Big Bear Vacations

I needed a getaway SO BADLY. I scoured the web for 30 minutes, and Big Bear Vacations had rhe lowest price and best selection of open cabins. I booked the least expensive one for the next night, and off I went! Check in time is 4pm which is admittedly a bit inconvenient - yet I wandered in before e, and here is what happened: There was a lady at the check in counter asking a staff member a million questions. She wasn't check in in either, she was a property owner who was renting out through them for the first time. She was asking sooo many (annoying) questions, and the gal who was staffing the desk was a saint, a fountain of patience, and treated annoying lady like a queen. Annoying lady eventually stumped her, and the gal needed to run upstairs to gather more info. Whike she was running by, i asked if I should come back, as i had my dog with me in the car. Her reply made me so happy - "oh, BRING him IIINNN!!" with a huge smile, "it shouldn't be long at all, and we would love to have him. We have water and treats and everything! Absolutely bring him in!" I was thrilled! I went and got my huge yellow lab, and everyone loved on her. She was bouncing with joy, i was bouncing with joy! All dog people know, we LOVE it when someone loves our dog. She totally checked me in early with pleasure, gave my dog 2 little boxes of Halloween treats, some recommendations, and easy to follow instructions to the cabin, and all of the info I needed for it (Wi-Fi, etc). I got to the cabin and WOW. First, it was spotless. And not like they wiped it down with cheap purple cleaning liquids and a splash of bleach. I mean clean. Well kept. No cobwebs. No dust, or old smell, just cabin perfection. The decor was understated big bear with a rock climbing twist. Rather than a zillion bear knick knacks and some roosters and apples, it had a couple of bears, lots of knotty wood, and climbing photos, trail maps, and belay ropes and harnesses as wall decor. I loved it!! The kitchen is decked out with a better stove and microwave than I have at home, and it has every tool, utensil, pot, pan, and fish you could imagine. Often x3. I have stayed in many a cabin in big bear, and there is almost NEVER a bottle opener or can opener. Tbis place had EVERYTHING. nice roku tv, great Wi-Fi, brand new sofa and reclining chair, lots of decent games and books, lots of extra bedding and throw blankets. Everything smelled like fresh laundry soap! The best is the binder - there is a binder with some house info, hiking trail info, and all of the operating manuals. Very organized. I imagine the owner to be a nerdy engineer businessman biker, and id like to hang out with him and his wife! :) The neighborhood is quiet and friendly and just far enough outside the village that there is no foot traffic. Neighbors were all nice, deck waa great. The one thing I would advise is re: water heater. The binder addresses that it is set to warm, and to call property manager to change it. I thought warm would be ok. I was wrong. Warm was not quite room temp, which in a cool cabin, wet and naked, is FREEZING. I repeat - freezing. Other than that tiny fixable detail, it was hands down the best cabin and rental experience I have ever had. I hit the jackpot! On checkout day, i called and requested a late check out. For a small fee, they offer checkout at 3! So worth it, i got to watch football, have another hike, and another (albeit cold) shower before checking out! And checkout was a cinch. I took the dog in with me this time (they gave her another box of cookies), Literally handed over the key and was done. Took my trash to the dumpster, grabbed some late lunch, and made the sunset drive home. Gorgeous start to finish!! Cannot recommend this enough. Big bear is such a sweet quiet getaway, and i had been so stressed; it was just what the doctor ordered!