Big Bear and BIG Snow

If you still haven't made it up to Big Bear yet to play in the snow, don't worry there's plenty! With a recent downpour of well over 3 feet, the powder is fresh and the sun is out! The beautiful weather makes for the perfect time to come up and enjoy some fun in the sun and in the snow, at the same time! The main highway leading up to Big Bear, Hwy 18 has been closed for a couple days due to extreme amounts of snow blocking the road, but not to worry! There are two other ways up to Big Bear, Hwy 38, and the back part of Hwy 18.

Hwy 18 is currently open until Snow Valley Ski Resort, so you can still ski and check out surrounding communities like Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs that also are covered in snow! Hwy 18 is said to be opening on Fri, but check in with us again for the latest on when it is opened.

Don't forget that we have many beautiful vacation homes available all around the mountain communities for some fun in the snow!

Coachella Lives On... Thanks To Layaway

With the economy in a recession, and more and more people losing their jobs, indulgent expenses like concerts, art festivals, and shows are feeling the pinch. Retailers like TJ Maxx, Sears, KMART, Burlington Coat Factory, and Marshalls have reinstated or introduced layaway to their customers, taking the place of high-interest credit cards.

Now, there's another name to add to that list... Coachella Music and Art Festival.

In seeing the need to attract attendees that may not be able to shell out the $99.00 single-day passes, or the $269.00 three-day passes, they have wisely decided to offer layaway. Talk about adjusting to the times! Making a small payment every couple of weeks is much less painful than handing over $99-$269 at once. We have to hand it to the organizers for really appealing to the masses.

Not only does Coachella have a good thing going with the layaway, but check out the lineup...

• Paul McCartney


• The Killers


• The Cure


• Morrissey


• Amy Winehouse


• Lupe Fiasco


• Yeah Yeah Yeahs


• My Bloody Valentine

And Much, Much More...

The hotels in the area are sold out for the entirety of the festival, but we still have many vacation homes available for the event. Give us a call for more info on the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, and lodging for the event!

The Other "White Powder" That's In High Demand

We know of somewhere that just got a fresh stock of the good stuff! That soft, white powder that melts on your tongue, helps you fly downhill, and is worth it's weight in gold. You guessed it...SNOW... and Big Bear just got a nice thick blanketing of it!

Big Bear received over 4" of fresh powder early Monday morning. But don't worry about blizzard conditions! The weather is sunny and crisp, and the forecast is looking gorgeous for the next week. If you haven't had a chance to get up to Big Bear yet, now's the time! The recent snowfall refreshed the snow that's already all around, making it nice and soft for sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and of course snowball fights with the kids! 

This weekend is sure to be a busy one in Big Bear and surrounding mountain communities, but we still have accommodations, so call us today for booking info, weather updates, or lift-ticket discounts!

Vacation Rentals: The Stress-Free Choice For Families

Anyone who has vacationed with family knows that "family vacation" borders a fine line between fun and complete chaos. Family vacations are intended to be a memorable experience, but sometimes with a mix of children, sugar, adrenaline, and lack of sleep, they can be memorable for the wrong reasons. Thanks to vacation homes, you can actually transform some of that stress into relaxation!

Vacation home rentals make the perfect choice for families, because they are a mixture of your own home and a hotel! You can enjoy the security of keeping your family together under one roof, while enjoying luxuries like a private spa, pool table, or beautiful scenery. Most hotels do not cater towards families, leaving kids to stay in separate rooms, with no adult supervision. A vacation home, is a safe and fun alternative.

Another great bonus of a vacation home rental, is the kitchen and laundry facilities. Anyone with kids knows that just because you are on vacation, doesn't mean that the laundry takes a break too. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to drop a load of laundry in, just down the hall? In hotels, laundry facilities are often far away and pricey, if they are even offered at all. Vacation homes offer complimentary laundry facilities, and most even get you started with soap too! A kitchen can provide an immeasurable amount of value to a vacationing family. Feeding a family at restaurants alone during a vacation, can be the costliest part of the trip. What family wouldn't want to make use of a full-kitchen for a few meals? Just think of the money that you could save by cooking breakfast for your family everyday during a week-long stay! And what if you added on some snacks? What about being able to keep some left-overs for a midnight snack? Trust us, it adds up quick, and being able to use a kitchen can help save tons of money that shouldn't be wasted in the first place!

