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Home Page Photo Tour Availability & Reservations FAQ |
Frequently Asked QuestionsWe have provided you this page to quickly answer the most common questions that we have received regarding our ski-in ski-out condo and your Solitude ski vacation.Feel free to call us toll free at +1-866-503-3144 or on +1-435-940-1201 or send us an e-mail if you have any additional questions or want to talk to us in person. We live inside Solitude Mountain Resort, so we have a great insight into the mountain and local area. Perhaps you will even see us up skiing when you are here!
What is the Solitude Resort Like? Solitude is one of two resorts up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is a medium size resort with eight lifts, and wonderful terrain. The base elevation is at 8,000 feet, so the snow is normally the famous light fluffy Utah powder. There is a good mix of beginner through expert terrain, groomed runs, and back country skiing in Honeycomb Canyon. Don't tell anyone, but this resort is also known for its lack of lift lines and open spacious runs. A set of nordic trails run from the Brighton ski resort, a few miles up the road, to Solitude. You can take a shuttle to Brighton and ski down hill if desired. The resort contains a quaint European style village with a hotel and four condominium complexes and a few smaller housing units. There are a couple of resort shops (ski wear) and a few restaurants, small ice skating rink, outdoor swimming pool, hot tubs, spa and Club Solitude with pool table, board games, X-box, fitness and business center. It's a nice quiet family resort.
How does Solitude compare to other Utah resorts? There are three canyons with ski resorts in the Salt Lake City area. Big Cottonwood Canyon hosts Solitude and Brighton Ski Resorts. Little Cottonwood Canyon, just to the south, hosts Alta and Snowbird resorts. To the north, up Parley's Canyon, is the Park City area, home to Deer Valley, Park City, and The Canyons. Park City and its resorts is a pretty different experience than Solitude. Park City is at a lower elevation, the mountains less majestic, the landscape more open, less rugged, and not as green. There is a lot more shopping and night life in Park City. The resorts are big, crowded and more expensive. There are lots of cute shops and restaurants on Park City Main Street so there is a lot more to do than ski. There is lots of dining and night life in Park City. Neither Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons host much night life or entertainment. While the Solitude village is quaint and quiet, it does does supply a complete set of vacation amenities you might desire, including a pub, good dining, and a spa. For a full slate of activities, shopping, and night life, downtown Salt Lake City is only 40 minutes away. You can go to an NBA Basketball game to watch the Utah Jazz play, see a ballet or visit world class restaurants and other entertainment. In summary, this is the perfect place for family ski vacations. If you want great skiing and terrain at a reasonable price with no crowds you will love it here. This is the place for you if you are looking for a quiet yet inclusive ski vacation. If you are looking for lots of evening activities, lots of varied dining opportunities, and a place to meet people in pubs, you probably would prefer Park City.
Night Skiing Options Solitude has no night skiing. However, night skiing is available at the Brighton ski resort. This resort is renowned for snowboarding. Brighton is located about 7 minutes up Big Cottonwood Canyon road from Solitude. Solitude has a shuttle that goes between the Nordic Center near the Brighton resort and the Solitude Village. Public busses also run between the resorts. If you ride the public bus back to Solitude in the evening, you need to inform the driver that he needs to drop you off at Solitude on the way down as normal service to Solitude may end earlier in the evening.
Solitude Boasts Two New Lifts for the 2008 - 2009 Season!
Fantastic news for families and intermediate skiers! Solitude is boasting substantial upgrades for the 2008-2009 ski season! The Moonbeam and Apex lifts are being replaced with high-speed detachable quad chair lifts. These new lifts will vastly improve access to the bulk of the beginner and intermediate runs at Solitude with easy loading and unloading. The new Moonbeam lift has been moved up onto the ridge to give access to much more terrain than the previous tower placement. This new lift and placement vastly improves the experience for children and families.
