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A major shift is happening in the vacation industry and it’s changing the way people plan their trips.

 

In the past travelers were very focused on booking their stays with resort hotels when they headed for the slopes of their favorite ski resort town. Over the past ten years the number of rental properties in ski towns like Park City, Utah has grown exponentially. This is partially due to the recession and the need for many property owners to subsidize the cost of their second home.

This increase in the inventory of spectacular rental properties has opened up the eyes of many travelers who are realizing that while at a hotel they may have to rent multiple rooms to accommodate their family (parents, kids, grandparents, etc). This shift is providing the option of renting one larger luxurious home and enjoying the ease of everyone staying together. In a home setting families can have large dinners together in privacy versus in a restaurant. They can all sit together at night playing games or watching movies instead of relaxing in separate hotel rooms. And most important to many families – they can save money. Renting three rooms for a week during peak ski season in Park City can be much more expensive than renting a luxury 5 bedroom home for the same time period. And with private homes you have the option of renting close to any area you find most desirable. Whether that is near Deer Valley, Canyons or Old Town it’s up to the visitor. Many rental properties in Park City are even ski-in/ski-out allowing guests to literally ski out their door and onto the slopes.

 

Some travelers worry that they will miss the amenities that hotels offer if they rent a private property. But this is not the case – especially when booking a rental with Abode Park City. We offer high end gift baskets, cold beer and fine wine complimentary to each group when they arrive. All bathrooms are stocked with luxury lotions, soaps, shampoos and conditioners just like at the finest hotels. We are happy to arrange for daily cleanings and in home massages making our guests feel as pampered as if they were staying in a five star hotel. But the best part is – they aren’t in a big public hotel with crowded common areas. They are in a private luxury property where every comfort of home is available and every service is just a phone call away.

 

If you’re looking to plan your next ski vacation and you’re considering Park City – take a minute to peruse our collection of high end rental properties. You will undoubtedly be amazed at how easy and comfortable your trip will be and like our past customers you’ll be planning your next trip before you even get back home.

You feel the electricity in the air.  If you were in Park City you would be feeling it right now too.  It’s that sense you get when a big storm is headed right for us and everyone is SUPER EXCITED for all the snow about to hit the mountains and make for those once in a lifetime powder skiing experiences!

 

Take a look at the weather radar and you’ll see it – the kind of storm that has you calling Abode Park City for a last minute Park City ski vacation rental – maybe even something ski-in / ski-out at Deer Valley or Park City.  If you’re reading this on the day it’s published or soon after you are ahead of the curve.  Get your flight booked and your rental reserved and head out to Park City now.  The snow is expected to continue through early Saturday.  You won’t regret it…and your friends will be jealous when they see the face shot pics you post on Facebook

 

We’re hearing that we can expect 12-24 inches by Friday above 7,700 feet.

 

But don’t take my word for it…here’s a list of resources from the professionals so you can see for yourself what they are expecting.

 

Wasatch Snow Forecast.com

 

Utah Weather Forecast

There are lots of reasons to book a ski vacation in Park City, Utah…

For many people the main draw is the fresh and fluffy Utah powder.  For others it’s the Sundance Film Festival and the movie star spotting.  Still others come to Park City for the easy access from the Salt Lake City Airport.  But trends show that more and more visitors are selecting Park City over other ski resort locations based on the authenticity that our old west town emanates.

An authentic experience is something that more and more people are searching for these days as they plan their vacations of all types.  “Hollywood goes to Aspen—that’s the place to be seen. Park City keeps a low profile,” says actor Kevin Sorbo, who is best known for his lead role in the television series “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,” and who is in eight movies filmed last year.  More and more people are looking for an escape and Park City offers just the right environment to get away while experiencing luxury and a heaven for outdoor activities.

If you are looking for a real high west ski town time of your life you should certainly consider booking a Park City ski vacation with Abode Park City.  We offer a variety of properties in all the best locations.  Whether you are hoping for ski in /ski out slope side elegance or a cozy cabin right on Main Street we have you covered.  Contact our reservations department at 435-565-1555 to book your luxury ski vacation today!

