Reservations & More Information: 310-780-3411

Meet Five Star Vacation Rentals’ Newest Luxury Big Bear Cabin

We’re very pleased to announce the newest addition to our Five Star Vacation Rental lineup of luxury estates.  No. 44 Dreamscape Villa is nestled in the forest in the Moonridge area of Big Bear.  It offers tree-top views and is very close to many of our favorite Big Bear attractions like Ski Slopes, Big Bear Snow Play, and the lake.

This cabin is pure delight and luxury crafted at the hands of Bob Dixon.  Bob has been building distinctive properties for nearly 40 years and some of Big Bear’s most desirable cabins started on the drafting tables at Dixon Construction. You’ll be delighted with the attention to detail as you relax in the log-themed decor and marvel at the majestic views from the deck.

We’ve filled the house with great diversions including a Foosball table, and a new Sony LED TV.  As the evening gets late, you will likely find yourself in front of the custom fireplace while you fix some steamy hot chocolate in the modern gourmet kitchen.  Be sure to spend a little while in the warm relaxation of the spa before you head off to bed.

Come morning, you’ll be back in the kitchen to cook up a perfect breakfast for the entire family.   One of you should sneak out early so the rest of the family can wake up to the wonderful smell of fresh coffee brewing.  We keep the kitchen stocked with all the cookware and utensils you’ll need to make anything from a simple omelet to a gourmet quiche.

After your first night, you’ll be faced with the dilemma that confronts most of our guests.  The cabin is so cozy and luxurious, you’ll consider just staying in for the entire day to drink in the wonderful architecture and amenities.  But Big Bear is full of fun things to do outside, and that’s likely why you choose to come in the first place.  We’ll leave it to you to resolve this dilemma as you wish.  But inside the cabin, or outside in wonderful Big Bear, you and your family will surely have a vacation to remember.

You can view more details about our new Dreamscape Villa at this link.  If you’re planning your winter getaway somewhere other than one of our luxury Big Bear cabins, we can help as well in the following areas:  Park City, UtahPalm Springs/La Quinta Southern California Beaches Mammoth Mountain, and  Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. At Five Star Vacation Rentals we realize that your time away on vacation is important, and we treat it that way. We are constantly working to ensure that your stay in one of our luxury rentals is an experience you’ll always remember fondly and want to repeat often.

Call us today at 310-780-3411 to book your next getaway.

 

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 BearMammoth, 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.

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 QuintaSouthern California BeachesMammoth 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.

April Events in Big Bear

Spring is quickly closing in on us, but we’ve still got plenty of good skiing weather here in Big Bear.  With a couple of late storms, we usually have good skiing conditions lasting into late April.  And there are some great reasons to start planning your April getaway to Big Bear now.

Each year Bear Mountain and Snow Summit invite Law Enforcement, EMS, Firefighters & Active Military to take advantage of Honor Our Heros/Uniform Days.  The last opportunity this season will be on April 3 & 4. It’s the resort’s way of showing appreciation for the hard work and sacrifice of these folks.  Just take your valid work identification to any Bear Mountain or Snow Summit ticket window and you will receive a $38.00 lift ticket. Up to a $21 savings!

CATS presents “Mark Twain and the Shakespeare Mystery” A One-Act, One-Man Show by Robin Field. The shows will be on April 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13 at 7:30 PM. Matinees at 2:30 on April 7 and 14. For more details please call or visit their website:
Location: CATS Warehouse Theater at 1117 West Big Bear Blvd
Contact: Tel: (909) 585-4757 Website: www.bigbeartheater.org

Enjoy the natural beauty of Big Bear with ongoing events at the Big Bear Discovery Center. Gather the family for a 30-minute Nature Walk on Saturdays at 1pm and 2 pm and Sundays at 11 am and 12 noon to learn about the local plant life, wildlife and some very interesting historical facts. Great activity for fami…
Location: Big Bear Discovery Center at 40971 North Shore Drive/ Hwy 38, Fawnskin CA 92333
Contact: Tel: (909) 382-2790 Website: www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com

