Five Star Vacation Rental

Meet the Newest Members of the Five Star Vacation Rentals Family

It’s been a busy couple of weeks. Temperatures are starting to dip in Big Bear and we’re expecting the season’s first snow anytime. We’re almost booked solid for Thanksgiving, and we just added two new properties.

Sinatra’s Villa is a beautiful log cabin just a 5 minute walk to Snow Summit and quick drive into the Village. You’ll love the soaring ceiling in the great room, and the large deck has amazing forest views. It has 3 bedrooms with a loft, so there’s plenty of room for your party of up to 8 people. We’ve packed this cabin with great diversions including a pool table, foosball table, Playstation, and a TV in every room. We’re sure this one will quickly become a favorite, so be sure to book your stay right away.

Our second new addition is Pine Nest Chalet. This is a new purchase, and has all new furniture and appliances. And it’s a perfect choice for all our football fans. We’re including the NFL package, so you can get in some great time away in Big Bear and catch some great football games at the same time. Just add some beer and pizza, and this may well be the most relaxing vacation retreat you’ve ever had. After the game is over, you’ll have fun shooting some pool with the family, or dive into a lively game of darts. You’ll also enjoy the beauty of the forest with the while you relax in the hot tub and take in the tree top views.

You can view all our Big Bear cabins at this link, or call us at a 310-780-3411. We’ll be happy to help you put together the ideal getaway. We’ve got luxury vacation rentals in Big Bear including Park City, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Regardless of which one of our luxury getaway locations you choose, you can be assured that we’re working to make sure your vacation will be one you’ll want to repeat again every year.

Be sure to download our new IOS and Android apps. These are a great tool to let your view our properties and book them while you’re on the go.

Bring Your Family To Big Bear For Thanksgiving

The holiday season is upon us, and you may already be feeling some of the usual pressures. Where will you find room for the new relatives? How many different tables will you need to set up this year? Will you need to limit your number of guests?

If your home is the usual holiday destination, it can be daunting to accommodate them all each year as your family grows with new kids and spouses. Well, we’ve got a perfect solution. Rent one of our Five Star Vacation Rental luxury cabins in Big Bear! It’s a great option for big families, and provides the entire family with a memorable treat. But as you can imagine, we are usually booked solid for that weekend. Be sure to call us right away to grab one of our luxury vacation rentals.

You’ll have a few tasty options for your Thanksgiving getaway. Stillwells Restaurant inside the Northwoods Resort is a popular destination for many folks. Just imagine having a great Thanksgiving meal (or their usual scrumptious buffet) and have absolutely zero dishes to do when you’re done. Stillwells requires reservations, so be sure to call well in advance (909) 866-3121 ext. 7885 to be sure you get space set aside for your group. You’ll enjoy great food, relaxing time with your family, and the freedom to walk away from a huge pile of dirty dishes. It’s almost too good to imagine.

Another great option is to serve your family and guests a pre-cooked meal at your vacation rental cabin. Both Staters Brothers and Vons in Big Bear are offering full Thanksgiving meals with all the fixings. You can choose from Turkey, Ham, or Prime Rib. For larger groups, mix and match to provide a greater variety for your family. You’ll also need to order these in advance. You can reach Stater Brothers at (909) 866-5211, and Vons at (909) 866-8459. Be sure to buy some nice disposable plates and cups, so your Thanksgiving clean up will be mostly with a trash bag instead of a dish rag!

And for our dyed-in-the-wool gourmets, rest assured that virtually all of our luxury vacation rental cabins and estates have kitchens equal to the task for your Thanksgiving preparations. Many of our units have double ovens and gas ranges. Be sure to check out the specifics with us. Call us at 310-780-3411, and we’ll help you find the best cabin for your getaway.

We often have snow on the ground during Thanksgiving, so be sure to plan ahead and pack your skis. This could be a weekend you’ll remember for a long time as a great time with family, some great food, and amazing skiing. The only unpleasant part of the entire experience is when you have to pack up and return to the real world.

Looking for a Thanksgiving getaway elsewhere? We’ve got you covered. We can also help you book your Thanksgiving getaway to one of our other destinations in 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 holiday will be a great memory for your entire family. Call us at 310-780-3411 for more details or to book with us on the phone.

