FiveStarVacationRental.com News and Updates Archives - Page 13 of 18

Calling all Golfers. Five Star Vacation Rentals Has a Getaway For You

We’re just finishing up ski season in most of our destinations, and skiers are some of our favorite guests. But we see many of these same folks come back during the spring and summer to pursue their passion for golf. The reason for their return visits is pretty clear: We have some of the best destinations with the finest courses that you can find anywhere. Whether you’re an avid golfer or just interested in starting, we’ve got the perfect choice for you.

Our Palm Springs/La Quinta properties offer real luxury during your golf vacation. These properties are located right on the fairway of the most popular golf courses in the Palm Springs – La Quinta area. And with the many other activities nearby, you may want to book your stay for the entire summer. The golfers in your family can hit the links every morning while the rest of the family can enjoy the shopping, theater, and other great local activities.

We can’t think of a better way to spend our summer vacation than booking a week or month at the beach while staying in one of our luxury Southern California Beach estates. And since Southern California boasts some of the nation’s finest golf courses, you can be sure your golf craving will be satisfied. You have a number of top courses to choose from, but our favorite is the Monarch Beach Golf Links. You’ll enjoy a day full of “it just doesn’t get any better than this” moments while you take in the lush green fairways that stretch out to the azure ocean views beyond.

Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico is one of our favorite golf destinations. While most of our guests choose this resort because it is located right on the beach, avid golfers will feel their pulse quicken when they get a look at the local golfing opportunities. You can’t beat the convenience of the par 72 Flamingos Golf Course that’s a quick 5 minute cab ride from your luxury condo. After you enjoy a few rounds there, be sure to take the brief 30 minute drive to the Vista Vallarta Golf Club where you’ll enjoy play on courses bearing the names of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. There are daily flights from all Southern California airports, so you can be on the course this afternoon.

While the Mammoth Mountain ski season often runs through June, come July, you can enjoy some of the most beautiful golfing found anywhere in the world. The Sierra Star Golf Course is situated in the soaring pines at 8000 feet above sea level. This par 70 championship course was designed by Cal Olson, and many golfers find the altitude gives them some of their longest drives ever.

Big Bear seems to be an endless source of fun for most of us, and it’s no different for golfers. Book your stay in one of our luxury vacation rental cabins, and you’ll enjoy Big Bear’s 9 hole Bear Mountain course. Golfing usually starts in the middle of May, so give us a call at 310-780-3411, and we’ll help you pick out the perfect cabin for your getaway.

As you can see, we’ve got some amazing choices for the golfers in your family. Call us at 310-780-3411, and we’ll be happy to help you choose the best one for you. And whichever one of our golf destinations you may choose, you’ll have the assurance that we’re working hard to make sure your golf vacation is a great one.

Prudent Tax Planning With A Great Vacation Getaway

Tax time is just about over, and we’re all breathing a sigh of relief. If you had to pay, the pain will be subsiding soon. If you’re getting a refund, well, let’s just imagine a few of the possibilities.

Most of us treat our tax refund as a gift from heaven, and that’s almost how it seems. Though upon closer examination, we find the postmark betrays a much earthier origin. For many of us, it’s perhaps the only piece of mail coming out of Washington that we actually enjoy opening. All year long we labor and watch the numbers on our paycheck continue to grow larger in that column devoted to our taxes. It’s nice to finally get a few of those dollars back. And here at Five Star Vacation Rentals, it always puts us in the mood to celebrate.

We can’t imagine a better way to celebrate than with a stay in one of our luxury vacation rentals. Our avid blog readers are well aware that we have some of the finest luxury estate getaways for you to choose from. Big Bear is our most popular destination, but we’ve got great properties in Park City, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico as well. And regardless of which one of our destinations you choose, you’ll have the comfort knowing that we’ve devoted ourselves to providing you with only the best quality properties to ensure you feel pampered and relaxed for the duration of your stay with us. Here are a few suggestions we have for prudent investments with your tax refund.

