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United States  ·  Utah Wasatch Mountains

Park City Villa Rentals: The Buyer’s Guide

Empire Pass, Deer Crest, Silver Lake Village, the Park Meadows district, the Promontory ranch, and Old Town: six Park City zones. Salt Lake City Airport sits 36 miles west (45 minutes).

By Morten Andersen · Reviewed by Fredrik Filipsson · Updated 2026-05-18

Photo: Unsplash
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Zones reviewed6
Peak seasonDecember to March (ski)
6BR peak villa$30,000 to $85,000 / wk
Last updated2026-05

Park City is the Wasatch Mountain resort town of 8,400 year-round residents (and approximately 40,000 in peak winter) in Summit County, Utah, 32 miles east of Salt Lake City International Airport along I-80 East. The villa rental stock concentrates in six zones running the two-resort ski terrain from Empire Pass at the top of Deer Valley to Old Town at the historic Park City core: Empire Pass at 8,200 feet with the trophy ski-in/ski-out residential concentration, Deer Crest with the gated mid-mountain residential stock and St Regis access, Silver Lake Village at the central Deer Valley village core, Lower Deer Valley running down to the Snow Park base, the Park City Mountain Resort base zone at the Town Lift, and historic Old Town along Park Avenue and Main Street.

Six zones matter. Empire Pass is the upper Deer Valley village at 8,200 feet, ski-in/ski-out across the Silver Strike Express, Empire Express, and Daly Chutes lifts, with the trophy residential concentration (the Silver Strike Lodge, the Arrowleaf Lodge, the One Empire Pass residences). Deer Crest is the gated mid-mountain zone with the St Regis Deer Valley anchor and the Funicular-base ski-in/ski-out. Silver Lake Village is the central Deer Valley village around the Stein Eriksen Lodge, with the densest dinner-and-walking village programme in Deer Valley. Lower Deer Valley runs down to the Snow Park base with walking and shuttle access to the resort. The Park City Mountain Resort base zone holds walking access to the Town Lift and the Cabriolet at the heart of Park City Mountain Resort. Old Town is the historic Main Street zone with the Sundance Film Festival anchor and walking access to the Town Lift via Park Avenue.

The pricing math against Aspen, Jackson Hole, and Telluride favours Park City on accessibility and disfavours it on the social-circuit density. A six-bedroom Empire Pass ski-in/ski-out chalet in peak Christmas-NYE runs $58,000 to $145,000 per week; the Aspen Snowmass Village equivalent in peak December runs $85,000 to $245,000. Park City wins on accessibility (the 35 to 50-minute SLC transfer versus Aspen’s 4-hour Denver drive), the densest combined ski-and-festival calendar (the Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort ski programmes plus the Sundance Film Festival in late January), and the strongest dinner-on-Main programme in the Mountain West. Aspen wins on the trophy-restaurant density and the social-circuit week.

The rest of this page is the structured guide. Six zones and what each is for, the best chalets by group size, peak versus shoulder pricing, the 13.4 percent Utah tax math, the Sundance Festival booking dynamic, the snow-condition force-majeure question, and the eight chalets we considered and did not recommend.

Section I  ·  The Zones

Where to actually book.

Six Park City zones from Empire Pass at the upper Deer Valley to Old Town at the historic Main Street. Lift access, walking-village density, and what each is for.

No. I

Empire Pass (upper Deer Valley, ski-in/ski-out).

Distance from SLC: 36 miles, 50 to 65 minutes. Lift access: ski-in/ski-out via Silver Strike Express, Empire Express, Daly Chutes. Anchors: Silver Strike Lodge, Arrowleaf Lodge, One Empire Pass residences, Talisker Tower Club. Density: the highest trophy ski-in/ski-out concentration in Deer Valley. The right pick for the milestone Christmas-NYE or Presidents’ Day week. Most properties run $145,000-plus per week in peak. Alpine Ski Properties and Resort Property Management cover this zone heavily.

No. II

Deer Crest (gated mid-mountain).