Hollywood Comes to Five Star Vacation Rentals. Again.

We’re starting to feel like a stage mom.

We’ve got these amazing kids (read “vacation rental cabins, estates, and condos”) that have such overwhelming appeal, it’s only natural that folks are drawn to their luxury and custom features. And with increasing frequency, people are putting our kids in TV shows and movies. In recent months our properties have appeared on “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” ABC’s “The Lookout,” and the indie film, “A Separate Life.” We’re mighty proud about that.

Our most recent brush with fame is with Cabin 10, The Grand Lakefront in Big Bear. The cabin was featured on WETV’s Kendra On Top episodes, “The Big Bare” and “Cabin Fever.” Kendra and her husband Hank celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary with a weekend stay in this cabin. And we’d be hard pressed to choose a better destination.

If you watched the show, you saw the squeals of delight as the young starlet arrived. “Look how beautiful this is!” was her first reaction, and she threw in a “this is awesome!” as well. But this is nothing new to us. That’s how we reacted when we first saw this amazing log estate on the lake. And our guests have pretty much the same reaction each time they arrive as well. It’s a remarkable property.

This home is constructed of full round lodgepole pine logs from Montana. And to ensure the absolute best quality, the builder actually assembled the entire cabin on site in Montana to check that each joint and log fit exactly to their rigorous demands. Once they were satisfied with it, they disassembled it log by log and loaded it on trucks bound for an exclusive lot in Big Bear right on the lake. As you can imagine, this is a very expensive way to build a cabin. But after you spend a few minutes wandering around inside, you’ll quickly begin to see the level of luxury and craftsmanship that can only be achieved by this extreme attention to detail.

This cabin truly represents the absolute best that Big Bear has to offer. You’ll enjoy all the water sports with the included dock, and the lake views from the deck are just amazing. The gourmet kitchen will delight even the most demanding of chefs, and you’ll be surrounded by the constant reminders that this luxury home is the product of many hours work at the hands of many talented craftsmen. If you’re looking for someplace to enjoy the full star treatment, Cabin 10 is a great choice. View more photos and get booking information at this link.

Be sure to look at all our luxury rentals in Big Bear. We can also help you book your getaway to one of our other destinations in 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. We’ll do our best to have you feeling like Hollywood royalty. Call us at 310-780-3411 for more details or to book with us on the phone.

Luxury Village Retreat is Five Star Vacation Rental’s Newest Big Bear Getaway

It happens every time we add a new property to our family of luxury vacation rentals. Some of us get to visit the property to make sure it meets our standards and that it’s a destination we’ll have no hesitation recommending to our guests. The rest of us eagerly wait to see the photos and hear the stories about the property. It’s an exciting time, and we’re sometimes tempted to pass out candy cigars and call all the relatives. And our newest addition to the family gives us plenty of reason to be proud. Please join us in welcoming the Luxury Village Retreat in Big Bear.

One of the first things we liked about this luxury cabin was its close proximity to both Big Bear Lake and The Village. This makes it a great getaway for some of your favorite Big Bear activities. Sometimes there’s nothing quite as relaxing as an afternoon wandering around the eclectic shops and eateries of The Village. If you’re out walking in the morning, be sure to stop by the Grizzly Manor Cafe for some of their amazing food. They’ve got pancakes as big as your head, and serve all their tasty meals with a big helping of fun.

But once you get settled in for your stay at this amazing cabin, you’ll be tempted to just stay in and enjoy the luxury. There’s room for 14 guests, and plenty of things to do to keep them all occupied. Gather at the card table for a friendly game while a couple of you shoot some pool a few steps away. Whoever ends up doing the cooking will delight in the gourmet touches and fine granite counters.
The great room will be a natural place for everybody to gather at the end of the day. Fire up the floor-t0-ceiling stone fireplace . The glow of the fire will be a certain conversation starter, and you’ll all delight in the great atmosphere as you relax with some hot chocolate or cool drink. As with our other luxury cabins, the only part of your stay that you’ll be unhappy about is the end. But don’t despair. We’ll be sure to keep the cabin ready for your next visit.

