Vail Shuttles

Vail shuttles are available in very good supply, and many travelers understandably rely on them, especially air travelers. There is no Vail airport for commercial flights, so shuttle companies pick up the slack and cover the rest of the distance by land. All the passenger has to do is sit back and enjoy the ride, which isn't hard to do thanks to the beautiful Rocky Mountains scenery.

Denver to Vail Shuttle

Many Vail visitors come from Denver, as the Colorado capital is where you will find the state's busiest airport. After the plane lands and baggage is collected, it is possible to hop on a shuttle that is destined for any number of Colorado ski resorts, including Vail. Various companies offer these kinds of mountain services, and they pick passengers up at Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 2. Usually, the areas outside doors 507-511 and doors 506-510 are the pick-up, and drop-off sites. Making reservations for a Denver to Vail shuttle in advance is recommended, and it should be noted that some of the shuttle companies offer extra-convenient charter and on-demand services for an added fee. The regularly scheduled Denver to Vail shuttles usually operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., and there are many to select from.

Vail to Denver Airport Shuttle

Getting from Vail to Denver by way of shuttle is just as easy as going the opposite route. All you have to do is make a reservation, and most companies will pick you up at your Vail hotel or vacation rental. If you are trying to get on one of the regularly schedule ones, they typically run between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7 p.m., with the drive taking about two and a half hours. The regular departure times can vary depending on the season, as is true of all Vail shuttles, so it's always a good idea to check in advance. Unless you arrange for pick-up at your hotel or vacation rental, you will most likely hop on your Vail to Denver Airport shuttle at the Vail Transportation Center, since it is the main transportation hub.

Vail to Breckenridge Shuttle

Since your Vail lift tickets are also good at Breckenridge, you might consider traveling between the two resorts in order to see what both have to offer. Whatever your needs, there are shuttles that travel from Vail to Breckenridge and vice versa. Many are charter or on-demand shuttles, though there is at least one company that offers a daily round trip. These pre-arranged shuttles also visit Keystone, and once again, your Vail lift tickets are good at this other sister resort.

Vail to Aspen Shuttle

The various Colorado shuttle companies can basically take you anywhere you want to go, especially when it comes to those who offer charter and on-demand services. This is good news for those who are interested in finding a Vail to Aspen shuttle. Much like Vail, Aspen is one of the country's most upscale ski resorts, not to mention one of the very best overall, so visiting both on a Colorado ski vacation is understandably tempting. You might also find that taking a shuttle from the Eagle County Airport to Aspen is an option that suits your needs, and you can also take a shuttle from this smaller regional airport to Vail if you so desire. You can find the Eagle County Airport approximately 35 miles west of Vail and 78 miles north of Aspen.

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Vail Ski Resort

Vail Ski Area has everything you could want on a Colorado ski trip. The mountain is enormous: with 5,300 skiable acres, it is the largest contiguous ski resort in North America. But a Vail ski vacation is about more than just the skiing or snowboarding. The Alpine-style town of Vail is a self-contained city, with a surplus of condominium housing, a lively après ski scene, and an impressive variety of restaurants, shopping, museums, movie screens, and traffic jams.

There are several other good ski areas within easy driving distance of the Vail ski resort. Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone are all within a 45-minute drive and share ownership and therefore lift tickets with Vail. But the variety of skiing at Vail Ski Area is such that you could easily spend a weeklong Colorado ski trip on its slopes without seeing the whole mountain.

Vail ski resort has three distinct areas: the Front Side, the Blue Sky Basin, and the legendary Back Bowls. The Front Side is a great place for beginners and intermediates. The green slopes at Vail Colorado are spread across the mountain, so novices are not limited to one part of the resort like at many mountains. The best beginners areas are at Golden Peak, Eagle's Nest, and at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola.

Intermediate skiers and snowboarders are spoilt for choices on a Vail ski vacation. Most of the runs on the Front Side are pleasant groomers. Some of the best are near the Avanti express chair and at Lionshead. Confident intermediates will enjoy the groomed trails in the Back Bowls (and if you visit Vail on a Colorado ski trip, you want to be able to say that you skied Vail's Back Bowls!). If you are used to skiing powder, then much of the terrain at the secluded Blue Sky Basin is easily manageable.

