Five Star Vacation Rentals Archives - Five Star Vacation Rental

Looking For a Warm Christmas? Five Star Vacation Rentals Has the Answer

Lots of folks who live in Southern California have landed here from other parts of the country where the weather is not quite as nice as ours. Well, now that we think about it, NO place really has weather nearly as nice as ours, right? These transplanted Californians delight in some things that are completely foreign to us natives. For example, never once has your faithful blogger delighted in NOT having to shovel snow. In fact, he has never even held a snow shovel. But if you were born and raised in Minnesota, that simple statement would set your head spinning with a great big smile on your face. Southern California is sort of like the Emerald City to these folks. It’s a dream land where nobody really needs a heavy coat, black ice is something you get when you pour Coke into the ice tray, and the sun actually seems to shine brightly almost every day of the year. Yes, Toto, you really aren’t in, err, Minnesota any more.

Many of these folks become then envy of their less-fortunate relatives still trapped in the arctic climates from which they fled. And the contrast in the weather is never so dramatic as when the holidays arrive. Your weekly phone conversation with Uncle Julius in Minneapolis invariably covers exactly how long it took him to shovel out the driveway so he could find the car. And if he’s really lucky, he’ll tell about the wonderful new snowblower he just bought. You can smile and tell him about the wonderful new lawnmower you just bought. It’s quickly apparent that the two of you — though once neighbors — now reside on entirely different planets.

But the holidays are a time for gathering with friends and family from all the far flung areas they’ve landed. And it would be a crime NOT to offer a brief respite to those you love by hosting your own holiday get-together at one of our luxurious Southern California or Mexico vacation rentals. You’ll certainly be more popular with the snow-bound relatives, and you may decide to become a Realtor so you can profit from the relocation that many of them will begin planning as soon as they return home and their feet hit the hard, frozen soil. Be sure to tell them you can get them seats at the Rose Parade, and they won’t need a parka for it either.

We have some great choices for a warm-weather winter getaway. All of our vacation rental units are luxuriously furnished and promise to provide an amazing setting for your family and friends to enjoy the holidays together.

Our Southern California beach homes are located within walking distance of the beach and offer an amazing level of luxury. The beach homes are also ideally located to serve as a home base for visiting all of Southern California’s favorite attractions from Sea World, just a couple hours to the south, and Hollywood studios an hour or so to the north. Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm are even closer. Click here for a closer look at our Southern California beach homes.

PuertoVallarta_Beach_From_Balcony — This is your view from the balcony at Villa La Estancia. Notice that there's not a snow shovel in sight.

If you have a very large group, our best accommodations may be with our Villa La Estancia Mexican resort vacation rentals located right on the beach in Puerto Nuevo. We have 16 units available in the resort, so we can accomodate a group of virtually any size. The resort is located just a few minute’s drive from the Puerto Vallarta Airport, and all southern California airports offer direct flights. Trust us, Aunt Mildred from Detroit will rewrite her will to include you after she spends an hour in the on-site spa at Villa La Estancia. In addition to the ocean swimming and boating, all the golfers in your group will enjoy the championship golf courses nearby as well. Good luck getting them all back on the plane to Minnesota after that! Click here to view our Villa La Estancia vacation rentals.

Our Palm Springs/La Quinta vacation rentals are a special delight during the holidays. Palm Springs pulls out all the stops at Christmas time, and the entire family will delight in great shopping, shows, and amazing restaurants. Our vacation rentals are right on the golf course, so you can have everybody back east dust off their clubs and enjoy a few rounds while their neighbors back home will be lifting nothing but their snow shovels. It makes for a perfectly delightful time. You can look at our Palm Springs/La Quinta properties on this page.

Give us a call today at 310-780-3411, and we’ll help you plan your ideal family vacation. Your vacation time is very special, so don’t gamble with it. Our goal is to offer you a level of luxury that you just won’t find anywhere else.

If You Stay In a Hotel Instead of a Five Star Vacation Rental Your Car Insurance May Go Up

Summer is quickly passing by, and you have yet to plan your family vacation. That’s okay; we’re here to help. But you must listen to what we say, or you could end up with a life of regret. Seriously.

