Tag Archives: Vacation rentals

Gondola Resorts Drastically Reduces Keystone Colorado Vacation Rental Prices

Posted on by

Prices reduced up to 40% on over 100 condos and homes in River Run Village, West Keystone, Lakeside Village and East Keystone. Notable condo locations include The Timbers, Lone Eagle, The Springs, Settlers Creek, Red Hawk Lodge, Silver Mill, Dakota Lodge, Chateaux DMont, Slopeside and Arapahoe Lodge.

Gondola Resorts, one of the fastest growing vacation rental companies in Colorado,
announced today that it has reduced its list prices by up to 40% on Keystone
Colorado vacation rentals. Additionally, the cost breakdown of Keystone rentals is now transparent to customers by calling the Keystone reservations desk at 888-295-2468.

The Timbers on River Run

“This new pricing structure will provide our customers a great value on the heals of the recent snowfall we’ve had this past week”, said Gondola Resorts General Manager Gino Malara. “For example, a ski-in ski-out one bedroom condo at The Timbersreflects a savings of $200 per night through the remainder of the Keystone ski season”.

The snowstorm slammed Colorado Tuesday with Keystone receiving 5 inches of
fresh powder while Breckenridge received almost a foot of new snow. More snow is
in the forecast for Thursday.

 

About Gondola Resorts, Inc.

Denver-based Gondola Resorts specializes in Colorado, Utah and Florida
vacation rentals. It is currently offering rental homes, condos and villas in
Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Deer Valley, Keystone, Orlando, Park City,
Steamboat Springs, The Canyons and Telluride. For information on Gondola
Resorts, call (303) 420-9963 or go to http://www.gondolaresorts.com.

Gondola Resorts Announces Headquarters Move to Lower Downtown (LoDo) Denver, Colorado

Posted on by

Location to Provide Proximity to New Light Rail,  Conference and Hotel Space via Office Located at TheOxford Annex

Gondola Resorts Executive Offices

Gondola Resorts, the vacation rental company of choice for ski resorts in Colorado and Utah announced today the relocation of its national headquarters to Colorado in the LoDo district of Denver.  The headquarters also includes its Florida affiliate of Orlando.

The lodging and ski resort vacation rental company will occupy space at The Oxford Annex Executive Suites located at 1616 Seventeenth Street, just across the street from Union Station, and 3 blocks from Coors Field. The new location will provide employees with proximity to transportation hubs and Denver’s thriving local lower downtown business community in addition to RTD’s Light Rail System. Gondola Resorts has been headquartered in Arvada, Colorado since 2008.

“We are escatic to be returning to our roots, and rejoining the Denver business community,” said Gino Malara, General Manager of Gondola Resorts. “The relocation of Gondola Resorts’ headquarters to lower downtown will allow for proximity to convenient
transportation via light rail options, as well as amenities such as conference and hotel space for future Gondola Resorts events.  When the RTD Rail Line is complete, it will
allow for easy access to Denver International Airport and other areas in the Denver
metro area”, Malara said.

In 2011, The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded RTD of Denver with a $1.03 billion Grant for the East Rail Line to Denver International Airport and the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge. This was the largest transit grant awarded by the Obama Administration to date.

Denver's future light rail

The 19-acre parcel of land just adjacent to the new Gondola Resorts offices, which
includes the historic station, is forecasted to become Denver’s central transportation hub and a glittery attraction for Lodo.

The $400+ million Union Station project has been coined the biggest transportation  project in North America, and has been in the planning and implementation phase for almost 15 years.

The transportation portion of it, incorporating commuter and light rail, Amtrak,
and commercial and RTD buses, is scheduled to be finished by the spring of 2014.

Gondola Resorts officially began operations in the Oxford office in early December
2010. The organization will continue to provide full check-in offices at all of their resort locations including Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Park City, Orlando, and Telluride, through affiliate partnerships.  The move has allowed the organization to take advantage of the current real estate environment, and provides a cost savings which will help better serve their business needs at 10 different resort locations nationwide.

 

I’m spilling the beans about Colorado ski resort lodging!

Posted on by

I’m going to spill the beans about Colorado ski lodging today! 

As many of you know, I do a lot of traveling.  I typically travel to resort ski resorts and a few other sun/beach destinations.  I do this to stay well connected to my customers and existing businesses in addition to bring more value to our returning guests. 