Vacation homes provide the perfect place for a family to stay, on any kind of trip! Vacation homes offer amenities above and beyond what any hotel can offer, and they cost significantly less! Why not give a vacation home a try, for your next family trip! You'll be glad you did, and so will your bank account!

Disneyland Deals

Disneyland is offering some great deals this year. First off, they are running a special for the year of 2009, for free admission on your birthday. All you have to do is go to the Disneyland website and register, then simply show up at the gates with a valid ID on your birthday! There's no catch!

Disneyland is also offering specials for Southern California residents within a specified area code range. If you purchase a one day ticket to a single park (either Disneyland or Disneyland's California Adventure ), you are able to visit the other park within 30 days for free. They also have a 2-day Park Hopper ticket, for the single day price for specified Southern California resident areas. It's a great deal!

Disneyland didn't forget about out-of-state visitors either! They are offering 3-6 day adult Park Hopper "Bonus Tickets" for the price of a children's admission. Those tickets also include a "Magic Morning" admission.

Rumor has it, that if you've signed up for complimentary admission on your birthday and you already have a ticket, they will give you a $50 gift card to spend in the park on your birthday! Please check the Disneyland website, or call Disneyland for more information.

Please check with Disneyland before making any plans based on this posting. All information is for entertainment purposes, and is not deemed reliable by Disneyland or it's affiliates. Thank you.

Even Heidi and Spencer of "The Hills" Fame, Hop On Obama Bandwagon

Everyone has been showing their support for our new President Barack Obama, including some strong McCain/Pailin supporters. Take for example Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, who may be notorious for capturing every photo-op imaginable, were trying to get some attention for their support of John McCain during the presidential race. Now the duo has found a new chance to get some press, by showing their support for Obama. They are certainly not the last of past McCain supporters that will be switching sides now that we have a new president.

Celebrities Visiting Washington DC

Celebrities have swarmed to Washington DC to be a part of the inauguration proceedings. Some are performing in the festivities, while others are simply trying to get some face time with the new President of the United States. No wonder hotels were sold-out, and accommodations were so sparse in DC. Hundreds and hundreds of celebrities and politicians needed lodging, as well as the thousands of civilian spectators. Some hotels' rates were in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for the course of the festivities, and as mentioned before residents were renting out their own homes for a hefty profit.

Obama continues to attract media coverage, and celebrity admirers like no other president has. His historical inauguration as the 44th President of the United States of America has drawn a long list of celebrity attendees to Washington DC. The long list includes: George Lucas; Spike Lee; Jessica Alba; Bono; Oprah Winfrey; Sting; Kate Walsh; Will Smith; Tim Robbins; Elvis Costello; Ashton Kutcher; Jennifer Aniston and many, many more. In DC for the festivities? Tell us who you saw!

Vacation Rentals Save Homes From Forclosure

As foreclosure rates skyrocket, many homeowners are discovering a fresh idea to save their homes from becoming another statistic on the foreclosure lists. Vacation Rental companies like Zen Getaways, are becoming a savior for homeowners looking to be able to make their mortgage payments, and even turn a profit. Vacation home rentals remain in demand throughout the country. Families, single people, businesses, youth groups and more are still traveling, and in need of affordable accommodations.

Vacation rentals offer a fantastic alternative to pricey hotels, at incredible prices. Homeowners are able to make a nice profit from renting out a furnished home, with help of the right company. Homeowners can make a significant amount more than simply renting a home on a monthly basis to permanent tenants. As the economy fails, occupancy rates in vacation homes continue to stay strong.

Vacation companies like Zen Getaways are able to offer higher occupancy rates to homeowners by catering first and foremost towards those who still consider traveling a necessity, such as businesses, wedding groups, sports teams, and convention attendees. Choosing the right company to list your property with, can be the only lifeline between profiting, and foreclosure for many homeowners. As word is spread about ways to avoid foreclosure, renting out your home as a vacation rental, is quickly becoming a fresh start for more and more. For details on how to rent your home as a vacation rental, visit our website at www.zengetaways.com

What A Historic Day

As we speak, the inauguration of our new President of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama is taking place. It's being broadcast everywhere. If you are one of the lucky ones that actually got a chance to be there in person, please let us know! We'd love to hear your comments on the event firsthand!