And if you’d like to explore any of our other destinations, you can be assured that we’re committed to providing top quality cabins, estates, and condos for your next vacation getaway. Here are links to our other properties in Park City, Utah, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Give us a call at 310-780-3411, and we’ll be happy to help you make the reservation for your next getaway.

Pack Some Costumes, and Get Ready For Halloween in Big Bear

Halloween is one of our favorite times of year. And we can’t think of any better place to celebrate it than in Big Bear. It’s just plain fun to shop for costumes for the little ones, and then have an evening of excited giggles, a few frights, and much more candy that you can imagine.

Big Bear pulls out all the stops for Halloween. Starting at 4pm on Thursday the 31st, over 50 shops in The Village will open their doors handing out free candy to any kids in costume. It’s a great time, and the safest place we can think of for trick or treating. The added benefit is the great fun mom and dad will have as they get to browse through the great collection of fun shops in The Village. While the kids will be thrilled with the free candy, you may find some real must-have items from fine wines, local crafts, and just plain fun tchotchkies.

With Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, you may want to consider taking a vacation day on Friday and just making a long weekend of it. Several of our properties are within walking distance of The Village, and all are within a few minute’s drive.

After you kick off your long weekend on Thursday night, you can make plans for other great activities as well. The Big Bear Zoo is a great destination for the entire family, with lots of great exhibits. The cyclists in the family will find lots of activities through the Big Bear Cycling Association. Or you may just want to hang around your Five Star Vacation Rental vacation rental. You’ll discover a level of luxury that is most rare. Just relax and enjoy your time away. And keep an eye on the kids. They’ll be on quite a sugar high all weekend long.

To view our Big Bear vacation rental cabins, visit our Big Bear page at this link. Planning a getaway somewhere else? Check out our luxury vacation rentals 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 be a great value for your and your family. Call us today, and we’ll help you plan the vacation of a lifetime.

Plan Your October Five Star Vacation Rental In Big Bear

Fall is quickly approaching, and October is just a couple of weeks away. The nights here in Big Bear are already starting to get the wonderfully crisp feel to them as the cool of fall and winter starts sending hints of the chill to come. There’s never a bad time to visit Big Bear, so if you’ve been delaying, here are a few good reasons to plan your October getaway in one of our FiveStarVacationRental.com Big Bear estate and cabin vacation rentals.

Flashlight Safari at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo
This annual event is a big hit, and you’ll quickly learn why. The Alpine Zoo in Big Bear is one of the region’s most popular destinations, but come fall, there’s a whole new dimension to discover in the evening. While most visitors may miss any interaction with the numerous nocturnal animals, the Flashlight Safari provides a rare opportunity to see exactly how wild things can get after dark. You’ll get to visit the park after usual hours and get a specialized tour of the nocturnal animals. This is a real treat for most kids, and the adults will love it as well. Be sure to pack comfy shoes and a warm jacket since the evenings are getting a bit chilly. Flashlight Safari tours start Saturday, October 5 and continue every Saturday through October 27. Some of the animals that come alive after dark include mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, skunks, beaver, black bear, owls, coyotes and wolves. Visit the zoo website for more details: http://bigbearzoo.org

Grab your rod and reel for the annual Big Bear Lake October Troutfest. Western Outdoor News sponsors this annual event that’s a fun outing for the entire family. You can enjoy the relaxation of fishing with the family combined with lots of great prizes and cash awards for the best catch. This year’s troutfest will be help October 5th and 6th. Visit Western Outdoor News website for more details.

October is also a big month for bikers of all ages. The Big Bear Cycling Association has dozens of events scheduled all month long. There are opportunities for all age and skill levels to get out on the open road with a group of bikers and enjoy some of that cool Big Bear wind blowing in your face. Visit the Big Bear Cycling Association’s website for more info.

Be sure to look at all our luxury rentals in Big Bear. We can also help you book your getaway to one of our other destinations in 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 for more details or to book with us on the phone.

Last Minute Plans for Life Long Memories

We’re already a week into September, and the family may well be ready for a quick weekend away. School just started, and the weather has been blazing hot in many places. You may already feel like you’re falling into the same annual rut that just keeps you moving on auto pilot through the coming months. There no better way to break out and create some wonderful memories than with a weekend away in one of our Five Star Vacation Rentals in Big Bear.

