Colorado Vacation Home Rentals Great for Groups
Families and Friends Stay in Style and Spend More Time Together
Dec 10, 2008
It's a win-win situation. Those looking to take a ski vacation at one Colorado's many resorts need to find accommodations, while at the same time, vacation home owners could use some added revenue to help pay the bills. Enter the burgeoning vacation home rental market, which offers an appealing alternative to traditional hotel lodging.
Beautiful log homes and chalets can be found in the Keystone-Copper Mountain area, Breckenridge, Steamboat, Aspen, Vail, and many other ski communities in the Rocky Mountains. Since large rustic homes are de rigueur in the mountains of Colorado, there are plenty of elegant woodsy options for vacation rentals.
Affordable Luxury
A typical rental home might cost $500 a night, and since the home sleeps 12 people, that's only $80.00 a night for six couples, or about $165.00 for three families of four. Full kitchens allow the renters to eat in as much as they please, and instead of going out, guests can use the amenities of the home, such as large screen televisions, hot tubs right outside the door, large rock fireplaces, and patios or yards with sweeping mountain vistas. Such luxury would be at least double the price with traditional lodging.
As John Painter, owner of Sebring Lodge, says, "12 guests can enjoy the hot tub, three fireplaces, wireless internet, TVs, DVD, and lots of space for less than $45 per night per person."
More Places to Socialize
Whether it's a gang of old friends, a group of new friends, a wedding, anniversary, or family reunion, it's about community. Renting a vacation villa offers more opportunities to socialize than reserving adjacent condos or hotel rooms, where guests are spread out in different rooms with no centralized area to call their own. A large house with many bedrooms can provide privacy for individuals, couples and families, yet still provide a larger space for the whole group.
Friends and family members can hang out in the kitchen, watch movies together in the great room, get outside for walks, or soak in a hot tub that is all their own. Grocery shopping, cooking, eating and lounging are all done communally, if desired. Of course there is always the option to go out, especially with world class restaurants, entertainment and shopping in all the major ski towns.
Going to the market while on vacation may seem like too much work. But given the savings of at least 50% in shopping and cooking instead of eating out, it could be worth it. Stocking the kitchen, planning and preparing meals can all be part of the communal fun, too, and can even act as an ice breaker. It is a more intimate experience than eating in a public place such as a restaurant or mall.
How it Works
The process is really quite easy. Using one of the online resources such as findVacationRentals.com or VRBO.com, travelers scan the Internet for a house that is the right size and price in the area of their choice. From there, links give the owners' contact information. Once the dates are arranged, renters send a deposit to hold the date. Usually the full amount is required within a few weeks of the rental date.
Using one of the listing services helps ensure that the pre-paid rental is in good shape and that it has not been misrepresented on the Internet. All the homeowners must meet certain standards in order to be included in the listings online.
After they receive the funds, the homeowner will send keys and directions to the home. All that is left is to travel there, open it up and settle in.
One drawback to renting privately is that in most cases, the owners are not available on site to help with maintenance problems, should they arise. But in general, everything is handled with great care, since homeowners have a vested interest in their properties. There is always emergency contact information provided.
There is no sales tax on the rental fees, but there is often a refundable security deposit and a non-refundable cleaning fee, which is on average about $100.00. The homes usually require a minimum stay of three nights and fill up early on holidays, so it is best to book a couple of months in advance.
The spectacular scenery of the Rockies beckons in winter with an array of activities. Renting a private home lends an added closeness for larger groups who want to economize on a Colorado ski vacation while creating meaningful memories together.
