You’ve decided to visit Park City for your ski vacation. After scrolling through seemingly endless lists of lodging options, the only progress you’ve made is the realization that there are an endless variety of lodging options. Should you stay slope side, and take advantage of the easy access to ski school and the chairlifts? Or perhaps downtown is the best location to pursue lodging, with restaurants and shops at your fingertips. Listed below are some of the arguments for selecting a place to stay both on the mountain and in town.

With three ski resorts in a six-mile span, Park City offers a high concentration of ski-in ski-out lodging options. Places like Deer Valley’s Black Diamond Lodge and the Marriott Mountainside at Park City Mountain Resort offer the conveniences of quick and easy access to ski school and the chair lifts without the hassle of parking. There is no waiting for a ski shuttle; simply buckle your boots or strap into your board and within minutes you’ll be making highly anticipated powder turns down the mountain. Don’t worry about waiting for everyone to pile into the car either, as your family and friends can make their way out onto the runs at their own pace, be that first tracks or early afternoon.

If you applaud the idea of ski-in ski-out lodging but are more budget-conscious, look into places that are a short walk or a few blocks away instead. Often, you’ll find better quality per dollar if you’re willing to stay a minimal distance away from the base area. Consider locations like Park City’s Shadow Ridge or Powder Run at Deer Valley, which are still within walking distance but cost less than their slope side counterparts.

If you’re amenable to staying somewhere on the free shuttle route, additional high quality options are available for significant savings. Park City’s bus line delivers skiers to the various resorts at twenty-minute intervals during the winter, and stops within 50 yards of most residences. Once the shuttle delivers you to the resort, skip the hassle of finding a parking space and immediately head to the lifts. Places like the Newpark hotel offer luxury granite countertops and flat screen TVs at a fraction of the cost of comparable lodging in town, and are located at Kimball Junction, less than a five-minute shuttle ride from The Canyons Resort.

Another possible lodging option is a condo, hotel, or home in downtown Park City. If you and your traveling companions prefer easy access to the restaurants, shops, and bars of Main Street, then consider places like the Caledonian, or one of the houses on Empire or Norfolk Avenues. These locations allow you to enjoy the nightlife without the anxiety of parking or finding alternative transportation home. Additionally, Park City Mountain Resort’s Town Lift operates from lower Main Street and services mid-mountain Park City, eliminating the need to drive or shuttle to the main base area. A note of caution: to return to town via the Town Lift trails, you’ll need to successfully navigate intermediate blue ski runs.

The unique nature of the three Park City ski resorts ensures that there is an abundance of lodging available for all different budgets and preferences. And once you find a place that suits your needs, you can focus on other aspects of your vacation, like what gear you’re going to wear out on the mountain.