EXPEDIA TO BUY HOMEAWAY FOR $3.9B

Original Story: usatoday.com

SAN FRANCISCO - Expedia is deepening its travel-company bench with a $3.9 billion purchase of vacation rental site HomeAway.

Bellevue, Wash-based Expedia announced the deal Wednesday, which adds the Austin, Texas, company to a portfolio that also includes booking sites Orbitz and Travelocity. A Los Angeles M&A lawyer assists clients in leveraged buyouts, company reorganizations, and mergers and acquisitions.

“We have long had our eyes on the fast growing $100 billion alternative accommodations space and have been building on our partnership with HomeAway, a global leader in vacation rentals, for two years,” Dara Khosrowshahi, Expedia's CEO, said in a release. “Bringing HomeAway into the Expedia family and adding its leading brands to our portfolio of the most trusted brands in travel is a logical next step.”

HomeAway's stock (AWAY) was up 22% in after hours trading on the news, while Expedia shares were down at the close 1.63% to $134.17.  HomeAway's brands include HomeAway, VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) and similar sites overseas. All told, the company says it represents 1 million paid listings in 190 countries. A Los Angeles finance attorney is reviewing the details of this story.

The deal comes on the same day that short-term accommodations giant Airbnb won a significant victory in San Francisco, where voters shot down a measure that would put greater restrictions on those seeking to rent out rooms or entire properties. Airbnb argued that its service helps homeowners stay in their residences by providing extra income through rentals, while opponents - who were outspent eight to one by Airbnb - countered that Airbnb rentals cut into already scarce housing options.

While Airbnb typically offers short-term rentals and HomeAway often targets travelers looking for one-week or longer stays, buying HomeAway instantly allows Expedia to expand its options for consumers beyond hotels.

"We're eager to benefit from Expedia's distribution, technology and expertise, which will allow us to provide an even better product and service experience for our owners, property managers and travelers," said HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples in a statement. "In this way, I believe our combination with Expedia will turbocharge our growth and industry leadership for many years to come." A Los Angeles real estate lawyer is following this story closely.

The transaction, a combination of cash and stock, amounts to $38.31 per share based on Expedia's stock price at the end of day on Nov. 3.

It’s the latest acquisition for Expedia, the number one digital travel provider, which purchased Orbitz Worldwide for roughly $1.6 billion earlier this year. In January, it bought Travelocity for $280 million. Hotels.com, and Hotwire are some of the other sites that fall under Expedia's umbrella.

Expedia chief financial officer Mark Okerstrom said during the investors call that "this acquisition is a bit different,'' from the other deals forged this year. "Specifically we anticipate that HomeAway will continue to be run relatively autonomously out of Austin.''

HomeAway, which sees $15 billion in bookings from its vacation rental listings, expects its online transactions to grow significantly because of its tie-up with Expedia. "Maybe about a fourth to third of revenue is through (the) online booking channel,'' Sharples said in a call with investors on Wednesday. But in the next two to three years, "we hope to have most of our transactions running through.''

Sharples added that “this is a place where everyone's going to have to be. . . It’s just too big for people who are in this business to ignore.’’

The HomeAway deal is expected to become final during the first three months of next year.

Sandy Triggers Early Tourism

Story first appeared on HeraldTribune.com.

High tourist season has kicked into high gear in Southwest Florida, and many industry watchers point to Hurricane Sandy as a primary factor behind the earlier-than-usual influx of visitors.

Eager to escape the devastation or avoid repair woes brought by the superstorm that battered the Northeast last month, many tourists and seasonal residents appear to have headed south months earlier than they normally would, according to some local businesses, anecdotal traffic counts and Sarasota Vacation Rentals.

Though winter tourist season here traditionally ranges from January to April, restaurant owners  have noticed a definite pickup in customer traffic overall — and more than a few people from areas hardest hit by the storm.

In this case, the difference this month has been felt across the board at his three Sarasota area eateries.

