The month of May brings with it warmer temperatures and some changes to the vacation rental situation at the condo in Moab. We reported last week that there was a requirement for a break of 72 hours between the departure of one guest and the arrival of the next. However, that was amended a few days ago and now there is a 24 hour waiting time between departure and arrival.

The three-day waiting time was going to make it very difficult for renters, property managers, cleaning crews and property owners to coordinate the schedule.  Having to manually block time before and after each booking for a period of 72 hours was going to be cumbersome.

It’s of utmost importance that the cleaning crews do a great job when turning properties around. One of the reasons that I like working with Makenna’s Gold Rentals is because the cleaning crews are consistently very good. Every now and then someone’s going to miss something but if you contact the property management office they are very responsive and will make sure things are taking care of to your satisfaction.

Still no word as to when Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park will be opening. The latest rumor is sometime in late May. If I had to guess I would say it would be after Memorial Day so they don’t get overrun with visitors.,

If you are thinking of staying at the condo in Moab and would like to book the condo there is still some availability for May and June. Please make sure that your start date is 1 full day after the departure date of the previous guest.

The days are getting longer and the weather is definitely warming up. We had our first 90° days last week. It won’t be that hot this week but it’s important to remember to bring lots of drinking water even when going out for a short walk.   While there is still water in some of the creeks you cannot rely on water sources in the backcountry.  We want everyone who stays at the condo in Moab to come back safe from their daily explorations.

April has really been a spectacular month at the condo in Moab! The weather has been beautiful with sunny days and a few high clouds. Moderate temperatures ranging from the high 60s to the mid 80s as the month wraps up have made it a wonderful time to be outdoors. I’ve been doing a fair amount of hiking and exploring new parts of red rock country.

Even though Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are still closed, Grand County has decided to loosen up the restrictions for vacation rentals and hotels. So, I am going to be departing on May 3 as the first guests check in on May 6. There is a new requirement to have a 72 hour vacancy between departures and arrivals. This is to ensure that after the property is cleaned all viruses are completely killed and the next guest can be assured of a safe and comfortable stay.

If you would like to make reservations there is still some availability for May and June. Please make sure that your start date is three days after the departure date of the previous guest.

Here is a portion of the information from the health department memorandum pertaining to departures and arrivals:

72-Hour Rest Period:

All lodging facilities that provide a room or other rental (including a cabin, house, or unit) shall restrict access to each room or other rental from any person for a period of 72 hours after check-out of prior guests.

Cleaning staff may enter the room or rental after 24 hours if they have received supplies and training specific to personal protective measures and sanitation supplies pursuant to recommendations of the health department. The purpose of this 72-Hour Rest Period is based on scientific studies indicating that the COVID-19 virus can remain stable on certain surfaces for up to three (3) days (i.e.,72 hours).

Example Timeline – Guest checks out on Sunday at noon, room/rental is left alone for the rest of the day. On Monday afternoon cleaning services are provided if cleaning staff is appropriately trained and protected. On Wednesday afternoon the room/rental is available for new guests to check in.

Beautiful spring temperatures and gorgeous sunny skies characterize life at the condo in Moab during the first part of April. Uncharacteristically, there are no people in town because the Coronavirus epidemic has led to the closure of both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. As a result, I’m staying here during the closure to enjoy the gorgeous red rock scenery and do a little bit of hiking on BLM and National Forest Land.

This is a rare opportunity to take pictures among the red rocks without people in them. But unfortunately, I can’t get into the national parks so I have to just enjoy the other public lands which seem almost endless. With all of the local businesses shut down with the exception of the supermarkets and a handful of restaurants offering takeout service, Moab resembles a ghost town.

It’s very important that anyone who is not a full-time resident or property owner stays away from this part of the world because there are no accommodations. All hotel rooms are shut and only available to what are considered essential workers which means people who are directly tied to keeping Moab going. And vacation rentals have been terminated through at least the end of April and possibly longer.

So, while southeastern Utah, Western Colorado, Northeast Arizona and northern New Mexico have relatively few cases of the Coronavirus, the locals and the authorities want to keep it that way.  The best way to do this is to completely eliminate people coming in and out of this part of the world for any reason that is not truly essential.

All of us fervently hope that by keeping Coronavirus cases in the single digits in each County in the Four Corners region we can return to a semblance of normal life sooner than many other parts of the country. There has even been a call for everyone working in supermarkets and the food service industry to wear masks 100% of the time since they are in contact with the food supply. Some more extreme types don’t want anyone entering Moab unless they can first show proof of a negative Coronavirus test but it’s unlikely were going to get to that point anytime soon.

Hopefully, things will return to normal sometime later this year. So you may wish to consider making reservations for autumn since that is a very popular time and the condo in Moab tends to sell out quickly.

Spring has arrived early at the Moab vacation rental condo. Temperatures in the 60s and beautiful sunny skies are making the first part of March absolutely delightful. There are still a few open dates in March, April and May. But the condo is getting booked up so we recommend that you make reservations now if you are planning to come any time before July.

