to Hotel, Condo

Don't Carry Gear, Save Airline Fees, Skip Line in Resort Shops

Mar 10, 2009

Ski Butlers and other valet delivery firms take online reservations and fit snowboards, skis and boots in visitors' lodging in Colorado, Wyoming, California and Utah.

Skiers and boarders who have been annoyed by airport lines, multiple airline baggage fees and lost luggage when they bring their own ski or snowboard gear on a vacation no longer need stand on line in a crowded slopeside shop for rental gear to be fitted by stressed clerks.

Companies such as Black Tie Ski Rentals and Ski Butlers in Vail, Aspen, Park City and other major Western destinations have pioneered an advance reservation “we-come-to-you” personal shopper service. Vacationers reserve gear online before leaving home. Once they arrive at their hotel, condo or vacation lodge, experienced technicians bring the gear to the travelers’ hotel room, condo or house and adjust them in person. At the end of their stay, the company picks up the gear from the home or, if necessary, at the bottom of a hill.

Delivery Available in Major Snow Destinations

Fleets of “Ski Butlers” vans now serve customers in two dozen destinations, including:

Colorado: Arrowhead, Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Buttermilk, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Snowmass, Telluride, Vail

Black Tie has similar service at many of these plus Big Sky, Moonlight Basin, Crested Butte, North Lake Tahoe, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, and Steamboat Springs, but not Jackson Hole.

Others in Western destination mountain resorts include: Door 2 Door By Christy Sports, Skis on the Run, Premier Ski Delivery, Canyon Sports and Straight-to-You.

Ski Rental Delivery Offers Choice of Equipment

Most ski rental delivery outfits can bring more than one pair of boots for the fitting, since boots are often the most problematic part of gear rentals. Some services will also bring more than one set of skis or a snowboard, or swap gear in the middle of a vacation stay if customers are not comfortable with their original selections. At the end of a visit, the delivery company returns to the visitors’ lodging to collect the gear.

On occasion, they pick up in unusual places – Ski Butlers recently picked up one injured skier’s gear at the Ski Patrol Clinic at the Canyons in Utah. Another time, customers greeted technicians from their hot tub, and tried on their boots while still in swimsuits.

The cost including boots ranges from about $31 per day for “development” (beginner) skis or snowboards to $59 for “demo” (top level) packages, depending on location and season (peak season rentals can be higher). There is typically a discount for those who bring their own boots, for those who rent as a group, or for a multi-day arrangement. Black Tie of Telluride says it is the only valet service that has junior premium "demo" (top level) junior equipment.

Valet delivery services have been lauded by clients. ""Riley and his crew delivered all of our equipment right on time. They had no problem if we had to switch out any of the equipment. They were very efficient and helpful! said Lori Mattice of Tallahassee about Ski Butlers in Snowmass.

The copyright of the article Reserve, Rent Skis Delivered to Hotel, Condo in Senior Travel is owned by Grace Lichtenstein. Permission to republish Reserve, Rent Skis Delivered to Hotel, Condo in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.