Before Sandy, Southwest Florida was on pace to shatter visitor records, thanks in part to the continued glow from the May 2011 designation of Siesta Key's beach as No. 1 in the nation, pent-up demand, beefed up marketing efforts and an incrementally improved national economy.

Even with the recent influx, though, tourism officials are left wondering whether visitors from storm-ravaged regions will maintain their plans to travel this winter or reconsider, to focus time and money instead on rebuilding and repairs.

Tourism plays a major role in Southwest Florida's economy and the state's, accounting for one in every seven jobs. Statewide, it brings roughly 80 million visitors a year and more than $70 billion in spending.

Vacation rentals from Manatee to Charlotte counties are almost completely booked for the season, said a Sarasota-based real estate brokerage and property management company.

While advanced bookings are hovering near 90 percent overall, rentals near Sarasota's beaches like Siesta, Longboat and Lido keys are reporting expected occupancy rates of nearly 98 percent through the winter months. Longboat Condo Rentals are already nearing capacity, according to resort owners.

Almost all of Anna Maria Vacations' 200-plus units have been rented for the high season this year.

It is noticed that people are traveling in larger groups, and  bigger homes, with five to seven bedrooms, are what are rented first.

Although Southwest Florida has typically drawn the majority of its winter visitors from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other Midwestern states, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic have become increasingly important geographic areas for the region.

Thanks to flights to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport by JetBlue — and formerly AirTran Airways from Baltimore — from New York and other cities, the region has greater access to tourists than ever before.

Despite the storm, Northeast marketing promotions are ongoing, officials from both Visit Sarasota County and the Bradenton-Area Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau note.

Pinellas County officials had signaled immediately after the storm that advertising dollars might be diverted away from New York.

Southwest Florida is not the only part of the state benefitting from the influx of seasonal snowbirds and transient travelers, though.

The Sunshine State as a whole also is on its way to a record-setting year for tourism, according to recent data released by Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotions entity.

Visit Florida estimates the state hosted nearly 22 million visitors during the third quarter, an increase of 3.5 percent compared with the same three-month period in 2011.

Of the third-quarter total, domestic travelers accounted for 18.9 million visitors, a 3.2 percent increase from a year before.

There also was a larger percentage increase in the number of Canadians who came to Florida — 4 percent — while the number of international travelers rose 5.5 percent.

Although most Canadian visitors have tended to winter in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, the number of visitors from the Great White North who frequent the Sarasota-Bradenton area remains strong, said Michael MacKenzie, president of the Canadian Snowbird Association.

In 2011, tourism was up more than 10 percent. It is expected this year it's going to be even greater, with the Canadian dollar being on par with the United States' currency this year, more Canadians will want to travel, especially to Florida.

The boost in tourism activity also means more jobs and taxable sales for the state. Direct travel-related employment rose 1.5 percent to 1.02 million, a net addition of 15,000 positions, according to Visit Florida.

Tourism and recreation taxable sales from January through August, the last reported month, were $49 billion. That represented an increase of 7.5 percent from the same period in 2011.

With business up and more bookings expected in the initial months of 2013, some hoteliers have raised their average daily room rates, a move that had been limited by the Great Recession and more frugal travelers.

If projections hold, those increases will spread to area attractions and eateries as well.

Top 10 Vacations to Get away from the Office

Itching to get away from the business this winter? Here are ten unusual ideas for you that are a good value for your dollar from now through March. Happy travels!

1. West FloridaW

With white sandy beaches, year-long sunshine and a more relaxed vibe than you'd expect in touristy areas around Florida, the Gulf Coast is a favorite destination for readers

Destin Condo Rentals allow you to soak up the sun right from your backyard. Skip the crowds and routine of hotel stays, with your very own condo. May travellers these days rent condos with other families or friends for both expanded socializing and funds.

Stunning white beaches, challenging golf and world-famous fishing define the Emerald Coast city of Destin. The Northwest Florida Regional Airport services this Northwest Florida vacation destination known as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village."