You take a real gamble with your vacation when you stay anywhere else but in one of our luxurious rental properties. Aside from the fact that our feelings will be deeply hurt, you could well be destined for a real vacation nightmare. In an earlier blog we detailed the heartache you’ll face before you even get to sleep on your first day in a hotel vacation. We start this week’s blog on the night you arrive at your hotel after you’ve finally got the entire family in bed. It’s been a long day, and the family finally starts drifting off to sleep.

NoisyNeighbors — Be sure to ask for extra pillows. You're going to need them.

A few moments after you start to swim out into the warm fluffy ocean of vacation dreams, you learn that 4am is the exact right time for members of the Audubon Society to embark on their birdwatching trek for the day. Now fully awake, again, the entire family listens intently as the birdwatchers slowly file past your room with each practicing a specific bird call they will be using to coax birds closer throughout the day. While you’d really rather be sleeping, you are all astonished at the amazing variety of bird calls produced by the 150 or so bird lovers passing just outside your door. And as the hallway finally begins to quiet down, your room begins to brighten up. The sun is rising on the first full day of your vacation.

TimmyDidntSleepWell — When Timmy doesn't sleep well, he's grumpy all day

The entire family is grumpy, tired, and hungry. But since you’re not in one of our luxurious Five Star Vacation Rentals, there is no kitchen, no refrigerator, and no microwave. You’ve got to trek outside in search of food.

But first you have to find your car. A late-model white SUV sure seemed like a good idea at the dealership when you bought it, but now you’re looking at a sea of them in the hotel parking lot. No worry. You pull out your key dongle and holding it high above your head you trigger the car’s alarm. You hear a distant honking and start working toward the sound. In almost no time at all, you find your car. Unfortunately, you also find that some lovesick teenager has scratched the message, “I hate you Brad” across the hood of your car. It seems Brad also drives a late-model white SUV, and his ex-girlfriend is no better at finding his car than you were at finding yours. Oh well.

Undaunted, you pile the family into the car and commence your search for food. You’re determined to make this a fun day. You tell them to look on the bright side. At least you’re not Brad, and your car insurance rates had to go up eventually anyway.

Is this really what you had in mind?

Most families get only one vacation a year, and many families can only get away once every few years or so. Your vacation time is too important to leave to chance. Every year families return from vacations with stories of fun things they did, but all too often these stories are tempered with tales of horrible hotel rooms, noisy neighbors and lousy parking. So let’s divide up your vacation and make sure this one is a winner. You start planning for fun things to do in one of our many destinations, and we’ll be sure to have only the most luxurious quality cabins, condos and homes ready for you when you arrive. Almost all of our units offer private parking in only the best neighborhoods. We promise that your car will not be marred with the message, “I hate you Brad,” or we’ll give you your money back. Honest.

Five Star Vacation Rentals — This is not our actual staff, but we answer our phones just like these people

In the meantime, please call us at 310-780-3411 to book your vacation getaway. Browse all of our Big Bear cabins on this page. If you’re planning a vacation somewhere other than Big Bear, 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.

It’s our goal to make sure that you enjoy your second, third, and fourth stay with us even more than your first.

More August Reasons For Reserving Your Big Bear Vacation Rental Cabin

Summer is a perfect time to visit Big Bear. The weather is great and there are tons of activities for the entire family. In last week’s blog we covered some of the events coming up during the first half of August. This week we’re covering the highlights for the last half of August.