Well, we certainly have some great ideas that will bring a new spark of life and excitement into your upcoming weekends. Though September is one of Big Bear’s biggest months for fun events, we’ve still got a number of weekend rentals open, so you can whisk the family away to have some real fun. Let’s recap some of what’s on the calendar:

Oktoberfest starts next weekend, and that’s reason enough to drop everything for a weekend getaway. Many of our cabins are already booked, but we’ve still got availability. If you need any further convincing about the many fun reasons to be in Big Bear for Oktoberfest, just read our recent blog entry detailing some of the fun.

The following weekend brings Big Bear’s annual Film Festival with all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. This event grows in popularity every year, and this year promises to the best yet. Mark your calendar for September 20th through 22nd. Whether your passion runs as a film maker or a film watcher, this event is great fun.

September is also a great month for outdoor activities in Big Bear as fall usually arrives with the dramatic color changes you just can’t see elsewhere in Southern California. Grab your bikes, hiking boots, cameras, and kids. We’ll have some of the most luxurious accommodations available in all of Big Bear for your upcoming visit.

Be sure to look at all our luxury rentals in Big Bear. We can also help you book your getaway to one of our other destinations in 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 for more details or to book with us on the phone.

Spotlight on Angel’s View Estate in Big Bear

One of the best parts of our job here at Five Star Vacation Rentals is that we get to match our guests with some of the most luxurious vacation rentals and estates to be found anywhere. It’s just delightful to usher people into these amazing properties where they create lifelong memories. Our properties have hosted wedding parties, honeymoons, anniversaries, family reunions, church retreats and more. And its easy to see why. Each of our properties is designed to enhance your enjoyment of Big Bear’s rustic beauty, and this will only make your get together that much more enjoyable.

This week we’re highlighting our property, “Angel’s View Estate.” Built in 2007, this Big Bear luxury cabin is one of our newer properties. You’ll enjoy looking at all the attention to detail found throughout the house both at the hands of the builder and that of the decorator. The builder took special care to create a space that blends perfectly with the tree top views. Expansive decks with comfy seating give the feel of a tree house nested far above the forest floor. And that motif is carried throughout the house with rough hewn log beams in open ceilings upstairs. The decorator spared no expense to create a log cabin feel throughout to further carry your senses into the heart of the forest during your stay.

There’s a hot tub out on the deck that will be a perfect place for evening relaxation after a full day exploring the fun shopping in Big Bear Village or wandering around some of the paths through the forest. Continue your relaxation in the Master Suite where you’ll find a big fireplace, an oversize tub, and beautiful granite counters topping off the luxury. Be sure to bring your favorite old movie on a DVD, so you can lay in bed and watch the big screen TV as you drift off to sleep with dreams of doing it all again the next day.

The kitchen is a gourmet’s delight with industrial-grade six burner stove and double ovens. This will allow you feed even the biggest crowd in a single sitting, so there will be no delay as you all get ready to hit some of the fun activities found in Big Bear. Or you may just want to stay in and shoot some pool or play some games of foosball in the game room. Whichever you choose, we’re confident your stay in Big Bear will be greatly enhanced when you have Angel’s View Estate as your home base.

But as remarkable as this property is, we’ve got 43 others that share similar luxury and furnishings to help your family or group create a getaway that everyone will fondly remember and want to quickly repeat. View all of our Big Bear luxury cabins and estates at this link.

Browse all of our properties at FiveStarVacationRental.com. Or give us a call at 310-780-3411, and we’ll help you choose a great property for your next getaway. And if you’d like to explore any of our other destinations, you can be assured that we’re committed to providing top quality cabins, estates, and condos for your next vacation getaway. Here are links to our other properties in Park City, Utah, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

44 Great Reasons to Visit Big Bear in September

September is one of the most popular months to visit Big Bear, and we’ve got 44 great reasons why you should call us right away to book your getaway. Our 44 reasons are some of Big Bear’s most luxurious and finely furnished vacation rental cabins and estates. While other families will be plunging into the stress of crowded hotels, loud lobbies, and long waits for restaurant seating, you can make sure your family enjoys the finest quality lodging with a full kitchen and private parking. Since you’re booking a getaway to relax and enjoy yourselves, why not make sure you can . . . well, relax and enjoy yourselves? Nothing really compares to the plush relaxation and luxury you’ll enjoy in one of our vacation rental cabins and estates.