1. Make sure you spend the money in a way that is the polar opposite of how you actually feel about taxes.
This is perhaps the most fun of all. We cringe and grumble over our tax burden. When we’re together with friends, it’s often the topic of our conversations. We would love to pay less taxes, and our tax refund check is a small reprieve toward that end. So, it can be amazingly delicious to use that money to pamper your family. We see near daily reports of how the government spends our taxes frivolously, so what better response than to invest that money into the pure delight of our family?

2. Book a stay at one of our getaways for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
You really don’t need an excuse to plan your getaway to one of our luxury vacation rentals. As the ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote in the 5th century BC, “If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.” For the sake of your sanity, please call us today to book your getaway for no other reason at all. We value your stability and sanity, and we’re here to help. Please call us before it’s too late. 310-780-3411

3. Book a stay with us to celebrate some of your most important occasions.
Our lives are filled with milestones that we mark to help us remember the most important events. We all have a birthday, and there’s really no better way to celebrate it than booking a luxury getaway in one of our vacation rentals. But that’s just the start. We have anniversaries, graduations, honeymoons, promotions, engagements and much more. Pack your bags, and grab a camera, because your stay with us will become one that your entire family will remember and yearn to repeat.

As you can see, Five Star Vacation Rentals has some great luxury destinations ready to help you relax like you’ve never been able to before. You can choose a luxury Big Bear Cabin, or a condo on the beach in Villa la Estancia. Whether you’re looking to getaway for some upcoming event, or for no reason whatsoever, please call us at 310-780-3411. We’ll be happy to help you create a fantastic getaway that will delight your entire family.

May Events in Big Bear

May in Big Bear is packed full of great excuses to sneak away for a relaxing time in one of our luxury vacation rental estates. Of course, we’re convinced our wonderful cabins are excuse enough to beat feet to the mountain. But in case you needed a bit more of a nudge, here are just a handful of great events coming up in May.

Number one is Mother’s Day on May 12th. Okay, dad, we know she’s always pleased to get a nice dinner, flowers, and some candy. She’ll never complain about that. But isn’t it time to set the mark a bit higher? Make this year the one that she’ll always remember and tell all of her friends about. We’ll be glad to work with you to create a romantic getaway in one of our amazing cabins. Which do you think she’d prefer: Going out for a nice dinner and then going back home to watch TV, or going out for a nice dinner, and then returning to your luxurious estate cabin for a relaxing night in front of the fireplace and in the spa? Call us at 310-780-3411, and we’ll help you get this romantic getaway started.

On May 4th, you’ll have a chance to combine a fun getaway with a worthy cause. The annual Big Bear MS Walk takes place on Saturday May 4th on the North Shore’s Alpine Pedal Path. It’s a great opportunity to have the entire family help out a great charity while enjoying the beauty of Big Bear. For more details, click this link to visit the Walk MS website.

Weekends throughout May, enjoy the free nature walks offered by the Big Bear Discovery Center. These 30-minute Nature Walks are offered on Saturdays at 1pm and 2 pm and Sundays at 11 am and 12 noon. You’ll learn about the local plant life, wildlife and interesting historical facts. This is a great time for the entire family. The nature walks are not strenuous and designed for all levels of physical conditioning. More details at www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com.

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo offers animal feeding tours on weekends. This has quickly become one of Big Bear’s most popular events, and the kids really love it. You’ll get to walk along with one of the zookeepers as they make their rounds feeding the various animals. It’s a great learning experience, and a rare close-up encounter with these animals. The tours start at 3:00 pm each Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.bigbearzoo.org for more info.

On May 18th, you can break out your fishing gear and head over to Big Bear Lake for a chance at some of the $10,000 purse in this year’s Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic. Last year’s winner landed an 11 pound trout and went home with a $2500 cash prize. That sounds like fun to us. Get more information on their website at www.maytroutclassic.com.

