Book now for Thanksgiving weekend!

As the weather cools, our cozy cabins will be a great retreat for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Our prices vary depending on the size of cabins and location, check them out on our website www.mccallvacationrentalsonline.com.

That weekend the Shore Lodge is featuring an Art Show - maybe you can find something special for your holiday shopping.

Making changes

Since we've had our first snow of the season, we are moving the hot weather clothing back to storage closets and bringing out our layers of clothes for the winter. Why not look around your cabin and reposition furniture to create a "nest". Be sure to deep clean behind couches and chairs to prevent dust build up. Is it time to replace something that is a bit worn? Why not donate it to the Idaho Youth Ranch which raises money through their thrift shops; plus you get an extra credit on your Idaho Tax return!

Make the best of this transition season and enjoy!

Beautiful Fall weather in Valley County

The other morning the air was so crisp and clean it felt good to welcome the changing season. I don't think we are ready for the snow quite yet, but it still is a wonderful time to come for a weekend of biking, hiking or just relax. Rates are lower in the fall and the crowds are thinned making the pace amble along.

I would recommend a long bike ride in Ponderosa State Park - the visitor's center will give you a map and describe the terrain. A great lunch spot is Fogglifter Cafe which has a daily special or a mean tuna sandwich.

One of our cabins has a hammock to snooze on the deck or grab a book.

Labor Day weekend in McCall

The weather this morning is crisp, but the sun is shining with blue sky everywhere. I would like to remind everyone coming up for a weekend getaway you do need a jacket in the early part of the day as well as in the evenings. The weekend highs are supposed to be in the 80's which should help make this last summer escape fun if you are rafting, water skiing or just relaxing.

Don't forget sunscreen and bug spray!

Safe travels!

Sumer winding down......

As the kids start school today, I am feeling that it was a much too short summer! The weather in June did not cooperate and July burst in with much sun to warm our soggy bones. I really enjoyed the beautiful scenery in McCall and the small town activities - Huckleberry Days in Donnelly; the 100 year anniversary of McCall's founding July 19th, McCall Open Golf Classic the last week of July to name a few.

If you missed out on any of these, consider coming up for a preview of the cooler weather (but still warm days) over Labor Day weekend. It is a nice way to wrap up the summer and have one last family memory before we get busy with all the activities surrounding school.

New Cabin close to town

This is our newest cabin off Wagon Wheel Road and has room for 6 people with two bedrooms upstairs, a shared bath and one bedroom and bath downstairs!

Use a cabin like you said you were going to use it.......

Recently we have had some guests in two different properties say there was going to be just "6" people and just "2" people in the units. We charge guests accordingly for cleaning and our expectation is they will keep the place similar as they found it. These two rentals caused our cleaning people to have 7 and 6 loads of laundry respectively which is excessive. We are then forced to follow up with the guest and ask many questions - but basically they had many more people to the places than promised.

If you do this, please know you will be charged for the extra time it takes the cleaning crew, plus it is inconsiderate as the cleaning person(s) has alloted so much time. They now will have to take laundry out or stay longer to be sure it is ready for the next guest.

We all understand you may want to entertain people at a rental, if so, ask them to bring their own towels to use in the hot tub. Or if they want to unexpectedly decide to spend the night, alert the property manager so they can get the cleaning time reallocated.

Last Weekend for Tamarack; Brundage open until 5/1/11!

The record snows have created a perfect storm for the last week of skiing at Tamarack - the powder in the trees is fabulous and crowds are limited. Brundage announced since they are having record levels of snow they have extended the skiing until May 1st!

A friend recently posted her first tracks on Facebook at Brundage - it is a fun thing to do and great memories. Recently I was listening to a gentleman who has written a book about happiness levels and he says it is not about the money you make, the clothes you wear (and a few others), but about the experiences we have with people in our lives. Instead of scheduling another meeting, why not ask the kids what they would like to do? I remember as a kid taking plastic bags with handles and sliding down the hill - no tube needed!

Go play, hug lots and smile!

Approaching a slower time......great rates!

As the ski season winds down in April, this presents a great time to plan a girls weekend or getaway with friends. The rates on the cabins are lower, the shops and restaurants love the extra clients and the weather is .... questionable. We can have some additional snow or we can have some spring rains to really bring the water levels up.

I say make the best of it and RELAX. Build a fire, bring some movies and chill. During the day you can still cross country ski at Ponderosa State Park or maybe rent some snowshoes and hike someplace new. In the evening take turns at who gets to cook dinner for everyone - maybe if you are bringing the kids - let them plan a meal! Make it a theme night and decorate. Play games and share memories.