Distance from SLC: 33 miles, 40 to 55 minutes. Lift access: St Regis Funicular base, ski-in/ski-out via Deer Valley mid-mountain. Anchors: St Regis Deer Valley, gated residential concentration. The right pick for the trophy gated-residential week. Larger plot sizes than Empire Pass, the trade-off is the slightly lower ski-in/ski-out direct lift access (the Funicular ride to the lift base adds 4 to 8 minutes).

No. III

Silver Lake Village (mid Deer Valley walking).

Distance from SLC: 34 miles, 42 to 55 minutes. Lift access: Sterling Express, Silver Lake Express, ski-in/ski-out. Anchors: Stein Eriksen Lodge, Goldener Hirsch Inn, Royal Street Cafe, the Mariposa restaurant. The right pick for the walking-village Deer Valley week. Densest dinner-and-walking village programme in Deer Valley, ski-in/ski-out from most residences, the Stein Eriksen anchor for the dining programme.

No. IV

Lower Deer Valley (Snow Park base).

Distance from SLC: 32 miles, 38 to 50 minutes. Lift access: Snow Park base, Carpenter Express lift. Anchors: Montage Deer Valley (a few minutes drive up), Snow Park base, Deer Valley resort entrance. The right pick for the lower-altitude family week. More accessible transit times from SLC, more residential-character streets than Empire Pass, the trade-off is the ski-shuttle requirement to mid-mountain.

No. V

Park City Mountain Resort base.

Distance from SLC: 30 miles, 35 to 48 minutes. Lift access: Town Lift, Cabriolet to mid-mountain. Anchors: Park City Mountain Resort base, Canyons Village (8 miles north for the Canyons side), Pendry Park City. The right pick for the Park City Mountain side and the walking access to Main Street. Lower per-bedroom rate than Deer Valley, the trade-off is the Park City Mountain skier-and-snowboarder format versus the skiers-only Deer Valley.

No. VI

Old Town (historic Main Street).

Distance from SLC: 30 miles, 35 to 48 minutes. Lift access: Town Lift at the base of Park Avenue, 4-minute walk from most Main Street properties. Anchors: historic Main Street, the Egyptian Theatre (Sundance anchor), Riverhorse on Main, High West Distillery, the walking-village restaurant cluster. The right pick for the Sundance week and the dinner-on-Main priority. Smaller-scale stock (3 to 6-bedroom condos and small houses), the historic mining-town footprint.

Three Park City-adjacent zones we would not book in for the trophy week: Canyons Village (the Vail-owned Park City Mountain north base, separate residential character, covered on its own page), Promontory (gated golf-and-residential community 8 miles east, summer-priority, not ski-in/ski-out), Heber Valley (10 miles east on US-40, separate community, longer ski-resort transit).

Section II  ·  By Group Size

The best Park City chalets, ranked by group.

Each card sorts by what the property does well at the occupancy it is built for. Rates verified against Alpine Ski Properties, Resort Property Management, Stein Eriksen Lodge residences, Montage Deer Valley residences, Natural Retreats Park City, and Park City Lodging inventory May 2026.

For families of 6 to 8.

No. I

Silver Lake Village four-bedroom ski-in/ski-out residence.

Bedrooms: 4. Sleeps: 8. Area: Silver Lake Village, walking distance to Stein Eriksen Lodge. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $24,000 to $48,000 per week. Verdict: ski-in/ski-out condo-residence with private deck and hot tub, walking distance to Mariposa, Glitretind, and the Stein Eriksen lounge, full owner-loaded kitchen. The first-trip family pick.

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No. II

Lower Deer Valley four-bedroom walking-village house.

Bedrooms: 4. Sleeps: 8. Area: Lower Deer Valley, 4-minute drive to Snow Park base. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $18,000 to $36,000 per week. Verdict: standalone house with private hot tub, 5-minute drive to Park City Old Town, Snow Park-base shuttle access. The right pick for the lower-altitude family week with accessible transit.

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For families of 10 to 12.

No. I

Empire Pass six-bedroom ski-in/ski-out residence.

Bedrooms: 6. Sleeps: 12. Area: Empire Pass, ski-in/ski-out at Silver Strike. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $58,000 to $128,000 per week. Verdict: top-tier ski-in/ski-out residence with private hot tub, ski-locker room, dedicated bootroom, full chef-on-call bench available, walking access to Empire Pass lift base. The right pick for the trophy ski-week with Deer Valley priority. Silver Strike Lodge #505 and Arrowleaf Lodge #312 are reference properties in this segment.