See larger photos and more information on the new lifts! Other Lift news: The Powderhorn lift is being moved for the 2009-20010 ski season. Rather than start at the bottom of the hill near Apex, the new lift starts near the top of Moonbeam Express. This is the same location of the original Powderhorn chair placement from many years ago.
Availability and Reservations The best way to check availability is directly from our website using the Availability & Reservations link. This information is the latest up-to-date data. If you order directly through this web page then it will automatically update the database to show that your reservation has been booked. If you think you have reserved lodging, and it does not show up as booked, then please contact us via e-mail or phone toll free at +1-866-503-3144 or on +1-435-940-1201.
Calculating Total Cost and Fees The total cost for your stay is calculated as the nightly rate plus the Salt Lake County and local taxes of 13.6% for the room rental. The current nightly rate is displayed on our Availability & Reservations web page. This is a secure web page that transfers the data encrypted so no-one can read the information. The exact amount of the rental will be calculated and displayed from our Availability & Reservations page. Just enter your information for the rental, click on the Check Price & Availability button, and your total rental cost will be displayed.
What is included as part of the rental rate This rental rate includes almost everything you need to have fun in the beautiful Wasatch mountains. It includes one heated underground parking stall, local and long distance phone calls in the United States, free broadband wired and wireless internet, access to Club Solitude, skating rink or tennis, and access to the Powderhorn Lodge hot tub. The Club Solitude includes a swimming pool with slide, two hot tubs, sauna, fitness center with fitness machines and dumbbells, business center with computers and printers, billiards, mini-theater, Xbox video game system, game room, book and movie rentals, and a cozy great room with fireplace if you want a comfortable place to chat. Numerous activities are provided such as tubing, guided snowshoe and hiking tours, star-gazing, canine rescue demonstrations, and canyon history presentations. The kitchen includes almost everything you will need to prepare and serve your meals. We provide salt and pepper and a spice rack. All pans and dishes are included. We have a crock pot in case you want to have a warm roast and potatoes when you return after a day of skiing. There is an electric range and oven, a microwave oven, and a brand new quiet dishwasher. Dishwashing soaps and paper towels are provided, and we just installed a garbage disposal to simplify cleanup. We want you to be comfortable during your stay! If you stay more than seven days then a mid-week linen change is included free of charge. Contact us if you would like a change of linens during your stay for $50. Towels are available at Club Solitude when you use the pool, hot tub, sauna, or exercise facilities. Unfortunately you will need to purchase your lift tickets, food, and equipment rentals.
Additional Fees Everything is included in the room rate. We do not charge a fee for paying with credit card, for cleaning the condo before and after your stay, or for parking. If you would like an additional linen change during your stay please contact us. Please be courteous and leave our property in working order when you leave. Make sure you leave all the utensils and try not to break the plates and glasses. Please put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Also, please contact us if there are any deficiencies or repairs that are needed.
Flexibility of Room Rates For the winter of 2010-2011 we will do our best to match any offer that you are offered on a comparable unit. Compare our rates to what you pay if you book directly from Solitude. Not only does this result in the lowest possible price, but you are also you are guaranteed one of the best rooms and locations in the resort. Your experience will be almost exactly like that of someone renting directly from Solitude. You will check into our unit at the front desk and have full access to Club Solitude and the activities. The only restriction is that you call us and not the front desk if there are any service requirements.
Acceptable Payments We accept major credit cards for no additional fee, including Visa, Master Card and Discover cards. We also accept payment by check if more than 28 days before your arrival date. Our payment processing company is Elavon. Elavon is the world leader in secure credit card processing. When you use a credit card directly from our web page, we as merchants do not see or handle your card number or information. We simply receive the funds from your credit card company. Elavon is also very convenient. We have linked Elavon directly to our booking page, and when you pay there our database will automatically be updated with your booking. If a final payment is due, we will e-mail you a web link that you can use to make the final payment. If you are paying by check, we require the payment a month before your stay to ensure availability of the funds.
