Getting Settled into an Idaho Airbnb for the Winter

DRIGGS, IDAHO – Whenever you move into a new Airbnb, there’s always a little tension…

You’ve read the reviews. Studied the pictures. Checked the location. Compared prices with other similar listings. You may have even traded messages with the landlord.

On screen, everything looks good. But it’s not until you actually enter the apartment that you know if you got lucky or if you rented a lemon.

This “tension” was especially big for us on Friday, when we moved into our new Airbnb near Targhee…

More below…

End of the Road for Us

Greetings from Driggs, Idaho…

My family and I have been traveling for the last two-and-a-half years. We’ve gone completely around the world, visiting places like China, India, and Africa. And recently, we did an epic four-and-a-half month road trip/camping trip around America.

That all ended on Friday when we moved into an Airbnb near Grand Targhee, Wyoming, which we’ve leased for the next six months…

Grand Targhee is a little-known ski resort in the Teton mountain range.

We visited Alberta, Canada, last year, in December, for a couple of weeks. Temperatures were well below freezing. Snow and ice covered the land.

Our three kids – all born and raised in Florida – loved it!

We went sledding, made snowmen, had snowball fights, and even went snowboarding at a local ski hill one day. The kids wanted to play in the snow all day long. We couldn’t get them to come in!

At some point on our road trip this summer – I can’t remember exactly when – we decided we wouldn’t make it to Alaska before winter. Instead, we thought we’d spend the winter in the Canadian Rockies, getting dumped on by snow, and learning how to ski.

(I’ve skied before… a long time ago. Kate and the kids have never done any winter sports, aside from that one snowboarding day, or even been to many cold places.)

We chose a ski resort called Fernie, in British Columbia, and we aimed to get there by October for the start of the season.

I figured Canada would have opened the border by then, but it didn’t. (The Canadian border is still closed due to the pandemic, and it’ll probably stay closed all winter.)

So we had to come up with a Plan B. Using the internet, I researched all the ski resorts in America, looking for the cheapest, most family-friendly, uncrowded ski resort with the best snow I could find.

My search turned up Grand Targhee. I’d never heard of it before, but I checked with some skiers I know, and they all said it was a great resort for learning to ski (it gets 500 inches of snow a year).

I started looking for Airbnb apartments near the ski hill. I found a place in a small town called Driggs, about 20 minutes from the ski hill, contacted the owner directly, and leased the place for the entire winter…

(Grand Targhee is in Wyoming, but it’s right on the state line with Idaho. Driggs is in Idaho.)

Not Like Our Past Airbnb Experiences

When we were traveling around the world, we mostly used Airbnb (and similar apps) to find accommodation. So I’ve gone through this process hundreds of times over the last two and a half years.

But unlike all those other rentals – usually only for two or three days – this Airbnb booking would be for six months… and it’d be more expensive than virtually any other vacation place we’ve rented before.

In other words, the “tension” on Friday as we drove to Driggs to move into our new place was the greatest Airbnb tension I’ve felt yet in our years of travel…

Did we book a lemon?

We’ve now spent the weekend in our new place.

“I love this place,” said Kate this morning.

“So do I,” I replied.

Here are some more pictures of our new place. It’s a furnished condo with three bedrooms, and in a great location. We’re paying $83 a night, including all utilities, cable, and internet…

– Tom Dyson

P.S. We’ve got our apartment. I also bought our season ski passes already (in the early bird sale). Next, we need to get winter shoes, winter clothes, ski wear, and ski equipment. We have much to buy…

P.P.S. Now our “travel story” is over (save for a couple of postscripts perhaps, like our wedding), how do I keep earning your attention, and should I even try?

I’ve thought about this question a lot as we traveled around the world, always knowing that our trip would come to an end and I wouldn’t have “travel stories” to write about anymore.

I don’t know the answers yet. For now, I’ll just keep writing (maybe less frequently than I have been) and we’ll see what emerges…

Like what you’re reading? Send your thoughts to [email protected].

After Tom shared about his mom’s struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, a reader offered his own experience with symptom management. Today, another reader wants to know more…

Reader comment: I’m enjoying your travels and hope you and your family stay safe. A reader comment in the September 29 postcard mentioned an amazing success story with Parkinson’s. I have a friend with Parkinson’s and would appreciate any useful information the reader provided. Thanks again for the Postcards.

Tom’s response: One day, I will write a book titled something like, “Parkinson’s Took Both My Parents. Here’s What I Learned.” In the meantime, both my parents are alive, fighting hard against it, and I’m going to start journaling about my journey as a “son of Parkinson’s” in these Postcards. Stay tuned. (I’ve contacted the reader who posted that comment and will follow up on their story.)

Meanwhile, readers give Tom advice for this next season of life… and others are grateful for the Postcards…

Reader comment: Hopefully by the time you read this letter, you will not be camping anymore and getting settled in the place you chose to spend the winter. Keep us posted on your activities over the rest of the fall and the upcoming winter. I suggest you stock up on good sources of Vitamin C, D3, and B complex in the foods you eat (or take in supplements), especially after living on the type of diet you had camping alfresco.

Enjoy the town and get outside as much as you can for just simple walks, besides the ski plans you have. Make friends with all the people you meet, no matter what level of income they have, as you will be surprised at what you will learn. Be safe and stay healthy. P.S. Thanks for posting my previous letter. I sent a copy to my daughter who lives in Florida.

Reader comment: Get some sleeping bags filled with white goose down. No man-made anything is warmer. I’m 80 years old and still have some WWII army surplus mummy bags my parents bought in the 1940s. My camping days are behind me. But 30+ years ago, I spent two nights in the High Sierras of California (in 20-degree nights) wearing just a t-shirt and undershorts, and was totally warm.

Reader comment: We really enjoy your daily posts. If you ever make it to Oklahoma, you will have a place to stay. Also, I could introduce you to sprint car racing! I’m a sprint car driver. We were like your family – all over the U.S. for five years in a motor coach full-time! At 62 years old, I’m still winning races. I’m going to do it until I can’t win anymore! Hope you have a great ski season and wish your mom well!

Reader comment: Tom, I really enjoy all of your posts and admire your family’s commitments and determination. It is an adventure but sometimes that might not be from everyone’s viewpoint. I think your plan to hole up in an apartment for three months will bring clarity to everyone and strengthen each and every one of your bonds to one another. Fantastic journey, education, and life adventure. Most people have never experienced anything like what you are describing. Keep the posts coming.

Reader comment: Your emails are my favorite of all the daily ones I receive. You’re inspiring me to do similar things with my little family. You mentioned that it has been uncomfortably cold. The way you’re roughing it though, your bodies are acclimating much better than keeping to the comfort of heated space all the time. You’ll enjoy the outdoors this winter all the more. We keep our house cool in the winter and spend a lot of time outdoors. When it isn’t really windy, I am comfortable shoveling snow, here in South Dakota, wearing just a t-shirt on top. I’d love to learn how to ski with you!

Reader comment: What a wonderful adventure it has been to live vicariously through your family road trip. Next time you are in Montana, check out Arlee, Montana, on the south shore of Flathead Lake. My niece has a wonderful store there. She and her husband convinced their bosses at the big Silicon Valley tech company to let them work remotely, and moved to Montana to open their store. They have a very eclectic offering of things, beyond just a normal inventory.

Reader comment: Your trip is amazing. I would love to do that with my family someday. I am following your advice on gold. Keep up the good analysis. Be careful on road curves with that tent trailer; those things could flip a vehicle if you take those curves too fast, so take them slower than usual. Cheers!

Tom’s note: Thank you for your kind messages! Please keep writing us at [email protected].