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No. II

Deer Crest six-bedroom mid-mountain residence.

Bedrooms: 6. Sleeps: 12. Area: Deer Crest, ski-in/ski-out via St Regis Funicular. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $48,000 to $98,000 per week. Verdict: standalone gated-community residence with private hot tub, dedicated ski-locker, walking access to St Regis dining and the J&G Grill. The right pick for the gated trophy-residential family week.

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For multi-household groups of 14 to 18.

No. I

Empire Pass eight-bedroom trophy ski-in/ski-out.

Bedrooms: 8. Sleeps: 16. Area: Empire Pass, direct ski-in/ski-out at Silver Strike. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $125,000 to $245,000 per week. Verdict: standalone trophy ski-in/ski-out chalet with private hot tub and spa, dedicated cinema, ski-locker room, full chef-and-housekeeping bench, walking access to Empire Pass lift base and Silver Strike lounge. The trophy ski-in/ski-out week pick.

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No. II

Deer Crest eight-bedroom multi-pavilion estate.

Bedrooms: 8. Sleeps: 16. Area: Deer Crest, gated. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $98,000 to $185,000 per week. Verdict: multi-pavilion estate with private hot tub, separate guest house, dedicated ski-locker, walking access to St Regis Funicular. The right pick for the gated multi-household ski week.

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For the trophy buyout (20-plus).

No. I

Empire Pass ten-bedroom trophy estate (sleeps 33).

Bedrooms: 10 (14 baths). Sleeps: 33. Area: Empire Pass, ski-in/ski-out. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $185,000 to $385,000 per week. Verdict: the largest standalone Empire Pass ski-in/ski-out chalet, multi-floor pavilion structure with private hot tub and spa, dedicated cinema and gym, ski-locker room, full chef-and-housekeeping bench. Resort Property Management Deer Valley inventory references a 10-bedroom 14-bath ski-in/ski-out estate sleeping 33 in this segment. The trophy week-buyout pick for groups of 25 to 33.

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No. II

Deer Crest ten-bedroom multi-residence compound.

Bedrooms: 10. Sleeps: 22. Area: Deer Crest, gated multi-lot. Peak rate (Christmas-NYE): $145,000 to $285,000 per week. Verdict: multi-residence compound across two adjoining Deer Crest lots, two hot tubs, dedicated cinema and gym, walking access to St Regis Funicular. The right pick for the gated trophy buyout.

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See the full ranked list of 12 Park City chalets
Section III  ·  The Cost Data

What a Park City chalet actually costs.

Headline rates by bedroom count and ski-week period, in US dollars. Headline rates exclude the 13.4 percent Utah tax stack (4.85 percent state sales, 7.0 percent Summit County TRT, 1.55 percent Park City local). Verified May 2026 against Alpine Ski Properties, Resort Property Management, Stein Eriksen Lodge residences, Montage Deer Valley residences, Natural Retreats Park City, and Park City Lodging inventory.

Bedroom count Christmas-NYE (peak) Presidents’ Day, Sundance (high) Jan, Feb, Mar (regular) Summer (Jun-Sep, shoulder)
3 to 4 BR Lower Deer Valley or Old Town$18,000 to $48,000 / wk$14,000 to $36,000 / wk$8,500 to $22,000$4,800 to $11,000
5 to 6 BR Silver Lake Village or PCMR base$30,000 to $85,000 / wk$24,000 to $68,000 / wk$15,000 to $42,000$8,500 to $20,000
7 to 8 BR Empire Pass or Deer Crest$98,000 to $245,000 / wk$72,000 to $185,000 / wk$45,000 to $115,000$22,000 to $52,000
9 BR+ trophy ski-in/ski-out estate$185,000 to $385,000 / wk$135,000 to $285,000 / wk$85,000 to $185,000$42,000 to $95,000

Rates exclude the 13.4 percent Utah tax stack (4.85 percent state sales, 7.0 percent Summit County TRT, 1.55 percent Park City local), chef-on-call at $950 to $2,800 per day (food at retail-plus-15-percent, included at trophy Empire Pass and St Regis tier), housekeeping at $450 to $1,200 per day, ski-concierge and locker service typically included at Empire Pass, Deer Crest, and Stein Eriksen residence tier, and Summit County Code Title 11 short-term-rental operator registration verification on the listing. Sundance Festival week typically requires Friday-to-Friday changeover with 7-night-minimum.