I’m often asked how I do it.  Where do I find the time to manage a business, stay in such stylish properties, save money and travel that much?  It costs companies a lot of money to travel, and it’s not like my business is a Fortune 500 company nor the latest IPO that has earned millions of dollars.

Well, if the truth be told, about 90% of all the lodging I stay at are vacation rentals; either condos or private homes.  This enables me to save up to 50% on travel expenses versus staying at a hotel.  Unless I’m entertaining business associates at a restaurant, I typically cook my own breakfast and dinner to save hundreds of dollars, secure free parking, issue no gratuities, pay no hotel taxes, and 9 times out of 10 get free wireless internet service, and so much more. 

About 5 months ago, I found this great website called www.GondolaResorts.com.  They have hundreds of vacation rentals that I can book right off their website or by calling one of the agents. 

From there, this easy to use service allows me to browse several resort properties at Aspen, Breckenridge,Copper Mountain, Deer Valley, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, Park City and many other resort locations.  It’s really tailored to me because most of my business is in the Rocky Mountains. 

Most of the vacation rentals I choose offers me a king bedroom, master suite, fireplace (for the winter), indoor/outdoor pool, sauna, heated parking, full kitchen and quick access in and out.  If I’m in the mood for a more spacious accommodation, I’ll ask for a private home.  This allows me to save money on meeting space at a hotel.  I’ve had meetings with 20 people in a luxurious dining room of a 12,000 square foot home in Breckenridge, Colorado before.  This saved my company $2200 on meeting space. It’s no secret that Vacation Rentals offer much more space than hotel rooms, also.  

So, now you know one of my best kept secrets about how to travel in style, save money and enjoy such a vast assortment of lodging options.  It’s been written over and over again that vacation rentals save people money while giving consumers more for their money.  I strongly recommend this service.  The costs vary so call them yourself. 

The amount of money you’ll save, and the amount of fun you’ll have doing it will likely make this the best new strategy of the year. 

Thanks for letting me share this with you.

Winter storm headed for Colorado ski resorts

Posted on by

A new and powerful winter storm headed for Colorado could unload another 1 to 2 feet of snow in the mountains near Telluride, Keystone, Copper and Breckenridge Resorts — and this time the Denver area likely won’t escape some of the brunt.

The National Weather Service confirms a storm heading into the state Wednesday is supposed to dump up to a foot of snow to the southwest Colorado mountains and high winds could limit visibility, making the road difficult to navigate.

The weather service is forecasting widespread snow in western Colorado, where up to 2 feet of snow could fall by Friday at the most popular holiday resort destinations.  “This could spell great skiing conditions for our customers”, says Lou Monte, Director of Sales at Gondola Resorts. “Guests who booked vacation rentals during this weekend are going to get some fantastic conditions before most of them leave on January 2nd”.

The Denver area hasn’t received snow from the recent storms, but that likely will change this week. There’s a high chance of snow Thursday and temperatures are predicted to plunge into the teens and lower by week’s end.

Gondola Resorts: Message from CEO

Posted on by

About Gondola Resorts

Gondola Resorts, Inc. is an elite vacation rental corporation offering the finest hand-picked collection of modest and luxurious vacation rentals across the United States. Our portfolio includes over 600 condos, homes and villas in resort destinations, from the luxury of Telluride to the  magic of Orlando, Florida.   All of our quality vacation rentals, no matter the location, represent the very best in rental standards and quality.


 

Message from the CEO

As President and CEO of Gondola Resorts, I’ve had a bird’s-eye view to see the company develop from just one personally owned condo in Keystone, Colorado to over 600 properties in less than 18 months.   Gondola Resorts is now positioned  to reach over 1,000 locations by the end of Q1 2011.  Our long range plans outline the corporation to reach over 5,000 locations by Q4 2011 and over 100 resort destinations by 2012 that includes North America and Europe.

With everything that goes along with that growth, I am probably the most proud of keeping Gondola Resorts grounded in the philosophy that I’ve held since the beginning of my professional career; the truth in quality with no compromises.  ideas don’t just happen, they need to be inspired.  All too often business will put incredible amount of energy to inspire the wrong ideas.

