Utah skiing
 

We are coming skiing in January 2012 for two weeks 13th-26 from New Zealand. We are two families 5 kids age10-15 4 adults. All good skiers. We thought we would stay in Park City until the 21st and then move to cottonwood canyon. We want to spot a few movie stars and then avoid the higher accommodation prices from Sundance. We have been looking on VRBO for a 3-4 bedroom house. Does anyone have a recommendation. It's hard to figure out the best spots from the web site. Our budget is around $600 per night. All info welcome. Many thanks.

Codos way cheaper than houses

Hotels usually cheapest bidding priceline

Betterbidding.com

Otel.com

Hotelclub.com

All good values there

In your budget ski in/out condos best

Pay only with CC never wire money many fake reviews

On vrbo craigslist tripadvertizer so be careful.

You also need to look at the location of the condo/house you are renting and make sure it is close to a bus stop. There are county bus stops that go for free all over town and to each of the ski resorts. With such a big group and kids who are old enough to fend for themselves, you want to be able to split up and make it easy for the group to be able to ski later or earlier if they what by taking the bus back to the condo. So ask about it.

Sorry, no help on location as we stayed in a hotel but we did take the bus everywhere which was great.

Hi Gusjack,

I live in Park City and go the the film festival every year, so I think I can help!

First, we have Martin Luther King holiday weekend around that time too so check your dates carefully. It's also a very busy time.

If you can give me the addresses of the homes you are considering, I can tell you if they are good locations. A home in a prime location, very close to the slopes will be very pricey, but I think your dolloar goes further than ours.

Yes, being very close to a free shuttle stop is a good idea. Another one is that if you are not staying right at the hill with ski in/ski out, make use of the ski lockers or ski check services at the resorts. Sure beats lugging skis back and forth each day, but it does mean skiing at the same place at least 2 days in a row to be worthwhile.

I assume you will be renting skis, if you use a rental shop at the base of the resort, they will usually let you check your skis each night.

A good web site to use in planning is www.parkcityinfo.com. Also skiutah.com. Town maps are there and lots of links to lodging. This will help you with location questions.

Come back with your questions and I'll be happy to help!

PS - I've had my home on homeexchange.com for the last 3 years, but it's not close enough to the slopes or big enough for 2 families. Don't worry - there are many HUGE homes here.

Oh, yes celebrities. Unless you actually go to the festival, you may not see anyone. Of course, when I go, I'm at the films where the actors, directors, screenwriters, etc. are usually at the Q&A following. That is your gurantee to see celebrites. The films are excellent, but most not for children. The documentaries are always outstanding and the best category at Sundance. You will get to see films on subjects you will never see anywhere else.

If you hope to spot a recognizable face on Main Street or in a restaurant, the odds are against you. Plus the restaurants are nearly impossible to get in to, require res months in advance and have severe restrictions - credit card deposit required, if you change or don't show they charge you anyway, set seating times and table occupation times. No kidding.

Best bet is to have res and eat off Main St and there are plenty of wonderful options. Having a house or condo will make anyone's visit during Sundance a pleasure rather than a major headache. Just beware that traffic during the first weekend of the festival is a nightmare, and that includes the shuttle buses.

My niece and a group of industry friends rented a wonderful house in old town one block from Main Street last year. It was 3 BR 3 BA with a large living room = over $3,000 for 4 nights.