Explore Towns

A small Pyrenean village in Andorra — one of the Grandvalira resort stations. Andorra's duty-free status makes it affordable. Compact, friendly, and increasingly international.

The chocolate capital of Argentina, set on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi in Patagonia. A charming lakeside city with Swiss-influenced architecture, famous for chocolate, craft beer, and outdoor adventure.

A charming alpine town in the Ovens Valley, Bright is the main base for Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain workers. Known for its autumn foliage, craft breweries, and outdoor lifestyle.

The closest town to both Thredbo and Perisher, Jindabyne is where most seasonal workers live. It has supermarkets, restaurants, accommodation, and a lively après scene — all within 30–45 mins of the resorts.

A quiet Kiewa Valley town at the base of Falls Creek. Popular with seasonal workers for its affordability and relaxed lifestyle.

Austria's glamour resort in the Paznaun Valley. Famous for its Top of the Mountain concerts (Elton John, Robbie Williams have performed) and high-altitude skiing into Switzerland (Samnaun).

A medieval walled town with cobblestone streets and colourful facades. Home to the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill race — the most famous ski race in the world. Upscale but charming.

The main town of the Zillertal valley with the steepest groomed run in Austria (Harakiri at 78%). Known for the Snowbombing music festival and excellent Penken ski area.

The Ötztal Arena's main resort with three 3,000m+ peaks and two glacier ski areas offering early-season skiing from October. Known as a party resort and James Bond filming location (Spectre).

The birthplace of alpine skiing and Austria's most famous party resort. Part of the Ski Arlberg — the largest connected ski area in Austria. Legendary après-ski culture.

A picturesque art town in the Charlevoix region, perched where the Gouffre River meets the St. Lawrence. Baie-Saint-Paul is the cultural heart of Charlevoix — galleries, artisan shops, and French-Canadian charm. Base town for Le Massif.

A stunning national park town in the Canadian Rockies. Base for Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Mt Norquay. One of the world's most beautiful mountain towns with incredible wildlife and scenery.

A small town at the base of Mont-Sainte-Anne, just 30 minutes from Quebec City. Beaupré gives you resort proximity with the ability to enjoy one of North America's most historic cities on your days off.

A vibrant mountain town just outside Banff National Park, 20 minutes from the park gates. Canmore is more affordable than Banff with a strong local community, excellent dining, and world-class outdoor recreation. Popular with workers at Nakiska, Sunshine, and Lake Louise.

A charming Georgian Bay town that has transformed from a shipbuilding centre into Ontario's outdoor recreation capital. Collingwood is the base for Blue Mountain Resort and has excellent dining, shopping, and waterfront lifestyle.

A historic coal-mining town in the Elk Valley with heritage brick buildings and legendary powder. Fernie Alpine Resort is just 5km away, and the town is a fixture of BC's Powder Highway.

A working CPR railway town on the Trans-Canada Highway where the Kicking Horse River meets the Columbia. Base town for Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, with a genuine local community and cheaper living than the Banff–Lake Louise corridor.

The service town of the Columbia Valley, on the shore of Lake Windermere between the Rockies and the Purcells. Panorama Mountain Resort is 18km up the hill, and Invermere is where its staff shop, see a doctor and find rent that the resort village cannot offer.

A charming national park town surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, and the base for Marmot Basin. Smaller and more laid-back than Banff, Jasper offers a genuine mountain community, dark sky preserve status, and incredible wildlife. Recovering beautifully after the 2024 wildfires.

The Okanagan's largest city and the base for Big White. Kelowna offers lake life, wineries, and full city amenities. Many Big White workers live here and commute up the mountain (56km).

A tiny hamlet in Banff National Park — little more than the Fairmont Chateau, a few hotels, and a gas station. Most workers live in staff housing here or commute from Banff (45min). The scenery is jaw-dropping.

A colourful pedestrian village at the base of Mont-Tremblant, modelled after Quebec City. The village IS the resort — shops, restaurants, and nightlife are all walkable from the slopes. The most vibrant resort village in Eastern Canada.