This is just a sampling of the great fun coming up in Big Bear during May. Call us at 310-780-3411 to book your getaway. You can view all of our Big Bear vacation rental cabins on this link.

And if you’re planning a getaway somewhere else, be sure to check out our other properties in Park City, Utah, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. At Five Star Vacation Rentals, we’re dedicated to helping you create a great vacation. We realize your vacation time is very valuable, and our goal is to make sure you enjoy it to the fullest.

A Few Reasons to Choose a Five Star Vacation Rental

If you’re reading our blog, chances are you’re considering an upcoming vacation or getaway. Planning for your getaway is one of the most exciting parts of the process. You’re likely shopping destinations and looking up different attractions in various locations. It’s really quite a bit of fun. We understand you have a lot of choices in this process, and we’re glad you’re taking time to look at our properties. We’d like to offer a few good reasons why you should consider renting one of our luxury homes instead of any other options.

Plan Your Amazing Wedding
Summer is coming up, and it’s the traditional time for many weddings. There are so many things to plan, and we’ll be glad to help. Choosing a vacation rental home can make a special day spectacular. Weddings are a time for families to join together, and choosing one of our large luxury rentals can make for a relaxing time with extended family. You’ll have family coming in from out of town, and choosing one of our vacation rentals is a far better option than sleeping bags and rollaway beds. Our Southern California Beach homes are popular destinations for wedding parties, but we also host many in our Big Bear luxury estate cabins as well. Here’s a link to one of our earlier blogs based upon a letter we received from a bride who hosted her entire wedding party at our luxurious Laguna Beach home.

A Much Better Family Getaway
Staying in one of our luxurious vacation rentals can dramatically improve the quality of your next vacation. Most of us can remember at least one family vacation where we all suffered through with dad’s snoring or Johnny’s talking in his sleep. We’d roll out of bed excited about the vacation, but too often fatigued from lack of sleep. Can you imagine replaying any of those vacations with each of you in your own room, and waking up in the amazing luxury of one of our vacation rentals? It’s an entirely different picture, and one that will be much more fun for the entire family.

A Perfect Getaway For Your Group
It’s always seemed kind of strange to us that many people plan a getaway with friends, and one of the first things they do is check into separate rooms at their destination. Is this really the best way to spend time with friends? But consider renting one of our luxury estate rentals, and you’ll have an entirely different picture. You can sit up til late at night talking around a crackling fireplace, and have no worries about driving anywhere when you finally head to bed. And the morning will repeat the same closeness. Instead of rallying the troops and piling into the cars to find food, you can all just make your way to the kitchen and continue last night’s conversations. If you’re planning a getaway to spend more time with your friends, be sure to choose the option that will actually provide it for you.

Romantic Destination
Planning a stay in one of our amazing luxury homes can be a time for renewing your relationship. Away from the daily grind, you’ll find yourselves much more relaxed. And our homes only serve to increase your relaxation. Choose one of our homes with a spa, and you’ll soon find yourselves immersed in feelings of well being. Plan your stay around the anniversary of your first date, engagement, wedding, or the day you met. Whatever you choose, it will be a time to refresh your intimacy and grow even closer together.

Whatever may be the reason for your next getaway, you’ll have the confidence of knowing that we’re working hard to maintain the highest quality vacation destinations you can find anywhere. We realize that you put a lot of time and effort into planning your getaway, and we’re confident that your stay with us will be a great memory for everyone in your party. Call us at 310-800-5454 and we’ll be glad to help you with your plans. You can also browse our properties in Big Bear, Mammoth, Park City , Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, or Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

What Are You Planning For Your Summer Vacation?

We know there’s still snow on the ground at our ski destinations (Like Big Bear, Mammoth, and Park City), but summer has been spotted on the horizon slowly making its way toward us. And we are firm believers in planning ahead to make sure you can squeeze every last drop of enjoyment out of your vacation time.

VacationButton — Don't press that button without us!