Looks like we will have to stop measuring in inches and start measuring this Deer Valley storm in feet! The skiing will be great this weekend…check out our total so far:

Snow is starting to stack up here in Park City as we all get ready for the Deer Valley Celebrity Ski Classic which marks the first true weekend of ski season! As usual, town is a buzz as the first major storm of the season crushes the Wasatch. We had a decent amount of Fall snow and temperatures were good enough for snow making. However, this current storm is getting us off to an unreal start!

We already have 12″ in the last day and we will probably get another 6″ to 9″ tonight with more snow in the forecast. By the weekend we should have 2 feet+ of new snow. So look for a better than average opening weekend at Deer Valley coupled with Park City and all the other resorts starting to open up more terrain.

Temperatures will remain very cold, so this light dry fluff will hold up into Christmas. The long range forecast looks like there are a few more disturbances backed up in the Pacific…so we hope to have storms rolling into the New Year.

If you have not booked your Park City vacation rental, you should start looking soon as the season is starting to book up and all this snow will make for a great trip! Vacation home and condos to rent in both Deer Valley and Park City are mostly sold out over New Year’s and Sundance and the rest of the season is filling in…so give us a ring at 435.565.1555

It may only be just the end of summer and the tippy top of the fall season now but winter is just around the breezy corner and before you know it ski season will be upon us.

September is the best time of year to check out the fall colors and changing leaves.  It’s also a great time to go apple picking or to cheer on your favorite football team.  But mainly – September is a GREAT TIME to book your winter ski vacation in Park City!!!

abode has many luxury vacation ski rental options to make your Park City vacation comfortable and sophisticated.  If you book with abode you have our concierge services at your fingertips and a team of people working to ensure your stay is seamless and spectacular.

-Cole, our Reservations manager will make booking easy with his ability to match you and your needs to the perfect Park City property for the best value in town
-Rachel, our Concierge Manager will assist you with preparations before you arrive such as: advance ski pass purchase, private boot and ski fitting at your vacation rental, personal chef arrangements, in home massage appointments, adventure scheduling (snow cat skiing, snow tubing, snow mobile rides, snowshoe dinners, etc)
-Scott, our Operations Manager will make sure your rental property is in tip top running order at all times before, during and after your stay
-Anna & Carlos, our Cleaning Services Managers will make sure your unit is perfectly tidy and fresh before you arrive and they will be on hand to do daily cleanings if you prefer while you are in town
-And finally, Rob Alday the Owner and Operator of the company will oversee the entire team and make sure no detail is missed.  Rob is available to deal directly with all of our guests at any time, just call us at 435-565-1555 and ask to speak with him.

abode is your best option in Park City for booking a memorable and luxurious winter vacation.  The entire abode team is ready and waiting to treat you to the finest mountain vacation experience in the business!

Call us at 435-565-1555 today to get make the most of our tremendous selection of Park City vacation accommodations…reservations are booking fast…the sooner you call – the sooner we can get to work crafting your dream ski vacation.

Not that it’s any surprise to Park City locals…but we’re all excited that Outside Magazine has officially named Park City, Utah as the “BEST TOWN IN AMERICA”!!!!

If you’ve ever visited Park City for a summer or a winter vacation you will likely agree with Outside Magazine’s recent declaration that Park City, Utah is the BEST TOWN IN AMERICA!!!!

The article says “Local love for Park City can feel a little over the top—it got two-thirds as many votes in our contest (5,179) as it has residents. To see if that affection was justified, I parachuted in for a 72-hour, Chamber of Commerce–led recon tour. What I found was a town that breeds the active lifestyle.

In winter, Parkites can access three world-class ski areas from town: Deer ValleyPark City, and the Canyons. Then there’s climbing, hiking, and camping in 500,000 acres of wilderness in the nearby Uinta Mountains, 370-plus miles of trails, a blue-ribbon trout stream (the Provo River), and an Olympic training center built for the 2002 Salt Lake Games. More than 100 Olympians still live here. There are also lax(er) liquor laws than elsewhere in the Beehive State—and Utah’s first distillery since Prohibition, High West.”

Well all this is true of course and there’s so much more to love.  One little article could never do this amazing town justice but the writer does a good job highlighting the finer points of why we all love Park City!

