Ski Chalets in Vail, USA
USA

Resort Vail Resort Vail Resort Vail Resort Vail Resort Vail Resort Vail

Description

Boasting an extensive ski domain – the largest single ski area in the USA – together with fast lifts, charming architecture and an excellent snow record, it’s no wonder Vail is such an eminent resort.

Vail sits at an altitude of 2500m with skiing up to 3500m, affording good snow coverage throughout the season.


After long days on the snow, there is a great range of friendly bars and lively venues in Vail to grab a drink and cut loose. That said, groups looking for a long European-style après session may be a little disappointed. Down in the resort, there’s also an impressive selection of restaurants and dining options to choose from.

Vail comprises three vibrant base areas filled with shops and other amenities, connected by pedestrian-friendly heated streets and the country’s largest free transportation system. This impressive bus service means visitors on a budget can find accommodation a little outside town and still have convenient ski access. 


Getting There

Holidaymakers interested in Vail can fly into Denver or Eagle County Airport, from which the resort is a 2-hour or 30-minute transfer, respectively.


When to Go

The welcoming Colorado town of Vail is widely considered among the finest ski and snowboard destinations in the US, with expansive slopes, swift lifts, amazing terrain parks, and mile upon mile of pleasantly challenging terrain to explore.

The best time to go in order to make the most of the snowy slopes is from late November or the festive month of December, through to the spring month of March. During this time, the resort’s superb snowfall record ensures pristine pistes and plenty of fresh seasonal powder to enjoy. 

Early Season

In the early season weeks of November and December, skiers and snowboarders visiting Vail can tuck in a few quick turns before the festive revelry of Christmas and New Year begin. It’s the perfect time to explore the slopes before the crowds arrive – and the high altitude means the snow conditions at this time of year are typically perfectly good.   

When Christmas ticks around, Vail explodes in seasonal cheer. Festive fairy lights line the streets and the scent of hot mulled wine fills the air. Ski lifts are in full flow, whisking snow-lovers to the lofty slopes above, and the après ski scene is lively and welcoming. One issue of visiting Vail at this time of the winter ski season, though, is price – the higher demand pushes accommodation prices up, and it’s not a good time to visit for those looking for a bargain! We recommend early research and advanced booking in order to secure the best prices on travel and accommodation at this popular time of the ski season.

Mid Season

January and February in Vail offer plenty of fresh powder, with low temperatures keeping the snow in great condition. Chilly winds, especially on the high peaks, mean skiers and snowboarders hitting the resort at this time have to wrap up warm, but the benefits of amazing snow far outweigh the cold! January is a little cheaper, too, and you’ll find a good range of deals helping you ski and save on the snowy slopes of Vail in January. 

One date not to miss in mid-season Vail is the annual Burton US Open, which typically takes place in late February 27 through to early March. The event brings some of the world’s finest boarders to Vail’s Golden Peak, with eager viewers lining the pistes and parks to see the professionals in action.

Late Season

When spring ticks round in Vail, conditions are dominated by the warmer weather – but it’s still fresh up on the slopes. Visitors to Vail in the late season enjoy plenty of sunshine, with sun-soaked terraces full of skiers and boarders taking a well-earned break from the groomed slopes.

When the sun disappears, rainfall can leave visitors feeling a little damp around the ears – especially down in the resort – but this turns to fresh spring snow at higher altitude. The main advantage to a spring visit to the ski resort of Vail is price… With demand lower, eagle-eyed snow-lovers can pick up a bargain on travel and accommodation. 


Where to Stay



Getting around


Apres

Vail has a great range of bars and lively venues for a well-deserved après-ski drink.

In the Lionshead area of Vail, there are two fantastic après-ski spots with lively atmospheres and sunny patios: Tavern on the Square, widely regarded as Vail’s “premiere après hot spot”, and Garfinkel’s. Both are nice and close to the Eagle Bahn gondola.


The Red Lion is another vibrant spot, boasting live music and a great selection of drinks. Get there early for a prized spot on the front deck or the traditional ski bar inside.

For a more relaxed drink, Cucina in the Lodge at Vail is a fine place to savour a glass of wine by the fire. Pepi’s is another great place for a more refined crowd, with live music and a heated deck.

On the mountain, Bistro Fourteen at Eagle's Nest is perfect for those seeking a beverage and marvellous views.


Eating out

From great value pizza to top end gourmet cuisine, Vail has a rich selection of dining options.

Bistro Fourteen boasts a great kids’ menu and some of the best views around. It’s a nice, casual place that’s perfect for a sit-down lunch. Blue Moose Pizza, meanwhile, is a great-value Italian eatery with a lively atmosphere and food the kids will love.

