Slope side is a term used in the North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

n ski

Skiing

Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....

 lodging industry to describe any accommodation from which one can reasonably walk to the ski lifts. Such lodgings are usually at the bottom of, or right beside, the ski hill—hence the term slope side.

Due to their proximity to the lifts, and their desirability, slope side units are usually more expensive than off-hill units. Slope side accommodation is desirable for a number of reasons, mainly:

• Driving and parking a car at many ski resorts is inconvenient and time consuming. By being slope side, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience and have quicker access to the ski hill.
• Skiers staying in slope side lodgings can return to their rooms more easily for a break, or, with kitchen-equipped lodging, to cook and eat lunch.
• Those who have finished skiing for the day may return easily without disrupting those who may have accompanied them.

Some resorts, such as Mont Tremblant

Mont Tremblant Resort

Mont Tremblant Ski Resort is a year-round resort in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec, Canada, about 130 km northwest of Montreal. It is best known as a ski destination, but also features a lake suitable for swimming and two golf courses in the summer months...

 in Quebec

Quebec

Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

, Sun Peaks Resort

Sun Peaks Resort

Sun Peaks Resort is an alpine ski resort located 50 km northeast of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.The summit of the ski area is at an elevation of 2,080 m , with an 881 m vertical rise from the base of the peak...

 and Whistler-Blackcomb

Whistler-Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb is a major ski resort located 125 km north of Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. By many measures it is the largest ski resort in North America; it is 50% larger than its nearest competitor in terms of size, has the greatest uphill lift capacity, and until 2009, had...

 in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, feature pedestrian villages at the base of their mountains. Lodgings within these villages are considered slope side by the resorts, as the lifts are within walking distance of each unit.

In some cases, the slope side designation is used to describe hotel

Hotel

A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...

s from which a shuttle bus

Public transport

Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...

is required to reach the hill. This is generally seen as stretching the term beyond what may be considered reasonable.