At Gondola Resorts, we are  increasing our odds that at the end of the day our inspired ideas will yield our desired goals. I’ve learned it comes down to something very easy – value.   Our corporate mission goes like this, “Your business can’t only be about one person. It must be about a team – it must be about what they can do together. It is about having a passion in providing innovative solutions, building partnerships, and delivering value.”  We deliver that value to our customers.

Seeing our ideas and value multiply here in Denver, I know we have a solid corporate plan to build Gondola Resorts to the premier vacation rental lodging company in the region while crafting long-term partnerships with our customers.  But, what is the secret to it’s success?  How did the idea grow so fast?  The answer is found in expanding our creativity and offering customers exactly what they desire; we have that ability and repeat the formula in every market. 

The team we’ve organized at Gondola Resorts understands that you cannot just love to provide a value to customers, but are motivated on the unique and meaningful things that happen when you treat them right.  Always up for obstacles, our employees are resourceful and enjoy helping our clients. It’s this product knowledge and appreciation for the authentic rental experience that fuels our innovation.

From new resort locations to new, and exciting experiences, how people travel is evolving every day. While we’re motivated for changes, we’re committed to providing an unmatched passion for quality despite the change of location.  You can rely on my core beliefs staying the same through our continued growth and expansion across North America and Europe in 2011.

 

Epic snow storm socks Colorado ski resorts

Posted on by

A winter storm system that’s been socking parts of Colorado’s mountains with snow has eased up a bit, providing a bit of a break for travelers who want to enjoy the recent dumping of powder. Some soutwestern areas of Colorado received up to 7 feet of snow in the past 2 days.  Telluride Resort reported excellent skiing conditions today, with fresh powder totalling 9 inches of new snow in the past 48 hours.  “Holiday travellers are starting to arrive and are excited about the fantastic conditions”, said Gondola Resorts CEO Gino Malara.  Gondola Resorts offers luxury vacation rental ski homes in the Telluride and Mountain View areas.

 

There was a lull in the system Wednesday morning but the snow was expected to intensify again by mid-afternoon. Heavy snow was expected again on Thursday, including lower elevations of between 6,000 and 7,000 feet. The National Weather Service says the heaviest snow is expected from the top of the Grand Mesa to the Elk and West Elk Mountains, including the area near Telluride, Colorado.  HEAVY SNOWFALL WILL CONTINUE OVER THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT BRINGING STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 3 FEET WITH SOME AREAS RECEIVING AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 4 TO 5 FEET. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR SNOW COMES EARLY NEXT WEEK.

Gothic near Crested Butte has reported getting over 6 feet of snow since Saturday.

The top 5 condos to rent at Keystone Resort

Posted on by

Keystone Resort Colorado

1.  The Timbers on River Run.  Don’t be fooled. This is the most luxurious, convenient and newest condominium rental property at Keystone Resort in Colorado.  It boasts a “Ritz-Carlton” atmosphere from the time you enter the building and at a fractiion of the price.  Although most of the condos are valued at over $1 million, the rental fees are at least 68% lower than the Beaver Creek Ritz-Carlton Hotel or 49% lower than corresponding BC Hyatt ski in ski out hotel.  Accomodations include 12 person hot tub, private ski lockers, firepit, heated indoor/outdoor pool, spa, steam room, bar and underground heated parking with elevator.  1 bedroom condos start at $199 in the summer and $659 during the Christmas holiday season.  Discounts and specials still can be found at some property management companies.  Don’t worry about hauling your ski equipment across the resort because The Timbers is a true ski in ski out location.  Take the elevator to the second floor and walk out onto the ski slope.  Although it sits back from the main Keystone trail that serves the Gondola, this is actually a benefit.  Noise from the ski grooming tractors at night don’t frustrate those light sleepers!  Another benefit that most vacationers won’t realize…it’s half the size of Lone Eagle which reduced the noise by 50%.  Take it from the locals; The Timbers takes the #1 prize for “best in class”.

2.  Lone Eagle.  Taking the #2 top spot in Keystone is the 5-star ski in ski out luxury of Lone Eagle condominium condos at River Run Resort.  Situated next to The Timbers, Lone Eagle sits directly on the main ski slope that serves the Gondola and River Run Village.  For those interested in watching skiers and snowboarders desperately try to avoid crashing at the bottom of the slope, this is the condo for you!  Of coure, you can book a condo on the “quiet side” of the building for more privacy and solitude.  Lone Eagle is known as one of the best buildings in Summit County and built in 2001.  Accomodations include heated outdoor pool, ski lockers, luxury lobby, spa, gym and 100 yards to River Run Village and the Gondola…all downhill.  Prices are very similar to The Timbers since it’s rated by most travel companies as 5-star and double diamond.