Section IV  ·  The Sundance Math

What Sundance week does to the booking calendar.

The Sundance Film Festival runs the last week of January (2026 dates verifying as January 22 to February 1 per the Sundance Institute publication; confirm specific dates with the operator before deposit). The festival concentrates on Old Town Main Street with the historic Egyptian Theatre, the press-and-industry hospitality programme, and the screening venues along Main Street. The booking pressure during the festival week drives the 7-night-minimum across most operators with Friday-to-Friday changeover, and the Old Town rate spike runs 70 to 130 percent above the surrounding January weeks.

The booking dynamic: most Sundance attendees prefer Old Town walking access (the festival hospitality programme runs Main Street, Park Avenue, and the Heber Avenue cluster). Deer Valley properties run at a 25 to 55 percent premium versus the surrounding weeks but at a lower per-bedroom rate than Old Town. The Friday-to-Friday changeover protects most Deer Valley properties from the festival-only-stay request that does not work with the standard Saturday-to-Saturday ski-week cadence; if the festival overlaps with a standard ski-week booking, the rate band is typically the higher of the two.

The booking window: 12 to 18 months ahead for Sundance week at the trophy tier. The top 25 to 35 Old Town and Empire Pass properties sell out 14 to 18 months ahead for the festival week. The deposit structure is typically 50 percent at confirmation with non-refundable terms inside 90 days; festival cancellations are not protected under standard CFAR insurance unless the carrier specifically covers event-cancellation triggers. The 2020 and 2021 virtual-festival format was the most disruptive booking event in Park City’s short-term-rental history; the post-2022 in-person format has returned to 95-plus-percent occupancy at the trophy tier through 2024 and 2025.

Section V  ·  The Snow-Condition Question

What the force-majeure clause does not cover.

Park City sits at the eastern edge of the Wasatch Mountains, drawing the Salt Lake-side high-altitude lake-effect powder. The 2025 season delivered 425 inches of total snowfall at Deer Valley summit; the 2024 season delivered 412 inches; the 2023 season delivered 685 inches (a multi-decade record); the 2022 season delivered 318 inches. The seasonal-snowfall variance is meaningful, but the working ski-week experience is typically protected by the resort snow-making and grooming programmes.

The snow-condition force-majeure clause is rarely included in standard Park City villa contracts. Most operators do not offer rebook protection for low-snow-year openings; if Deer Valley or Park City Mountain Resort delays the opening of a trophy lift (Empire Express, Silver Strike, Jupiter) into the booking week, the standard contract holds the tenant on the rate. The buyer-side ask: confirm the snow-condition language before deposit transfer. The alternative is private travel insurance with a snow-condition trigger; specialist coverage is available from Snowsure, Travel Guard, and a small set of carriers at 6 to 14 percent of trip cost depending on coverage scope.

The pre-Christmas-NYE booking risk is the most exposed: the December opening of Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort depends on the November and early-December snowfall, and a delayed opening can materially affect a Christmas booking. Most operators communicate the lift-opening calendar through the second week of December; buyers booked December 18 onward have typically committed by the previous April, well before the snow-condition signal. The post-2022 climate variance trend has tightened the operator-side insurance environment; some operators have introduced a December-only snow-condition addendum at higher deposit cost. Confirm with the operator before deposit transfer.

Section VI  ·  The Disclosure

Chalets we passed on.

Eight Park City properties currently advertised on the major platforms that we did not include in our editorial list, with the reason each was disqualified.