Las Vegas Visitor Tips

Planning a trip to Las Vegas? Here are a few tips from locals, to save you time and money.

First off, planning your trip for the weekend will put you right in the center of huge crowds, traffic jams, and long lines. The best time to visit is during the week, when no large conventions are in town.

Staying in a hotel might seem fun, but even in the bad economy hotel room prices are still exorbitant. If you are traveling with family or friends, prepare to be on separate floors while staying in a hotel. Travelers looking to save money and headaches often book vacation home rentals, as opposed to hotels. The great thing about Las Vegas vacation home rentals is that they typically end up costing half, on average, than a stay in a comparable hotel. You are also able to keep your group or family together, while giving everyone some space. Hotel pools are crowded and take around 15 minutes or so of simply walking down through the casino to get to them. In a vacation home rental, all you have to do is step outside to enjoy your own private pool.

If you are interested in making use of a certain hotel's pool, for instance the wave pool at Mandalay Bay, no problem! Non-guests simply pay a day-use fee to access almost any pool in town. It can save you hundreds of dollars to just visit the pool for the day, instead of book a room.

Las Vegas Blvd is a huge tourist draw. Sure, it's exciting to see, but maneuvering by car or by foot, can be hectic. If there is a certain casino or shop that you wish to visit, stay off of Las Vegas Blvd for the most part. Simply find the nearest cross-street by map or by calling, and take the I-15 to the nearest exit. Trust me, it can literally save you hours of sitting in traffic!

If you are interested in seeing a show while in Las Vegas, ...wait! Well, just wait before forking out full-price at the box office. There are many locations of a great ticket vendor, Tix 4 Tonight, along Las Vegas Blvd. They offer tickets for same-night performances for around 1/2 off! You still get awesome seats to some of Las Vegas' hottest shows. They offer everything from Cirque De Soilel, to comedy and magic shows, to adult cabaret shows.

Free money? Yes! Many of the casinos offer players clubs. They have you sign up, give your email address, and give you a card that tracks how much you're spending on playing in the casino. The great thing about players clubs is that they often offer free meals or money for gaming, just for signing up! It's a pretty fair trade! If you don't want to give out your email address, you can always open another email on a free site like gmail or ymail, that is only for junk emails before you go!

Almost all of the casinos offer free drinks, including coffee, juices, and alcoholic beverages to patrons who are gaming at the casinos. There is no minimum, so if you've got $5 and play slow, you can drink for free for quite some time, just be sure to tip the cocktail waitress! If you can make friends with the cocktail waitress, you may be able to get some free shots or extra drinks too!

Don't overlook the free attractions! Las Vegas offers many free attractions for locals and tourists alike. There is everything from interactive fish feedings, to swimming mermaids, and a chocolate factory tour, with free chocolate! What's better than free?
For a complete list, check out the Las Vegas page of our website www.zengetaways.com

A Las Vegas trip doesn't have to cost a fortune! Visit our website for more ways to save money on a fabulous Las Vegas vacation!

Washington DC Looks The Other Way During Inauguration

January 20,2009 is fast approaching. Enormous numbers of visitors are expected in the District of Columbia for this historical event. According to the Presidential Inauguration 2009 website," In the District of Columbia, the renting of residential property generally requires a Certificate of Occupancy and a Basic Business License with the relevant housing endorsements." However with the impending overcrowding of hotels, a Mayor's Order has been released in regards to short-term rentals in the District of Columbia for the Inauguration Day festivities.

According to the website, "The Mayor has suspended enforcement of these requirements during the inaugural period". The period to which they refer is after January 12,2009 to before January 28,2009.The shortage of hotels has left many DC residents with the opportunity to make a hefty profit on renting out their homes during this period. Many of those who have decided to rent out their homes are simply bunking with family or friends for this time, and profiting handsomely in such a bad economy.

Southern California Vacationing on the Rise

With the below freezing temperatures in the east, it's no wonder that Southern California has become the perfect vacation destination for those looking to defrost and relax. Temperatures lately have been warm and gorgeous in the SoCal area, some in the 80's and above. It's perfect weather for enjoying the surf or the snow, while basking in the sun! Southern California vacationing has increased lately, especially in the mountain and beach areas. Why not enjoy a little fun in the sun in a gorgeous Southern California vacation home?

