DESTINATIONS usa utah accommodations-16

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Accommodations

Utah is home to the founders of the Marriott chain of hotels, and its accommodations are plentiful, varied, and reasonably priced throughout the state. Chain motels are everywhere. The ski resorts along the Wasatch Front—especially in Park City—cater to the wealthy jet set, and there are posh resorts such as Deer Valley, the Waldorf Astoria Park City, and Canyons, and pampering spas at Green Valley or Red Mountain. Salt Lake City has hotels in every price range. National chains like Holiday Inn, Marriott, Hilton, Best Western, Super 8, and Motel 6 are dependable in Utah, and are occasionally the best beds in town. The gateway towns to the national parks usually have a large range of accommodations. There are also more bed-and-breakfasts, as international tourists often prefer to meet the locals at such places. Independent motels can also be found all over the state. Look for guest ranches if you're trying to find an authentic Western experience. They often require a one-week stay, and the cost is all-inclusive. During the busy summer season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it's a good idea to book hotels and bed-and-breakfasts in advance. Most motels and resorts have off-season rates. Take advantage of these, because hiking is best in the south in cool weather and the mountains are beautiful even without snow.

Assume that hotels do not include any meals in their room rates, unless we specify otherwise.

General Information

Utah Hotel & Lodging Association. Utah Hotel & Lodging Association 801/593–2213; www.uhla.org.

Apartment and House Rentals

Increasingly, condos and private homes are available for rent. Rentals range from one night to month-long stays. Enjoy slope-side accommodations with all the amenities of home such as multiple bathrooms and full kitchens at most ski resorts. Condo and home rentals are also available outside Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Canyonlands national parks. There are multiple national services, but Vacation Rentals By Owner is tried and true.

Rental Information

Vacation Rentals By Owner. www.vrbo.com.

Bed-and-Breakfasts

Charm is the long suit of these establishments, which generally occupy a restored older building with some historical or architectural significance. Towns with notable B&Bs include Salt Lake City, Park City, Moab, and Springdale (outside Zion National Park). They're generally small, with fewer than 20 rooms. Breakfast is usually included in the rates. Call ahead to determine the extent of ADA compliance; most B&Bs do not have elevators, for instance.

Reservation Services

BB Getaways. www.bbgetaways.com.

Bed & Breakfast.com. Bed & Breakfast.com 512/322–2710; 800/462–2632; www.bedandbreakfast.com.

Bed and Breakfast Inns of Utah. www.bbiu.org.

Bed & Breakfast Inns Online. Bed & Breakfast Inns Online 800/215–7365; www.bbonline.com.

BnB Finder.com. 888/469–6663; www.bnbfinder.com.

Hostels

Hostels are almost too scarce in Utah to serve as a useful way to see the mountains and the desert. Salt Lake City has a couple, but only one, the Avenues, is in a nice neighborhood. In Moab the Lazy Lizard is an old standby. Check with the national hosteling networks for other Utah locations.

Information

Hostels.com. www.hostels.com.

The Avenues Hostel. 801/539–8888; www.saltlakehostel.com.

Lazy Lizard. 1213 S. Hwy. 191, Moab, Utah, 84532. 435/259–6057; www.lazylizardhostel.com.

Hotels

Most Salt Lake City hotels cater to business travelers with such facilities as restaurants, cocktail lounges, Internet, swimming pools, exercise equipment, and meeting rooms. Room rates usually reflect the range of amenities available. Most other Utah towns and cities have less expensive hotels that are clean and comfortable but have fewer facilities. A popular accommodations trend is the all-suite hotel, which gives you more room for the money; examples include Courtyard by Marriott and Embassy Suites. In resort towns hotels are decidedly more deluxe, with every imaginable amenity in every imaginable price range; rural areas generally have simple, and sometimes rustic, accommodations.

Many properties have special weekend rates, sometimes up to 50% off regular prices. However, these deals are usually not extended during peak months (summer near the national parks and winter in the ski resorts), when hotels are normally full. Salt Lake City hotels are generally full only during major conventions such as the Outdoor Retailers Show (winter and summer).

All hotels listed have private bath unless otherwise noted.

Resorts

Ski towns throughout Utah such as Park City, Sundance, and Brian Head, are home to resorts in all price ranges (but primarily high-end); any activities lacking in any individual property are usually available in the town itself—in summer as well as winter. Off the slopes, there are both wonderful rustic and luxurious resorts in the southern part of the state: Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort near Zion, Sorrel River Ranch and Red Cliffs Adventure Lodge near Arches, and Amangiri near Lake Powell and Four Corners.

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