This is one of our favorites. The 13th Annual Big Bear Cowboy Gathering will take place on August 16-19. The Gathering always features outstanding musicians, authors, storytellers and poets and this year looks to be the best. The fun kicks off Thursday night with a Ranch Dinner and Get-Together featuring many of the performers. Evening shows are at the PAC on Friday and Saturday Night. Plus an outdoor mercantile and fun entertainment for the whole family Saturday afternoon and Sunday. On Sunday, you’ll find Cowboy Breakfast, Cowboy Church, and much more. Something for the cowboy in everyone! Check out the website for full details or call (909)380-1871. Tickets can be purchased at the PAC box office or on-line at www.citybigbearlake.com. Visit their website for more details: http://www.bigbearcowboygathering.net/

All summer long the Big Bear Cycling Association is sponsoring rides for participants of all ages and skill levels. There’s really nothing like biking out in the fresh clean air of Big Bear. Call us today to book your Big Bear vacation cabin rental. Bike rentals are available, or pack your own. Either way, a biking getaway is a great adventure for the family, and it’s even more fun when you end the day back at one of our Five Star Vacation Rentals! Visit the Big Bear Cycling Association’s website for more details on scheduled rides: www.bigbearcycling.com

August 17-19 the Arts Council of Big Bear Valley presents its 13th Annual Fine Arts Festival; “Art on the Lake”which kicks off Friday evening with an opening night reception set to take place from 7 pm to 9 pm. Saturday and Sunday hours will be 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and admission is FREE. Come out to enjoy the amazing talents of local photographers, painters, jewelers, and sculptors. There will be 50 artists from throughout Southern California exhibiting and selling their work. All takes place under the tent at the Marina Resort on the lake. For more details call (909)585-5916. See more info and details online at www.bigbearartscouncil.org

The Annual Renaissance Faire continues on the 18th and 19th. We have more information about this on last week’s blog.

The Mrs. Robinson Band Will Have You Dancing!

Mrs. Robinson is billed as the “Ultimate Tribute Band,” but we think they’re the world’s most talented chameleons. On August 18th come out to Bear Cave Event Center at the Bear Creek Resort to see this amazing band. Close your eyes during their performance, and you’ll be convinced you’re hearing classic Creedence, the B52’s, the Beatles, and more. General Admission seating is $15.00, Reserved $ 25.00. Doors open at 5:00 PM Concert starts at 6:30 PM. The band’s website has more details: http://www.mrsrobinson.biz/ Be sure to pack your dancing shoes, ‘cuz you’re gonna need them!

On Sunday, August 19th, The Broadway Café at 1117 W. Big Bear Blvd. in Big Bear City, will sponsor a summer evening of old-time silent movie shorts with the incredible Bob Salisbury on the theatre organ. Adult tickets are $15 and $10 for kids under 18. The all inclusive price includes the movies and entertainment, and either a burger or hot dog dinner. Info can be found on the CATS web site at www.bigbeartheater.org or at the Broadway Café at 909-585-7682.

Don’t let the summer get away from you without booking your Five Star Vacation Rentals cabin! Call us today 310-780-3411 and one of our friendly staff will help you plan the ideal Big Bear getaway. For more summer fun, we also have beach homes available for rent in Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar, Manhattan Beach, La Jolla, and Laguna Niguel. Visit our Southern California Beaches page to see all our available properties. We also have vacation rentals available in Park City, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

Studies Show You Should Stay in a Five Star Vacation Rental Instead of a Hotel

Well, that may not be exactly what the studies said, but hear us out on this.

We’ve been doing some reading on why people take vacations and the benefits of a good vacation. There is a surprising amount of agreement among many experts that (we feel) shows why you should choose Five Star Vacation Rentals for your next family getaway.

Surveys show that the number one reason for going on vacation is to relax together as a family. At Five Star Vacation Rentals, we offer a unique opportunity to make your precious vacation time more enjoyable and more relaxing for your entire family.

Here’s just one example. Let’s imagine that you plan a family vacation and make reservations at a nice hotel in Big Bear or near the ocean in Southern California. This is the way most people plan their vacations, so what could be wrong with that? Well, let’s take a closer look.

LongWaitRestaurant — Please be patient while we prepare your table

You travel most of the day and arrive at the hotel in the early evening. The first thing most families do after checking into their room is to get something to eat. Unlike a Five Star Vacation Rental, your hotel room does not have a full kitchen with a stove and refrigerator, so you head out to the nearby restaurant. This is where the trouble begins.

