I'm assuming Frisco has more downtown charm than Dillon or Silverthorne (true??).  Considering a possible holiday week there and would probably ski a few including A-Basin (tops on list).  Does Keystone (or any of the others) have a resaonable viable downtown area that isn't Wally World?  Or, is Frisco the best bet for town?

Any DCSkiers have any places to rent out?

First off, beware holiday weeks, they are VERY expensive, and snow conditons can be iffy, or they may be great. It depends on the year. It's ALWAYS crowded. The time between Christmas to just after New Years Day is the most crowded time of the year.

Anyway, your assessment is correct, Frisco has downtown charm.  Silverthorne and Keystone have NO downtowns, although Keystone has a pretty virbrant base area, but it's just a base area. Dillon is better than Silverthorne, but not by much. The best downtown charm in the county belongs to Breckenridge. It's a real Victorian town that happens to have a ski area. I have a place in Breckenridge: vrbo.com property #291212

keystone 'river run' is so wally world, but along co-6 there are some good spots like the snake river, dos locos, and the goat that are walkable, if you stay in the right place. I kind of like that its less hectic than breck or frisco and sometimes base there but ski all around.   its xmas so expect the worst and hope for better.  I wonder what winter park is like at xmas ?

Thanks guys.  Haven't figured out how to get email notices when updates to the thread occur. 

Breck seems like a good idea. A bit salty for the 3 of us from what I've seen so far.  Holiday week is our only real option to go anywhere

I'm thinking about doing similar cheap Xmas trip and have done some homework.  In case you go for cheaper motel:  Frisco Lodge is pretty nice with good breakfast & hot tub and close to summit stage free bus to ski areas, $200+ per night during Xmas holidays.  Never stayed nearby Snowshoe Motel it might be cheaper.  Lots of restaurants and shops near both.  Never stayed Fireside Inn/Hostel at Breck but heard it's good for a cheaper place, about half mile from gondola, ~$180 per night during holidays for larger room.  I've stayed at Georgetown Mtn Inn near Loveland ski area.  Only ~85 per night during holidays, which is a bargain.  Loveland sells fourpacks of transferrable tickets until 11/24 for $129.  It's a decent lesser known bet for early season skiing.

Jim, the best "cheaper" motels in the area are the Summit Inn (NE side of Frisco off the Dillon Dam Road), and The Luxury Inn (N of 1-70 in Silverthorne). The best "cheaper" chains are the Super-8, and the Days Inn, both in Silverthorne.

If you're an Orbitz member, check their hotel promotion e-mails which give 15% to 20% off hotel stays. I got rented out of my own place and just booked the Luxury Inn the first week of December at $52/night (15% savings). The Luxury Inn is the only "cheaper" Summit County property that participates in the promotion.

Also, if Vail/Beaver Creek enter into your equation, the Super-8 in Leadville might work, but less so for any of the Summit County areas. It would also get you close to Cooper, which has a nice cat skiing operation (snow dependent) , and Cooper will certainly be a lot less crowded than any of the name areas.

Avoid the First Interstate Inn in Silverthorne, you'd enjoy sleeping in your car more. Also, avoid the Wayside Inn off of Tiger Run Road in Breckenridge. We stayed at the Wayside a decade ago, and it was pretty bad. I've been told they have made improvements, but it needed LOTS of improvements.

Bear in mind the nothing is cheap at Christmas/New Years.

Good luck!

Man, I'd consider $85/nt !  Georgetown is a neat place, and loveland is great.  Also easier access to winterpark, not sure if that is good or not.   Vrbo might be able to pick up a decent deal in breck - there are so many units that i was always able to find something surprisingly reasonable.  If not, Hotel Frisco is great !!  (sorry, this is always one of my favorite topics...)  and there are like a billion condos in dillon/silverthorne.