You can find all kinds of great Destin Vacation Rentals to suit your plans - whether you want a week relaxing, or activities for the whole family.

2. The Caribbean island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin

On the half-French, half-Dutch island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin, the exchange rate is favorable: one euro = one dollar in many restaurants and stores. There's plenty to do, from world-class water sports on the Dutch side to world-class dining on the French side, and there's also plenty of nonstop airline service. Consider renting a villa. Three years ago my family rented a beachfront villa at Coral Beach Club for our February school break (click here to read why we liked it so much), and to this day it remains one of our favorite family resorts. Coral Beach Club is offering seven nights for the price of five until December 15 and a 20% discount from January 5 through April 15. Book through Sint Maarten/St. Martin villa specialist Marilyn Pulito of Villas in Paradise, who has access to 15% discounts on additional villas starting in January.

4. Mexico's Riviera Maya, Pacific Coast, or Michoacan Highlands

Thanks to lingering misperceptions that Mexico is unsafe—its vacation spots are no more dangerous than popular tourist destinations in the U.S.—values abound. Two great deals pre-Christmas are in the Puerto Vallarta area: The Four Seasons Punta Mita is offering three nights for the price of two through December 21; rates start at $400 per night. The St. Regis Punta Mita is offering three nights for the price of two, with daily breakfast included, through December 20; rates start at $406.On the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast, Mexico specialist Zach Rabinor of Journey Mexico is offering four nights for the price of three at the Rosewood Mayakoba (my new favorite tropical resort) January 4 through April 14; 25% off stays at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba after January 2 (stay three nights and you also get a complimentary spa session); and, at Esencia Estate, a third night free until December 20 and a fourth night free from January 5 through April 30. As for the Christmas/New Year's holiday itself, your best bet is the Pacific Coast, says Rabinor, because of simple supply and demand. Suites at Las Alamandas south of Puerto Vallarta, for instance, start at $561 per night (December 19-26 a minimum five-night stay is required; December 26 – January 2 a minimum seven-night stay is required). Looking to experience Mexico's nature and culture rather than just chill on a beach? Consider a private insider's tour of the country's colonial heartland and forested highlands to see the extraordinary annual gathering of Monarch butterflies. A one-week tour, starting on the date of your choice (including over the holidays) and staying in the remarkable boutique hotels of colonial Morelia and cultural Pazcuaro, costs anywhere from $1,600 per person (if you’ve got 10 people) to $2,540 per person (if you are only two), with a 10% discount for Condé Nast Traveler readers.

5. Rome

December through February is a highly enjoyable time in Rome. You'll need a coat and gloves, but you'll also need sunglasses, as the sun is usually shining. You'll find many more locals than tourists (not the case in the summer months), everything's open, museums are uncrowded, restaurants where the locals eat are affordable—and, if you're a shopper, there are steep January sales on Italian designer merchandise. December through February also brings low rates for rental apartments. Many apartments can be rented daily, with a three-, four-, or five-night minimum. Rent through Rome apartment specialist Patrice Salezze of Papavero Villa Rentals. She has deluxe apartments in a small palazzo (privately owned by the same family for 40 years), for instance, that include two-bedroom/one-baths for about $394 per night in January and February (vs. $527 in June or July ) and one-bedroom/one-baths for about $292 per night (vs. $440 in high season). Tell Patrice that you're a Condé Nast Traveler reader and she'll waive the minimum-stay requirement. Got a full week? Consider sleeping four people in a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment on a lovely pedestrian street between the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps for just $1,820 for the week.