So take a minute – read the Outside Magazine article and then get on the ball and book your ski vacation for this year!  Now is  the perfect time to book since many of our properties will still be available…but don’t take your time – if you want the ultimate selection you’ve got to BOOK NOW.  abode Park City has tons of luxury vacation rental properties available and we are ready and willing to help you make the vacation memories you’re dreaming of!!!!

The 2010-11 ski season was definitely one for the record books. Could a twin be in the making?

Last winter, record snow in Utah was a product of a climate condition known as La Nina, a flip-flop of the more well-known El Nino. It brought record snow depths to Utah Mountains - nearly 800 total inches at Snowbird and 4.2 million skiers to in Utah. (The national count was 60.54 million skier visits, an all-time high.)

Weather experts now tell us La Nina will hang around for another winter, and extended predictions call for above normal precipitation in northern Utah. The U.S. Weather Bureau’s long-range forecasts call for above normal precipitation in northern Utah December through March. But, if you choose to believe the Farmer’s Almanac, predictions are that the winter of 2012 will come with average temperatures and below normal precipitation.

Utah mountains have already received their initial covering. On Oct. 5 snow levels reached all the way down to the foothills of Salt Lake City, and yesterday snow blanketed the mountains and the valley. Snowbird has received more than two feet of snow at its top station, and temperatures have dipped low enough for resorts to make snow.

The more prudent skiers and snowboarders have already set tracks for the 2011-12 season. They’ve taken advantage of the locals ski packages at the various resorts and through Ski Utah, looked into the pre-season ski/snowboard sales, checked out the various ski swaps and have given ski/snowboard equipment a quick check.

Haven’t started your ski season prep yet? Here’s a few tips to keep in mind before you hit the slopes.
– The time is right for tuning up and testing ski and snowboard equipment. Skis and boards, as with everything used, wear, especially around the edges. Well tuned equipment responds much better.
– Get physically prepared for the upcoming season. Even a little exercise done correctly can help skiers and snowboarders avoid injuries.
– Make sure equipment for the younger skiers and boarders is properly fitted. There is sometimes a tendency to pass down old equipment that is outdated, too large or too small. There are some great season rental packages available for children . . . and adults.
– Work with an expert when buying equipment. Buying skis, boards, bindings and boots either under or over an individual’s ability can make winter much harder than it need be.

FACTS & FIGURES
14 Utah resorts
138 Ski lifts
22 Terrain parks
3,677 Acres of snowmaking
28,926 Skiable acres 28,926
1,210+ Runs
$31 to $100 Ticket price range

NEW ON THE MOUNTAIN
Of course there was the usual grooming and manicuring of runs and upgrades in food and service fetters, but what else can skiers/snowboarders expect when they visit their favorite resorts this season?
-A new smartphone app will make it possible for skiers to go directly from their vehicle to the lifts at Alta by downloading the Alta Card.
-Beaver Mountain added a new Little Beaver lift.
-Brighton put in half a million dollars into its snowmaking.
-Canyons will offer heli-skiing.
-Deer Valley put in 41 new energy-efficient air-water snowmaking guns.
-Powder Mountain expanded its snowcat-access terrain by 50 percent.
-Snowbird put in a new version for its free IPhone app.
-Solitude will offer free Wi-Fi access throughout its lower village.

OPENING DAYS
Falling snow has made it possible for some resorts to predict opening dates. The likelihood of at least some of the resorts making their target dates is good. All runs and lifts may not be open, but there will be opportunities to ski and snowboard.

Here’s what we know so far:
Alta – Nov. 18
Brian Head – Nov. 19
Brighton – Nov. 10
Canyons – Nov. 25
Deer Valley – Dec. 3
Park City Mountain Resort – Nov. 19
Powder Mountain – Nov. 24
Snowbasin – Nov. 24
Snowbird – Nov. 19
Solitude – Nov. 11
Sundance – Dec. 9

2011-12 LIFT PASS PRICES
(Adult day passes)
Alta – $72
Beaver Mountain – $45
Brian Head – $49
Brighton – $62
Canyons – TBA
Deer Valley – $96/$100
Eagle Point – $45/$50
Park City Mountain Resort – TBA
Powder Mountain – $60
Snowbasin – $72
Snowbird – $78/$72
Solitude – $68
Sundance – $49
Wolf Mountain – $31

Before the buildup for the Olympics 10 years ago, Snowbasin in Utah was little more than a mom-and-pop operation, with aging lifts and amenities and offices in a single-wide trailer.