Summer is one of our favorite times of the year around here. We get calls from all over with people excited over their summer plans. For many families, they’ve been planning for months to make sure they get everything as close to perfect as possible. We love being a part of this planning process, and gladly work to find the best fit for your vacation wishes.

We’ve found over the years that many families who have suffered through bad vacations in the past are prone to making much more detailed plans for future getaways. This only make sense. The fewer elements you leave to chance, the more likely you are to get the outcome you hope for. This is where we excel. We’ve suffered through some bad stops along the way ourselves. Don’t get us started about that little motel in Barstow we landed at late one night! And we’ve had some fun in past blogs looking at the pitfalls you may encounter by planning a vacation anywhere but with us. You can read those blogs here and here.

You can include us in your vacation planning with confidence knowing that we’re dedicated to helping you build a vacation that will be as hassel-free and fun as possible. Browse our site, and you’ll see the many testimonials from our guests. We’ve collected a handful of them in one of our past blogs here.

Call us at 310-780-3411 to book your vacation getaway now. Browse all of our Big Bear vacation rental cabins on this page. If you’re planning a vacation somewhere other than one of our luxury Big Bear Cabins, please be sure to look at our vacation rentals in Park City,Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Regardless of where you may go, you’ll have the confidence of knowing that Five Star Vacation Rentals is working to make your vacation relaxing and memorable.

Ski Conditions Are Excellent. Book Your Getaway.

We’re at the height of the ski season and it’s a great time to book your getaway. We’ve got luxury rentals available in Big Bear, Mammoth Mountain, and Park City. Here are the local reports:

Big Bear is our most popular winter getaway spot. We’ve got more than 40 luxury vacation rental cabins available, and two of the best snow resorts that can be found anywhere. And our cabins range from cozy romantic getaways, to rambling log estates suitable for large groups and family get togethers. Both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit offer great skiing for all skill levels. This is a great time to introduce your kids to the thrill of skiing. Teach them yourselves, or take advantage of lessons offered to all age groups in both individual and group classes. Click here for more information.

Mammoth Mountain is one of California’s most popular ski resorts. One of the great features of Mammoth is the host of other fun things to do while there. You can indulge in some of the most amazing fine dining to be found anywhere in California. But this time of year, it’s likely the skiing that’ll pull you in. Mammoth has runs that are suitable for all skill levels, so it’s perfect for the entire family. View our Mammoth Mountain vacation rentals at this link, or call us at 310-780-3411. We’ll help you put together an amazing getaway.

Park City is known to many people as the annual host city for the glamorous Sundance Film Festival, but the nearby skiing is legendary this time of year. Downtown Park City offers amazing shops and restaurants when you’re not on the slopes. We personally feel the Winter Comet Bobsled ride down the Olympic track should be on everybody’s bucket list. Go over 80 miles and hour and pull 4 G’s with this ride. Not for the feint of heart! Call us at 310-780-3411, and we’ll book your getaway.

Planning a trip to one of our warmer destinations? Try one of our luxury vacation rentals in Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, or Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Regardless of where you may go, you’ll have the confidence of knowing that Five Star Vacation Rentals is working to make your vacation relaxing and memorable. We know that your vacation time is very special.

Plan Your Perfect Spring Vacation

We’re still hip-deep in snow at many of our resorts, but we always like looking ahead to plan for a special family getaway. The kids will be out of school for spring vacation in the next couple of months, so it’s wise to get your reservation in early. Spring vacation is always very busy, and our best units are already getting booked, so don’t delay. Here are a few ideas:

We may still have late season skiing available in Big Bear, Park City, and Mammoth Mountain. Be sure to call us for the latest snow conditions. But Big Bear is always our most popular destination whether there’s snow or not. The pristine beauty of the mountain is something that your family will enjoy in any weather.

