Park City Marriotts

[walumb01]

Last year we were able to select a late ski week season trade through Interval International at the Mountainside. People on tug stated that weeks in early April would come available. We reserved our week on Feb 5th of last year by searching daily with our efficiency at the Marriott Desert Springs Villas II. This year it doesn't seem like as many have been available. We let a couple one bedrooms go last year for the time we wanted to get a two bedroom unit. We can only see weeks beginning the 13th of April which is after the ski season ends. Looking for input

 

[Eric]

I am not sure what you want someone to say. It's a crap shot and you are losing at this point. Next time take the 1bd

Last year we were able to select a late ski week season trade through Interval International at the Mountainside. People on tug stated that weeks in early April would come available. We reserved our week on Feb 5th of last year by searching daily with our efficiency at the Marriott Desert Springs Villas II. This year it doesn't seem like as many have been available. We let a couple one bedrooms go last year for the time we wanted to get a two bedroom unit. We can only see weeks beginning the 13th of April which is after the ski season ends. Looking for input

 

[Dave M]

II has become more strict in its application of its "comparable trade” methodology. Thus, seeing and being able to confirm a 2BR with your studio is something that's not likely to happen except during the Flexchange period, the last 59 days before your hoped-for check-in date.

Also, since Mountainside has lockoffs, it's likely that most Mountainside owners who deposit their weeks lock off their units and deposit the 1BR and a studio separately so as to obtain two weeks of vacation in exchanges. Thus, there are very few 2BR units that are available for exchanges.

If others want the same weeks that you do, an ongoing search submitted to II, using a high-demand week as a trader, is almost certainly going to grab the weeks you want before you have an opportunity to see them. Thus, I believe your best chance is to hope that some reasonably low-demand weeks at the end of ski season will become available to you during the Flexchange period.

 

[gmarine]

Last year we were able to select a late ski week season trade through Interval International at the Mountainside. People on tug stated that weeks in early April would come available. We reserved our week on Feb 5th of last year by searching daily with our efficiency at the Marriott Desert Springs Villas II. This year it doesn't seem like as many have been available. We let a couple one bedrooms go last year for the time we wanted to get a two bedroom unit. We can only see weeks beginning the 13th of April which is after the ski season ends. Looking for input

Seems to me you got lucky last year. It doesnt happen all the time. If you are only trading an efficiency but looking for a larger unit you will probably be disappointed more often than not.

 

[ondeadlin]

Back in early and mid-summer, there were a ton of Mountainside and Summit Watch two bedrooms available for the first two weeks of April. Haven't seen many since.

Snow's been a bit iffy, too. Park City Mountain Resort is schedule to close April 15 this year, but there's a chance conditions could be real sketchy.

You might be better off elsewhere. Summit County is probably a safer bet. You might want to try Grand Timber Lodge (not a Marriott, but a nice property).

 

[downhill]

Also, consider Mariott Mountain Valley Lodge, it is a one bed room, 2 baths sleeps six easily.

 

[short]

Easter break

The week you are looking for is the week after Easter. This is spring break for many school districts. You are will probobly see some cancelations coming up soon during flexchange but thats likely your best bet.

I skied in Mammoth last weekend and the snow levels were weak. I don't think I have ever seen so little snow there. I have heard Tahoe is the same way. It was skiable but not the normal tons of snow like prior years. We need a strong wet Feb if we are going to ski into mid April.

Short

 

[walumb01]

Just got a two bedroom at the two week mark before checkin at the mountainside with my desert springs villas II efficiency. I have seen a lot of inventory come and go around the week I needed. The one I needed and reserved was a sat to sat, March 31- April 7th, 2007. The beauty of it is that it is still ski season and I am ready to get in a few late season runs. Last time was Christmas in Colorado.

 

[vacationlover2]

There's an efficiency available at Mountainside from March 30-April 6 and April 7-April 14.

Summit Watch has a 2BR available from March 23-30 and a 1BR from March 25-April 1

Hope that helps you.

 

[hipslo]

Just got a two bedroom at the two week mark before checkin at the mountainside with my desert springs villas II efficiency. I have seen a lot of inventory come and go around the week I needed. The one I needed and reserved was a sat to sat, March 31- April 7th, 2007. The beauty of it is that it is still ski season and I am ready to get in a few late season runs. Last time was Christmas in Colorado.

I have been at Mountainside all week, checking out tomorrow. It has been my first stay here as a new owner, and I am very impressed with the resort. The location is simply unparalled as a ski in ski out property. However, based on current conditions, unless things turn around pretty drastically in the next week or so, I'm not sure I'd bother coming out here to ski March 31-April 7. Lots and lots of bare spots, runs beginning to close, very slushy by the end of the day, etc. Could be the reason you were able to get a 2br. (Of course Park City could get a couple of feet of snow next week and you'd be fine, very much a crapshoot at this point).