Relatively speaking, the expert terrain at Vail Ski Resort takes up a small portion of the mountain, but this still means there are more advanced runs at Vail than most other ski areas. The Front Side has some challenging mogul runs like Highland and Prima runs and some fun chutes under the Vista Bahn lift. The Blue Sky Basin is a backcountry skiers delight, with a good variety of tree runs. And no Vail ski vacation is complete without a visit to the Back Bowls, perhaps the best wide-open skiing Colorado has to offer.

For snowboarders, in addition to the bowls, cruisers, and tree runs, Vail Colorado has four terrain parks, one of which features a huge superpipe suitable for performing X-Games style tricks.

Accommodation and dining choices at Vail ski resort are too numerous to list. The original hotel Lodge at Vail is still one of the best choices for overnight stays and the old Tyrolean Inn has been serving exotic game dishes in a classic Austrian setting for decades. Cheaper motels and fast food joints are also scattered around Eagle Valley, so a Vail ski trip — after the $70+ ticket price — does not have to break your budget.

Vail is located right off Interstate 70, so access is easy from Denver or towns in Summit County towns. Vail-Eagle airport is a short drive and offers flights from locations around the country.

Vail Ski Area has been the most popular in Colorado since the 1970s. Today, it remains the quintessential destination for a Colorado ski trip.

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Resorts in Vail

Vail resorts provide visitors to one of America's great ski destinations with some very tantalizing lodging options. For starters, you can find these resorts right at the bottom of a world-class ski mountain. It also doesn't hurt that they provide close proximity to some great shops, restaurants, and bars. Add in the facilities and overall comfort that the Vail ski resort provides, and it's not hard to understand why they have little trouble filling their rooms.

Being that Vail is an upscale ski resort, the Vail resorts maintain high levels of service and comfort on the whole. This is certainly the case with the Arrabelle at Vail, which is considered to be the centerpiece of the revamped Vail Square area. Guests can book a luxurious room or suite at the Arrabelle or opt to rent one of the numerous condo units. In the rooms and suites, fireplaces and private balconies are among the inviting amenities, and as you might expect at a high-class resort, an upscale spa figures among the Arrabelle facilities. Other facilities that guests can enjoy when they aren't on the mountain include a fitness center, a bistro, a pub, and a rooftop lap pool.

When staying at a luxurious resort is what you have in mind for your Vail vacation, another gem that should not be overlooked is the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa (pictured). As is true of many Vail lodges and resorts, the Vail Cascade offers both hotel guest units and condos, and they are all tasteful and well-equipped. Plasma TVs, luxury bedding, and a granite vanity in the bathroom are just some of the standard amenity highlights in the rooms and suites. In the condos here, a full kitchen and private laundry facilities are among the added perks. Facility highlights at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa include a 78,000-square-foot health club and spa, a shopping arcade, and two outdoor pools that are heated. It might just be the true ski-in, ski-out access that seals the deal for some, however. Not many Vail hotels can provide such convenience.

Situated just 150 yards from the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead Village is the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa. Guests at this delightful lodging establishment will basically be in the heart of it all. The Vail Village core can easily be explored on foot, and the walk to the gondola shouldn't take more than just a few minutes. It's good to know that everything is close by, and it only means that you can spend a little extra time enjoying the comfort of your room or condo. The amenities at this upscale Vail resort are splendid and the facilities complete, so there will be plenty to do when you have down time to fill.

Should these Vail resorts be fully booked when you go to secure accommodations for your visit, worry not, as there are others that offer similar experiences. Among them are the Sonnenalp Resort and the Four Seasons Resort Vail. You can also check to see if the Vail lodges have any vacancies, as most of these lodging establishments are basically resorts with a different tag. Among the best in town are the Tivoli Lodge and the Lion Square Lodge.

One of Vail's sister resorts, the Beaver Creek Resort, is just twelve miles away, and it offers more great lodging options for Vail Valley visitors to consider. In fact, the Beaver Creek area is home to what might just be the best ski resort in the entire state of Colorado. This resort is the renowned Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.

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Vail Rentals

Vail rentals come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and as can be expected at a high-end ski resort, many have a luxurious air about them. The most impressive rental properties are the executive homes found in both Vail and Beaver Creek. These homes can offer 10,000 square feet of space or more and are very well outfitted with amenities. You can certainly enjoy a certain amount of extravagance when staying at some of the Vail rental properties.