We’re continuing to see the popularity of “staycations” with many of our guests choosing to rent much closer to home so they can finally get a tourist’s-eye view of their local attractions. How many of us live within a couple hour’s drive of Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, or Universal Studios, but haven’t been to any of them for years? And when you add the amazing luxury of one of our Southern California Beach homes into the equation, it becomes a truly memorable family vacation rather than just a day-trip. And think of the great fun your kids will have by inviting all of their friends to join them for a week on the beach in one of our luxury beach-side rentals. You’ll have the comfort of being right there with them, and they can still have a Spring Break with great stories to bring back. Call us at 310-780-3411 and we’ll help you choose the perfect Southern California luxury home for your getaway.

You may want this year’s vacation to be more exotic by planning a getaway to one of our luxury suites at Villa la Estancia in Puerto Nuevo, Mexico. We’ve got over a dozen units available in this resort, so this is another great option for a large group. Imagine the fun you’ll have looking out from the balcony of your amazing suite watching your kids and their friends frolic in the surf below. It’s a Spring Break that any parent could love, and won’t deny your kids any of the fun they’ll be craving either.

Be sure to look at our luxury rentals in Big Bear, Park City , Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We’re committed to making sure your vacation will be a great memory for your entire family. Call us at 310-780-3411.

March Events in Big Bear

There’s snow on the ground now in Big Bear, but as Spring approaches, temperatures begin rising and the cold of winter is replaced with warmer, sunnier days. The comfortable weather of Spring is alluring, but it can mean limited accessibility to some of Big Bear’s snowier attractions. March is the perfect time to take advantage of Big Bear’s snowy landscape before it melts away. There are a multitude of activities in the area for everybody to explore this time of year.

One such activity is Guided Snowshoe Tours offered by the Southern California Mountains Foundation. On this tour, you can traverse through the San Bernardino National Forest with a tour guide and become acquainted with the natural features of Big Bear through snowshoeing. This is a great opportunity for individuals visiting the area who are interested in exploring Big Bear’s natural beauty, as well as for families looking for engaging and educational activities for kids. Discovering the beauty of Big Bear in wintertime is a treat for adults and kids both. For more information, call (909) 382-2790.

Several snowboarding and skiing events and competitions come to Big Bear in March, too. Whether you are interested in participating in or simply watching these events, there are certainly opportunities for interested visitors. The War of Rails is a skiing competition that takes place on March 2nd and is free to attend. For more information, call (909) 866-5766. Visitors can become involved in a good cause when The United States Adaptive Recreation Center (USARC) also hosts their annual Ski-A-Thon on the same day. Participants enroll to snowboard or ski to raise money for USARC. Additional information is available by calling (909) 584-0269.

These and other snowy events make March the ideal time to plan a Big Bear vacation. After a day of fun activities like these, you will love the comfort and luxury of one of our Big Bear Cabins. Call us at (310) 780-3411 to begin planning your trip!

If you’d like to view our Big Bear vacation rental cabins, visit our Big Bear page at this link. Planning a vacation somewhere else? We’ve got luxury vacation rentals available in Park City, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We realize that you get very little vacation time each year, so we’re dedicated to ensuring that your time spent in one of our luxury rentals will have you enjoying every possible moment. Call us today, and we’ll help you plan the vacation of a lifetime.

Plan Your Perfect Valentine’s Day Getaway

Valentine’s Day is just a couple weeks away, and you’re in danger of missing a huge opportunity. Sure, candy and flowers are nice, but isn’t it time to really show him or her a better demonstration of your affection? Flowers quickly wilt, and candy will disappear, but a romantic getaway will be something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. And we’ve got some of the most romantic getaways imaginable. Here are a couple ideas:

We’ve got great winter conditions in Big Bear right now, and whether you’re a skier or not, it’s a perfect time to get away. Imagine cooking a romantic dinner for your honey and settling down in front of a crackling fire with a nice glass of wine as you enjoy a romantic evening in one of our luxury Big Bear cabins. Many of our cabins also have toasty warm hot tubs that will be the perfect place to enjoy the crisp night air and watch as the stars put on their nightly show in the wide open skies above the treetops. It’s a perfect recipe for romance, and we’re sure it’s one that both of you will remember with a knowing smile for many years to come. Recharge your batteries, and rekindle the romance in your marriage with a weekend escape to Big Bear.