3. Ski resorts Dear Valley, Jackson Hole, Banff/Lake Louise, and Aspen

The ski travel window that starts a couple of days after New Year's and ends a couple of days before Presidents' Day Weekend in mid-February traditionally brings good snow conditions, a lack of crowds, and  favorable pricing. Places that offer particular value for your dollar are those where winter is actually low season—resorts such as Deer Valley Condo Rentals, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, and Banff/Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies.  Looking to ski over the Christmas/New Year's holiday? You can save 50% at Capitol Peak Lodge in Snowmass, Colorado (packages start at $422 per person for four nights in a two-bedroom condo and three-day lift tickets; packages are based on quadruple occupancy); and you can get a 7th night free at the Rustic Inn in Jackson Hole (packages start at $762 per person and include seven nights in a king superior cabin and six-day lift tickets). You can save big with Aspen Vacation Rentals. Another high-value holiday ski idea: Base yourself in Salt Lake City—since there are plenty of flights into Salt Lake and plenty of empty hotels that normally cater to business travelers. It's an easy 45-minute drive to seven different ski mountains, so rent a car and you can try a different mountain every day!

6. Prague and Vienna

These cities are a festive winter wonderland in December. In Prague—which is a lot more delightful when free of the summertime tourist hordes—the Christmas markets run longer than those elsewhere in Europe: They start December 1 and last through January 6. Central/Eastern Europe specialist Gwen Kozlowski of Exeter International, which is known for its smart itineraries and savvy English-speaking guides, is offering a three-night package at the five-star Kempinski Hybernska that includes daily breakfast, round-trip private transfers from either airport or train station, two hours of a private guide to give you an insider's tour of Prague's Old Town, and all taxes, for $333.33 per night for two people, based on double occupancy. Can't make it for the Christmas festivities? The deal is available from now through March 24. Consider combining the three nights in Prague with four in Vienna, where Gwen is offering a four-night package at the four-star Le Meridien (in a great location just a block from the Opera House) that includes daily breakfast, round-trip private airport or station transfers, a Vienna Card (which provides discounted admission to all the top sights and free use of public transportation), and all taxes, for $300 per night for two people, based on double occupancy. (Vienna's Christmas Markets start November 17 and run through December 24.) The package is available from now through March 24, although there are blackout dates.

7. Berlin

Five-star hotels in Berlin are discounting aggressively over Christmas/New Year's (as well as throughout the winter), airfare is relatively affordable (since business travelers don't fly over the holidays), and there is always so much going on in this European cultural capital. The Regent is located smack in Gendarmenmarkt—where the Christmas market lasts until December 31—and has a "Winter to Remember" package that includes daily breakfast and Wi-Fi. Central/Eastern Europe specialist Gwen Kozlowski of Exeter International is offering a five-night rate that includes private roundtrip transfers, a three-day museum pass per person, and one admission per person to the Christmas market, for $180 per person per night (based on double occupancy). At the Adlon Kempinski (which has a pool), she is offering a five-night package that includes a particulately elaborate buffet breakfast daily, private round-trip transfers, a three-day museum pass per person, and one admission per person to the Christmas market, for $200 per person per night (based on double occupancy). Gwen has plenty more hotel deals up her sleeve, so contact her if you're happy with four-star values as well.

8. Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island is a quaint Barrier Island nestled in the Gulf of Mexico. Beautiful turquoise waters and white sandy beaches are the main attraction here. It is a place where "old" Florida charm can still be found, flip flops are a way of life and the speed limit never exceeds 35mph. High rise condos and fast food restaurants are pleasantly absent from our pristine "get away from it all" island. Anna Maria Vacation Rentals accommodations and restaurants offer something for everyone. From quaint cottages by the sea to deluxe suites, from million-dollar villas to rustic cottages to own, One visit to Anna Maria Island and you will be calling it, "My island in the sun".

