TripAdvisor Gives Travelers the Keys to America's Top Ski Rental Home Destinations

Groups of Four or More Could Save Thousands of Dollars by Staying at a Vacation Rental Versus a Hotel in These Top Ski Destinations

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TripAdvisor

Dec 01, 2010, 06:00 ET

NEWTON, Mass., Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site*, today announced its list of the top ten ski rental home destinations according to TripAdvisor site data and editors. The list highlights some of America’s hottest ski destinations that offer a wealth of vacation rental options for travelers.

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Rental homes can be a great accommodation choice for groups of travelers looking to spend a week or more in their destination. According to the TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals Calculator, groups of four or more can potentially save thousands of dollars by staying in a vacation rental as opposed to a hotel in these top ski destinations. In addition, rentals offer many of the comforts of home to travelers, including full kitchens, large living rooms, multiple bedrooms and even fireplaces for those chilly winter nights.

Top 10 Ski Rental Home Destinations:

1. Mammoth Lakes, California

Located in the Eastern Sierra region of California, Mammoth Lakes has long been one of the West Coast’s premiere destinations for winter sports. Whether travelers enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding or simply sipping hot cocoa from the lodge, the town’s Mammoth Mountain has them covered. In addition, there is a wealth of vacation rental options for travelers looking for the perfect base camp for their winter trip.

2. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

Straddling the California and Nevada state line, Lake Tahoe is a scenic destination year round, but it really shines in the winter with its numerous downhill and cross country ski areas, as well as unique activities like dog sledding and sleigh rides. For travelers looking to warm up after a day on the trails, the area also boasts six casinos where they can try their luck.

3. Breckenridge, Colorado

While travelers flock to this Victorian-style town each winter for its many nearby ski resorts, Breckenridge also offers visitors a wealth of dining, shopping and spa options. Breckenridge Ski Resort itself provides more than 2,300 acres of terrain, giving skiers and snowboarders plenty of room to explore and enjoy. With many vacation rentals in the area offering ski-in/ski-out access, it’s easy to get out and hit the slopes early.

4. Big Bear Lake, California

Surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest in a region just northeast of Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake is a resort community that is perfect for a winter vacation rental stay. Visitors have access to a wealth of winter fun options including skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, downhill inner tubing and snowshoeing, ensuring that there won’t be a dull moment whether they’re out on the slopes or enjoying time together at their cabin.

5. Park City, Utah

Home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City has cemented its place among the top winter vacation spots across the country with its premier ski resorts and its many winter activities, ranging from snow tubing to heli-skiing. Add in plentiful vacation rental options and travelers have a fantastic destination for enjoying the snow without breaking the bank.

6. Killington, Vermont

Featuring the highest lift-served terrain in Vermont, Killington is one of the most popular winter wonderlands in New England. Skiers and snowboarders have nearly 200 trails to choose from, giving them nearly endless possibilities on the slopes, while travelers who aren’t keen on zipping downhill have options from ice skating to snowmobiling to fill their days.

7. Taos, New Mexico

Located at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos is a perfect destination for nature lovers year round, but is a haven for skiers during the winter months. With a number of ski resorts in the area, including Angel Fire, Red River and Taos Ski Valley, staying at a vacation rental near a traveler’s slope of choice can save money and also allow for more time out on the trails.

8. Winter Park, Colorado

As its name suggests, Winter Park is a snowy playground for skiers, snowboarders and lovers of the season in general. While the mountain has trails for downhill thrill-seekers of all levels, there are also plenty of other activities available like snowshoeing, 13-passenger snowcat sightseeing tours and ice skating.

9. Vail, Colorado

This famous ski resort offers travelers a mix of amazing winter recreation and luxury. While its world class trails have made it a top spot among skiers for years, its wide array of stunning vacation rental properties ensure that visitors have as much fun off the mountain as they do while they’re on it.

10. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Nestled in a valley surrounded by scenic peaks, Jackson Hole is home to three outstanding ski areas and a wealth of winter activities, ranging from wildlife safaris and ice skating to dog sledding and cross country skiing. It’s also an ideal destination for families or groups on a budget, with numerous rental home options throughout the valley.

“During the winter ski season, vacation rentals really shine due to their great value and the extra space they provide to guests,” said Hank Hudepohl, director of vacation rentals at TripAdvisor. “After a long day on the slopes, travelers can make dinner in fully-stocked kitchens and warm up around the fireplace with friends and family. At these top ski destinations, travelers can expect to have a blast without giving up any of the comforts of home.”

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor® Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors* across 17 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 40 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 26 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor Media Group websites have been recognized as top travel resources in 2010 by Conde Nast Traveller, Good Housekeeping, TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure.

TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, August 2010

** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com and www.kuxun.cn.