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!
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>>
We are excited to welcome guests back to our beautiful valleys, pristine mountains, clear waters, and Montana friendly towns. Montana is now open to out-of-state visitors and most of our shops, restaurants, and bars are open as well. All entrances of Yellowstone National Park are open and Glacier National Park should be opening shortly. What are you waiting for? Come join us in Montana!
Did you hear, Forbes released their list of “The 20 Top Places Americans Are Dreaming About Right now” and we are located in THREE of those top locations! Since we have vacation rentals in multiple Montana locations, we’ve made it easy for you to choose your base then plan your visit.
Each community has its own unique personality, activities, and experiences. Whether you want to be close enough to explore Yellowstone or Glacier during the day, stay on the shores of Flathead Lake, hike to see wildflowers in Big Sky, or prefer a city trip, such as Bozeman, we have a collection of homes and condos to suit you.
Take a look at these locations and what makes each of them unique for your next vacation.
Big Sky
Bozeman
Ennis
Flathead Valley
Livingston
Yellowstone
Think about how you prefer to spend your time on vacation. Some people want to enjoy the natural beauty of the area from the comfort of their lovely rental. Others may want to splash in the pool or lake. Let’s not forget about the world-class fishing! If you are the adventurous type, you’re coming to the right place. Take a look at our Things To Do section for ideas and start dreaming of your visit.
With our SafeHome policies, we are ready for you!
Staying in a vacation rental gives you the advantage of a place for your family and friends to be more self-contained. There are fewer common areas, which is why so many people prefer a rental home or condo. The safety of our guests, staff, and vendors is a priority for us which is why we follow the enhanced protocols in our professional cleaning standards.
We are also proud to offer guests our WORRY FREE cancellation policy for May through November! The policy allows for a full refund up to 14 days prior to arrival minus the 5% booking fee for new and direct bookings only. We encourage you to check out our FAQ Page which has even more information about renting with us.
Travel Tips & a Reminder to Be Respectful of Local Regulations
While traveling may be different now, we want to be sure you have a pleasant trip. We’ve gathered a few suggestions for you to consider before you arrive:
- It may be helpful to bring some additional items with you as some of the smaller towns, such as Big Sky, may not be fully stocked or contain the brands you prefer:
- Specialty food items
- Paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, tissue)
- Disinfecting products (hand sanitizer, surface cleaners, wipes)
- Medications
- Protective wear (mask, gloves)
- Outdoor gear (sunscreen, bug repellent, hat)
- Masks may or may not need to be worn, watch local regulations
- Some areas may have Social Distancing requirements, be mindful of fellow guests and respectful to locals.
- Restaurants and shops may have individual restrictions, look for signs before entering.
- Local, State and National Park policies may change, please be aware
We love Montana and know you do as well. It is more important than ever to be aware of your surroundings. Clean up after yourself, put your trash in the proper receptacles, keep trails clear, and waters clean.
If you have questions or want help planning your trip, please contact our concierge services team!
Now Let’s Get Outside and Have Some Fun!
What is the first thing you’ve been dreaming about for when you arrive? Check-in then head-out to explore your area? Sign up for a Fishing Tour or Raft trip? Map out tomorrow’s driving route? Or simply enjoy some time outside your own rental? It’s your choice. Your Montana Starts Here!