The former president’s old Beaver Creek home went on the market for 14.9 million dollars over 8 million above the 6.65 million dollar sale price in 2007. The current owner spent over 4 million dollars renovating the 9,854 square foot property over the past year. The house offers Beaver Creek’s only indoor swimming pool, and walk-out access to the finest skiing in the U.S. Some luck investor will be lucky enough to enjoy a house fit for the president.

The new Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is opening for the 2008-2009 ski season in Avon, CO on October 1, 2008. Located at the base of luxurious Beaver Creek Resort the Westin is offering lift access via a new Gondola in Riverfront Village. The new gondola makes access to Beaver Creek from Avon a no hassle affair. Just a 5 to 10 minute walk from many of Avon’s finest lodging choices such as Beaver Creek West, The Seasons at Avon, Falcon Point, The Comfort Inn, and The Sheraton Mountain Vista. Avon offers many restaurant and shopping choices, and is only 10 minutes from Vail, and the city meets the gates of Beaver Creek Resort. Riverfront Gondola @ Riverfront Village in Avon, CO connects Avon and Beaver Creek allowing guests in both places to enjoy all the same pleasures.

Beaver Creek and Vail are owned and managed by Vail Resorts along with Keystone and Breckenridge. Beaver Creek and Vail target wealthy individuals and families to visit their resorts, but that does not mean that the average Joe cannot afford a great vacation to the Vail Valley. There are a few tip/tricks that can help you save hundreds even thousands on your vacation. First: Research your lodging options. Second: Review your lift ticket options (Some lodging companies book rooms and lift tickets together, SAVE BIG!!!). Third: Review your equipment rental options. The following offers some suggestions and recommendations to booking the best value vacation for your family.

1) Your Lodging Options

The Vail valley offers a variety of lodging options for your winter and summer retreat. The Vail Village and Beaver Creek Village offer premium lodging at a premium price (along with Lionshead, Golden Peak, Bachelor’s Gulch, and Arrowhead). Areas such as Eagle Vail and Avon offer very nice lodging and activities without the ski-in ski-out price tag.

Properties Include:

Beaver Creek West Condominiums in Avon, CO – Gold rated, affordable and fun best describe Beaver Creek lodging. The unit owners have made their property the nicest in the valley for the price. The new pool, hot tubs, sauna and tennis facility is the finest in the area. Children and adults alike enjoy the steam lofting from the pool in the winter and the scenic lake and mountain backdrop that is emerald green in the summer. The staff has made the property a favorite to our many prior guests and friends returning year after year to their home away from home. Click Here for rates & reservations

The Christie Lodge in Avon, CO – Our one and three bedroom condo suites provide so much more than just a hotel room. – For the same price as a hotel room! The Christie Lodge is an affordable lodging option right in the middle of two world class ski destinations.

These areas are on the bus routes for both Vail and Beaver Creek, making access to the resorts easy and potentially free. This is a huge plus with the $25.00 price tag on a day at Vail’s parking structures, and eliminates having to find a spot at Beaver Creek’s crowded free parking lots. Check and compare Rates, Amenities, and Quality; you will probably be pleasantly surprised.

2)Lift Ticket Options:

There is money to be saved by not purchasing your tickets directly from the ticket window at the resort. One option is looking in Denver at the time of your arrival there are places in Denver that offer discount lift tickets there are 100’s of opportunities for saving money on your vacation in Denver. Check Supermarkets, and Sporting Goods stores. One can also, check with your lodging provider to see what deals they offer. Another option is to book your tickets online, Vail Resorts offers discounts on tickets booked in advance for three or more days of skiing. Furthermore, ski groups and clubs consisting of 20 or more people can receive discounts on everything from lodging, lift tickets, activities, and food. Finally, search the internet for discount Vail and Beaver Creek lift tickets there are many different providers and varying rates and specials all a few clicks away from this page.

3)Equipment Rental Options:

A bad idea: “Lets go Vail for 7 days and we’ll just get our equipment when we get there”
A great idea: “Since we want to go to Vail for 7 days, what is your Height, Weight, Age, and Skier ability so I can book our reservations online and save around 30%”

If you want to get your rental equipment in the Vail Valley; you should consider reserving your equipment in advance to guarantee availability and the best price!!! There are numerous travelers each year that come out to the Vail Valley and end up sitting on the couch in their condo because they did not plan ahead. When it gets busy in Vail and Beaver Creek rental equipment is scarce and although you may see a hundred pairs of skis in the rental rack at your favorite Ski Rental Shop they may not be able to rent to you because the equipment is already reserved to go out with vacationers that reserved in advance :(.

Some Ski Rental Possibilities:

Venture Sports – Avon, CO – Click Here to visit Venture Sports’ website

Christy Sports – Avon, CO – Click Here to visit Christy Sports’ website

To SAVE BIG rent your equipment in Denver at Breeze Rentals, Sports Authority, Christy Sports, or one of the many other rental vendors in Denver and surrounding areas

Hope this has given some insight on how to get more than you pay for during your vacation to Vail and Beaver Creek.

Fifth graders get 3 free days of skiing and sixth graders get 4 days free. Students and parents must visit a Vail Resorts ticket office during the fall pass sale period to sign up for the program. Numerous Lodging Specials are also available for the coming ski season. For Lodging Specials click here.