Share what you want on the vacation with the property manager

I had the opportunity to share some ideas over a wonderful lunch today and it got my creative side going. My lunch guest asked some excellent questions on what is expected by a property owner when we manage their property, but also what is important for guests?

I think my biggest piece of advice is to share who is the "group" going so you ask the questions of what activities are close by, what is in the vacation rental property and who will sleep where. This may seem simple, but as I was noting on our newest cabin the Wii, Guitar Hero, air hockey table and various other games in the upstairs game room, I could envision the kids having a great time away from adults. I think other benefits of the indoor pool at the nearby clubhouse is also great because anyone can walk there. The tennis courts provide the outdoor attraction during the summer, along with biking trails, the golf course and close proximity to town. The whole build up for the vacation will be a let down if you find yourself renting a place that is too small or does not have the amenities you want.

Do not be afraid to ask very specific questions - one cabin has a loft which works well for families who are all related; but sharing too small of a place will make everyone not sleep as well. Open living areas are also important so guests feel part of the activity, make sure late sleepers can shut a door to their rooms.

Frequently the difference in cost for a larger place is not a huge amount, shop around and make a few phone calls to get comfortable with your final selection!

What makes a great vacation rental?

Peace, relaxation and a sense of home are key features of a vacation rental. I know when I travel I want to feel comfortable to cook, relax and watch a movie but still have the opportunity to engage in other activities.

We furnished our condo in Hawaii with plush beach towels, coolers, beach toys and things we use on vacation. Our guests comment on how nice it is to work in the kitchen with more than basic utensils, spices and cooking equipment. Sure some of those "things" may get broken or lost, but we want guests to feel completely at home.

If you are looking at potential places to rent, ask the owners how often they stay, what do they like to do and if they can share "insider secrets" about the area. You want to gain from their knowledge a way to see all the sights, save time finding places that are special to the locals!

The dishwasher

Earlier this year, New Year's Day specifically, I received a call from a guest in one of our cabins. She was letting me know they decided to stay and watch football instead of skiing that day. Once they finished the brunch dishes, they loaded the dishwasher and got comfy on the sofas. Awhile later they smelled something funny and looked in the kitchen and saw smoke coming from the dishwasher. Once they opened the door there were flames on the plastic base which holds the spinning sprayer and it was a mess. What happened is a part holding the top rack cracked and broke and happened to fall directly on the heating element, which melted the part and started the fire. She felt terrible about the situation and wanted to notify us as soon as possible.

I was glad she called so quickly so I could call the owner and notify them. (Typically we would get the service people notified as well, but owner is a contractor and can manage these issues.) I said I would check the damage when I was up there following check out. I took pictures and as requested from the owner, brought back the racks and serial number information to order any needed new parts. Once I delivered the racks to their home, he realized the damage was quite extensive and would need a replacement dishwasher.

I share this story because the guest did everything right in letting us know quickly and we had the opportunity to correct the situation. I have also counseled people that it may not be the best idea to leave the dishwasher running if you are leaving home (or a cabin)! Please follow the instructions of the rental manager and let us know as quickly as possible.

Skiing at Tamarack

I had the incredible experience of skiing the President's weekend holiday at Tamarack! The snow was fabulous, not too crowded and the Mountain Hosts are so kind......okay I am a host in training so I am giving that disclaimer.

I really am impressed with how friendly everyone is who works there. I think the Tamarack Municipal Association has done an excellent job in getting the mountain open again. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to ski long, long runs and no lift lines!

As we were closing yesterday, a family of seven had some little ones who seemed tired, we were escorting them down and one of the lift attendants stopped and asked if we needed any help. It was refreshing to see the concern and luckily everyone arrived at the bottom safely!

Best Night's Sleep Ever!

One of our vacation guests called at the last minute during the busy holiday time and requested a two night stay at our Jug Handle Estates cabin in Lake Fork, near McCall. He needed a quiet place to study and relax in preparation for finals at Boise State. When he called to tell me about his stay, he asked if I knew the brand of bed. "It was the best night's sleep I had in years" said it all.

McCall: Perfect Weekend Getaway

He also said "The seclusion, peacefulness, and coziness made for the perfect weekend getaway! The place was clean and made me feel very comfortable making myself at home."

I am so glad he had a great time and got the rest he needed!

Heidi Bogert Dornier is the owner of McCall Vacation Rentals Online, specializing in managing vacation rentals for guests and owners in Lake Fork & McCall.