Brand New Big Sky Ski In/Out Luxury with Room for the Whole Gang
You won’t want to miss our newest property… Cascade Ridge Luxury Retreat!
Drool-worthy brand new construction! This luxurious ski-in/out Big Sky property offers amazing views, 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, up to 16 guests, two decks, and even a speakeasy style bar, and movie room! Guests have access to the Cascade Clubhouse during their visit for a small fee. The Little Thunder Chairlift offers convenient ski-in/out access from the Cascade area to the main part of the mountain.
Learn more about Big Sky’s Cascade Ridge Luxury Retreat and check availability!
Travel & Leisure named Flathead Lake one of the Top 25 Best Lake Vacation spots in the US!
According to Travel & Leisure’s article, Flathead Lake is, “Best for Horseback Riding: Wild horses roam the eponymous state park that floats in this lake in western Montana. Along the shore awaits the all-inclusive Flathead Lake Lodge, where guests can enjoy equestrian lessons, trail rides, cookout rides, barrel-racing competitions, and team roping demonstrations. Other dude ranches in the Flathead Valley can organize multi-day packhorse camping trips into the surrounding wilderness mountains.” Read the full Travel & Leisure article about Top 25 Lake Vacations in the US.
Stay Montana recently expanded our vacation rental offerings to the Flathead Valley and we now offer many vacation rentals on or near Flathead Lake! Check them out and find your perfect Lake Vacation spot!
Quick facts about Flathead Lake:
- Located in Northwest Montana.
- Largest natural freshwater lake by surface area west of the Mississippi.
- 79th largest natural freshwater lake in the world.
- One of the cleanest lakes in the world.
- The East Shore is lined with cherry orchards.
- The West shore is known for wine production.
- It’s not that deep – the deepest part is 370 ft vs. Lake Tahoe which is 1600 ft deep.
- 185 miles of shoreline.
Flathead Lake Activities:
- Horseback Riding – as the T&L article mentions.
- Fishing – lake trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout, lake whitefish and yellow perch.
- You can also ice fish in winter!
- Wildhorse Island – a 2,165 acre state park, which peaks 1,200 above the lake. Known for herds of wild horses and bighorn sheep.
- Swimming – plenty of public access beaches to explore and take a dip.
- Boating – from ski boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, sail boats, SUPs, kayaks, etc.
- Cherry picking & farmer’s markets
- Camping
- Hiking
- Exploring the lakefront towns of Bigfork, Lakeside, Somers, Polson, Woods Bay
Want to plan your Flathead Lake vacation? We offer many vacation rentals on and near Flathead Lake!
Here are a few fun questions we asked to get to know David:
- Where was the best vacation you ever took? Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands last year. The water was so warm and clear. I snorkeled for hours everyday with sea turtles, schools of fish, and sting rays!
- What do you think is the most important thing in a home for a guest? Cleanliness – A guest wants to come in and feel like they are the first ones to use the property
- If you could cook dinner for a celebrity in one of our vacation homes, who would it be and where? Payton Manning and it would be at Sunset Haven overlooking Flathead Lake!
- When you make a bed, hospital corners or no hospital corners? Hospital Corners out of habit
- What’s your preference, vacation rental, hotel, RV, or tent? Tent if I am in the woods, otherwise I would prefer a vacation rental.
- If you were exploring Montana with Lewis and Clarke, what was your favorite place? Glacier National Park
- What is your favorite season? Winter
- Favorite sports team? Broncos
- What was the most fun you had during the Covid-19 shut down? Mountain Biking!
- Favorite book or movie character of all time? Harry Potter
- Are you loyal to any brand? If yes why? Neversummer Snowboards because the quality of their product is always on point, they are reliable and stylish.
More about David and the rest of our team >>
Learn more about the Flathead Valley>>
3 cross country ski areas in the Bozeman area are in the running for the “best cross-country ski resort” category of USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards competition!
- Crosscut Mountain Sports Center near Bozeman. Especially exciting since this is the first time Crosscut has been nominated and it’s only 4 years old.