9. Abu Dhabi

The world's richest city (with branches of the Louvre and the Guggenheim on their way) is terrific value for the money right now. In winter the temperature is hot but not 100-degrees-plus (as it can be the rest of the year), and for just $200 to $300 a night you can snag rooms in sparkling, over-the-top hotels fit for a sheikh. Combine two nights in the city with three nights in the desert or on Sir Bani Yas Island—a nature reserve where you can do an array of activities, including snorkeling, falconry, and animal safaris. United Arab Emirates specialist Lindsey Wallace of Linara Travel has access to deals you can't get elsewhere and will ensure all goes seamlessly. In the city he recommends the new waterfront Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara, which has a rate of $200 to $250 (including daily breakfast and taxes) for all but a few nights close to New Year's, or the beachfront Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, which is $300 per night (including daily breakfast and taxes). Combine that with three nights on Sir Bani Yas Island at the Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara for $250 to $295 per night (including daily breakfast and taxes, based on a minimum three-night stay) or in the desert at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, where, for $280 to $320 per night (including daily breakfast and taxes), you can live out your Arabian Nights fantasy amid endless sand dunes.

10. A "repositioning" cruise

Got lots of time and enjoy spending it at sea on a ship? There are bargains on longer cruises where the ship is doing its seasonal repositioning from one region of the world to another. On December 7 there is a 15-night cruise on Celebrity Cruises' Infinity from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal to Santiago, Chile, starting at $699 per person. On January 14 there is a 14-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas from Barcelona through the Suez Canal to Dubai, starting at $799 per person. If you're looking for a simple one-week Caribbean getaway, some of the lowest prices are on Royal Caribbean out of New Orleans in February (and it's relatively inexpensive to fly to New Orleans on most February dates): The Navigator of the Seas has balcony cabins priced at $649 per person. Sailings on the Disney Magic out of Galveston, Texas, are also a particular value, compared with the cost of sailings on other Disney ships from other ports. My source for these deals is plugged-in cruise specialist Tom Baker at Cruise Center, whom I recommend you contact to book these sailings.

Hurricane Sandy Gives Boost to Vacation Industry

story first appeared on Herald-Tribune

High tourist season has kicked into high gear in Southwest Florida, and many industry watchers point to Hurricane Sandy as a primary factor behind the earlier-than-usual influx of visitors.

Eager to escape the devastation or avoid repair woes brought by the superstorm that battered the Northeast last month, many tourists and seasonal residents appear to have headed south months earlier than they normally would, according to some local businesses, anecdotal traffic counts and tourism officials. Captiva Island Condo Rentals have been experiencing a surge, due to their great value to these early-season travellers.

Though winter tourist season here traditionally ranges from January to April, restaurant owners like Paul Mattison have noticed a definite pickup in customer traffic overall — and more than a few people from areas hardest hit by the storm.

In Mattison's case, the difference this month has been felt across the board at his three Sarasota area eateries.

Before Sandy, Southwest Florida was on pace to shatter visitor records, thanks in part to the continued glow from the May 2011 designation of Siesta Key's beach as No. 1 in the nation, pent-up demand, beefed up marketing efforts and an incrementally improved national economy.

Even with the recent influx, though, tourism officials are left wondering whether visitors from storm-ravaged regions will maintain their plans to travel this winter or reconsider, to focus time and money instead on rebuilding and repairs.

Tourism plays a major role in Southwest Florida's economy and the state's, accounting for one in every seven jobs. Statewide, it brings roughly 80 million visitors a year and more than $70 billion in spending.

Vacation rentals from Manatee to Charlotte counties are almost completely booked for the season, said Amy Chapman, rental director for Michael Saunders & Co., a Sarasota-based real estate brokerage and property management company. Sanibel Condo Rentals, for example, have seen steady growth over the past several years because of the "best kept secret" status keeps property rentals low, but reservations have been ahead of the curve so far this season.

While advanced bookings are hovering near 90 percent overall, rentals near Sarasota's beaches like Siesta, Longboat and Lido keys are reporting expected occupancy rates of nearly 98 percent through the winter months.

Chapman said Sandy hadn't resulted in any cancellations for them, in fact she says they had a steady stream of calls trying to reschedule trips a week or two earlier than planned.

Those advanced commitments are significant because they buck a pre-recession trend toward later bookings by visitors, which had stymied an industry dependent on steady cash flows.

