Working remote in the Alps
A guide for wanna-be ski bums to find the best place to work remotely and ski/snowboard for a few months in the Alps.
Some nomads run as fast as they can from winter - not this nomad. I started working remotely so I could spend a season skiing in the Alps. Being a snowmad will always have a special place in my heart so this list is dedicated to anyone who dreams of spend a month or six working remotely and skiing/snowboarding in Europe.
Best Co-living/co-workings in the mountains
Cloud Citadel
Where: Briancon, French Alps
What: An mazing community of nomads in a picturesque mountain town. Expect new ski buddies, group adventures and weekly shared meals. Amazing skiing for all levels.
When: Open all year
Price: €1200 - €2100/mo
Coworking Bansko
Where: Bansko, Bulgaria
What: Affordable co-working community on a ski resort. Great place to meet other nomads, have fun, up-skill and enjoy the mountains at a very reasonable price.
When: Open all year.
Price: €200-300/mo + €125 co-working pass
Swiss Escape
Where: Grimentz, Switerland (2.5hrs from Geneva)
What: Two chalets that sleep 15 people with shared living and co-working spaces in a quant old village.
Price: €2448 double room / €1316 shared room / €2079 single room
Newbies: Learn to ski with other nomads
If you’re a totally newbie and want to take a month to learn to ski, this is a great program for you. Join a group of nomads living in a beautiful mountain town in the Swiss Alps. Location near a beginner’s mountain, take advantage of skiing everyday and still getting your work done. As you progress, ski more advanced slopes just down the valley.
More info here.
Pros: Leave the crowds behind for the solitude of the Arctic.
Skip the lift lines altogether and head for summit to sea adventures in the Lofoten Islands. Earn your turns in untouched snow and find out why guests keep coming back to the lodge year after year.
Do your own thing
If living in a shared house isn’t for you, no worries, there’s still plenty of options. After spending a few winter seasons at lots of different resorts here’s an easy checklist to follow when looking for your remote winter home.
Terrain - If you’re a beginner, make sure you’re near beginner to intermediate friendly slopes. If you’re an advanced skier make sure you won’t get bored. Look for a bigger resort or more back country access. If you’d like to get into ski touring, check out the list of Movement tracks. These are most notably in the Swiss Alps and offer an avalanche secure area to learn the basics of ski touring and a great alternative to only downhill skiing.
Transportation - Check the transportation in the area to make sure its’ easy to get to the slopes/around town. You can stay in a cheaper area if there’s an easy way to get to the mountain quickly. In general try to avoid a commute over 30 minutes. (I find if it’s over 30 minutes it’s much harder to squeeze in a trip on a workday).
Groceries - Make sure there is a decent size grocery store within walking distance or easily accessible by bus. Smaller markets will work but unless you’re prepared to eat only potatoes/cheese/apples/cabbage/yogurt all winter, you’ll want a bigger store for better prices and selection.
Après scene - It’s easier to make friends/meet people if there’s a few bars in town.
Locations to consider
Verbier / 4 Vallees Switzerland
Arguably the best freeriding destination in the world. Verbier has it all. Skiing, freeriding, snowshoeing, restaurants, nightlife and incredible charm. The gondola and bus system mean you can get around easily and you’ll never get bored. This resort is already well known to the Brits but that means its pretty easy to get by speaking English and there’s plenty of other remote workers/seasonal workers for skiing/drinking buddies.
Verbier is the most expensive town in the 4 Vallees resort. It’s worth looking around the other villages like Nendaz or Veysonay to find a cheaper place to rent. There’s also the Facebook Group Verbier 2.0 and facebook marketplaces to search for direct from owner rentals.
Aosta Valley, Italy
Never heard of Aosta? Perfect, neither have many tourists. This pristine region of Northern Italy borders France and Switzerland and is tucked into the backside of the Matterhorn. You get all the Matterhorn views for way less money with better food.
Crans Montana, Switzerland
The designer shops in town are a little fancy for my taste but don’t be fooled, this resort has a lot more to offer than expensive watches. This Swiss town is setup for easy remote working and mountain access. There’s everything you need from stores to dining to bars, a great bus system, and a fun international vibe. My personal favorite thing is numerous avalanche-safe ski tours thanks to Movement Tracks. The tours wind through the resort but make it feel like you are deep in the backcountry. There’s even an area of the resort where the lifts have been removed but the trails remain open for families to snowshoe or ski tour.
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck is the best both worlds - city charm in the heart of the mountains. The train system rivals the Swiss, easily transporting you to one of thirteen nearby resorts. (YES, 13 nearby resorts). It’s common to see people with skis on in the train. Enjoy everything the city has to offer without missing out on the slopes.
Happy snowmading my friends.