- Lone Mountain Ranch near Big Sky. Named Cross Country Skier magazine’s #1 Nordic ski destination in North America with 85 km of trails through wooded trails and mountainous terrain.
- Rendezvous Ski Trails near West Yellowstone. Nominated for many years with pet friendly trails, trails in Yellowstone National Park, trails along the Madison River, wide skating trails and diagonal paths.
The Bozeman community is thrilled to be recognized as a cross country ski destination. The Bozeman area offers countless outdoor activities whether you’re visiting in winter or summer. From boating, fishing, biking, hiking and more in summer to skiing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and more in winter. View the Bozeman Area Guide or the Big Sky Area Guide for more info about things to do.
Read more about Bozeman recognized as a Cross Country Ski Destination>>
Ready to visit? Find Your Perfect Bozeman Vacation Rental>>
Find Your Perfect Big Sky Vacation Rental>>
We strongly recommend purchasing lift tickets early!
Big Sky Resort lift tickets are on sale now and we highly recommend our guests buy them early! Purchasing lift tickets ahead of time ensures the best pricing and availability. You can even have them mailed directly to you, well in advance of your trip, which allows you to avoid lines when you arrive and are anxious to get on the slopes!
If you’re staying at one of our Big Sky ski in/ski out properties, having your tickets in hand ahead of time allows you to use the access lifts in your area to get to the main resort area. This way, you don’t have to take a shuttle and wait in line to pick up your tickets first.
Additionally, Big Sky Resort uses variable pricing so purchasing early gets you the best price!
To our Stay Montana guests – Buy Tickets Early & Have Them Mailed (well ahead of time!)
Purchase Big Sky Resort lift tickets>>
Need a place to stay? Check out our Big Sky Lodging options!
Happy skiing & boarding!
🎿 Top 5 Big Sky Ski In / Out Vacation Rentals 🏂
The ultimate in convenience – a ski in/out vacation rental! Stay Montana offers Big Sky condos, cabins and private vacation rental homes. Vacation rental amenities can include cozy fireplaces, private hot tubs, stunning views, and more! You’ll also find a nice range from affordable to luxurious Big Sky vacation rental options.
⛷️ Here’s the countdown…
Beaverhead 1438 – Spacious four bedroom and family friendly Beaverhead Condo offers spectacular views of the Spanish Peaks. Enjoy the convenience of slope side living with its amazing location to the mountain mall and Yellowstone conference center. Un-clip and unwind with the White Wing beginner trail nestled just steps from your condo and warm up in your private indoor hot tub. With a spacious kitchen and two living spaces this large condo sleeps 10 and is the perfect home to entertain the whole crew!
Big Horn 22 – Spacious three bedroom and family friendly Big Horn Condo offers an amazing ski-in/ski-out location. Enjoy the convenience of slope side living with its amazing location to the mountain mall and Yellowstone conference center. Un-clip and unwind with the Poma lift nestled just 50 steps from your condo and warm up next to the wood burning fireplace. With a spacious kitchen and en suite bathroom for all bedrooms this condo sleeps 8 and is the perfect home to entertain the whole crew!
Little Plume Flat – The quintessential cozy, ski-in/ski-out flat! This luxury above garage flat is awaiting you for your next Big Sky Escape! Located in the Cascade ski-in/ski-out neighborhood of Big Sky, nestled in a wooded area prime for wildlife viewing, the flat is great for couples looking for a few days away from it all. The owner lives on-site in the main house attached to the garage.
Saddle Ridge complex – Located in the coveted Moonlight base area, this complex offers private hot tubs and amazing views. The units are convenient, a good value, perfect for families or groups, and some are even pet-friendly.
Shoshone complex – Located right at the base of Big Sky Resort Mountain Village! The Shoshone units are located inside a hotel-condo complex that offers many cushy amenities – a seasonal heated outdoor pool, indoor hot tub, Health Club, Steam Room, Sauna, Ski Valet and free shuttle to the Meadow Village and Town Center. Properties have 1 to 2 bedrooms and 2 to 3 bathrooms, accommodating 6 to 8 guests. Many feature cozy fireplaces and gorgeous views of Big Sky Mountain Resort.