You have to wait over an hour for a table because the place is packed with other families who checked into their rooms just a few minutes earlier than you did. When you finally get a table, it’s right next to the kitchen, and the guy in the booth next to you is a long-haul trucker taking a load of live skunks to a nearby nature preserve. With the kitchen noise on one side and the aroma on the other, you all decide to cut your losses and just order whole wheat toast with grape jelly. To go.

Once back at your room, you eat your cold toast and start channel surfing as the kids bounce up and down on the beds. There’s not much on TV, so you’re thankful the beds have plenty of bounce to them. The pool is closed for repairs, but the kids soon discover the fun of playing with the ice machine down the hall. Your youngest daughter returns to the room and tells you she overheard a conversation between two guests walking down the hallway. “Daddy,” she asks you, “what’s a ‘Probation Officer,’ and why would somebody try to hide from one?” At a Five Star Vacation Rental the only guests down the hall are the ones you brought with you. Big difference.

Before you know it everybody starts yawning, and its time to call it a night. It’s been a very long day. Unlike a Five Star Vacation Rental which would have three or more full bedrooms, there are only two beds in your hotel room. You get the kids tucked into one bed where they commence squirming and fighting over the blankets. They quiet down after just a few short hours, and everybody starts falling asleep. With any of our vacation rental cabins you could each have your own bedroom. Another big advantage in our favor.

A few moments after you start to drift off to the wondrous land of vacation dreams, you learn that the Ukrainian hockey team in the room above you has just arrived home for the night and needs to get in just a bit more practice for tomorrow’s match. While you’d really rather be sleeping, the entire family marvels that there is a distinct difference between the sound made by a body check and that of a body slam when heard in your room below. Your oldest son tries to recreate the sound with his little sister, but he quickly learns she just doesn’t sound the same when slammed to the floor. Fortunately, the doctor at the Emergency Room assures you that your daughter’s arm will be perfectly fine after the cast comes off in about 8 weeks. Once you all return to the room, you find the hockey team upstairs has finally gone to bed, and so do all of you. It’s been a very long day.

But wait, there’s more . . . in our next installment. Be sure to watch our blog for more on this sad tale about the utter despair suffered by most people who choose to stay anywhere other than with us at Five Star Vacation Rentals.

In the meantime, don’t leave the quality of your next vacation to chance. Call us at 310-780-3411 to book your next holiday with confidence. We guarantee your stay with us will be free of any interruptions from a Ukrainian hockey team, or we’ll give you your money back. No other company in the entire vacation rental industry offers this guarantee.

Browse all of our Big Bear vacation rental cabins on this page. If you’re planning a vacation somewhere other than Big Bear, 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.

The Virtues of Staycationing, Nearcationing, or Just Enjoying Southern California

It seems that in the life of every Southern Californian there comes a time when you look at your spouse and say, “You know, I just realized we haven’t been to Disneyland since your Uncle Harold visited us back in 2007. I think they’ve got a couple of new attractions.”

Well, actually, they do! And so for this week’s blog, we’re going to encourage all our Southern California friends to dive in and participate in the recently-coined activities of a “staycation” or “nearcation.” As the names imply, some folks are electing to stay closer to home for upcoming vacations, and we’re here to encourage that. We’ve got some of the most luxurious accommodations available near Southern California beaches, so you can plan out an amazing vacation very near home.

Staycations are a great new trend, and with a Five Star Vacation Rental, you can maximize both the fun and value of staying near home for your upcoming getaway. Here are just a few of the advantages:

MickeyDisneyland — Resistance is futile. Go see the mouse.

Plan a vacation with your kids and their friends. Many of our kids have friends they will miss over the summer, and would love to have them along on a vacation. Since most of our Southern California beach properties have large sleeping capacities, it can be a great getaway with room for all your kids’ friends in tow. It’ll be a delight to listen to them laughing and giggling late into the night in the luxury of one of our vacation rentals. Get them all out of bed the following morning for a quick drive to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, or just a short walk to the beach. No plane tickets, no airports, no rental cars – just great fun in a luxury vacation rental near the beach.

