Frosty nights, cosy delights - a look at Wintercrest
(Wintercrest is closed until October 2024. In the meantime, take a look at the Illustria Resort)
Wintercrest is one of a number of Winter holiday sims that have sprung up over the past few weeks. However unlike many of the others, it offers stays on a nightly, as opposed to a weekly basis.
As a result, I went to take a look, bringing Luana (Luanamae Heartstrong) with me for a second opinion.
Overall look and feel
Constructed on a homestead, Wintercrest faces the immediate challenge of maximizing space.
The owners have overcome this hurdle quite well, crafting a setting that includes a ski slope, a central lodge, a skating rink, a dance pavilion, and houses for brief stays.
The landscape is skillfully arranged, ensuring a remarkably lag-free experience—I find this is a rarity in winter-themed sims.
Yet, as Luana noted, the central lodge, with its largely white aesthetic and a lot of open and unused space, verges on being sterile. In a milieu dominated by snow, a touch of warmth could elevate the lodge's ambiance, bridging the gap between the interior and the snowy expanse outside.
However, the covered sitting area at the top of the ski slope had much more of a cozy feel about it.
Accommodation
The houses are reasonably priced, with the most expensive costing 400L a night. I took a house that cost 350L, which included two bedrooms (meaning you could rent it as two couples), a very large bathroom, an outdoor hot tub and a large living area.
The interior was tastefully decorated with furnishings from highly regarded SL brands such as Lalou and Backbone, evoking a sense of comfort and luxury.
Facilities
These include:
A central lodge with a rental point, a bar and sitting area
A ski lift
A skating area
A dance pavilion
A toboggan run, which is quite fun
Scattered across Wintercrest are also various pose balls catering to couples and groups, adding a touch of intimacy, and good for photo opportunities.
Practical Information
Wintercrest is moderate, adult activities have to be restricted to the houses
The houses are fully private
I had no real lag issues
Prices range from 250-400L a day
Overall
I’ve been to over 200 SL resorts and vacation experiences, and so it was interesting to hear Luana’s perspective as having only just started accompanying me to these places.
Her feeling was that the houses are undoubtedly inviting - but she already has a nice house, as do many other SL Residents. And people who spend money on their houses or on other outside interests (in Luana’s case, her gallery) are also going to be the ones most likely to pay for an SL vacation.
The attraction would be finding something that offers her something she can’t get already —be it exceptional design, unique facilities, or immersive role-playing services. And that pretty much sums up the places on my highly recommended list. They manage to create that all important ‘wow’ factor through a combination of those three elements.
As a result, even though there was a lot right with Wintercrest and a lot of time and trouble has obviously gone into the build, I wondered if it would work better as a weekly airbnb type set up, or indeed as a long term rental community.
Nevertheless, for those seeking a reasonably priced winter escape in a well-designed, low-lag haven, Wintercrest is a good option worth considering.
Finallly, thank you to my friend Ania Baxton for alerting me to the existence of Wintercrest.