If you’ve got something more exotic in mind, we’ve got a perfect opportunity for that as well. Our beach side resort units in Puerto Nuevo Mexico are just amazing. There are daily flights from all southern California airports, and it’s a short cab ride from the airport to Villa la Estancia.

This world-class resort offers a level of luxury found in very few international destinations. Enjoy a fine gourmet meal at the on site restaurant, La Casona. This restaurant boasts some of the best reviews of the entire region, and you’ll enjoy an amazing fare of Kobe beef, or fresh local seafood. February weather in Puerto Nuevo sees daily highs usually in the 80’s, so later you can take a slow walk on the beach. You’ll delight in the sound of the surf as the pressures from back home seem a million miles away. Take your relaxation to an even deeper level with the resort’s spa, and you’ll see why Villa la Estancia is a prime destination for people from all over the world. Can you imagine anything more romantic?

We’ve helped hundreds of our guest put together the perfect romantic getaway, so be sure to call us to plan yours. But don’t delay, as Valentine’s Day is one of our busiest times, and we’ve got only a limited number of luxury units available. You can make this Valentine’s day one that will create sighs and smiles for many years to come, and we’ll be glad to help. Just give us a call at 310-780-3411, and we’ll get to work!

And remember we’ve also got luxury vacation rentals available in Park City,Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, and Mammoth Mountain. Your vacation time and romantic plans are just too important to leave to chance.

Head South For The Winter. They’ve Got Lobster

While we do much of our winter business with our snow-bound properties, we’re finding increasing numbers of folks who are looking to book a different getaway to a bit warmer climate. Not everybody relishes grabbing their skis and heading down the slopes. We understand that — we like to mix things up sometimes as well. And we’ve got a wonderful group of luxury rentals right on the beach in Puerto Nuevo, Mexico at the Villa la Estancia resort.

One of the often-overlooked features of Villa la Estancia is the amazing wealth of great dining available. And the dining ranges from world-class gourmet fare, to delicious hole-in-the-wall eateries lining the streets of nearby Nuevo Vallarta.

If you want to sample true quality gourmet cooking, you need look no further than La Casona, one of the on-site restaurants at Villa la Estancia. This fine-dining restaurant/bar offers an air-conditioned dining room and open-air terrace under wood-beam ceiling draped with fabric, bordered by wood-burning fireplace and giant candles after dark. Pianist in evening. Buffet breakfast daily. Dinner menu featuring appetizers, soups, salads, steaks, fish, shrimp, and nightly chef’s-special three-course meal. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it.

But we encourage you to also sample some of the amazing flavors and cuisine to be found in a short ride into Nuevo Vallarta. The town boasts a couple dozen small eateries with amazing food. Some of the restaurants have been in the families for several generations with recipes that are sure to keep you smiling and moaning with delight after each bite. And we’ll admit it. We often find the small family-run eateries to be the best. There’s just something about eating fresh, steaming lobster at an old formica dinner table that tastes better than anything we’ve found anywhere else. You’ll find a wide variety of lobsters available. We suggest you steer away from the largest ones, and stick to those weighing in at about a pound. They’re usually the most tender and flavorful.

Getting to Nuevo Vallarta couldn’t be easier. There are direct flights from all major Southern California airports, and the resort is about a 15 minute cab ride from the airport. All our suites have full kitchens so you’ll have a refrigerator to hold those great left-overs. We’ve got some yummy recipes for lobster omelets that are guaranteed to start off your day right.

And you can also get away to warmer climes with our Palm Springs/La Quinta properties. Just give us a call 310-780-3411, and we’ll be happy to help you plan your getaway. And you can have confidence that we’ll work hard to make sure your valuable vacation time is enjoyed to the fullest with one of our luxurious Five Star Vacation Rentals.