Click Here to View This Property — Feel the Ocean Breeze

You can finally get caught up with friends and relatives. Count up the number of times you’ve told some family member or friend, “Let’s make some time to get together.” Most of us can sadly count up quite a few of those. Well, renting one of our big luxury homes nearby is a great way to make that happen.

Call each of those friends and relatives and tell them to set aside that special night when you’re going to have them over for a barbecue at your vacation rental beach home. Imagine how much more special that night will be as you all enjoy the cool evening breeze and watch the sun set on the ocean from the deck of your Five Star Vacation Rental. It’ll make the time all that more special to have them spend the night in one of the guest suites and just pick up in the morning where you left off the night before. Or have everybody meet at Disneyland. Enjoy a great day at the park, and then caravan back to your vacation rental home at the beach. You can all get up the next morning and walk down to the beach to continue the fun. This is an amazing way to finally make the time to get together with those you care about the most.

Plan the perfect summer wedding, family event, or church retreat. Do you have a wedding coming up with guests coming in from out of town? Five Star Vacation Rentals can be a perfect solution that everyone will remember as a wonderful time. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Skip that thought you had that went something like this: “Well, if we move Johnny out to the couch, and have Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary take his bed, then we’ll get the rollaway out of storage and . . . ” Don’t do it! Make this a special time filled with joy, not old lumpy bedding and long lines for your bathroom.

Last November we had a bridal party rent one of our Laguna Beach homes. Jessica was the bride and she wrote us a note to tell us her family’s stay leading up to her wedding was “absolutely amazing.” Her entire bridal party enjoyed nightly sunsets on the ocean with lots of room to move around. They had no musty old roll-away beds and no lines for the bathrooms! Jessica and her family took a joyous occasion and turned it into a wonderful experience for everyone involved, not just the bride and groom. Read more of her comments and see which of our homes she chose here. So whether you’re planning a wedding on the beach or anywhere in Southern California, one of our Five Star Vacation Rental beach homes is certain to make this an amazing time.

LagBchhArtFestival — Laguna Beach Arts Festival -- Book Early!

Book now for your stay during the Laguna Beach Sawdust Arts Festival. This year’s festival runs from June 29th through September 2nd, and attracts visitors from all over the world. We sell out most years during the festival, so be sure to book early. The festival is a great event for the entire family with over 200 skilled artisans displaying creations from fine portraiture to delicately blown glass. There’s also great entertainment and a huge variety of great food.

Call us today 310-780-3411 and we’ll be glad to have one of our friendly staff help you plan the ideal Southern California getaway. We have beach homes available for rent in Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar, Manhattan Beach, La Jolla, and Laguna Niguel. Visit our Southern California Beaches page to see all our available properties. We also have vacation rentals available in Park City, Palm Springs/La Quinta, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

Five Star Vacation Rentals Big Bear Guest Testimonials

Five Star Vacation Rentals was started in a very different way than most vacation rental companies. That’s one of the reasons we consistently find our guests calling us for return visits. Before we ever got into the vacation rental business we were guests at vacation rentals. We’ve seen first hand the difference quality management can make in a guest’s overall experience. We’ve combined this with our background in hotel management and guest services to create a level of service that we’re confident cannot be duplicated elsewhere.

We’re continually pleased to see guests become regular visitors to our properties. Some find a favorite rental they want to keep returning to, and others enjoy the fact that they can choose any of our rentals with the confidence that they will have a great experience regardless of which unit they choose. Here are just a few of the many testimonials we’ve received:

Softball Team Scores a Great Getaway With Big Bear Cabin #1
“Just a quick note, our softball team (35 and over) were thrilled with the cabin. It is absolutely beautiful and fit the 10 of us to a tee. We appreciate the great deal you gave us, and all the women wanted your website for their future stays in Big Bear. Hope to do business with you again.”
Submitted by DeDe G. after staying in our Big Bear Cabin #1 Bear Mountain 4 Bedroom. Click here to see more info on this cabin.