Our neighbors to the northeast in Colorado have enjoyed a phenomenal ski season this winter. It was my good fortune to have flown here in July and found a nice condo to rent in Dillon for ski season.  You never know when you book a ski vacation far in advance if mother nature will cooperate. But everything has worked out great with fresh snow several times a week.

Using the Epic Pass I skied at Keystone, Breckenridge and Vail. After spending the last few decades skiing primarily at Lake Tahoe with occasional adventures elsewhere it was quite a treat to have all new terrain for the past couple of months.

Speaking of all new terrain, one of the great things about staying at the Moab vacation rental condo is the proximity to many parts of the red rock country. It’s about 15 minutes north to the entrance to Arches National Park. Roughly 30 minutes gets you to Canyonlands National Park. And about one hour to the south brings you into a completely different section of Canyonlands.

One of our favorite trips that can be done either in a long day or as a one night overnight takes you from the condo in Moab initially to Natural Bridges National Monument. This place is pretty compact so you can go to the overlooks and even walk under one of the bridges before noon. Enjoy a picnic lunch before heading down to the Valley of the Gods.

This is very much like Monument Valley only the rock formations are spaced farther apart. It gets very few visitors primarily due to the rough road. Make sure it has not rained recently or you will find a couple of the normally dry creek beds to be difficult or impossible to cross.

A leisurely four hours will get you from Natural Bridges down through the Valley of the Gods and pretty close to Monument Valley. We recommend staying overnight at the lodging closest to Monument Valley (make sure you book months in advance) and enjoying dinner at the hotel called The View.  The 17 mile drive through Monument Valley takes 2 to 3 hours, longer if you plan to linger or hike around one of the Mittens.

While our neighbors in Colorado have been getting pummeled with one snowstorm after another it’s been rather beautiful at the condo in Moab.  This coming week it looks like temperatures in the high 40s to mid 50s with sunny skies as far as the eye can see. This makes those beautiful colors in the red rocks pop out even more than usual especially with the sun still low in the sky.

Reservations are filling up for the months of March, April, May and June. However, there is still some good availability if you come during the week instead of on the weekend. Our favorite time to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks is Monday through Thursday when there are smaller crowds.

We highly recommend that you arrive at the park entrance either before 8:30 AM or after 4 PM. You can take your chances anytime in between. However, some of the longest lines to get into the parks generally take place between 9 AM and 1 PM.  Please keep in mind that both of these national parks are rather primitive.  

You’re not going to find much of anything in the way of services, food, gas or anything else you would normally expect to be able to purchase.  You can sometimes buy sandwiches and snacks in one corner of Canyonlands.  But, you won’t find anything other than books, maps and a few souvenirs at the Arches visitor center.

Make sure that you start your day very prepared and fully self-contained. That means packing all of the food and water that you will need for the entire day along with extra clothing. Fill up the gas tank, put on sunblock and let someone know where you’re going if you are planning to travel off road.

If you are staying at the condo in Moab you will drive right past City Market and the accompanying gas station on your way to both Arches and Canyonlands. They have a great deli which makes yummy sandwiches and has all the fixings you need for a delightful picnic.  With such a great variety to choose from you will be sure to enjoy a wonderful day in the great outdoors surrounding Moab

After we get through a bit of stormy weather today at the Moab condo it looks like a nice sunny week ahead.  Check out the weather forecast

A good sized winter storm is making its way through the Intermountain West. However, only the southern end will clip the Moab area. So, after things clear off we will have clear sunny weather for the most part along with a few clouds interspersed here and there. Daytime temperatures will be in the 40s. When you put it all together it means a terrific time to see the beautiful colors at both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Now I know what some of you are thinking. It’s way too cold to be wandering around red rock country. Well if you bundle up and have shoes with good traction (or wear) ice trekkers you can make your way to most of the sites without too much difficulty. You won’t have to fight the crowds; in many places you might have a nice stretch of the park all to yourself.

At the Moab condo we are doing the annual heavy cleaning of the entire property. This means moving all of the furniture and getting into all of the nooks and crannies to make the place sparkling clean for the first arrivals of 2020. We pride ourselves on having a terrific housekeeping staff. So, if you ever find anything amiss please contact our property manager immediately and they will set things right pronto.

Reservations are starting to fill up for the spring of 2020. If you are thinking of coming anytime between March and the end of June now is the time to book the Moab condo. Some of the prime weeks are already taken.
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Don’t forget to bring your laptop or tablet when you come to the Moab condo. We have a really fast Wi-Fi connection!  So, you can stay connected or disconnected, whatever your mood.

Happy New Year from the condo in Moab!  It’s that time of year when things slow down in Moab. While the days might be getting longer, we are still a good two months away from the traditional start of the visitor season.

However, if you don’t mind the cold weather then January and February are a nice time to visit Moab. You won’t find any crowds at the supermarket, restaurants or the national parks. Many of the restaurants and retail stores remain closed until mid to late February. But if you are coming for the beautiful scenery, this time of year provides you with the most brilliant colors.