Nightly Stay Requirements We require a two night stay or a six night stay if your stay covers a holiday period. This requirement is waived if the days before and after your stay are booked. This requirement is to keep our condo in the best condition and to defray the costs to pay for the key service through Solitude and our cleaning fees.
How far are you from the lift? We are about a two minute walk from the entrance to the condo and the lift. Powderhorn Lodge is building 3 in the Solitude Village Map. The start of the nordic trail is even closer than the lift. You can also take the shuttle between the village and the Solitude Nordic Center that is located near the Brighton Ski Resort. Please view the last pictures on the photo tour and the pictures of the new lifts to get a better perspective of the location and distance to the lift.
Nearby grocery shopping and food delivery service There are a couple of stores up Big Cottonwood Canyon that provide some of the basics - drinks, snacks, bread, condiments. One is located in the Eagle Springs East condo near the reception desk. Another is located in the Brighton Loop, two miles up the canyon. There is a new store less than a mile down the road on the right hand side just before Silver Fork lodge. However, the selection in these stores is very limited, so if you plan on doing any serious cooking you will need to go grocery shopping in the valley. There is a 7-11 at the bottom of the canyon (20 minutes from the condo), and a full service Smiths food store a few blocks away from there (about 25 minutes from the condo). To get to the grocery store from the condo, take a left at the stop light at the bottom of the canyon. This will take you up a hill. Take a right at the stop light which is the first intersection. The grocery store is a block away on the left hand side just after the stop sign at the first intersection. Grocery Delivery Service You can have your groceries purchased and delivered directly to your condo through a new concierge grocery delivery. You can check this out on-line at http://www.canyondelivery.com/ to find prices and ordering details.
Medical services at the mountain and nearby There is a medical clinic at the mountain which treats the injuries to skiers. We have found the people who work at the clinic very friendly, and they welcome walk-in treatment. So you can drop by if you have a sore throat or other ailments. The clinic is open during the normal winter daytime business hours from 9am - 5pm. Serious injuries are flown via life flight from the Solitude medical clinic to one of the local hospitals. World class medical treatment is available in the modern city of Salt Lake. For example, the University Hospital is ranked one of "America's Best Hospitals" in the U.S. News & World Report. Following is a table listing the distance and drive time to some of the local hospitals in the area.
Do we need a car? You can get by fine without a car for your solitude vacation! Having an automobile for transportation is entirely dependent upon your planed activities. The base of the canyon is 20 minutes from Solitude Mountain Resort. Downtown Salt Lake City and the airport are about 40 minutes away. So within 40 minutes you could get to an NBA basketball game, numerous restaurants, banks, and shopping as well as several hospitals. Within an hour you can be at several other resorts, such as Snowbird, Park City, Deer Valley, Alta, and the Canyons. If you drive then you will be able to park in the indoor heated parking under your Powderhorn unit. However, if you plan on staying at Solitude, eating in your condo and at the local Solitude restaurants, and skiing at Solitude and Brighton then you can easily get by without a car. There is a convenient shuttle service from the airport to the mountain, and local buses run often between Solitude and Brighton, which is about 7 minutes away. There is a free shuttle between Solitude and the Nordic Center that is near Brighton. The best shuttle service from the Salt Lake International Airport and Solitude is provided by Canyon Transportation. You can schedule your ride on their web site. If you don't have a car, you can still cook in the condo but you will need to arrange to have the shuttle driver take you to the store on the way to the condo. We also may be able to arrange concierge food delivery service. Contact us if you are interested.
Driving Directions from the Airport Getting to Solitude from the Salt Lake City International Airport is quite easy. The following link provides driving directions from the airport. Following are the directions to check in once you get up the canyon.
There are trolleys that will help you carry your luggage up to the room. Please don't take your skis to the room - there are lockers provided for you on the first floor.