Big Bear Cabin #3 is “Nice, Clean, and Cozy”

FrontSnowsummit — Cabin #3: "Great Rental"

“Hello Kevin,
We just wanted to send along a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ for a wonderful stay at your cabin #3 this last week. We enjoyed our stay very much in this wonderful home at a very nice location. Looking forward to staying with you again soon. May God Bless!”
Submitted by John & Diana C after staying in our Big Bear Cabin #3.
______________________

John D. and his family also stayed in Cabin #3, and sent us this note:

“First off I want to say thank you for the great rental in Big Bear this weekend. We had a great time and enjoyed our stay. We plan to rent from you many more times in the near future. Cabin was very nice, clean and cozy.
Thank you for the great customer service.” View more info or book Cabin #3 online here.

Cabin #5 "Like Home"

Our Big Bear Cabin #5 Rental Is a Lakefront Dream
“Dear Mr. & Mrs. Cobb,
Had to take the time and thank you. The cabin was well beyond our expectations. It was in a perfect location andit was roomy, comfortable and felt like home. All of us loved it.
We have also now recommended this cabin to two of our friends and more to come. We think you will get a call in the near future from a friend of my husband asking for this or one of your other cabins. A relative from San Diego is also planning on using this wonderful find in the near future. We have a great number of friends who probably will be in contact. We can’t recommend it enough. Again, thank you.
The low hassle and professional handling of this matter was more than appreciated.” Submitted by Patty C. View more pictures and details about Cabin #5 here.

We encourage you to look over all our Big Bear vacation rental cabins and see the many recommendations provided by previous guests. It’s important to us that your experience in any of our cabins builds a great memory that will have you returning year after year.

Call us at 310-780-3411 to book your vacation getaway now. Browse all of our Big Bear cabins on this page. If you’re planning a vacation somewhere other than Big Bear, 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.

Congratulations to Vanny Chow, The Winner of Our Oktoberfest Cabin Rental Contest!

We’d like to thank everybody who submitted an entry for our Big Bear photo contest. We had some really great entries, and it was very difficult to choose the winner.

VannyChowPhoto — Riley Chow, you're a winner!

Our judges selected Vanny’s photo because it seemed to capture the essence of a Five Star Vacation Rentals getaway to Big Bear. It’s clearly fun for the entire family and a memorable event.

The photo features Vanny’s son Riley. He was about 2 years old at the time, and was clearly delighted about something. We reached Vanny by phone, and she gave us some background on the photo:

“It was taken out in front of one of those great knick knack stores in the village. They had a little jelly bean vending machine out in front, and I bought some for Riley. I think it was the first time he ever had jelly beans.” She gave Riley one of the jelly beans right before she snapped the photo. Riley clearly approved of the treat.

And we learned that Vanny feels the same way about Five Star Vacation Rentals. She rented from other companies in the past, but found “some rentals we tried didn’t even provide the basic amenities.”

She has rented from us two years in a row and really likes our service and great selection: “Five Star has so many different properties, and we’ve tried a couple of them. We had our car get stuck in the snow in the driveway once when we were supposed to check out, but they extended our checkout time at no charge and even got us help to get out!”

oktoberfest2 — Weekends from September 15th through October 27th

Vanny mentioned she really appreciates that our cabins are prepared so she can just arrive and relax. The cabins she rented both had all the necessary amenities so she could get settled in right away.

Vanny’s advice for anybody considering a Five Star Vacation Rentals Big Bear getaway is very straight forward: “Definitely do it. It was a great experience. No need to worry about anything. The cabins are very clean and all have full amenities, so you can enjoy your stay without having to worry about anything.” She adds that she had such a delightful stay “I told everybody about it – all my friends and family. I even put it up on my Facebook page!”

Well, Vanny, we appreciate your kind words, and are glad your stay exemplified the experience we strive to deliver to each of our guests. Congratulations again on your win, and enjoy your upcoming stay in Big Bear for Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest is one of the biggest events of the year in Big Bear. There’s fun for the entire family with lots of great bands, shows, and exotic beers to sample. We’re currently accepting reservations for Oktoberfest which runs weekends from September 15th through October 27th. But be sure to book early as we sell out most years. You’re definitely not going to want to miss this!

