Posted on 7/26/2012 by Alyssa Hubbard

Frequently Asked Questions about Reserving a Vacation Rental Property from SummitCove Lodging in Keystone Colorado

Q: Why should we choose Keystone CO as our Winter Vacation Destination?

A. We thought you'd never ask! Keystone is one of the most family friendly resorts around, offering kids specific activities like Keystone Kidtopia- a festival just for kids that include special games, glow-light ice-skating, a giant life size snow fort at the top of the mountain to play in, arts and crafts, adventure zones on the mountain to explore and so on. Keystone has its own snow-tubing hill, TWO outdoor ice skating rinks, sleigh rides, outdoor fire-pits, amazing dining options, shopping, cross-country skiing, outdoor heated swimming pools, sledding and more! Not to brag, but we think Keystone has some of the best views around, including incredible angles on Lake Dillon and surrounding mountains like Breckenridge! The activities are endless and there is certainly something for everyone at Keystone Resort! There are also some amazing events throughout the winter like the River Run Rocks! FREE concerts series, culinary festivals, a winter bluegrass festival, Mardi Gras celebrations, Holiday festivities and more! Keystone as a mountain offers a great bang for your buck, as it is one of the only resorts in Colorado that has night skiing!  This means on select days, you can ski from open to close- up to 12 hours...If you can make it that long, your ticket is good all day and night!  So it's nice to be able to take a break in the afternoon for a hearty bowl of chili or a beer on an outdoor patio and then head back  out, warm and refreshed. Keystone has three separate peaks, each offering different terrain and multiple gondolas. It also boasts some of the most diverse terrain, ranging from beginner to double black and expert only terrain. It includes multiple learning areas for kids and beginners, with mini chairlifts and 'magic carpets',  plenty of groomed 'corduroy', powder runs, tree skiing, hiking zones, and even KAT TOURS- spend the day on a tour or take 1 ride on the KAT for just $5.  This is a great way to experience some of the deepest powder and find some areas that have been completely untouched!  Area-51 is Keystone's terrain park and it is one of the best in the country.   It is also one of the closest resorts to the Denver Airport- just a quick 90 minute drive and you're here!  Arapahoe Basin is also just 7 miles up the road if you are looking to explore other mountains and offers some great, different terrain without having to travel far. Keystone Resort has a FREE shuttle system that will take you just about anywhere you'd like around town.  It also is one of the only resorts that still offers CLOSE parking at no charge!

Q: Why should I rent from SummitCove Property Management rather than directly from the Owner of the Condo?

A. All of the condos and homes that SummitCove rents are individually owned by families. Owners are able to choose who manages their property, and they have picked us.. to take reservations, be the guest contact, provide maintenance and security while they are away. We serve as a point of contact, a 'home base' to help you with everything you need all the way from the planning stage to the check-out day.  You can trust us with your credit card information and that you will always have someone to call if you need to.  We offer 24-7 emergency and maintenance service, along with excellent customer service and experience. So if your heat goes out at 3am, you get locked out of your property, or just need a recommendation on where to eat- we are here for you, in Keystone, at any time day or night. No worrying about sending money to an unknown stranger, waiting around for a call back or wondering what would happen in the event of an emergency. We are also able to use our size to our advantage- we have some great guest perks such as our Key to Keystone Coupon Book offering discounts on restaurants and activities & free bike rentals in the Summer and discounted lift tickets and equipment rentals in the winter.

Q: Is SummitCove connected to Keystone Resort or Vail Resorts? What are the benefits of renting from SummitCove vs. the Resort or other Property Management Companies?

A. Summitcove Property Management is one of many property management firms that operate in or near Keystone Resort.  Although we are not directly affiliated with Keystone or Vail Resorts Inc. that operate the ski mountain, we do work closely together on an everyday basis to make sure our mutual guests are happy and come back to Keystone year after year. SummitCove stands apart in many ways.  One of the biggest differences is that we allow you to pick the EXACT property you will be staying at, vs. just a general '2-bedroom in River Run' as an example of what information the Resort would provide.  We have photos, video tours, reviews, amenities lists, distance to the slopes, bedding configurations information and more for each and every property we manage.  You will be happy to know that your kids will be getting the bunk beds they've been looking forward to, the property has that cool mountain decor or stainless steel appliances, or even just that you and your friends will both staying in Buffalo Lodge- whatever it is you are looking for,  we allow you to pick from our properties and find the one that suits you best.  Our properties are as individual as you and we want you to enjoy your vacation and we believe it all starts with where you stay! Many of our properties also have additional amenities that aren't always found in the 'stock' properties of the Resort. SummitCove provides personalized customer service and being a small company, we are able to go the extra mile for our guests.  We are a small company where it's possible to walk in and maybe meet the owner- we have just under 300 properties and about 25 employees. We still have 24-7 customer service, a local check-in office and customer perks, just like the Resort, but we hope you will find your experiences with us are much more personal and memorable, connecting a face with a name.  We offer our guests great perks like 25% off equipment rentals, discounted lift tickets, and various coupons for discounts at restaurants, activities, massages, and more! Our check-in office is located RIGHT IN KEYSTONE, meaning you don't have to drive to Dillon or get your keys from a lockbox. In the winter months we typically have someone staffed at our front desk 24 hours a day!  Nothing's worse than traveling 10 hours only to get your keys in the dark out of an outdoor lockbox and have no idea where you are going! Our front desk agents will be awaiting your arrival, greeting you with a smile, ready to draw out directions on a map, show you where the grocery store is and even offer advice on the best place to go for breakfast, ski rentals, and what activities to do; not to mention offer you an exclusive coupon book to help you save big while you are here!