Browse all Ski in/Out Big Sky Vacation Rentals>>
Big Sky Resort announced today (9/15/20) that lift tickets and season passes are on sale NOW!
The resort had paused sales while they diligently developed operation plans for winter 2020-21 that would follow ski industry and local health best practices. Today they were excited to let skiers and snowboarders know their operations plan and relaunch the sale of tickets & passes.
All lifts, carpets, and the Lone Peak Tram will run as normal this winter. Currently, the resort doesn’t plan to limit access to the mountain. They said, “Purchasing your lift tickets online, and before the start of the season will assure access to the mountain for your desired days of skiing.” Big Sky Resort will keep an eye on skier volume and make adjustments as needed to keep everyone safe. Ready to buy lift tickets? Go here>>
❄️ With snow having already fallen on Lone Peak and Thanksgiving opening day just around the corner, the countdown to another awesome ski season at Big Sky has begun!
“Skiing and snowboarding at Big Sky has always provided plenty of room to spread out – offering more than an acre per skier on average. Our immense 5,850 acres of skiable terrain, plus lift infrastructure that moves guests up and across the mountain quickly, makes the experience on our mountain a relatively low-risk outdoor activity.” Read more from Big Sky Resort’s Winter Operations Update.
⛷️ Pumped for ski season? We are! And we have even more properties available to you this year! Big Sky ski in/out, great for families or groups, free winter shuttle, cushy hotel amenities & more! Additionally, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport also released its winter flight schedule with 17 direct flights and no change fees on 3 airlines! Go ahead and book your trip now. There’s nothing to worry about with our 2 day cancel policy!
Ready to start browsing properties?
All Big Sky Vacation Rentals – with free winter shuttle!
✈️ Just Announced! Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Winter Flight Schedule! ✈️
Did you know that Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport has non-stop service to 19 markets?
Additionally, American, Delta & Alaska have slashed their change fees!!
Book your winter vacation now with the perfect Montana vacation rental and non-stop flight!
Here’s the list of direct flights:
- Atlanta, GA
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Charlotte, NC
- Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
- Denver, CO
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Houston, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Minneapolis/St Paul, MN
- Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Newark, NJ
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Francisco, CA
View full PDF of Bozeman Winter 2020-21 Flight Schedule
Getting excited about a winter escape?
Big Sky Resort announced that season passes & lift tickets are on sale NOW! And with Stay Montana’s Flex Cancel Policy, you can cancel 2 days prior to arrival for a FULL REFUND. Book your ski vacay now worry free!
Ski in/out Big Sky vacation rentals>>
All Big Sky vacation rentals>>
6 Ways to Create an Instagrammable Vacation Rental
INSTAGRAM-WORTHY QUALITIES ARE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR VACATION RENTAL HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
According to Wikipedia, Instagram-worthy qualities are increasingly important for vacation rental homeowners who want to remain competitive. If this feels intimidating, the good news is that total property overhauls aren’t necessary (unless you want a complete redesign – go for it!) There are a few easy and affordable things that can be done over time to create fun moments for guests and inspire their social media photos.
Visuals have always been perhaps the most influential tools in travel marketing. From landscape oil paintings of yore to retro coffee table books and post cards to today’s social media, the power and importance of images has increased exponentially with each new technology.
Those who stick their noses up at the social-media centric way of the world today stand to miss out on the holy grail of marketing: referrals. According to Bookfull, 52% of travelers seek recommendations from friends on social media when planning a trip. Furthermore, 92% of travelers say that they trust the reviews of their friends over commercial advertising. That means a single photo of guests saying “Cheers!” with your vacation home’s stunning view as a backdrop posted on social media becomes an endorsement to potential future guests – at no cost.
