How to Plan the Perfect Winter Vacation in Park City

If you’re planning a vacation in the Park City, Utah area, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the options. While this ski town does have some big-name hotel chains, most lodging options are privately owned homes and condos. The question many tourists ask is “Where do I start?”

These privately owned homes and condos are available for rent through professional management companies or directly through the owner. You can even make a reservation through a booking company or central booking agency, which typically takes up to a 25% commission from the property manager or owner.

Savvy travelers often use the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau to find information on the various management companies and private landlords that may have rentals to suit their needs. This process requires searching many different websites and comparing listings until reaching a final decision.

Since there are so many different rental management companies offering rentals, as well as individually managed rentals available, many vacationers in the area end up making reservations through central booking agencies simply out of frustration. While this certainly saves time, you have to ask yourself if you are getting the best price since these booking companies have such a high commission built into the price.

I recently found out about a website called LocalTourist.com that specializes in connecting visitors with businesses in the Park City area. Local Tourist is an informative directory similar to Park City Chamber; however, it allows you to search for individual rentals and then contact the property manager directly. You’ll probably get a better deal since they don’t charge a commission like booking agencies.

The website also allows you to search for restaurants, activity providers, and research about the three ski resorts. Local Tourist’s restaurant search is very intuitive and even lets you search by neighborhood, making it easy to find a great restaurant near where you’re staying.

No longer just a ski town, Park City now boasts over 100 restaurants, many of which receive top reviews. With so many options and so little time, you’ll want to use the search capabilities offered by companies like Local Tourist and Park City Chamber. The Chamber has the most comprehensive list of restaurants as of the date of this article, but Local Tourist is in second place. What it lacks in content it makes up for in search functionality and they must be adding new restaurants every day.

If you’re an avid skier, Park City, with its three world-class resorts, is a must-visit destination. The city also offers many attractions for non-skiers, including the Sundance Film Festival, world-class spas, and exceptional restaurants. Park City is also becoming more popular in the summer due to the cool mountain air, pleasant temperatures, and many festivals. No matter what season you choose for your vacation, Park City is sure to be a memorable experience.