September is traditionally the month when fall arrives and provides Southern Californians with a glimpse into the beauty of the changing seasons. It’s a rare opportunity to show your kids that there’s more to fall than getting an extra hour of sleep when daylight savings time kicks in. And for the many transplants who moved here from the south and east, it’s a chance to revisit the beauty you may have enjoyed as a kid. We can think of no better way to enhance the pure relaxation of your visit than to settle in with one of our 44 amazing Big Bear luxury vacation rentals from FiveStarVacationRental.com.

Now there’s no sure way to predict exactly when the leaves will start turning colors, but we do have a bunch of great events on the calendar for September that are sure to make your visit a memorable one. Here’s just a sampling:

In last week’s blog, we detailed the upcoming annual Big Bear Film Festival. This is always a great event with lots of fun things for folks both in and out of the film industry. It’s an especially important event for anyone looking to break into the film industry, since there will be producers, directors, and big-name talent as well.

Oktoberfest is also coming up in a few weeks with a wide variety of great food and events for every member of the family. Mom and dad will enjoy some great international beers and cuisine while the kids have plenty of activities geared just for them as well. And the village overflows with fun shopping and kitschy items that will quickly become treasured mementos of the fun time you had in Big Bear.

Combine these fun events with miles of nature walks, great restaurants, and a top quality Five Star Vacation Rental cabin or estate, and you’ll see there’s really no limit to the fun things to do in Big Bear during September. Whether you plan to spend your time walking along the trails to drink in the rich sights and smells of fall, or want to jump into the middle of Oktoberfest with its amazing offering, we can assure you your September stay will have you planning your return trip right away.

Be sure to look at all our luxury rentals in Big Bear. We can also help you book your getaway to one of our other destinations in 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 for more details or to book with us on the phone.

Big Bear Film Festival Arrives September 20th-22nd

The fourteenth annual Big Bear Lake International Film Festival will be rolling out the red carpet on the weekend of September 20th through the 22nd. The festival has earned rave reviews over the years including being named as one of the top 50 film festivals world wide. That’s quite an honor considering there are nearly 5000 different festivals around the globe each year. If you’re a film maker or a film buff, it’s one of the most exciting events of the year, and a must-see.

This year’s festival promises to continue the traditional mix of independent feature-length films, documentaries, student films, High School student films, short films, family films, animation, 3-D Short Films, films made by Big Bear locals, and a screenwriting competition. Juried and audience film awards will be presented. Aspiring filmmakers will be given the opportunity to attend lectures by industry professionals and participate in networking events. The festival draws some of Hollywood’s best and brightest, so don’t be surprised if you spot one of your favorite stars strolling the street this weekend.

The film festival is of particular interest to us here at Five Star Vacation Rentals, because a member of our family of properties has actually appeared at the festival. Our cabin #1 on the slopes at Bear Mountain played a supporting role in the recent indie film, “A Separate Life.” Many of the interiors were filmed in the cabin, and several key scenes were filmed on the porch. We’re still busting with pride about it. The film went on to win a number of awards as an indie film, and is now under development for mainstream release. We feel like very proud parents indeed. You can watch the film’s trailer at this link.

Of course our serious film buffs will want to be sure to reserve this cabin-turned-movie-star right away to round out the full experience of the weekend film festival. But if that one is reserved before you get a chance to grab it, don’t despair. We’ve got a few dozen other luxurious Big Bear vacation rental cabins and estates to choose from. If you’re serious about breaking into the film industry, you’ll make a much better impression pitching your script around the fireplace in your luxury cabin than you will in the noisy lobby of a crowded hotel. We recommend you make your plans early, as we’re anticipating we’ll be fully booked that weekend. Call us at 310-780-3411 and we’ll help you find the perfect cabin or estate for your getaway.