Now even its bathrooms are turning heads, with the Italian marble day lodge restrooms recently voted top five in the U.S.
Plenty has changed since the 2002 Winter Games put Utah’s ski industry on the map.

The state’s 14 resorts have undergone roughly a billion dollars in improvements, from high-speed lifts and bubble chairs to the construction of high-end global hotels such as the Montage Deer Valley and Waldorf Astoria Park City.

Overall skier visits have increased 42 percent to 4.2 million, skiable acres are up 26 percent, and a trend of late has been multi-generational vacations – grandparents on the slopes with their children and grandchildren.
The international clientele also is on the rise, particularly at Park City’s three resorts, which report international business has increased 200 percent in 10 years. Bilingual instructors and foreign accents on the slopes are now quite common, with Aussies outnumbering UK skiers in Park City for the first time but more and more groups coming from Mexico and Brazil.

There’s even a non-stop flight from Paris to Salt Lake City International Airport five to seven days a week.
“In many respects I don’t think we were even on the radar screen. The Olympics did a great job of exposing us,” said Bill Malone, president of the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau.

He said the Olympics also provided a giant “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval,” reflected in places such as Deer Valley being voted North America’s No. 1 overall ski area for the fifth straight year by Ski Magazine readers. Before the Olympics, Park City had one five-star resort; now it has five.

“Even if you didn’t know a lot about us, being able to say we hosted the Games creates credibility,” he said.
What hasn’t changed is the snow, still billed as The Greatest Snow on Earth because of its low moisture content and touch of salt.
It’s what drew Evan Unger to Utah nearly 40 years ago when he was a student at Cal-Berkeley. He had planned to ski Tahoe, only to encounter rain. He ended up heading to Snowbird instead and discovered the “magic” powder that has been bringing him back ever since. These days, Unger, who has skied just about everywhere in the world, is often accompanied on trips to the backcountry with his daughter.
In fact, multi-generational ski vacations are a growing trend. “Ten years ago we wouldn’t have seen that,” Malone said.
“People are living longer and are active later in life,” added Nathan Rafferty, president of the trade group Ski Utah.
To Dave Fields, such opportunities are priceless. He still remembers the tears streaming beneath goggles on his father’s face last winter when three generations skied the same green run at Powder Mountain.

It was a bluebird day, with warm sun on their backs and a good snowpack underfoot. His then-69-year-old father Chuck, a 50-year member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America, pulled off to the side as his 8-year-old grandson and 5-year-old granddaughter went by.
“It was so important to him,” said Fields, who grew up skiing Alta and at 40 is now vice president of resort operations at Snowbird. “That was his legacy to his family, this love of recreating outdoors. It was a great day that I will never forget.”

While powder-hounds have been venturing to Utah for years, numerous Olympic athletes now call Park City home because of what the Games helped create.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is based in Park City and Olympic hopefuls now train at the 85,000-square-foot Center of Excellence, which opened in 2009 and offers programs in everything from cardio to sports physiology and nutrition.

Olympic bronze medalist Bryon Wilson has relocated there as have Shannon Bahrke (moguls silver and bronze) and Billy Demong (nordic combined gold and silver). Emily Cook (aerials), Heather McPhie (moguls), Jen Hudak (halfpipe skiing) and Liz Stephen (cross country) also moved to Utah for the convenience, with great snow just 35 minutes away from an international airport.
Malone calls the athletes a link to the Olympic legacy, past and future.
“We still have a real connection to that part of the business,” he said.

Since the closing ceremonies ended, there have been dozens of international competitions in Utah. World Cup events have been held in bobsledding, skeleton, luge and speedskating and world championships in freestyle skiing. The U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix is set for Canyons Resort again in February, and the 2012 Freestyle World Cup is headed to Deer Valley.

“Everyone’s training here, a lot of athletes live here,” Malone said. “It wasn’t like we had one shot, had the Games and never had competition again. It’s kind of in our DNA.”

