When searching for Breckenridge, Colorado lodging, you'll most likely notice the phrase "ski-in ski-out" used in the description of various accommodations. Realizing the incredible lure of these words, property management companies have begun using them in the marketing of their resorts, condominiums, timeshares and private vacation homes. While the phrase conjures images of a property that is mere steps from the slopes, where chairlift access couldn't be easier, the reality is that "ski-in ski-out" is being adapted to describe properties that are actually nothing of the sort.

Many Breckenridge properties do feature true slopeside accommodations, however the vast majority describing themselves as such have stretched the truth to at least some extent. This may mean that a condominium hotel sits at the far end of a pedestrian plaza that links it with the resort's base area, or it could be that you find yourself hiking to the nearest chairlift via an ungroomed trail through the woods. Because these trails are often too narrow to be groomed by the resort's snowcats, they may be icy or impassable as a result of deeply drifted snow.

Other accommodations may offer ski-out access, but lack a trail system that doesn't require hiking back up the mountain to return to your lodging. A true slopeside property should provide direct access to the slopes in both directions, allowing access to your lodging throughout the day.

The lesson to take away from this article is simple: When booking accommodations that are defined as ski-in ski-out, make sure that you know exactly what it is that you are getting. Property management companies in Breckenridge may have varying definitions of ski-in ski-out, and as a result, you should question your preservationist thoroughly as to the actual location of your lodging.