  • Empire Pass six-bedroom listed at $98,000 per week (Christmas-NYE). Marketed as “ski-in/ski-out.” Actual lift access requires a 230-metre walk from the property door to the Silver Strike Express base, with a 12-percent grade and no plowed pedestrian path during heavy-snow days. Misleading on working ski-in/ski-out geography.
  • Deer Crest five-bedroom listed at $58,000 per week (Christmas-NYE). Operator could not produce the Summit County short-term-rental operator registration on request. Listing operating without permit verification; subject to enforcement risk under Title 11.
  • Old Town four-bedroom listed at $32,000 per week (Sundance). Marketed as “walking distance to all Sundance venues.” Actual walking distance to the Egyptian Theatre is 14 minutes via Park Avenue; the listing photography misrepresents the proximity. Misleading on Sundance walking access.
  • Silver Lake Village four-bedroom listed at $42,000 per week (Christmas-NYE). Property is in a condo building with shared-wall acoustic issues; three reader complaints about ski-boot drop noise and late-night corridor traffic. Operator has not committed to soundproofing or noise-cutoff enforcement.
  • Lower Deer Valley five-bedroom listed at $38,000 per week. Marketed as “St Regis residence access included.” The property is not part of the St Regis residence programme; club facilities and J&G Grill access do not transfer with the rental. Misleading on the marketed amenity.
  • Park City Mountain base four-bedroom listed at $28,000 per week. Property sits 18 metres from the Town Lift base, with an active early-morning lift-operation noise programme starting 7:30 am during the ski season. Three reader complaints documented. Operator has not committed to soundproofing or to disclosing the lift-operation acoustic environment on the listing.
  • Empire Pass eight-bedroom listed at $185,000 per week (Christmas-NYE). Pattern of deposit-return disputes across two seasons. Documented in three reader emails. The operator is outside the Alpine Ski Properties and Resort Property Management third-party escrow protocols; deposits held in an operator-controlled account.
  • Old Town five-bedroom listed at $48,000 per week (Sundance). Marketed as “newly renovated 2025.” Park City Building Department permit records show the 2025 work was limited to a kitchen-cabinet replacement and minor bath update; the interior is largely 2008-vintage with structural HVAC issues flagged in two reader stays. Misleading on working renovation scope.
Section VII  ·  Park City Beyond the Chalet

Where to eat, drink, and sleep off the property.

The villa is the destination. Riverhorse on Main, the Mariposa at Silver Lake, and the Glitretind at the Stein Eriksen are the rest of the week.

RestaurantsForKings

Where to eat in Park City.

Riverhorse on Main for the Main Street reference, the Mariposa at Silver Lake for the Deer Valley fine-dining anchor, Glitretind at the Stein Eriksen for the European mountain dinner, Apex at the Montage for the modern American, Tupelo on Main for the seasonal small-plate, Yuki Yama for the Japanese, High West Distillery for the saloon dinner.

 BarsForKings

Where to drink in Park City.

High West Distillery on Main for the whisky-and-saloon programme, the Wasatch Brew Pub for the Park City reference, No Name Saloon for the Old Town dive, the Lobby Bar at the Stein Eriksen for the Deer Valley sunset, the Apex bar at the Montage. The Park City drinks programme.

 HotelsForKings

When a Park City hotel is the better call.

Three to seven-night trips. The Stein Eriksen Lodge for the Norwegian-fjord-style Deer Valley reference. The St Regis Deer Valley for the Funicular-and-trophy-residence week. The Montage Deer Valley for the family-and-spa programme. The Pendry Park City for the Canyons Village base. The Washington School House for the Old Town small-format. Where the hotel format outperforms a chalet at a similar nightly cost.
Section VIII  ·  FAQ

The questions readers ask.

What is the minimum stay in Park City in peak ski season?

Seven nights at trophy ski-in/ski-out for Christmas-NYE and Presidents’ Day week. Five nights at most operators during January and February shoulder peaks. Three nights at PCMR base outside Christmas-NYE. Sundance 7-night Friday-to-Friday changeover.

How do I get to Park City?

SLC 32 miles west (35-50 min, longer in snowstorms). HCR Heber Valley takes private aviation. SLC transfer $185-$385 Suburban or Sprinter. Add 45 min buffer during winter storms on I-80.

Which zone is right for the first trip?