Almost all of Anna Maria Vacations' 200-plus units have been rented for the high season this year, said owner Joe Varner. The surge is motivating some vacationers to seek better options, like Anna Maria Condo Rentals.

People are traveling in larger groups, and our bigger homes, with five to seven bedrooms, are what are rented first, according to Varner. He also noted that the company has not had any cancellations in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Although Southwest Florida has typically drawn the majority of its winter visitors from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other Midwestern states, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic have become increasingly important geographic areas for the region.

Thanks to flights to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport by JetBlue — and formerly AirTran Airways from Baltimore — from New York and other cities, the region has greater access to tourists than ever before.

Despite the storm, Northeast marketing promotions are ongoing, officials from both Visit Sarasota County and the Bradenton-Area Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau note.

Pinellas County officials had signaled immediately after the storm that advertising dollars might be diverted away from New York.

Going forward, Haley said that additional online reservation capabilities will help boost bookings this year, including at a remodeled Ramada Inn in Venice, which is slated to open in January.

Southwest Florida is not the only part of the state benefitting from the influx of seasonal snowbirds and transient travelers, though.

The Sunshine State as a whole also is on its way to a record-setting year for tourism, according to recent data released by Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotions entity.

Visit Florida estimates the state hosted nearly 22 million visitors during the third quarter, an increase of 3.5 percent compared with the same three-month period in 2011.

Hurricane Sandy will of course have some impact on the state, but not on the momentum of one record-breaking year to another, according to Will Seccombe, chief marketing officer and acting president and CEO of Visit Florida.

Of the third-quarter total, domestic travelers accounted for 18.9 million visitors, a 3.2 percent increase from a year before.

There also was a larger percentage increase in the number of Canadians who came to Florida — 4 percent — while the number of international travelers rose 5.5 percent.

Although most Canadian visitors have tended to winter in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, the number of visitors from the Great White North who frequent the Sarasota-Bradenton area remains strong, said Michael MacKenzie, president of the Canadian Snowbird Association.

The boost in tourism activity also means more jobs and taxable sales for the state. Direct travel-related employment rose 1.5 percent to 1.02 million, a net addition of 15,000 positions, according to Visit Florida.

Tourism and recreation taxable sales from January through August, the last reported month, were $49 billion. That represented an increase of 7.5 percent from the same period in 2011.

With business up and more bookings expected in the initial months of 2013, some hoteliers have raised their average daily room rates, a move that had been limited by the Great Recession and more frugal travelers. The thrifty sunshine-seekers can still find great value in lovely places, like Sanibel Island Vacation Rentals.

If projections hold, those increases will spread to area attractions and eateries as well.

With that anticipated bump in sales during the remaining weeks of the year, Mattison said he is optimistic about the year to come.

Overall, sales at his three area restaurants are up 14 percent, and his catering business is up about 23 percent, from last year.

Aspen Stays Relevant by Evolving

story first appeared on The Oregonian 

Zooming down the steep face of Ajax with the wind in your face on sun-sparkled snow makes for a memorable ski day in the Rockies. What makes for a memorable winter vacation is the wall-to-wall mountain experience of Aspen.

No longer just a playground for the rich, Aspen has evolved into a more accessible and varied destination that seeks to draw regular folks. Now just about anyone can find great Ski Vacation Rentals in Aspen.

In the 1980s, Aspen was the haughty queen of North American ski resorts, with an international brand that catered to Hollywood celebs and jet setters with Euro-style skiing and nightlife. Since then, places such as Whistler, Vail and Park City, Utah, have eclipsed Aspen by luring couples, families and teens with deals, new facilities and expanding winter activities that offer a lot more to do than skiing. No wonder. Aspen Ski Co. stubbornly banned snowboarders from Aspen Mountain for a decade  until then-owner Jim Crown lifted the ban in 2001.

Today, all four mountains operated by the ski company -- Aspen, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk -- welcome boarders, with Buttermilk hosting the annual in-your-face extravaganza, the Winter X Games.

