By now you all know that we live much of our lives dedicated to creating the absolute best vacations possible for our guests. We’re proud of the fact that we have a steady stream of repeat guests. Our properties are among the most luxurious you can find anywhere. They’re well maintained, furnished with all our guilty pleasures, and situated in some of the most amazing resort destinations in the world.
But sometimes we like to consider the possibilities that often befall those who are foolish enough to seek lodging any place else. We’ve warned our readers about these pitfalls in previous blogs here and here, but it bears repeating: Don’t risk your precious vacation time anywhere else. You may end up losing sleep and having to share your accommodations with furry little animals. Let us explain.
We had a few quiet minutes in the office the other day, so we decided to Google, “worst vacation ever.” Oh my, was this a sad search. One of the first hits was a review of a hotel in Myrtle Beach. The very unhappy patron of this hotel gave the place a one star review and noted among other things that, “the rooms were pitiful. Not clean, dirty sheets . . . Possums in the room.” Yes, possums.
But wait, there’s more. One hotel in Miami Beach, Florida is ranked 190th out of 199 hotels in the area. The description offered by one guest gives us a hint at the quality they found there: “Carpeting is stained and dirty. Towels are old, stained, & dirty. Beds are old, dirty, and stained. Walls are old, dirty, and stained.” I think we see a pattern emerging here. Hotel number 191 has even more colorful reviews. Our favorite is titled, “Manager threatened PREGNANT wife with pepper spray!!!” Some are from international travelers. You don’t need to learn a new language to understand these folks: “Der absolute Horror” and “ORRIBILE!!!!!!!!!” I think it’s safe to assume that the memories and stories these folks brought home from their vacations were pretty sad.
Now compare their reviews with some of the feedback we receive from our guests. Dana C. wrote of her recent stay, “Everything was awesome. . . Thank you again, Kevin and Maria for the awesome weekend…can’t wait for next year!!” Yes, Dana used “awesome” twice. We really like the sound of that word. Awesome. And when Tony K dropped us a line about his stay, he had the following to say, “I just wanted to say thank you for an amazing weekend. Every one of your staff that I talked to and met were extremely helpful and friendly; it really made our stay more enjoyable. ”

Better Rustic Motif. Better Furnishings.
We realize that you have many choices when it comes to your next vacation. Each of us has had our share of bad experiences staying in some pretty awful places in our time. Your time away is precious, and you should not risk it with inferior accommodations. We work hard to make sure that all our vacation rental properties will have you feeling pampered and relaxed. And we guarantee that you’ll never share your luxury estate rental with a possum, and we’ll never chase your pregnant wife with pepper spray.
Be sure to look at our luxury rentals in Big Bear, Park City , Palm Springs/La Quinta, Southern California Beaches, Mammoth Mountain, and Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We’re committed to making sure your vacation will be a great memory for your entire family. Call us at 310-780-3411 and we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect place for your next vacation.
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For you wine aficionados out there, you’re definitely not going to want to miss the Village Business Association’s 5th annual Spring Wine Walk on Saturday, June 1st from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm in The Village. This is a great chance to sample a number of wines from around the world as you walk in the cool of the evening among the fun shops of Big Bear Village. Light hors d’oeuvres will be offered along the way as well. You can purchase your tickets in advance at
It’s hard to believe that June is nearly upon us, and the kids will soon be out of school. If you haven’t already made your plans, don’t delay any longer. We’ll help you put together a getaway that is sure to have the entire family giggling with delight.
Well, that may not be exactly what she said, but pay attention anyway. A recent report out of the Mayo Clinic showed that stress has a tendency to invade virtually every area of our lives. And when you take a close look at their findings, the results can be discouraging.
For a romantic getaway, try our
Maybe you could use some away time with your extended family or a close group of friends. Our
We’re just finishing up ski season in most of our destinations, and skiers are some of our favorite guests. But we see many of these same folks come back during the spring and summer to pursue their passion for golf. The reason for their return visits is pretty clear: We have some of the best destinations with the finest courses that you can find anywhere. Whether you’re an avid golfer or just interested in starting, we’ve got the perfect choice for you.
Tax time is just about over, and we’re all breathing a sigh of relief. If you had to pay, the pain will be subsiding soon. If you’re getting a refund, well, let’s just imagine a few of the possibilities.
2. Book a stay at one of our getaways for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

Number one is Mother’s Day on May 12th. Okay, dad, we know she’s always pleased to get a nice dinner, flowers, and some candy. She’ll never complain about that. But isn’t it time to set the mark a bit higher? Make this year the one that she’ll always remember and tell all of her friends about. We’ll be glad to work with you to create a romantic getaway in one of our amazing cabins. Which do you think she’d prefer: Going out for a nice dinner and then going back home to watch TV, or going out for a nice dinner, and then returning to your luxurious estate cabin for a relaxing night in front of the fireplace and in the spa? Call us at 310-780-3411, and we’ll help you get this romantic getaway started.
The Big Bear Alpine Zoo offers animal feeding tours on weekends. This has quickly become one of Big Bear’s most popular events, and the kids really love it. You’ll get to walk along with one of the zookeepers as they make their rounds feeding the various animals. It’s a great learning experience, and a rare close-up encounter with these animals. The tours start at 3:00 pm each Saturday and Sunday. Visit 
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.
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