Every Saturday in April the Big Bear Alpine Zoo offers animal feeding tours that allow you to go along with the zookeepers as they visit each of the animals with their meals. It’s a great experience for the kids, and a rare behind-the-scenes tour that you just can’t find at most zoos. The keeper takes time to explain interesting facts about the animals as they are fed — a great opportunity to learn about our wildlife! There’s no additional cost for the tour, but regular admission rates apply for entry into the zoo. Regular Zoo Hours are 10-5 on Saturdays/Sundays and 10-4 on weekdays. The feeding tours usually last about an hour starting at 3pm.
Location: Big Bear Alpine Zoo at 43285 Goldmine Drive
Contact: Tel: (909) 878-4200 Website: www.moonridgezoo.org

We’ll have more information on fun Big Bear April events in an upcoming blog.  Call us at 310-780-3411 to book your stay.  Browse all of our Big Bear cabins on this page.  If you’re looking for a getaway someplace else, please be sure to look at our luxury 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.

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 CityPalm Springs/La QuintaSouthern California BeachesMammoth 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 CityPalm Springs/La Quinta Southern California BeachesMammoth 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 QuintaSouthern 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.

Pack Your Bags! We’ve Got Five Star Luxury Big Bear Cabins and Great Ski Conditions

The recent storms have finally passed, but they’ve left behind some great ski conditions in the Big Bear area.  If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to pack up for your ski getaway, wait no longer!  Check ahead when you come, but the roads are clear with no chains required, so it’s an easy drive to an amazing getaway.  Here’s the current report from Bear Mountain:

There are lots of  beginner jumps and rails at chair 6, while chair 5 is lined with intermediate jumps, hips, jibs, the halfpipes, and a new wall ride. Over on chair 9 there are more intermediate features as well as lots of advanced and some expert features. Chair 9 has lots of skate style down bars, wall-rides, boxes, and tubes of all sorts. We are definitely enjoying the finest park set-up of the 2012-2013 season. Freestyle camp is a great way to comfortable improve with friendly and talented instructors. We are out of the cold front which allowed for some great snowmaking, and back into classic Southern California sun shine …

And here’s the report from Snow Summit:

Park Staff has also made a few new changes to Westridge, including two skill builder boxes and a mini bank halfpipe at the top of Chair 2. After hitting the new features, you have your choice of lapping Summit Run or continuing through the park, which has a new feature count of 32 jibs and 41 snow features! The snow coverage is excellent and we’re expecting sunny skies all weekend long. Be sure to make reservations if you’re headed up for the holiday to guarantee your spot on the snow.

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain limit the number of lift tickets sold each day to reduce crowding both on the slopes and the lifts.  Your tickets will work for either location, and there’ s a free shuttle bus that runs every half hour between the two.  They’ve made every provision to make sure you’re able to get in the maximum amount of skiing on your getaway.  Be sure to buy your lift tickets ahead of time to make sure they’re not sold out.  Here’s the link to their online store: https://ecommerce.snowsummit.com/e-commerce/

And of course, we strongly recommend you also be sure to reserve one of our luxury Big Bear cabins for your stay.  We have both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit cabins available, so you can get as close to the slopes as you wish.  We’re experts at helping families put together amazing Big Bear family vacations.  When you couple a great day of skiing with a relaxing stay at one of our luxury resort cabins, the only thing you’ll worry about is how you’re going to get the family to ever leave such fun and luxury.  But not to worry.  We’ll gladly help you book your return stay too!  You can view all our Big Bear cabin rentals at this link.

There’s also great skiing right now at Park City and Mammoth Mountain, so be sure to call us about booking a luxury vacation rental for these destinations as well.

Just give us a call at 310-780-3411, and we’ll be glad to help you book your dream vacation in one of our 5 Star vacation rentals.