Snowbasin for the second straight year will host the Winter Dew Tour Championships. In February, the event drew 44,000 people over a four-day period.
“The Olympics really showed we could handle a global-level event, with significant crowds,” said Jason Dyer, marketing manager at Snowbasin. “We used it as a platform.”

It’s a big jump up from the old days at Snowbasin, which now has the capability to move 14,650 people up the mountain in an hour.
Many of them no doubt have checked out those ultra-lux bathrooms.
“Hosting the big party has its advantages,” said Rafferty.
A look at what’s new in Utah this season:

– At Alta, skiers can skip the ticket window and head straight to the powder using the resort’s new Smartphone application that allows them to reload their card. The popular Corkscrew Run also is being modified to ease the pitch and fulfill a promise to provide a true blue run from top to bottom.
-Beaver Mountain has added a new triple chair to provide access to additional beginner terrain.
– Brian Head in more accessible now that a new United Express nonstop flight has been added between Los Angeles International Airport and the new St. George Airport.
-Brighton Resort is investing $500,000 in snowmaking upgrades and $20,000 in terrain park features.
– Canyons Resort will offer heli-skiing from the resort in conjunction with Wasatch Powderbird Guides.
– Deer Valley is redesigning its beginner/learning area on Wild West ski run and adding more Sunkid conveyor lifts.
-Eagle Point has added 200 more skiable acres in its second season as well as tree skiing and spa services.
– Park City Mountain Resort has two new conveyor lifts for beginners. Snowmamas – real moms from around the country – will be chosen to help create unforgettable winter family vacations now that it has been named top family destination in Ski Magazine. The resort also improved its terrain park and overhauled 3 Kings lift to double capacity.
-Powder Mountain expanded its single-ride snowcat terrain by 50 percent and added more gladed terrain.
-Snowbasin added two more snowcats for grooming and new outdoor gas fireplaces on Earl’s Patio.
-Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort remodeled its flagship hotel and is introducing three new programs, including an adult adventure camp and Expedition Team for expert young skiers/boarders.
-Solitude unveiled free Wi-Fi throughout Solitude Village.
-Sundance is expanding and moving its terrain park so it can remain open during night operations.
-Wolf Mountain has better uphill transportation, added a handful of new runs and more pricing options.

Online:
http://www.skiutah.com/winter/index.html

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/olympics/wires/11/14/2080.ap.us.travel.utah.skiing.post.olympics.1st.ld.writethru.1623/index.html#ixzz1dnWsEyLD

A limited number of specially priced $25 lift tickets are on sale at Park City Mountain Resort with proceeds benefiting the Summit Land Conservancy. The discounted lift tickets are valid from opening day to Dec. 16. Additionally, the Utah ski resort will sell extra tickets to raise money for its newly created Park City Mountain Resort Legacy Fund, which will be used to continue the Resort’s support of local non-profit organizations and will be managed by the Park City Foundation.

“Benefit Day was established to give back to this community and has become a pillar for the not-for-profit community, raising more than $400,000 since 2003,” said Jenni Smith, president and general manager of Park City Mountain Resort. “With so many deserving not-for-profit organizations in town it is becoming exceedingly more difficult to select recipients for the Benefit Days, which is one of the reasons we are creating the Legacy fund.”

The Summit Land Conservancy was selected because of the things they are doing to preserve and protect, as well as educate on, the natural and agricultural resources of our community.

The Summit Land Conservancy works with landowners to permanently protect the agricultural lands, view-sheds, animal habitats, waterways and rangelands of Summit County, Utah.

“The Summit Land Conservancy is honored to be the nonprofit recipient of PCMR’s Benefit Days this year, said Cheryl Fox, Executive Director of the Summit Land Conservancy. “Every ticket sold will help protect local open spaces and benefit the entire Park City community through the new Park City Mountain Resort Legacy Fund.”

Specially priced tickets for Park City Mountain Resort’s Benefit Days can be purchased now for $25 at Park City Mountain Resort’s Resort Services Office; Jans, Cole Sports and Zions Bank locations in Park City and Sports Den in Salt Lake City. Tickets must be purchased in-person, and are limited to a maximum of four per person.