3.  Settlers Creek Town Homes.  Why in the world does Settlers Creek boat the #3 best place to stay in Keystone some may ask?  Well, for those who aren’t afraid of the free Keystone shuttle, this is a hidden gem of gems.  Built in 2006, they are the newest rentals in East Keystone.  No others offer garages in that particular area with the exception of Ski Tip Lodge.  Most of the town home rentals offer more space, also.  A 2-bedroom is 20% cheaper than corresponding River Run Village vacation rentals and have 20% more space.  For a calm, and relaxing atmosphere,  Settlers Creek actually takes the #1 spot.  The neighborhood has it’s own heated pool, hot tub, and private log cabin for group gatherings or parties.

4.  The Springs.  New for 2008-09 season, The Springs is the closest Building to the new River Run Gondola! Springs also offers luxurious amenities for kids. It features it’s own private year-round pool with a slide that winds through the rocks and hot tubs and a zero-entry fountain area.  Remember, this is NOT ski in ski out.  You will still need to walk at least 100 yards to the new Gondola and 150 yards into River Run Village to eat and shop.  Located just east of the village, Springs is a favorite of those travellers that are searching for the very nice accomodations but don’t want to pony-up for the true ski in ski out locations at Lone Eagle and The Timbers.

5.  Chateuax D’Mont.  The Mountain House Base Area is Keystone’s original base area and features one of Keystone’s nicest vintage buildings, the Chateaux D’Mont.  CDM comes in #5 because lovers enjoy the its ever-popular in-room hot tubs.  Will the multitudes of summer weddings, these are the perfect condo rentals for lovers.  The Mountain House area is also a great place for skiers of all ages and has rental shops as well as the largest learning area on the mountain with the Discovery, Poma and Magic carpets all there. For experts and riders, the high speed Peru Express takes you to the top and to the A-51 terrain park.

Vacation Rentals – New options to consider

Posted on by

With so many new participants in the vacation rental business these days, consumers are starting to look much closer when shopping for that perfect holiday rental. When Linda Whitefrog booked her 7 bedroom 6 bath vacation home for their family vacation, she had a horrible experience. “I made a reservation from somebody I didn’t know online, and I lost $2,000″, she exclaims. “Now, I make sure to call the company direct, and ask lots of questions before committing any money”.

One of Gondola Resorts' luxury rentals - Telluride

Gondola Resorts lists more than 500 “professionally managed” luxury and modest rental properties, and offers consumers a level of security that many others online retailers don’t possess. “People call and are sometimes leary about pricing, accomodations and the overall experience”, says their vacation specialist. We take time with our potential clients and provide a comfortable and safe way to book vacation rentals. We have returning guests that will spend thousands of dollars on a family skiing vacation, and they don’t want the hassle of shopping other online companies when they know and trust our services”.

Rental searches can be started by dates/destination, and rental suggestions are populated instantly. Search returns are easily given, with links that narrow results by bedrooms, amenities, property category and more. Discounts and specials are listed under the “guest services” menu and offer travel insurance and discounted lift tickets to name a couple. Search returns can be browsed by category in the site’s specials area. Links to recently viewed properties follow from screen to screen, as do the dates of the last search. Inventory in Colorado ski resorts is particularly expansive.

At this time, Gondola Resorts offers rentals only in the Colorado and Florida markets. Those Colorado resort locations include Keystone, Copper Mountain, Telluride, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs and in Orlando, Florida. You’ll have to do your shopping somewhere else for Europe or Mexico destinations although Gondola Resorts has plans to expand to these markets in 2011. Although the site will give only a range of nightly rates for your dates, booking is not direct — name and e-mail address must be submitted to correspond with a reservations agent (or call an 800 number).

Holiday season lodging discounts at Keystone, Copper, Telluride and Orlando

Posted on by

Gondola Resorts has just reduced their prices before the holiday season begins and is now OFFERING AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF* to our loyal renters, which includes you!  To redeem your special offer, visit our site, www.gondolaresorts.com and call a travel consultant at 1-888-295-2468 to redeem your savings BEFORE Nov. 15.  We will email you a quote back at your special loyalty rate.  
 

