Sundance Film Festival is nearly 2 weeks away, and it’s not too late to book your lodging.  Past years you wouldn’t find availability at this point, however, this year we have a few places still available and at great rates. 

Brookridge on Upper Norfolk #1 is a 4 bedroom twinhome located on the slopeside above History Park City and all Sundance’s major attractions.  Walk to events in minutes or if you want to take a break from all the hoopla a day skiing or boarding at Park City Mountain Resort is just as convenient.   Check-out pictures and our great rates by visiting Brookridge on Upper Norfolk #1.

More upscale options are Vintage on the Strand #1 or Vintage on the Strand #4.  Both are located at the base of The Canyons Resort and a short walk (less than 5 minutes) to Park City’s complimentary shuttle route, providing hassle free access to Sundance events, dining, and night life.  Vintage on the Strand #1 offers 4 bedrooms to accommodate 12 guests and Vintage on the Strand #4 offers 3 bedrooms to accommodate 9 guests.  Visit Vintage on the Strand #1 or Vintage on the Strand #4 for a walking tour, hot deals, or to book online.   

A smaller option is Fawngrove #1.  This 2 bedroom condo is located on Park City’s complimentary shuttle route and can accommodate 7 guests.  Check out more pictures, information, or book online at Fawngrove #1. 

Located in Park City, near Kimball Junction, Penthouse at Bear Hollow #2 has it all and for all seasons, during the summer utilize the swimming pool, and in the winter after a day on the ski slopes soak in the common outdoor hot tub.  The views in autumn and spring are particularly delightful as is golfing and hiking in and around Park City.   

Winter views are nice too

Pool

In three bedrooms this condo can accommodate up to eight guests, and offers amenities such as highspeed internet, jetted tub, elevator access, and big screen HDTV. 

Book seven winter nights (December 19 - March 31) at Penthouse at Bear Hollow #2 by December 1 and come back between May 1, 2010 and November 15, 2010 for four nights for only taxes and fees.

Deer Lake Village #2 isn’t technically new to Utah Vacation Homes but it has a new owner who has made some improvements making it available to larger groups.  The features our guests have come to love such as outdoor hot tub, views, two master suites, Deer Valley location, etc are still available, however we think you’ll enjoy the improvements that have been made. 

Views from hot tub

Until summer 2009 Deer Lake Village #2 accommodated 10, with new bedding and sofa’s it now accommodates 12.  Each of the two master bedrooms have a king bed which makes it great for two families.  The third bedroom has a queen and bunk bed (two twins) and the fourth is more of a sleeping den with a queen sofa sleeper.  The loft now has two twins rather than a sofa sleeper. 

Another highlight, which will be especially popular for summer guests, is the addition of air conditioning.

Kitchen

Come try it out, we think you’ll like it.  The next reservation for non-peak dates (Holiday Special, Holiday, Sundance, and Presidents) will receive 10%.  Call us at   800-667-9456

Fawngrove #1 is a recent addition to Utah Vacation Homes.  This 2 bedroom condo is located in lower Deer Valley and can accommodate 7 guests.  We are excited to have it available to rent to our guests as it has many desirable features, such as

You can see more information and additional pictures on our website for Fawngrove #1.  As an incentive to be our first guest to stay in Fawngrove #1 we are offering 10% off the nightly rate for the first non-peak reservation (excludes Preholiday, Holiday, Sundance and President seasons).   Call us at  800.667.9456 to make your reservation.

As the fall semester started, the Labor Day weekend seemed to be a farewell to summer time. For several weeks my friends and I had planned a trip to Park City for the long weekend. However, finding a place that could hold our large group of 16 was not easy. Golden Bear Retreat was our best choice and it met all of our needs, game room with pool table, large dining area, BBQ grill, hot tub and areas to hang out.

A convenient Park City location, Golden Bear is just 5 minutes from Park City’s Main Street and 10 minutes from Tanger Outlets Mall. It is a 5,000 square ft home with fully-equipped kitchen, fine dining room, BBQ, deck, private outdoor hot tub, game room and comfortable bedrooms. The views of Park City mountains from our rooms were fantastic. We were able to completely relax and escape from our daily routines as we sat around the hot tub drinking ice cold beer and chatting with friends under the sunset. It was a perfect stay in paradise for our long weekend and was a great place to stay with friends and family. We loved this great place and would gladly stay there again in a minute.

Check-out our video of our vacation on You Tube.

labor-day-@-Golden-bear-retreat

Dive Utah @ Holladay

Last Sunday was a really nice day. After spending one night at Golden Bear Retreat, we left Park City for our very first scuba diving trip. Brandon was already there waiting for our coming. He’s my classmate and he was so sweet arranging this scuba diving discovery tour for us.

