Tired of cramming your vacation into a single hotel room? Craving a place to settle in and spread out?
As nice as they may be, sometimes hotel rooms just aren't big enough, especially if you've got the kids along or plan to settle in for a week or two. And then there's the problem of eating out three times a day. Wouldn't it be nice some mornings to have coffee and croissants without getting dressed first? Or to throw together a sandwich before heading out for a hike?
Rent a condo, cabin, cottage, or house next vacation and you can do just that. Whether you're going solo or having a romantic getaway or family reunion, short-term vacation rentals - from studio condos and cozy cottages to sprawling homes big enough for extended families - are available throughout the West, providing groups of all sizes with a relatively hassle-free getaway option. And rental properties are often close to area attractions - a beach, a lake, ski slopes - so you can maximize your recreation and relaxation time.
Where and when to rent? Consider a few key factors. First, do you want to rent at a resort with planned activities, such as guided hikes and children's programs? Second, where do you want your rental to be - that is, what activities are most important to you? Is access to a beach a priority? Do you care about being close to good restaurants? A golf course? Biking trails? Finally, what kind of house do you want, and how much are you willing to spend? Are sun exposure and views important to you? Will you need a big kitchen? Multiple bathrooms? A hot tub, perhaps?
Know before you go. By their very nature, vacation rentals, which are usually individually owned and decorated, are not as standardized as hotel rooms, and are therefore unpredictable. However, most rental agencies provide catalogs or Web sites where you can see photos of available properties. What these photos usually won't show are the immediate surroundings. Ask about the neighborhood. Is it on a busy side street or a quiet lane? Whenever possible, look at the properties you're considering.
Reckoning rates. Costs vary by season. At mountain destinations, summer rentals aren't quite as expensive as ski-season rentals. Beach locations in California and Hawaii usually have high seasons between June and Labor Day and again between January and April. Spring and fall are slow seasons across the board; you can usually save money if you take your vacation before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.
To help get you started, we've listed some of our favorite places to rent, along with one or more reputable real estate agencies in each area. Local chambers of commerce are another good resource.
Southwest
Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can experience the arts and outdoors of Santa Fe by renting a house or condo downtown, where you can be within walking distance of the Plaza and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum - or rent in the hills amid sagebrush and views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A one-bedroom adobe won't set you back too much, but a four-bedroom house in the hills can get pricey. Management Group; $125-$1,000 per night; (505) 982-2823.
Ruidoso, New Mexico. South of Albuquerque, in the southernmost extension of the Rocky Mountains, Ruidoso has fishing lakes, art galleries, and miles of hiking trails just outside town. There are modern log houses, rustic cabins, and plenty of condos. Four Seasons Real Estate; $75-$200 per night (seventh night usually free); (800) 822-7654. Casas de Ruidoso; $100-$450 per night (seventh night usually free); (888) 257-7577.
Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona. When the mercury climbs in Phoenix, the call of Oak Creek Canyon is hard to resist. From the houses under the pines at Junipine Resort, you can cool off in the creek or explore miles of nearby hiking trails. Junipine Resort; $170-$320 per night; (800) 742-7463.
Rocky Mountains
Keystone, Colorado. About 75 miles west of Denver, this sprawling resort has everything you'll need for the perfect mountain vacation, from hayrides to gondola lifts. Condos range from studios to four bedrooms, and there are some vacation homes as well. Keystone Resort; condos cost $95-$295 per night; call for house rental rates; (800) 468-5004.
Flathead Lake, Montana. Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, is just outside Glacier National Park and makes an ideal base for exploring the park. Lakefront rental properties range from rustic log cabins to big contemporary homes. Flathead Lake Vacation Rentals; $650$1,250 per week; (406) 883-3782.
Sun Valley, Idaho. Best known as the oldest ski resort in the west, Sun Valley is also a great place to vacation in the summer, with everything from hiking and biking to fly-fishing and horseback riding. Rentals run the gamut from one-bedroom condos to riverfront estates. Base Mountain Properties; $540-$6,000 per week; (800) 521-2515. High Country Property Rentals; $90-$2,200 per night; (800) 726-7076.
Pacific Northwest
Whistler, British Columbia. Though most people think of Whistler only as a ski resort, the mountain scenery is still spectacular after the snow has melted. Hiking and biking trails and mountain lakes are the attractions instead of ski slopes, and the rates for condos, townhouses, and ski chalets drop more than 50 percent. Whistler Peak Properties; $ 728-$1,400 per week; (888) 267-6666.
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