With the sun very low in the sky the red rock scenery takes on a whole new light. You will get to see colors and variations in the rock formations that are not as apparent when the sun is high in the sky later in the year. Photographers especially appreciate the early morning light yet they don’t have to get up at 5 AM. Sunrise photos are beautiful in winter. Just make sure that you dress warmly as mornings in January tend to be quite chilly.

It looks like reasonably nice weather at the condo in Moab this week. However night times will be in the teens with daytime highs only in the 30s. A little bit of snow is expected at higher elevations but then things clear up quickly. If you are driving early in the morning this time of year watch out for black ice. You don’t need any precipitation to get enough condensation on the roads with temperatures dropping well below freezing each night. Unfortunately, black ice is almost impossible to see. It’s better to slow down and not make sudden moves. This means breaking and accelerating slowly and carefully along with making cautious lane changes.

Things are rather quiet at the condo in Moab this time of year.  December and January are the slowest months of the year for visitors coming to this part of the world. The weather tends to be rather chilly and there are occasional snowstorms dusting the area.

Sometimes there can be accumulations of snow and access to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks may be limited. The entrance roads to both parks have some significant uphill grades. As a result, it is good to be extra cautious when driving in this part of the world during the wintertime.

Visitors to the condo in Moab during winter are advised to put snow tires on their car. If you have four-wheel-drive along with snow tires that is even better. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of room between your car and the other vehicles around you. Tailgating is never a good idea and it’s especially dangerous this time of year.

We also recommend that you keep extra food, water and warm clothing in your car along with blankets or sleeping bags. Weather conditions in the mountains can be unforgiving. It only takes one traffic accident to block the road and create a backup that could potentially last for many hours. Every winter people suffer great hardship in the mountains of the Western United States when they travel unprepared. Better safe than sorry…

Here is the upcoming weather forecast for the remainder of this week at the condo in Moab:

Showers of snow and rain return for Christmas Eve and Christmas

Day with activity lingering through Thursday. Accumulating snow

is expected for the southern and central mountains with lesser

amounts further north. Many valley locations will see light snow

accumulations with some higher amounts possible in the southern

valleys.

Unsettled flow will keep periodic snow showers in the forecast for

the mountains through the weekend.  Expect daytime highs in the 40s and nighttime lows in the 20s.

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, the condo in Moab is coming into a quiet time of the year.  Winter weather is arriving with night time temperatures dropping down into the teens and 20s.  Daytimes are in the 40s and 50s, but there will be periods of rain and snow on and off for the next week.

This winter we will be doing the annual heavy cleaning at the condo in Moab.  It’s quite a production to move all the furniture, empty out the kitchen cabinets and clean all the nooks and crannies.  Even though the house keeping service does a great job after each guest departs the condo in Moab still needs a deep cleaning (as does every other vacation rental) when the season winds down.

We like to take inventory at the end of each rental season to see if anything is damaged, missing or needs replacement.  It’s important to us that all of our guests enjoy a great experience at the condo in Moab.  So, that’s why you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen with all of the appliances, pots, pans and accessories needed to whip up fantastic meals.

If you are planning to visit Moab between now and the middle of February, please keep in mind that many of the local shops and restaurants close for 2 to 4 months.  Some of the proprietors head up to the mountains of Colorado or Northern Utah for skiing.  But many shop keepers depart for the beaches and warm, sunny climates.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make reservations to stay in Moab.  During the busy season in Spring and Fall the rental properties typically book up well in advance.  It’s best to nail down your travel dates and reserve your lodging accommodations now for 2020 so you don’t get aced out.  You’ll be glad you reserved ahead to get the place you want when coming to Red Rock Country!

Are you looking for lodging in Moab? Then you have come to the right place! This beautiful three bedroom, 2.5 bath, nearly 1600 square-foot condo features beautiful views of the mountains and red rocks from every room. You’ll feel right at home with the spacious rooms, generous master suite with vaulted ceiling and private balcony.

The nice big kitchen is fully equipped for even the most discriminating chef.  The five burner gas stove is a pleasure when it comes to cooking and entertaining. There is a lot of counterspace and even a breakfast bar for friends and family to gather at.

When it comes to lodging in Moab there are many choices. But, most hotel rooms are nothing more than a rectangle with a couple of beds. Having your own kitchen in which to prepare meals not only saves money but a lot of time waiting in line at the restaurants in town.

While the lines might be relatively short in November, during the busy season you can easily wait an hour or more to get a seat in a good restaurant. Some places practically require reservations in the spring and fall. So, for most people it’s preferable to do your shopping at City Market and enjoy meals at the condo in Moab.

The autumn weather has been unusually nice this year. However, there could be some precipitation coming in later this week. Higher elevations might get a dusting of snow while we could see a few raindrops in town. Regardless, this has been an exceptionally beautiful fall in red rock country.

If you are planning a trip in 2020 now is the time to line up your lodging in Moab. It’s amazing how quickly the quality properties book up for the high-volume springtime season. Visitors planning activities in Moab any time from March through June who want the best variety to choose from will want to make reservations before the Christmas holidays.