When winter comes around, it’s kind of hard not to get a little discouraged by the cold. On the other hand, if you are going to spend part of your winter enjoying the wonder of a ski lodge, winter may be the best time of the year.

After all, not many people can say they’ve spent time in a ski lodge, and the name itself elicits a certain amount of charm and luxury. And while this housing alternative certainly has a lot to offer guests, there’s been a bigger push to make ski lodges and resort towns more accessible to the regular guy just looking to ‘wow’ his family during the dreary winter months.

If this is your first time heading to a ski lodge, you may not be fully aware of what to do and what needs to be in place when you book your trip. This may seem a bit stressful, but rest assured, it’s not necessarily very far from your usual trip planning.

Here are five things to keep in mind when you’re about to book a ski lodge:

Set dates and times – Before you book any trip, you’ll definitely want to know when you’ll be taking the trip and what kind of schedule you’ll be keeping during your trip. While this is important for all travel, ski breaks are very popular, which means that if you’re not really focused, you may not have a reservation available.

Get information from your family – Being able to form a travel schedule means knowing what activities you want to participate in while you’re away. Get your family together and see what kinds of things everyone wants to do. You may find that you are on the same page. Even better, ski lodges have great websites showcasing their services, a tour of their facility, and a breakdown of things to do during your stay.

Plan your packing – This is mainly a note for parents who want to make sure their children pack what they need. However, if you’re someone who tends to be bad at packing, you can get some practice, especially if you’re packing a little differently for your accommodation.

Rent or buy equipment? – If you are going skiing or snowboarding, for example, you may want to find out if it is better for you to rent your equipment or buy it. If you buy it before you leave, remember that you will have to figure out how to travel with it.

Decide how you will get around – You have a time limit for your vacation period, so make the most of it. If you’re still trying to decide on a hostel, consider how long it takes to travel there, whether you’ll be renting a car there, and how far from things your hostel is. If you spend too much time traveling and moving around, this may not be the hostel for you.

Don’t get carried away with the idea of ​​booking a ski lodge for the first time. With these helpful tips, you’re sure to feel a little calmer. And even if you’re a regular travel planner, these tips can be helpful in setting your mindset when booking season rolls around. The most important thing to take away is not to worry too much about every little thing. Expect to have a good time, and most importantly, try to figure out when you can start planning your next trip.