A heritage Kootenay town on the west arm of Kootenay Lake, with a preserved Victorian main street and a long counterculture streak. Whitewater Ski Resort is 20km south up Highway 6, and because Whitewater has no on-mountain accommodation, virtually everyone who works that hill lives in Nelson.

A South Okanagan town that calls itself the Wine Capital of Canada and has the vineyard acreage to back it up. Baldy Mountain Resort is about 35km east and 45 minutes up into the hills — a small, family-run ski area with a big local following and no village of its own.

The purpose-built village at the base of Panorama Mountain Resort, 18km above Invermere in the Purcells. Not a town in the ordinary sense — a cluster of lodges, a few restaurants, the hot pools and staff accommodation, with 1,200m of vertical directly above it.

A farming valley 30 minutes north of Whistler, under the face of Mount Currie and next to the Lil'wat Nation. Seed potatoes and hay rather than ski lifts — but it is the closest thing to affordable housing on the Sea to Sky corridor, and a good share of Whistler's staff live here.

An Okanagan city wedged between two lakes, surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Apex Mountain Resort is 33km west and about 45 minutes up a mountain road — Penticton is where most of its staff live, and where a ski season comes with a wine region attached.

The only walled city in North America, UNESCO World Heritage listed. Quebec City is the base for both Stoneham and Mont-Sainte-Anne — a world-class historic city with incredible culture, cuisine, and winter festivals, all within 30 minutes of skiing.

A small village at the mouth of Sinclair Canyon, where the highway enters Kootenay National Park. Named for the mineral pools just up the canyon, known locally for the bighorn sheep that wander through town, and used as an accommodation and golf base for the Columbia Valley.

A real mountain town (not a resort village) with authentic BC character. The resort is 5 min from downtown. Known for massive snowfall, affordable living (by BC standards), and a tight-knit community.

A gold-rush town sitting at around 1,000m in the bowl of an extinct volcano, five minutes below RED Mountain Resort. Nancy Greene grew up here, the main street is heritage brick, and the ski hill is treated as municipal infrastructure rather than a tourist attraction.

A small agricultural town on the Manitoba prairies, serving as the nearest service centre to Asessippi Ski Area. Russell is quintessential small-town Canada — friendly, affordable, and remote.

A former logging and mill town at the head of Howe Sound, halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, now better known for the Stawamus Chief, world-class rock climbing and a mountain bike network that rivals anywhere in BC. No ski hill of its own — workers here either serve the outdoor-tourism economy or commute the 45 minutes north to Whistler Blackcomb.

A European-style ski village at the base of Sun Peaks Resort. The village IS the resort — everything is walkable, and most workers live in on-mountain staff housing or nearby condos.

A friendly North Okanagan city at the base of Silver Star. Vernon offers lakeside living, orchards, and small-city charm. Most Silver Star workers who don't live on-mountain base themselves here.

Whistler Village IS the resort — a pedestrian village at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. North America's premier ski destination with world-class dining, nightlife, and year-round activities.

A small Aconcagua Valley city at the foot of the Andes, serving as the nearest town to Portillo ski resort. Agricultural town with Chilean small-city character.

A massive South American capital of 7 million people that happens to have world-class skiing just 60km up the mountain. Valle Nevado is the closest major resort. Workers can live in a global city and commute to ski.

The valley town at the base of Les Arcs, with funicular access to the slopes. Also the gateway to La Rosière and close to La Plagne. More affordable and authentic than the resort stations above.

The birthplace of alpinism and one of the world's most iconic mountain towns. Chamonix sits at the foot of Mont Blanc and has a vibrant, international atmosphere year-round. A real town with real character.

The most luxurious ski resort in the world. Courchevel 1850 is where billionaires ski. Multiple villages at different altitudes offer varying price points. Staff are the engine of the luxury machine.

The heart of the Three Valleys with chalet-style architecture (unique among purpose-built resorts). Very British — sometimes called "Little Britain in the Alps." Great intermediate skiing.