Q: What are the properties like and what supplies will be provided?

A. Our properties come fully furnished with everything you need to feel like you're right at home. We have all different sizes of properties from a small studio with kitchenette to a 5-bedroom private home that sleeps 16!  They are all individually owned and every property is different, with their own decor and amenities, based on the owner's personality.  Although Keystone itself is no more than 4 miles long, there are many different areas, villages, and buildings like River Run, Mountain House, Settlers Creek, Trappers Crossing, Snake River, Ski Tip and the Pines just to name a few. Most properties have dining rooms and full kitchens that stock everything you'd need to make a nice family dinner- stove, oven, refrigerator,  dishwasher, coffee pot, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, and even salt and pepper! In the other rooms you will find most units have multiple flat screen TV's, a DVD player, hair dryers, fans, closets and even humidifiers to combat the drier air.  We always start you out with basic supplies like shampoo, conditioner, Kleenex, paper towels, dishwasher detergent, dish and hand soaps, coffee, toilet paper, sponges, towels, trash bags, etc.  All properties are different, but we do set some requirements in order for every guest to be comfortable.  Some properties feature heated garages, ski lockers, fireplaces, private hot tubs, surround sound, washer and dryer,  jetted baths, leather couches, stainless steel appliances and so on.  Check out the Property Information page on our website for each specific property to find out these sort of details! Many of the buildings have common spaces that feature pools, hot tubs, couches and televisions, pool tables, outdoor grills, steam rooms and more.

Q: How do I rent a unit?  Is there a deposit and what are the payment terms?

A. You can rent any of our properties by booking directly on this website using a credit card or you can call us at 1-877-850-7750 if you would like to speak with us and book by phone- we have experienced Vacation Planners who can help you find the exact property you are looking for based on your individual preferences such as location, cost, the size of your group and specific amenities you might be looking for such as a fireplace or hot tub! Sometimes it is nice to have help sorting through the different options.  We will ask questions such as "What is most important to you during your stay? Do you want to be able to walk to the slopes or do you not mind taking a shuttle?  Do your kids prefer bunk beds or twin beds? Do you need a washer and dryer in your property? How about a view?" etc. When you book your stay, 1/2 of your rent is required as a down payment, and the final payment will be due 60 days out from your reservation.  A small damage fee is included in the price to cover minimal incidentals in case of an accident, but it will not be refunded.  Our cancellation policy is as follows:
  • More than 180 Days prior to Arrival Date - 90% of the total rental amount will be refunded.
  • 179- 60 Days prior to Arrival Date - 75% of the total rental amount will be refunded.
  • 59 - 30 Days prior to Arrival Date - 50% of the total rental amount will be refunded.
  • 29 - 14 Days prior to Arrival Date - 25% of the total rental amount will be refunded.
  • Less than 14 days prior to Arrival Date - No Refund.
We do offer travel insurance for an extra 6.95% of your reservation cost that covers some travel circumstances such as weather, traffic delays, illness and more from Travel Guard. It will protect your entire partys' vacation investment if you are forced to cancel, interrupt, or delay your trip due to weather, illness, injury, or any other covered reason.  This policy also includes very important baggage and medical protection.  This can be a great thing to have, especially in Colorado- because sometimes airports close and roads shut down and people may get sick in the winter!

Q: Should I rent a car?  Is there a shuttle?

A. Keystone and Summit County both have FREE Shuttle Systems making it easy to get around once you are up in the mountains.  We also have many properties that are within walking distance, so you can easily get by without a car.  So if you are coming to Keystone from the airport, you may choose to rent a car or take a shuttle.  There are quite a few airport shuttle companies out there and prices vary depending on the size of your group, but typically range from $50-$70 a person. There are also shuttles available to other ski resorts- you can get to Arapahoe Basin, Copper, and Breckenridge for free on the county-wide shuttle, The Summit Stage, but to go to Vail or Beaver Creek you would have to pay for a shuttle. If you do choose to rent a car you will most likely want to get one that has a ski rack and 4-wheel drive.  Many times the roads are clear, but it is nice to have 4-whell drive if it starts to snow.  Parking is free for all of our guests and there is a big skier parking lot that is just a 10-minute walk to the gondola, some other resorts charge up to $25 a day for parking.

Q: I've made my reservation; now how do I check in and get my keys?

A. SummitCove has a full-service check-in desk conveniently located  in the middle of Keystone Resort.  We are located at 23110 US Highway 6 in the Gateway Plaza, which is right in between the Haywood Cafe and Cornerstone Real Estate.  Our office is no more than 5 minutes to your Condo or Home.  We typically have someone staffed at this office until at least 3am, and 24-7 during the busier ski season months.  We ALWAYS have someone available by phone 24 hours a day.  Check-in time is 4pm. In the rare event that no one is at our check-in office when you arrive, you will get your keys from the lockbox inside our lobby.  We ask that you print your confirmation that we emailed to you at the time you made your reservation or have it available on your smartphone, as it contains the lockbox code, directions and other important information about our services and the specific property that you are staying at. If you have any more questions or concerns at any time, please feel free to call or contact us! We know that some people are new to the vacation rental home process, but we assure you once you try it you will never stay at a hotel again!  You'll love all of the extra space to spread out and enjoy your vacation, not to mention all the additional amenities available and the money you'll save by cooking dinner instead of having to go out every night! Book your Keystone Vacation today!
Previous Don't Miss the Next Showing of the Kidtopida Kids Theatre: The Prince, on Friday July 27 at the Quaking Aspen Amphitheatre in Keystone Kidtopia Kidsfest Free Family Event this Afternoon in River Run Keystone Next