There is possibly nothing so suitable as a log cabin for a ski vacation, especially for city dwellers. The most complete kind of holiday offers a total change from your everyday life, and a ski vacation in a log cabin can give you this like no other holiday. Staying in a designer hotel may be agreeable, but how different is that hotel from those you stay at on business trips? Similarly there are many smart condos in ski resorts, which may have sophisticated furnishings and nice views, but often something very similar could be found in an urban setting. There is almost no chance, however, that you will find anything approximating a log cabin in any city. In the unlikely event that someone wanted to build one, the planning restrictions would surely prevent it ever happening.

In a ski resort, however, log cabins are not just allowed, they are part of the culture of the mountains. Although they represent a fairly profligate way of using wood compared to the framing method, there is something tremendously satisfying about the feeling of a log cabin, especially those constructed with massive logs. The building feels bomb-proof, it is so chunky. It is incomparably warm and cozy, but also satisfyingly authentic. You can hardly cause it any damage: scratches that would be disfiguring to a plasterboard wall simply add character to a log wall. And while there might have been a time when a log cabin was dark and slightly oppressive, modern log-built homes can have soaring ceilings, expansive windows and sophisticated designs that give them the best of all worlds.

Take Horstman Chalet Two, offered for rent by Holiday Whistler Accommodation in Whistler, North Americas leading ski resort. It is a truly spectacular home, with 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a restaurant-quality kitchen, a den and a study. It combines the coziness of log construction with a very sophisticated gallery amid the expansive great room. It is a dream location for a ski rental, with a private ski-in run and terrific views over the beautiful Whistler valley. It is possibly the ultimate rental accommodation in Whistler, a town which features many spectacular rental homes.