Holiday Weekend Update For Big Bear CA

This weekend is a three-day weekend, thanks to observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday. The ski slopes are set to be packed with visitors this weekend, and are full of fresh snow. The forecast is set to be sunny and beautiful, with daytime highs in the low 50's and lows in the upper 20's in the evening. If you haven't had the chance to come up to Big Bear and enjoy some of the snow, now's your chance!

Zen Getaways still has a selection of Big Bear Vacation Rentals for this upcoming weekend available, so give us a call today! Time is running out! Call us today to reserve your private mountain cabin in Big Bear!

Big Bear California Ski Trip Tips

It's been weeks since the blizzards hit the area and left many feet of snow. While the rest of the country have been experiencing record lows well below freezing, the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California have been basking in the warm sun. Not to worry though, the ski slopes are packed with plenty of snow including Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Snow Valley. While the days are sunny and warm, the nights are still chilly. The resorts often refresh their snow coverage with artificial snow, or "man made" snow, so there is plenty of snow all season long. Over "winter break" the mountain was swarming with sledders, skiers, snowboarders, and sight-seers.Traveling up the 330 Hwy from San Bernardino to Big Bear was taking on average 3 or more hours. Now that school is back in session and work has resumed, traffic has disappeared and there is plenty of room for visitors to enjoy the snow. The runs at all of the ski resorts are up and running, and the snow is perfect for snowboarding or skiing. The enormous crowds have thinned out, and the snow is fresh.

The best time to visit the ski resorts in the Big Bear area is midweek, when you basically get the slopes all to yourself. The recent weekends have not been too crowded, but as with anywhere, midweek is the optimal time for visiting.Thanks to the Internet, you can purchase lift tickets online anytime. On some busy weekends the resorts will actually sell out of lift tickets, so a quick purchase ahead of time can save hours of wasted driving.

After a day of fun in the snow, enjoy one of the many delicious restaurants in the Big Bear or Running Springs area. Dining choices range from authentic Mexican fare to pizza that is out of this world. Make sure you leave some time in your day to stop for lunch or dinner. Should you decide to make your trip last for a couple of days, a Big Bear Vacation Home Rental is a great choice for cozy cabin-style lodging. Big Bear has hundreds of vacation homes close to the slopes, or even lakeside. Either way you choose, be sure to experience all that the area has to offer.

World Series of Poker 2009 Lodging Specials

It's that time of year again! The WSOP is coming to Las Vegas full force. Even with an economy in limbo, the number of participants and prize money is expected to set records. Who doesn't want a chance to get their hands on a piece of the multiple hundreds of millions of dollars in prizes? The WSOP is a huge draw to Las Vegas for players and spectators alike. A trend among players is sharing lodging with other participants. This actually ends up working out to everyone's advantage. They go through vacation rental companies that cater towards WSOP players like Zen Getaways, that offer special pricing for players. Hotels are cramped, expensive, and extremely busy during this event. WSOP rental homes are private homes, located minutes from the venue. These homes have multiple bedrooms, private pools and spas, BBQs, big screen TVs, and full kitchens. It works out great for players too, because instead of having to eat out every night in high-priced restaurants, they can cook their own food and save tons of money. It ends up being especially useful for players who end up making it the farthest in the competition.

WSOP brings a number of returning participants each year to Las Vegas. Many of the players become friends during the course of the tournament and can reunite and hang out with their friends while staying in a vacation home. Private homes are ideal for regrouping your playing strategies, and going over the games of the day without all of the hustle and bustle of hotels. If you haven't stayed in a WSOP rental home for previous tournaments, I highly recommend that you give it a try. My brother comes from Hawaii and has stayed in a vacation home every year since a friend of his had rented one. Now he shares it with a couple of friends from the east coast that reunite at WSOP each year. He booked through a couple different places, and ended up using Zen Getaways again and again. They always get him the best house and also get him discounts on rental cars. If you are looking for lodging, you'd better hurry! Most WSOP players reserve the year before, but they always have last minute specials for procrastinators!