Don’t let your vacation this year pass you by, HURRY and book your next vacation!  Gondola Resorts has added  NEW DESTINATIONS this year and we are proud to introduce them to you.  We hope to be your One-Stop vacation rental Shop…browse our collection at www.gondolaresorts.com
Find what brings you joy and go there.

Keystone, CO  *  Copper Mountain, CO  *  Telluride, CO  *  Orlando, FL  * Breckenridge, CO (coming soon)

I’m going to Keystone but don’t know where to stay. Can you help?

Posted on by

So you’re interested in Keystone condo?  Well, this is it.  The RITZ-CARLTON of Keystone. It’s a  SKI-IN SKI-OUT vacation rental and the most luxurious condo in River Run Village or quite possibly all of Summit County.  

The grand lodge style of THE TIMBERS is an exquisite Rocky Mountain luxury condominium complex that captures the essence of the surrounding ski area. This year-round destination mountain resort, located on the mountain in River Run, features the finest ski-in ski-out experience in North America.

5-Star! True Ski-in Ski-out convenience and luxury. Private steam shower in master bath, two 42” Hi–Def Plasma TV’s, decorated like Ritz-Carlton, thousands $$ in upgrades, granite, & fireplace. First class all the way. Sleeps 5.

Location: River Run, Timbers, Keystone, Cities G-S, Colorado, USA (On the ski mountain! Part of the $800M River Run Resort!) Accommodations: Condominium – 1 Bedroom + Convertible bed(s) – 2 Baths – (Sleeps 1-5) CONVENTION CENTER SPECIAL!! Summer in Keystone means golf, river rafting, festivals, hiking, swimming, boating and mountain biking! Winter in Keystone means ski in ski out and 5-star ammenities.

Located at the base of the resort and one of only two ski-in/ski-out properties in Keystone, the Timbers is exceptional in every way. Condominium amenities include an indoor/outdoor pool, hot tub, fire pit and dining area. In addition, the Timbers is within walking distance of shopping and restaurants down across the bridge in River Run Village. A heated driveway and sidewalks allow you to stroll around the property in ease and keeps you doing what you came to Colorado to do, have some fun on vacation!

Ski in/ski out – No need for lugging your equipment around River Run Village. When you stay at the Timbers, life is simple! Just steps from the river run gondola, you have every advantage for getting first tracks in the morning. There is even a bridge across the property allowing you to ski directly to the Timbers.

Heated Underground Parking – The Timbers condos has heated secured under ground parking. Since this condo is ski-in ski-out, you don?t need to worry about driving anywhere or scraping ice from your car windows. When you are in Keystone and staying in the Timbers you can walk anywhere you need to or catch the resort shuttle. However, if you do want to drive somewhere, you?ll be able to get into a warm car.

Indoor/Outdoor Pool and Hot-tub – Among the best features for you is luxury indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub. Situated right at the base of the ski slopes, you can watch all the action on the mountain while sitting in the hot tub. The best part about swimming at the Timbers is when its cold outside you can swim inside to get out of the water in the warmth of the indoor club house, the Timbers condos offers the best of luxury. The patio itself is also heated, so you don?t need to worry about walking through any snow to or from your ski in ski out condo.

Access to River Run – Just walk over the bridge and you’ll be in River Run within just a few minutes. River Run has lots of shops and restaurants to appease any person or appetite. Lone Eagle is located slightly away from the crowds and noise of River Run Village, but you’ll be in the middle of the action during the daytime and night time ski sessions.

Workout facility / Gym – Inside the Timbers, there is full workout studio complete with free weight sets, treadmills and more. Get warmed up for a day on the slopes ahead of time, then simply strap on your skis and coast the the lift. During the summer enjoy a morning work out with mountain views and then sit poolside with a good book and catch some of the Colorado sunshine!

Beautiful lobby area – This is the nicest lobby area in all of River Run Village. Usually busting with people and a perfect social setting to meet other vacationers in Keystone, share your stories of the day with old and new friends in front of the huge fireplace. A bar is available for your own private party if you would like to entertain some friends while at the Timbers.