A traditional Savoyard village in the Portes du Soleil — one of the world's largest ski areas spanning France and Switzerland. Morzine has authentic village charm with a massive British seasonal community.

A high-altitude resort village at 1,850m with exceptional skiing linked to Tignes (Espace Killy). Famous for its legendary après scene, World Cup races, and British seasonal worker culture.

Europe's highest ski resort at 2,300m. A purpose-built resort in the Three Valleys — the world's largest ski area. Guaranteed snow, massive terrain, and a young, international party atmosphere.

A rapidly developing Georgian ski resort on the Greater Caucasus range. Gudauri offers incredible freeride terrain, incredibly affordable living, and Georgian hospitality (khachapuri and wine included).

The Italian side of the Matterhorn (Cervino in Italian). Connected to Zermatt via lifts — you can literally ski from Italy to Switzerland. High-altitude, snow-sure, with Italian flair.

The "Queen of the Dolomites" — host of the 1956 Winter Olympics and co-host of the 2026 Games. Cortina is Italian glamour at its finest, surrounded by UNESCO-listed Dolomite peaks.

A duty-free town in a remote high-altitude valley near the Swiss border. Livigno is famous for cheap fuel, alcohol, and cigarettes — plus great skiing and a snowboard/freestyle culture.

The prefectural capital at the top of Honshu — a ferry and shinkansen hub, apple capital of Japan, and one of the snowiest cities on Earth. Base town for the legendary deep-powder backcountry terrain of the Hakkoda mountains.

Furano is both the resort and the town — the ski area is right on the edge of town. A more authentically Japanese experience than Niseko, with lavender fields, local eateries, and a quieter vibe.

A rural onsen city of scattered farming settlements beneath the Hachimantai plateau, home turf for Appi Kogen — one of Tohoku's biggest resorts — and the smaller Hachimantai ski areas. Quiet, snowy and steeped in hot-spring culture.

Hakuba Village hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and is Japan's most famous alpine area outside Hokkaido. The village IS the resort — multiple ski areas line the valley with accommodation scattered throughout.

The main base for Niseko United. Hirafu village is where most international workers live, eat, and party. Kutchan is the larger neighbouring town with better amenities and lower rents.

A classic snow-country town with its own Hokuriku Shinkansen station, sitting in the valley below Madarao Kogen and serving as the rail gateway to Madarao and Nozawa Onsen. Temple-town streets, huge snowbanks, real rural Japan.

Japan's most polished resort town — a highland retreat of villas, boutiques and a giant outlet mall, just 70 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen. The Karuizawa Prince ski slopes start practically at the station.

The heart of Japan's snow country and its most famous rice region — home of Uonuma Koshihikari rice and the Hakkaisan sake brewery, under the steep face of Mt Hakkai and its old-school ski area.

Iwate's prefectural capital and a Tohoku Shinkansen stop, famous for wanko soba, jajamen noodles and a castle-park riverside centre. A full city base within commuting reach of Shizukuishi and Okunakayama Kogen.

Myoko is a collection of onsen villages at the base of Mt Myoko. Less touristy than Niseko or Hakuba, it offers deep powder, hot springs, and an authentic Japanese mountain experience.

A charming traditional onsen village where the ski runs end right in town. Famous for its 13 free public hot springs and the Dosojin Fire Festival. One of Japan's most atmospheric ski towns.

A historic canal port city on Hokkaido's west coast, famous for its preserved warehouses, glassworks and seafood. The nearest real city to Kiroro — many resort workers live here or in Kiroro's staff housing and commute over the hill.

Rusutsu is a self-contained resort village — most workers live on-site in staff accommodation. The nearest town is Rusutsu village, a tiny rural community.

A rural Akita city wrapped around Lake Tazawa — Japan's deepest lake — with the storied Nyuto Onsen ryokan hidden in the beech forest above and the Kakunodate samurai district at its southern end. Tazawako ski resort sits on the mountainside between lake and onsen.

A highland farming village famous for summer cabbage fields, spread beneath the volcanoes of the Gunma–Nagano border. The service village for Manza Onsen, the high sulphur hot-spring resort where most winter staff actually live and work.