It may not be cheap, but the Game Creek Restaurant serves delectable gourmet food, and the views are superb. It’s truly marvellous for a special occasion.


Another elegant spot, albeit more modern, is the celebrated Sebastian restaurant. Here, you’ll find seasonal specials prepared from organic, locally-produced ingredients.

For refuelling with a gang of hungry mates, Moe’s Original BBQ is safe bet, while Garfinkel’s is the place to go for a feed, a few après drinks and people watching.

Below, you’ll find some of the excellent restaurants in Vail, as voted by our ski holiday experts.


Good for Couples

Game Creek Restaurant

Game Creek Bowl

Vail

+1 970 754 4275

Good for Couples

The Sebastian

16 Vail Road

Vail

+1 970 331 0698

Good for Family

Bistro Fourteen

Top of the Eagle Bahn

Vail

+1 970 754 4530

Good for Family

Blue Moose Pizza

675 Lionshead place

Vail

+1 970 476 8666

Good for Friends

Garfinkel's

536 E Lionshead Circle

Vail

+1 970 476 3789

Good for Friends

Moe's Original BBQ

616 W Lionshead Circle

Vail

+1 970 479 7888

Good for Friends

Two Elk Restaurant

On piste restaurant

Vail Mountain

Vail

+1 970 754 8245


Activities

For non-skiers or visitors who just want to shake things up, Vail has a great range of activities.

Of course, you don’t need skis to explore the beautiful mountain terrain. The Vail Nordic School specialises in snowshoeing tours, among other backcountry adventures. Lead by one of their highly experienced guides, it’s a marvellous way to learn about the history and wildlife of the surrounding snowy wilderness.


Exhilarating snowmobile tours and dinner-destination sleigh rides and are two other brilliant ways to experience the stunning country that surrounds Vail.

Visitors to Vail, especially families, won’t want to miss the fun of Adventure Ridge. At the top of the Eagle Bahn gondola, this playground of winter activities includes a four-person zipline, snow tubing, ski biking, junior snowmobiles, a bungee trampoline and more.

Holidaymakers will also find outdoor ice skating rinks in the centre of both Vail Village and Lionshead, plus a large indoor skating rink in East Lionshead.

For keen shoppers with some room in the budget, Vail is a dream. There is a great variety of shops, including sellers of fine jewellery, perfumes, clothing and souvenirs.

A trip to the tourist office will offer lots of useful information on resort activities, but here is some info to get you started.


Indoor Ice Skating

Vail

+1 970 479 2271

Sleigh Rides

Vail

+1 970 376 4647

Snowmobiling

Vail

+1 866 998 0696


Ski School


Getting around


Family ski

For families heading to the USA to ski, Vail offers extensive slopes with a good range of learner-friendly terrain, rapid ski lifts and excellent snow coverage, but the lift queues can be long. The terrain is well-suited to intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, but there’s enough to keep learners comfortable, too. The après ski isn’t too rowdy, a positive for families with young kids in tow. The resort is spread out and split up into different sectors, but they’re largely traffic free and therefor safe for kids. 

Parents in search of childcare in Vail have a wide range of options to turn to, and the Small World Nursery in Golden Peak is a fine example. Here, children from the age of 2 months to 6 years are welcomed into various age-related groups. The nursery is open from eight am to four pm each day throughout the winter ski season, offering comprehensive childcare services. There’s also a service for children aged 20 months and upwards called Micro Mice where, for an additional fee, parents can book the kids onto morning ski lessons. 

Parents in search of tuition for the kids are well-advised to check the location of their accommodation before booking, as this is a spread-out resort. The majority of children’s’ lessons operate out of the Lionshead and Golden Peak sectors, where there’s a wide range of beginner-friendly terrain to explore. There’s private tuition available out of Vail Village, Golden Peak, Lionshead and Mid-Vail too. 

Learner skiers in Vail are perhaps most at home on Vail’s Front Side, where gentle terrain and open slopes offer ideal conditions to youngsters. There’s a wide range of green pistes within easy reach at all points of the mountain, and you can access a further selection of learner-friendly pistes via the Sourdough Express lift at mid-mountain. Here, shorter pistes run down through the trees offering shelter when bad weather closes in. There’s also a Kids Adventure Zone, which offers exciting tunnels and banked slopes built with family skiing in mind, where kids can gain extra skills and build confidence on the slopes. 
In Vail, families have easy access to a wide range of non-ski activities and entertainments, which is great if the kids need a change of activity of if bad weather keeps you away from the snowy slopes. The Nature Discovery Center can be found atop the Eagle Bahn gondola, with exhibits shining a light on Vail’s natural world away from the groomed pistes. For families and kids aged ten and over, there are complimentary guided snowshoes tours which take explorers into the snowy wilderness at 2pm and 5pm. 

