When you hear someone talking about a Ski Town, common associations come to mind – Skiing; winter; snow; mountains.  It’s true that most people, in fact, move to a ski town just in time for the snow to start falling and the ski resort to kick start their lift operations.  However, interestingly enough, once spring comes along the locals, who moved here specifically for the ski season, find themselves eagerly awaiting the summer. This phenomenon is due to the fact that summertime in these mountain towns (mainly in the Colorado Rockies) is AMAZING!

Colorado is the sunshine state – not Florida – as Colorado receives 300+ days of sunshine a year!  Pair that up with perfect weather, very low humidity and incredible natural terrain and you’ve got yourself a glorious climate!  On the weekends I have to make a choice on how I want to spend my perfect day… Should I go hiking? On a bike ride? Rafting? Camping? Play golf? Pitch a BBQ?  – It’s a tough decision because every one of these activities is at my disposal in no more than a 20 minute drive!  Forget the malls and your television, we get outside in Colorado!

Not outdoorsy?  No big deal.  Ski towns host a multitude of special events during the summer aimed at driving tourism to these destinations.   Some of my favorite summer events are the Teva Mountain Games, Aspen Food and Wine Classic, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Vail International Dance Festival and the list goes on and on!

 

Trying to stay low budget?  Great news!  Lodging rates dip down significantly in the summer months.  There are deals to be had everywhere and the rooms are cheap enough to make you want to extend your stay a week longer.

If you come to places like Vail, Breckenridge, Telluride or Aspen to ski and love it, I invite you to discover just how amazing these places are during the summer.  Although most locals prefer that this be kept a secret, I had to offer it up as a local’s tip, because it’s something everyone should experience.  Call Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals to start planning your trip today. (855) 210-2469

Last Wednesday Vail Resorts reported that 11″ had fallen in Vail overnight followed by another 12″ on Thursday.  This snowfall caused a frenzy in Vail, which prompted me to write this blog.

 

With the right timing, you can avoid lift lines, get better snow, and ski all day hassle free!

 

So here is a guide of When to Ski (and when to stay home)…

 

1)  Just in Time for the Storm – The weather channel informs you that a massive snow storm is headed for the Rockies.  My advice is to book a room with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and dip out of town while you still can! Don’t wait for the weekend to make it happen – that’s what everyone else does.

 

2)  On Closing Day – Costumes, drinking, and half-clothed people skiing on the mountain is a good time.  Closing day at any resort is a party that you don’t want to miss! Even though it is crowded, closing days is often the most fun day of the year. Below is a list of when our favorite Colorado Resorts are closing for the 2011-2012 season.  Don’t forget that A-basin stays open until the snow melts each year!

• Vail: April 15, 2012
• Beaver Creek:  April 8, 2012
• Snowmass: April 15, 2012
• Aspen Mountain: April 15, Aspen Highlands: April 22, Buttermilk: April 8
• Breckenridge: April 15, 2012
• Keystone: April 8th, 2012
• Telluride: April 8th, 2012

 

3)  Between opening day and December 17^th (roughly and excluding Thanksgiving weekend) – This is the time for discount lodging leading up to the holidays.  As soon as December 22^nd hits, you’re paying holiday rates that are often much, much higher than normal rates.

 

4) During the Spring! – After March 31^st you’ll typically find cheaper lodging through the end of the ski season and beautiful days on the hill. The weather is often terrific, and sometimes there are even powder days!

 

When you should probably stay home…

 

1)  The Day after Christmas – Enough said.

 

2)  New Years Day (+/- 1 day) – Surprisingly enough people still love to ski on New Years Day.  The truth is, nothing cures a hangover as quickly as some fresh mountain air blowing in your face while cruising down the mountain.

 

3)  President’s Day weekend – Next to Christmas, this is the busiest time of year to be in the mountains.  If you have to ski over President’s Day Weekend be sure to book your lodging early in the season and expect to pay premium prices.  If your trip can wait, then I’d recommend holding off until the holiday passes to go skiing.

 

Hopefully you found these local tips on when to ski and when not to ski helpful.  Rocky Mountain Vacation’s Rentals’ staff is local to each of the destinations we represent, so wherever your ski vacation may be, be sure to give Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals a call! (855) 210-2469

 

Great news Denverites! Contrary to what you may have heard, Frontier Airlines WILL be continuing its Denver to Aspen services.  Frontier Airlines had previously announced that it would be discontinuing its Denver to Aspen flights after September 30^th.  However, as of August 17^th, the company has decided to retain this service, and will be using three of its Bombardier Q400 aircrafts for Denver to Aspen flights, as well as Durango, Colorado Springs, and other Colorado routes.

Denver to Aspen flights will include one departure per day October 1^st through November 17^th, two departures per day November 18^th through December 15^th, and just in time for ski season, four departures daily  December 16^th through April 2011.

To plan your next Aspen snow-cation, or any other Rocky Mountain vacation, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.

Many people know that vacation rentals are a cheaper alternative to hotels. You save on food, activities and for large families, even on the price of the rooms. But people are consistently choosing vacation rentals over hotels not because it’s the cheaper alternative but because of the small details that make a vacation rental feel like home.

It comes down to the amenities that are available to guests, which vary by house and owner. Simple things like having a washer and dryer, a blender, a kid’s media room or a bottle of local wine ready for when they first arrive make all the difference in the world to people. Vacation home owners give their guests a personalized treatment that is rare in the hotel industry. And many homes are stocked with all the essentials for a memorable family vacation, including a wide variety of board games, movies, toys and kitchen appliances. Want to make waffles for breakfast? No problem! Just plug in the waffle iron, look up a recipe in the cookbook sitting on the counter and a homemade waffle breakfast is ready in minutes. You just can’t get that from staying at a hotel room.

A vacation home is all about privacy and exclusivity. Fancy soaking in a bubbling hot tub in your back deck with nothing but the mountains around you? Go ahead. Plenty of hotels may have hot tubs too, but they’re shared by thousands of guests. This hot tub would be all yours for a week, along with everything else the house has to offer. Having your own porch, fireplace, kitchen and living room, your own space to enjoy will make your vacation one to remember for the rest of your life. But be warned. Once you stay in a vacation home, you’ll never want to go back to hotels again.

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals specializes in vacation rentals. For help booking or finding the perfect fit for you and your family, call 1-866-348-5129

There are many different ways that people choose to travel… I myself, typically travel independently or with one other person. This is because I’m selfish and like to do what I want, without having to find a happy medium with others I’m traveling with. However, this is the worst way to travel if you’re trying to do it affordably. The fact of the matter is; traveling as a group saves money – lots of money. Let’s consider the advantages:

Lodging: Groups requiring multiple units can often qualify for group rates from the hotel or vacation rental company. Not to mention you can split the cost of the room with multiple people, saving loads.

Tours & Activities: Depending on what your group wants to do, tour providers will offer significant discounts for groups. You are essentially guaranteeing that they fill space on their tours, so it doesn’t hurt them to offer a discount to your party.

Meals: Most group travelers tend to stay in a vacation rental home, or private condos, which offer fully equipped kitchens. So you can cook a large meal, enjoy it as a group and not have to worry about the leftovers going to waste. Big savings!!!

Transportation: Splitting the cost of a cab, or shared ride is so much cheaper when you have people to share the cost with.

Not only does traveling as group save money, it also provides you with a unique experience. You are sharing memories and building friendships with that many more people that you otherwise would have. You don’t get bored or lonesome, because someone is always up to something. Memories made while traveling are ones you never forget. It’s such a good feeling to have multiple people with whom you can reminisce on these good times with long after the vacation.