Home to the famous snow monkeys (Jigokudani Monkey Park) and the gateway to Shiga Kogen — Japan's largest ski area. A traditional onsen town with a unique cultural edge.

A hot spring town and shinkansen hub — Tokyo to Yuzawa in 70 minutes. Base for Naeba and several other ski areas. Famous for its sake, rice, and onsen.

A small Canterbury Plains town at the foot of Mt Hutt. Methven is the only real base town and has a classic NZ ski-town feel in winter.

New Zealand's adventure capital and the base for The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Cardrona. A vibrant international town with world-class nightlife, dining, and outdoor activities year-round.

Scandinavia's premier ski resort — a charming lakeside village with a long skiing tradition, excellent restaurants, and true Arctic winter conditions. Think Whistler vibes with Swedish hygge.

The original winter resort town — birthplace of winter tourism and host of two Winter Olympics. Engadine valley location with frozen lake, champagne climate (300+ days of sun), and old-money glamour.

Switzerland's party resort. Verbier combines world-class freeride terrain with a glamorous, international social scene. Part of the 4 Vallées — one of Switzerland's largest ski areas.

Car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn. One of the most iconic ski destinations in the world with year-round glacier skiing. Expensive but extraordinary. Workers live and breathe mountains here.

The most glamorous ski town in America. Four mountains, celebrity culture, world-class dining, and eye-watering property prices. Seasonal workers are the backbone of this town.

The gateway town at the base of Beaver Creek, ~4km below the village. More down-to-earth than Vail or Beaver Creek proper — this is where a lot of the Vail Valley workforce actually lives.

A spread-out resort community in the Gallatin Canyon. Big Sky is more of a collection of lodges and developments than a traditional town. Bozeman (45min) is where many workers live.

A historic gold-mining town turned ski resort. Breckenridge has a charming Main Street, is part of the Vail Resorts Epic Pass family, and has one of Colorado's liveliest seasonal worker scenes.

The last great Colorado ski town — remote, funky, and fiercely independent. A former coal mining town with colourful Victorian buildings and some of the most extreme terrain in Colorado.

Gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Jackson is a western town with an iconic town square (elk antler arches), world-class skiing, and a wild contrast between billionaire homeowners and seasonal workers.

The town at the base of Sun Valley Resort — America's first destination ski resort (est. 1936). Ketchum has Hemingway heritage, excellent dining, and a relaxed Idaho mountain town vibe.

A high-altitude Eastern Sierra town surrounded by volcanic peaks. Mammoth Mountain is right there, and the town has a distinctly Californian mountain vibe — less polished than Tahoe, more real.

The base village of Palisades Tahoe and site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. A tiny valley with a walkable resort village — living here means living at work, and very few manage it.

A historic silver mining town turned ski mecca. Home to the Sundance Film Festival, two major resorts, and the 2002 Winter Olympics legacy. Just 35 min from Salt Lake City.

A full-sized city with four major ski areas within an hour — Snowbird is ~40km up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The big-city option: real rents, real jobs, and the UTA Ski Bus straight up the canyon.

The classic American ski-worker town: the Heavenly gondola rises straight out of town, casinos sit across the Nevada line at Stateline, and shared houses full of seasonal workers line the backstreets.

A genuine western Colorado town known for its natural hot springs, champagne powder, and rodeo heritage. More of a real town than a resort village.

A quintessential New England village with a white church steeple, covered bridges, and Vermont charm. Stowe Mountain Resort is 7 miles from the village.

A box canyon town surrounded by 4,000m peaks. Telluride is stunningly beautiful, culturally rich, and remote. A free gondola connects the historic town to Mountain Village.

A historic railroad town on I-80 and the real worker hub for North Lake Tahoe. More rental stock, more services and more year-round life than anywhere else near Palisades Tahoe (~19km).

Vail is a purpose-built European-style village at the base of Vail Mountain. One of the largest and most famous ski resorts in North America, owned by Vail Resorts.