What’s more, as Millennials and Generation Z travelers become the largest traveling group and take on the decision-making role in booking multigenerational travel, “Instagrammability” will become critical for properties and destinations to stay competitive. Today, more than 40% of travelers under 33 prioritize this when choosing their next vacation spot, according to a recent survey.
ADD A MURAL
If you think you’ve seen a lot of travel photos with travelers posed in front of a mural, you’re not imagining it. Murals are “Instagram bait,” as Business of Fashion calls them. Vacation rental owners can use the same “bait” in their properties with a statement wall that inspires neat portraits. A hand-painted piece by a professional muralist would surely surprise and delight guests, but other options like a bold patterned wallpaper or an oversized piece of art can have the same effect.
READY MADE VIGNETTES
Vignettes are small scenes or narratives within a larger setting. In vacation rentals, these are little moments like reading a book in a window seat or toasting with a glass of wine as the sun sets. Vignettes make for popular social media posts (and better guest experiences), so create ready-made moments throughout the property. Set the table and breakfast bar for meals, place a game of chess ready for a duel, or have colorful outdoor drinkware by the pool loungers waiting for equally colorful drinks. (Bonus: Vignettes can also boost bookings when included in listing photos, too!)
GIVE YOUR HOME A HASHTAG
Amplify the social media friendliness of your vacation rental with a branded hashtag and matching social media accounts. Create a hashtag and account names that uniquely identify the property that guests can use in their social posts. Property names often work best as long as they’re not already used. Make sure guests know to tag their photos accordingly by including the
hashtag and account handle in communications, in-home materials, and even custom-printed take-home gifts. Then, keep active on the social accounts to collect and share all the great UGC when they use your tags!
MOOD LIGHTING
Great lighting encourages user-generated content (UGC) in two ways. The first is that a well-lit space simply makes for better photos. Bright natural light is best so let as much sun in through windows and glass doors as possible. If privacy is a concern or if especially bright times of day need a little tempering, sheer curtains diffuse light beautifully. For indoor lighting, layer several different soft light sources in every space and use bulbs in the warm-white color temperature range.
The second benefit is that striking fixtures can tell a story in photos and often become a main photo feature. Indoors, a statement fixture or architectural lamp can elevate the whole space in person and on camera. Outdoors, market lights draw Instagrammers like moths to a flame. They cast enough light to give everything beneath them a picture-perfect glow, and the string lights themselves instantly add a stylish sparkle.
APPEALING DESIGN
One of the best ways to make a property more photo-friendly is to have an up-to-date interior design aesthetic that’s already widely shared on social media. Think modern farmhouse, Scandinavian, contemporary, or other styles showcased in magazines.
Stay Montana is proud to join Visit Big Sky in the Montana Aware effort to encourage responsible travel in Montana. At Stay Montana, safety is our number one priority for guests and Montana locals. That’s why we follow the CDC’s cleaning guidelines and ALL of our vacation rental properties have contactless entry. Additionally, we have implemented a NEW 2 day cancel policy where guests can get a full refund if they need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. We’re proud that Montana remains open, welcoming visitors, and we want to be sure everyone is following safe travel best practices to ensure your safety and to slow the spread of COVID-19.
For more on info our cleaning policies, contactless entry, local/state regulations, etc. visit our FAQ page.
Montana Aware’s Safe Travel Guidelines
Before travelers hit the road, they should, “Know before you go.”
• Know the local public health guidelines before arriving at their destination
• Understand some services and destinations may be limited
• Stay home if they’re sick
When travelers are on the road, they should:
• Wear a mask – face coverings are required in certain indoor spaces and for certain organized outdoor activities in counties currently experiencing four or more active cases of COVID-19
• Maintain social distance (at least 6 feet apart)
• Wash their hands and use hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching their face
• Cover coughs and sneezes
More Info on Safe Travel Guidelines
Please visit https://www.healthygallatin.org/coronavirus-covid-19/ for the most up-to-date local health guidelines from Gallatin County and https://flatheadhealth.org/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/ for guidelines from Flahtead County..
Questions?
Contact the Stay Montana team>>