Also at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, Adventure Ridge is home to a wide range of exciting family-friendly activities where parents can burn off the kids energy away from the groomed pistes. The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster offers high-speed thrills to kids aged three and upwards, and younger participants can ride in tandem with parents. For youngsters aged 6 to 12, supervised snowmobiling is wonderful family-oriented fun on the snow. On top of this, there’s a tubing slope to tackle and ski-bikes available for hire – allowing parents and kids a chance to explore the terrain as an alternative to skiing and snowboarding. (Please note, though, that participants must be aged 10 or over, and at least intermediate-level skiers or snowboarders.)

The Candy Cabin on Beaver Creek can be reached via the Strawberry Park Express lift, and offers a sugary treasure-trove for families and kids. Meanwhile, down in town, there’s a whole host of further family-oriented activities to enjoy. In Lionshead Village, families can hire skates and hit the ice rink or enjoy a little non-ski fun in the playground. For indoor entertainment in cases of bad weather, the Imagination Station can be found in the Lionshead Welcome Center. Here, you’ll find an interactive museum aimed at young visitors aged from around 3 to 12. 


Group Ski

As one of the United States’ largest ski areas, Vail works wonderfully well for group ski holidays. The ski area itself is diverse, with plenty of terrain suited to skiers and snowboarders from beginner level to seasoned expert. With that said, it’s perhaps best suited to strong intermediates keen to tuck in the miles. Lifts are rapid and allow for easy traversal of the ski area, and the high-altitude top level of over three thousand five hundred metres means snowfall in Vail is outstanding. 

Vail’s terrain parks attract groups of freestyle skiers and boarders keen to sharpen their skills among the pipes and kickers, and for freeriding groups in search of the steep and deep, there are amazing runs to be found around Blue Sky basin. 

Down in town, Vail is a mostly traffic-free town – ideal for groups of families with young children in tow. The ski schools are wonderfully well-reputed, too – another bonus for groups of parents with young kids mastering their first turns on the snow. 

Groups of friends and families alike enjoy Vail’s dining scene – and you’ll find a wide range of eating-out options covering both local and international cuisine. On the après ski front, Vail’s nightlife is relaxed and welcoming, but there are livelier resorts elsewhere in the United States for après-skiing party animals. 
One down side to Vail when it comes to group skiing is the spread-out nature of the resort. Getting around can be time-consuming, and doesn’t always come across as a particularly convenient ski resort to visit. But if you don’t mind taking your time to reach the corners of the ski area you most want to hit, the pay-off is well worth the effort!

For groups of skiers in search of a combination of rooms together, the Evergreen Lodge is a good accommodation option to choose. Here, guests enjoy easy location between Lionshead and the buzzing Vail Village, alongside a wide range of facilities and services. The closest lift is around a ten minute stroll from the home, and the shuttle stops nearby for easy access throughout the resort. 


Childcare

As well as having fantastic ski schools, Vail offers a superb range of childcare facilities.

Eagle Valley Child Care takes kids from 8-weeks-old up to 6 years. Their highly trained staff offer fun activities and educational games to keep the little ones entertained.


Care 4 Kids pairs visitors with experienced babysitters who travel to your hotel or condo. Their expert staff are all classroom CPR certified, and thorough references are available.

Another wonderful service is the Small World Nursery, which takes children from 2-months-old up to 6 years.


The Piste

There is terrain for all skill levels here, but intermediate and expert skiers are particularly well catered for. The resort has plenty of cruisy pistes, and the steeper gradients of the exhilarating Back Bowls are sure to please the seasoned pros. Although the nursery slopes lower down the mountain are great for beginners, Vail’s popularity means they are often busy, especially on peak dates.


There is also excellent off-piste skiing to enjoy here, with beautiful tree-lined runs and plenty of powder traps, and freestyle skiers can show off their best moves in two snow parks. 


Ski School


Equipment Hire


Lift Passes


Chalet Sleeps

Chalets sleeping: 2 people & over
Chalets sleeping: 8 people & over



Resorts statistics

  • ALTITUDE

    2475m

  • LONGEST PISTE

    5km

  • HIGHEST SKI LIFT

    3525m

  • TOTAL LIFTS

    34

  • TOTAL PISTE

    310km






Ski chalets in Vail

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