Dive Utah is pretty famous in Salt Lake City. Located in Holladay, just 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake, and 25 minutes from Park City. Our instructor, Brad, is a professional and experienced scuba diving trainer, who is nice and patient. The preparation before going under the water is usually serious. You learn gestures which you will use to communicate with your instructor under the water, you get know the diving equipments, and the most important is getting used to breathing through your mouth.

I have to say it is really an awesome experience. For city girls and boys like us, going scuba diving was once far beyond our imagination, and some of us can not even swim. However, when you meet your friends under the water, saying hello to each other, swimming like a fish, you felt that you had already been into a different world.

Looking for a “silver lining” in the Great Recession of 2009 can be difficult for those of us in the travel and hospitality industry.  But a recent guest review gave me cause to smile. 

A few weeks ago, I received a call on our after hours emergency phone line.  A kind woman, Nalani R.  apoligized for the “non-emergency” call.  She explained that her extended family had put off getting together for a family reunion due to the uncertainty of the economy and family budget resources.  As a result, none of her family had planned to take a vacation during the summer.  As the spring and summer dragged on, aunts and uncles, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and cousins felt the longing of seeing each other.  Finally, the economy bottomed out and the family felt comfortable spending money for a reunion. 

But getting the buy-in was only the first step.  Next, Nalani had to find a suitable home for the family.  It was a challenge not only because they needed a wheelchair accessible home, but because they needed it IN FIVE DAYS!  Yes, she was calling on a Saturday hoping to check in Thursday.  One might think that this is extreme, but we have had many families in similar straits call us with last minute booking requests.  In fact, we have had dozens of people call looking for a home rental for that very day.

Well, long story short, after speaking with me Nalani booked our Silver Star Park City  home online through our online booking website.  The private elevator accommodated the wheelchair and the fabulous luxury setting accommodated the hopes and dreams of their family reunion. 

Accompanying her exit survey was this kind feedback message, ‘Please help us to serve you better! Is there anything else we should know about your stay?’ 
“We really loved it!  The general manager helped us out on a weekend to get the reservations and everything went really smooth.  We would love to come to this property again.  The elevator really helped out for one who was in a wheelchair and made it so that he could be with the rest of the family at any time and on any floor.  I was very impressed with Utah Vacation Homes and the way they handled things.  We had a great experience and would love to return!”

Utah Vacation Homes is in the business of helping families establish and re-establish the ties of meaningful relationships.  Each time that we succeed in doing our part, we hope the lives of these families are improved through an increase in understanding, happiness, and joy.  In truth, we are not a hotel or home selling business - we are a good experience business.  Feedback from  Nalani suggests that we fulfilled her expectations and provided the location, service, and amenities to enable a great family reunion experience. 

Not all families can jump on five days notice.  We hope to do our part for the many other families that are still calling, looking for Fall and Thanksgiving reunions to make up for the experiences lost this summer.  For some, an Autumn visit to the colorful Utah mountains could top a summer trip.  For others, this Thanksgiving Holiday may be the right time to gather.  In any case, the vacation homes and reunion experiences are just waiting for your family.  So make the calls to relatives.  Gather the group.  And take a piece of the “silver lining” that can spread into a bright new perspective.

One of my favorite events of the year is the Park City Arts Festival August 1-2, 2009. This year, celebrating the 40th anniversary.  Each year I look forward to the wonderful art abounding on Main Street Park City.   The art on the street is complimented by the art surrounding the mountain town.  Bearutiful green mountains framed by clear blue skies enhance the emotional impact of the paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and other peices on display. Staying in a condo just off Main Street, like Motherlode, gives you a haven only steps from the action.

Doctors coming to town are smart to choose a vacation home to accommodate a family or group practice trip. The proximity of mountains and the convention center allow convention attendees to work and play. And with most visitors travel budget including a costly hotel room, the whole practice of doctors or family can stay for free. Compare a $250 per night room with a $250 per night four bedroom vacation home. While the doctor is working, the family can be skiing, hiking, or general enjoying the mountain atmosphere. And after the meetings end, the whole family or group can relax over the weekend. A good example of such an opportunity is as follows:

The Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’s 2013 Annual Meeting. Scheduled for April 20-25, the 2013 ISMRM convention is expected to draw 6,000 attendees, generate 2,500 room nights on peak for a total of 13,000 room nights, with a projected delegate spending of $5.3 million.

The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, (ISMRM), is an international nonprofit, scientific association whose purpose is to promote communication, research, development and applications in the field of magnetic resonance in medicine and biology and other related topics, and to develop and provide channels and facilities for continuing education in the field. Its multidisciplinary membership of over 6,000 consists of clinicians, physicists, engineers, biochemists and technologists.

A number of factors went into Salt Lake being selected over other cities such as San Diego, Vancouver and Honolulu: our geographic setting; accessibility, including Salt Lake’s new international flights to/from Tokyo and Paris; exceptional convention center; affordability; and recently-revised liquor laws.