 

[divenski]

..... However, based on current conditions, unless things turn around pretty drastically in the next week or so, I'm not sure I'd bother coming out here to ski March 31-April 7. Lots and lots of bare spots, runs beginning to close, very slushy by the end of the day, etc.

Where are the bare spots and the slush, all over or mostly near the bottom or the King Con lifts? How are conditions near the Thaynes, Jupiter or McConky's areas?

Sounds like it must have warmed up a lot after the big dumps in late Feb.

The snow report claims 70+", which sounds inflated based on your report, but that's measured at the top of Jupiter Chair in a somewhat shaded area.

http://www.skiutah.com/

 

[Steve]

Heat Wave

We had record breaking heat all across the state of Utah yesterday. Temperatures are more than 20 degrees above normal. It hit 78 degrees at my house.

Just 2 weeks ago folks were ice fishing on the reservoir that I drive past a lot. All that snow in the mountains that should have made for great spring skiing is melting fast. (Not that I'm complaining as a resident who is tired of winter...but I feel bad for the skiers and tourists.)

It should get cold again this coming Wednesday, but we've got a couple more hot days ahead first.

Steve

 

[PerryM]

Become your own exchange company…

With the Internet and VRBO and MyResortNetwork and RedWeek you can become your own exchange company – why let the clowns at II and RCI determine when and where you can vacation?

Click: Marriott Reservations and book a 1BR slope side at MountainSide - this very second. There is plenty of availability when you want to ski. Or visit the above named web sites and book your weeks too – it only costs money.

You put your unit up for rent and get rental income and the net difference isn’t that much – especially when you can plan ahead and make your reservations.

So I encourage folks to just bypass the exchange companies and become one yourself – you will need to learn a few skills in renting out your unit but the flexibility you gain is well worth it.

The limitations we routinely face in life are normally imposed on us by us – alternatives are always available – we just simply need to “Step back” and view the problem a from a different view point.

You could book your vacation today and work towards paying a large part of it back when you rent your unit out in the future. Eventually you will rent first, get the money, and that cash opens a new world of flexibility that traditional timeshare can't offer. It's just another way to maximize your timeshare investment.

 

[hipslo]

Where are the bare spots and the slush, all over or mostly near the bottom or the King Con lifts? How are conditions near the Thaynes, Jupiter or McConky's areas?

Sounds like it must have warmed up a lot after the big dumps in late Feb.

The snow report claims 70+", which sounds inflated based on your report, but that's measured at the top of Jupiter Chair in a somewhat shaded area.

http://www.skiutah.com/

I didnt make it up to Jupiter (still working up to some of those double diamond runs), but by mid day slush was more or less all over, especially Pioneer, Silverlode, Payday and Ski Team lift runs. NOT just at the bottom. Our strategy was to ski Pioneer and McConkey's in the mornings, as most of the rest of the mountain was icy early in the day, given the melting during the day followed by freezing overnight, and those areas seemed to soften up the quickest in the morning sun, then move over to Silverlode, followed by King Con/ Thaynes later in the day. Those three areas were quite icy in the morning but ok in the afternoons. Bare spots were showing up around Pioneer, McConkey's, and Ski Team lift runs, primarily, though to a lesser degree, all over. For the week we were there, although overnight lows were below freezing every night, highs were in low to mid 60's most days. No significant new snow for close to 2 weeks I think.

The 70 plus is at the top of Jupiter Peak. At the bottom near Payday, my guess would be around 25 or so, best case.

Still beats eastern skiing by a mile, but not what I was expecting given the major snowstorms in the few weeks prior and my previous experience at Park City.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

wow what a difference 2 weeks makes......I left Park City on March 1 and we had over 4 feet new snow that week and it snowed all the way to SLC airport.

 

[hipslo]

wow what a difference 2 weeks makes......I left Park City on March 1 and we had over 4 feet new snow that week and it snowed all the way to SLC airport.

Boy you got that right. I just returned home to Baltimore and there is more snow in my yard (about 1/4 inch) than at the Park City Plaza. The skating rink looks like a duck pond!

 

[huntpat]

I left Sat and I agree, I felt like I got a summer vacation out of it. Regardless, lots more snow than in SC. I agree with hipslo on the ski plan, anything that was in the shade was ice until later in the day and not great but the groomed runs were ok in the mornings and the bumps we soft enough to enjoy by 11 or so.