Call us today at 310-780-3411. Browse our Big Bear cabins on this page.

Plan Ahead For Your Summer Getaway to Big Bear

The kids are just finishing up Spring break, and you glance at the calendar. Summer is just a couple months away! Now is the perfect time to start planning your summer getaway vacation to Big Bear with a Five Star Vacation Rental.

Throughout much of Southern California, the summer months bring stifling hot temperatures and smog alerts. But after a short drive up the mountain to Big Bear, you’ll find more moderate temperatures and smog-free skies. And there are plenty of summer activities to keep the entire family smiling for your getaway whether it’s just a weekend or several weeks.

You’ll notice the kids will start to quiet down as you climb up the road leading to Big Bear. The choruses of “Are we there yet?” will usually be replaced with “oohs” and “ahhs” as they start to see the dramatic change in scenery as towering trees begin to appear and perhaps catching glimpses of local wildlife like deer and colorful birds.

Five Star Vacation Rentals has streamlined your check in process, so before you know it you’ll be unlocking the door to your luxury cabin and listening to the kids run off to claim a bedroom. Many of our cabins have extensive collections of games, so the kids may start a playing Foosball as you unload the car. If you choose one of our cabins with a spa, you may all end up laughing and splashing together as you take deep, full breaths of the amazingly crisp clear air you’ll find in Big Bear.

When you finally crawl into bed that first night, you’ll probably vow to sleep late the following morning to start enjoying your Big Bear vacation. But you should expect that the kids will have other plans, and they may well start tugging at you early to get your day started on one of the many fun activities that Big Bear offers. Here’s just a sample:

2girlspaddling — Rent a Paddle Board on Big Bear Lake

Action Zip Line Tours can send your entire family flying among the treetops in Big Bear. They offer exhilarating zip line adventures that will have you all squealing with delight as you each do you personal impersonation of Superman flying through the trees. Be sure to visit their website before you leave home to get pricing and reservations: http://www.actionziplinetours.com

In the mood for some water adventure? Head over the the Big Bear Marina and check out their big selection of rental boats. You’ll have a variety to choose from. If you want a quiet day on the lake for the entire family, you can rent one of their larger pontoon boats. If you’re in the mood for a bit more active fun on the lake, take a look at their kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. Whatever you choose, you’ll soon see the entire family laughing, splashing, and having more fun together than you’ve had in a long time. Here’s their website for rates and availability: http://www.bigbearmarina.com/boats.html

Take a hike! There are over 50 miles of improved trails in and around the Big Bear area, and summer is a wonderful time to enjoy a family outing among the trees and wildlife. You can make a day of it by packing a picnic lunch. You can start your day at the Big Bear Discovery Center (http://www.nationalforestassociation.org/bigbeardiscoverycenter.php ). They have maps and information available there on the best trails to choose for your family.

Big Bear also has a wonderful 9 hole golf course with a pro shop and great restaurant on premises. You can also make a day of it by booking to play a full 18 holes by arranging to play through twice. It’s one of the most beautiful golf courses in Southern California with fairways surrounded by towering pines and amazing mountain views in the distance. Big Bear’s 7000 foot elevation will turn many duffers into instant pros as their balls soar to new distances in the clean thin air.

BBhikingTrails — Miles and Miles of Hiking Trails

These are just a handful of the fun activities available during your stay in one of our Five Star Vacation Rentals. Our helpful staff can also give you more ideas. And if you’re planning a stay of a week or more, please be sure to call us, so we can help find a discounted weekly rental rate.

So don’t delay! Visit our Big Bear Rentals page. Many of our properties get booked early, so book online or call us at 310-780-3411 to plan your summer vacation in Big Bear.

There’s still time to enter our Big Bear photo/video contest!
We’re offering one lucky winner a free cabin rental for Oktoberfest in Big Bear. Just visit our Facebook page and submit your original photo or video depicting a stay you’ve had in Big Bear. The winner will get a free cabin rental and free tickets for Oktoberfest. Visit our Facebook page here, or read more details about the contest on our blog here.