Because of the nature of the visitors to ski resorts, accommodations are different that in most other forms of travelling. Skiing vacations are very popular with families and different sized groups, creating a demand for places to stay with a living area to gather and socialize as well as a kitchen and dining area. In most ski resorts, condominiums and private homes are more in demand than conventional hotels. The communities at the foot of the mountains are well established places with many year round residents and a unique community identity. Not only will they accommodate all of your travel needs, but will also provide opportunities to stay in novel places.
With major hotels, it is a simple matter to check with a nationwide booking number for availability and rates, but with the condos and private homes in ski vacation areas you will need a little bit different approach. The large ski resorts will usually have a centralized information number with information on rentals in the community. These are usually run by the resort company, or the local chamber of commerce or tourist council. While being a valuable source of information, they do not usually have the ability to offer discounts or make deals. Contacting local realty management companies directly may provide you the opportunity to uncover some excellent deals, though they will not have as much inventory as the centralized agency.
Major markets for Colorado ski resorts are cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Checking the classified ads in the Sunday newspapers may give you other opportunities for a deal on ski lodging, or at least give you a baseline to compare rates.
Tourist bureaus in the resort you are planning to visit can put you in touch with local independent agents specializing in lodging for the area. These are known as receptive operators who are dialed into the local market, and can give you good service to meet both your lodging requests as well as your budget.
Generally speaking, if you are traveling as with two or less people, then a ski resort hotel may be best suited to your needs. If you are traveling with three or more people on your ski vacation, then a private home or condo may be the best way to go.