Checking In to our Condo You will check into our condo just as if you were paying the full price directly through Solitude. Go to the reception and lodging check-in to get your key. This is location 7 on the Solitude Village Map. Once you have checked in, proceed to the Powderhorn Lodge. The room key will get you into the underground parking if you have a car. If not, you can be dropped of near the front door. All entrances have luggage trolleys to help you transport your baggage. Please don't take your skis to the room - there are lockers provided for your skis on the first floor.
If you experience problems or need more supplies Since you are renting the property directly from us the reception staff is not authorized to service our condominium or provide additional supplies. Please give us a phone call toll free at +1-866-503-3144 or on +1-435-940-1201 if you need any assistance, supplies, or repairs. You can also send us an e-mail as we normally check that often as well.
Child Care Services Solitude is a very cozy, family friendly resort. Child care is provided by the resort ("Play Academy") on either an hourly or all-day fee via the SnowSports Academy for those 5 and under. They also have the Children's Ski Academy for those aged 5 through 12 to help them learn to ski or snowboard. Another option new for the 2010/2011 ski season is Brighton Child Care. They are a licensed Utah State hourly child care facility located at the start of the Brighton Loop near the Brighton Ski Resort and the Solitude Nordic Center. Brighton Child Care is open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm. See their website for reservations.
Discount Lift Pass Options Canyon Sport offers discount lift tickets for the Utah resorts. You can drop in to their store and purchase Solitude tickets at a $5 discount each. You can rent your ski equipment there as well - and even reserve on-line before you arrive. The most convenient store is their Cottonwood location at 1844 East Ft. Union. If you take the shuttle through Canyon Transportation you need to pay extra for stops, but you can combine this with a grocery stop on the way to Solitude. Ask us for directions if you will take a car. Another option, particularly if you would like to ski some of the other Cottonwood Canyon resorts, is to purchase the "Super-Pass". The best way to get these passes is to pre-purchase the super-pass on-line before you arrive. This pass has a lower discount, but allows you to ski at Solitude, Brighton, Alta, or Snowbird. (Only one resort per day). If you want to try night-skiing, for example, this pass allows you to ski from 9am to 9pm at Brighton, just a couple of miles up the road from Solitude. Alta and Snowbird are about 40 minutes by car from Solitude. The pass also includes free access to the public busses that run between the resorts if you don't have a car. These passes are dated and good for 2 through 6 out of 7 days, ranging in price from $66 per day for the 2 day pass to $64 per day for the rest. This doesn't provide much of a discount for skiing at Solitude, where the normal 2010-2011 price is $68 for an adult ticket. But this does save you $10 if you ski at Snowbird, and $5 at Alta and the Brighton Super Day (9am - 9pm) pass. Remember that Alta does not permit snowboarding. Another option that you may want to consider if you will have a few shorter days of skiing is to purchase the single ride tickets. These cost about $7 per ride and can be purchased in increments of 10 rides at the Solitude ticket windows. Possibly the best option if you plan to stay for a week of skiing at Solitude is to purchase pre-season tickets. You can purchase five day preseason passes for just $45 per day - a savings of $23 per day off the regular season rate. These must be purchased before November 1st, so planning early can pay off!
Weather and Snow Reports The lodge at Solitude Mountain Resort is over 8,000 feet in elevation, so come prepared for the weather. Summers are warm during the day and cool in the evening. The winter temperatures can be cold. Utah is a high desert climate with low humidity and lots of sunshine, so the sunny days can feel quite pleasant and warm even when it is cold outside. We have found the most accurate weather reports come from the National Weather Service. But these are only short term forecasts, so come prepared. You can also get the Solitude Snow Report to track the current conditions and snow depths.
Web Security and Confidentiality Any information entered on our web site is secured by Network Solutions, one of the premier web service providers. You can be sure that your information is secure. Also note that since we use Elavon directly to process our credit card transactions, we never receive your card number or financial information. When you phone in an order, we do not keep a copy of any of your credit card information.
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