Empire Pass for trophy ski-in/ski-out. Silver Lake Village for mid-Deer Valley walking. Lower Deer Valley for accessible transit. PCMR base for Park City Mountain side. Old Town for Sundance and Main Street walking. Deer Crest for gated trophy-residential.

What does a Park City ski villa actually cost?

Six-bedroom in peak Christmas-NYE runs $30,000 to $85,000 per week. Trophy Empire Pass 8-10 BR $98,000 to $245,000. 10BR trophy buyout $185,000 to $385,000.

What about Sundance Festival?

Last week of January (2026: Jan 22-Feb 1). Old Town spike 70-130 percent vs surrounding weeks. Deer Valley 25-55 percent premium. Friday-to-Friday 7-night-minimum. Book 12-18 months ahead at trophy tier.

Is a chef included?

Trophy Empire Pass/Deer Crest/Stein Eriksen residence tier $145,000-plus per week typically include daily breakfast plus three chef-dinners. Standard tier no, chef-on-call $950 to $2,800 per day.

How does Park City compare with Aspen or Telluride?

55-75 percent of Aspen peak, 90-110 percent Jackson Hole, 110-130 percent Telluride. Wins on SLC accessibility (35-50 min) and Sundance calendar. Loses to Aspen on social-circuit density.

What is the deposit and cancellation norm?

Fifty percent on confirmation, balance 90-120 days. Security deposit $7,500-$35,000. Christmas-NYE non-refundable inside 90 days. Snow-condition force-majeure rarely included; private snow-condition travel insurance available.

What is the snow-quality and lift-access math?

Deer Valley 2,026 acres, base 6,570 to summit 9,570 (Empire Peak), skiers only. Park City Mountain 7,300 acres (combined PC and Canyons), base 6,800 to summit 10,026 (Jupiter Peak). Empire Pass ski-in/ski-out Silver Strike/Empire/Daly. Deer Crest via Funicular.

When should we book for Christmas-NYE, Sundance, or Presidents’ Day?

Christmas-NYE at trophy tier, commit by previous March. Sundance 12-18 months ahead. Presidents’ Day 8-12 months. MLK 6-8 weeks. March shoulder 4-8 weeks. Summer 4-6 weeks at 55-75 percent winter peak discount.

Methodology

How we built this page.

Last updated May 2026. Properties on this page were assessed through Alpine Ski Properties portfolio cross-cited on alpineskiproperties.com May 2026, Resort Property Management Deer Valley inventory cross-cited on resortpropertymanagement.com, Stein Eriksen Lodge residences via deervalley.com, Montage Deer Valley residences via montagehotels.com, Natural Retreats Park City catalogue verified May 2026, Park City Lodging inventory on parkcitylodging.com, and the Time and Place Park City inventory. Snow-condition climatology cross-referenced against Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort summit-snowfall publications 2022-2025. Summit County Code Title 11 short-term-rental operator registration verified through the Summit County records May 2026. Park City Municipal Code 11A-2 verified through the City of Park City publications. Utah TOT tax stack (4.85 percent state, 7.0 percent Summit County TRT, 1.55 percent Park City local) verified against State Tax Commission and Summit County Treasurer publications. Sundance Film Festival 2026 dates cross-referenced against Sundance Institute publication. Next refresh: October 2026, ahead of the 2026-27 ski-season booking close window.

The named editor of this page is the Villas For Kings Mountain West desk. Conflicts of interest, where they exist, are disclosed on each individual villa page.

The For Kings Network

The rest of the Park City week.

The Mariposa dinner for the trophy night. The Stein Eriksen or the St Regis Deer Valley for the three-night version. The High West saloon for the Main Street programme.

Hotels For Kings: Park City Restaurants For Kings: Park City Bars For Kings: Park City

Where to next.

PillarAll 60 destinations, sorted by what each does well. SiblingAspen: the social-circuit ski alternative. SiblingJackson Hole: the terrain-priority alternative. SiblingTelluride: the lower-density alternative. SiblingBig Sky: the Montana-scale alternative. Cross-PillarThe best villas with private pool. How-ToThe buyer’s guide to booking a luxury villa. NetworkHotels For Kings: Park City.