by Barry Borenski

Many vacationers to the resort town of Park City Utah ask the question, “How do I find a place to stay”? While Park City does have a few brand name hotels like Marriott and Best Western, the majority of accommodations are made up of privately owned rentals.

Privately owned homes and condominiums are rented through property management companies as well as directly through the private owner. The ski resorts operate central reservations booking agencies and there are also some independent booking companies and lodging wholesalers. These booking agencies usually require property managers and private owners to pay them a commission of up to 25% for their services.

Experienced visitors often visit the Park City Chamber website to search for information on property managers who offer condos and homes for nightly rental. The chamber is a great resource but they only display the name of the property manager and the user has to search each manager’s website individually and compare potential rentals from one site to the next.

Since there are so many different rental management companies offering rentals as well as individually managed rentals available, many vacationers to the Park City area end up making reservations through central reservations agencies simply out of frustration. While this undoubtedly saves time, you have to wonder if you are getting the best price since these booking companies have such a high commission built into the price.

I found the website www.localtourist.com while doing research for this article. Local Tourist is a business directory, not a booking service, and they offer the best search that I have seen for locating the perfect rental. Local Tourist allows property managers to list individual properties along with pricing including taxes and fees. Since Local Tourist provides you with the property manager’s direct phone number and website you can book direct. Who knows, you might even be able to ask for a discount.

Local Tourist doesn’t just help with lodging; the site also helps you research the three ski resorts, activity vendors, and restaurants. The restaurant search has all of the standard search functionality you would expect as well as a detailed neighborhood search so you’ll be able to find the perfect restaurant close to where you are staying.

Park City has become a destination for foodies as well as adventure seekers. The town now boasts over 100 restaurants and many are highly acclaimed so you’ll definitely want to do some research before you plunk down your hard earned cash while on vacation. Local Tourist does a great job with their restaurant search feature but you should also check out the Park City Chamber’s website www.parkcityinfo.com because they have a nice restaurant search as well.

Park City, Utah is one of the top ski destinations in the country and is a must visit if you are an avid skier. Even if you are not a skier or snowboarder, the town offers so many activities and dining options it is worth a visit. The destination is becoming increasingly popular in the summer due to the food and wine festivals, summer outdoor concert series, art festivals, and above all clean, crisp, mountain air. It really won’t matter when you choose to visit; Park City will definitely provide a memorable vacation experience.

About the Author:
Barry Borenski is a Travel and Leisure journalist who currently lives in Lake Placid New York with his wife and two kids. Barry recommends the site Local Tourist for travel planning to Park City UT.

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