Aspen's comeback also has been helped by discounts and promotions. A discounted daily lift ticket that is interchangeable at all four ski areas, for instance, runs about the same price as an $87 ticket to Disneyland.

Still, Aspen is no budget vacation by any stretch. It's more affordable to stay in a condo in nearby Snowmass and cook your own meals than stay in a pricey hotel and eat out every night in town. Either way, though, Aspen is where you want to go at night to sample the bar and club scene.

My wife and I returned to Aspen last winter on a three-day getaway, skiing Ajax (the locals still call Aspen Mountain by the old nickname) and Snowmass. We stayed at the Molly Gibson Lodge in town, where you don't need a car because of Aspen2's free public bus system that also takes you to Snowmass Village and the other two resorts. Skiing, shopping, dining, nightlife -- all of it is within walking distance if you stay in town.

Aspen is a historic mining town that is much more than a winter sports mecca -- it also has a long cultural tradition of music, art and political activism. In fact, summer is Aspen's busiest season with nonstop festivals, hiking, biking, camping, river rafting, fly fishing, mountain retreats and public policy forums.

We arrived in February, our first visit in several years. While we didn't see any celebrities on this trip, there were plenty of sleek private jets parked tip to tail at the airport. On the Aspen pedestrian mall, fur coats have been replaced by fleece, which reflects the Aspen Ski Co.'s drive to go green. Aspen and Jackson Hole are the only ski resorts in the nation to receive international certification for their environmentally friendly management practices. Aspen Condo Rentals are probably the best option when trying to get the most bang for your buck.

What makes this area stand apart from other destinations is the variety of terrain at the four mountains. Here's a summary:

Aspen Mountain
Take the town gondola to the 11,212-foot summit and ski or board nearly 3,300 feet straight back down. That's the vertical rush of this mountain, which boasts no beginner runs or bunny hills. Half the mountain is rated intermediate and the other half is advanced and expert, with deep steeps and occasional knee-grinding bumps.

The signature trail is Ruthie's Run, also called "America's downhill" because this is where the world's fastest skiers race in the World Cup competition every November. Unlike much of the rest of the mountain, Ruthie's is usually corduroy groomed so you, too, can fly down like a racer, at least until your legs give out near the bottom.

Snowmass
Everything is big here: more sprawling terrain than the other three mountains combined, more parks and pipes for snowboarders, more activities and programs for kids and more winter offerings that include everything from snowshoeing to hot-air ballooning to paragliding.

The mountain is a cruiser's paradise, with meandering, wide runs up to five miles long. The penultimate Snowmass cruiser is called the Big Burn, named after a wildfire that scorched hundreds of pines decades ago. After taking the lift up to the top at nearly 12,000 feet, we skied in and out of scattered trees to an open slope with panoramic views of the Rockies. There is plenty of room to move and just enough pitch for intermediate skiers and boarders to make sweeping turns without worrying about getting in over their heads.

Buttermilk
The name suggests a warmed-over bunny hill, and indeed Buttermilk for years was a gentle learning hill for kids and beginners. Not anymore. Boarders flock to the parks, pipes and the top-to-bottom advanced terrain in the Tiehack area. The base area still has a popular open glade where ski school instructors teach beginners of all ages to board and ski.

Aspen Highlands
If you want to escape the crowds, come here. Aspen Highlands is similar to Aspen Mountain, with its narrow profile and steep terrain, but it lacks cachet because it's a day use area tucked away in a canyon with minimal amenities. Besides the low-key vibe, the chief attraction is the top-of-the-world views of the Maroon Bells, the twin 14,000-foot peaks to the west whose jagged summits are the most photographed mountains in Colorado. Though the runs are shorter than Snowmass and less steep than Ajax, the views at the top are worth the trip.

Other Colorado Choices

Aspen has stayed a relevant vacation town by evolving along with it's core demographic. Other iconic ski destinations have done the same, like Breckenridge and Vail. Plan a whole Rockies getaway with Ski In Ski Out Lodging in Breckenridge Colorado