Only some twelve miles separates Vail from its sister resort of Beaver Creek, and should you be visiting one of these resorts during the winter, your lift ticket will be good at both, not to mention the other Colorado sister resorts of Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Breckenridge. These other three resorts are each about a 45-minute drive from Vail. When staying in the Vail Valley is the aim, then both Vail and Beaver Creek can make for excellent bases. Between the two resorts, there are rental properties to fit a range of preferences, and you might be happy to know that a considerable range of budgets are covered as well.

Vail condos offer many of the amenities that you will find in a home rental, and you might be surprised how big some can be. In general, the condos found in both Vail and Beaver Creek offer anywhere from one to five bedrooms, and there are living and dining areas as well. Full kitchens are among the standard amenity highlights, and should your budget allow, you can keep an eye out for units that feature things such as a fireplace and private laundry facilities. Ski-in, ski-out condos are available if you wish to enjoy such convenience, and many of the condo complexes boast some enticing facilities that can be taken advantage of on the side. The Charter at Beaver Creek, for example, features two restaurants, a health club, and a full-service spa. Guests who book one of the condo-style suites at The Arrabelle at Vail Square can enjoy similar facilities.

Should a spacious home be what you have in mind when it comes to the Vail vacation rentals, then you have some amazing options to consider. Some of the Vail rental homes rival upscale lodges in many ways, especially when it comes to the interior decor, and most are found right on the mountain. There isn't exactly room for these mansions down in the village. Once again, both Vail and Beaver Creek boast their fair share of home rental properties, and as long as your budget allows, they are arguably the best accommodations around. You'll certainly enjoy plenty of space when you book a Vail home rental, and since a good amount of distance separates most, added privacy can also be a key component.

A number of condos are located in and around Vail, and they can be ideal for those who are trying to keep their lodging costs down. In Vail proper, the Apollo Park Lodge offers some of the most affordable condos that you will find at the base of the mountain. Both one- and two-bedroom condos are available at Apollo Park, and while they might not be luxurious, they offer everything that some visitors will need. Amenity highlights include a small kitchen and cable TV. Some units have gas fireplaces.

Vail rentals are available throughout the year, though demand is highest during the winter season. As such, the winter rental rates are the highest. When spring approaches, the rates start to go down, and they don't exactly jump back up in the summer, which is very good news for warm weather visitors.

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Vail Condo Rentals

Vail condo rentals are available in good supply, and can be a great alternative to a hotel stay in this world-class mountain resort town. As you might expect at an upscale ski resort, many of these condos are expensive to rent, though there are options to fit a range of budgets when it comes down to it. As such, any and all visitors are encouraged to the give the Vail condominium rentals a look.

Condo rentals in general offer more space than your average hotel unit, and this is reason enough to keep them in mind when looking for your ideal Vail accommodations. They also boast full kitchens on average, and depending on how much you spend, things such as a private hot tub, a fireplace, and private laundry facilities might also be part of the mix. The more luxurious condos in Vail are among the most luxurious condos that you can expect to find anywhere in the country, so the amenity list can get quite extensive.

Many of the Vail condo rentals are individually owned, and you can find them spread out all over the village area. If you want to be in the heart of it all, Vail Village, Golden Peak, and Lionshead, which is home to Vail Square, are the areas to focus on. Those who don't mind being just a short distance from the town core will want to give both West Vail and East Vail a look. Wherever you choose to base yourself while in town, you won't be far from the slopes, the bars, the restaurants, or the shops. Free village transportation is available for getting from one area to another in case you don't want to do a lot of walking.

It should be noted that some of the Vail condominium rentals are ski-in, ski-out units. This means that you can access the slopes right from your complex. You can also return home by way of skis, or by snowboard if that's what you're riding. As you might expect, the Vail rentals that enjoy ski-in, ski-out convenience are generally more expensive than those that don't.

The condos in Vail provide excellent homes away from home for those who are interested in enjoying some mountain fun. Winter is when the rates are at their highest, as Vail is first and foremost a ski resort. That being said, Vail summer vacations can be just as rewarding as winter ones, and even a spring or fall visit is bound to impress. Especially during the peak winter season, a stay of more than one day might be required when it comes to booking a condo, so you might keep this in mind when searching for your ideal property.

Condo rentals can be found all over the Vail Valley, so you might expand your horizons when trying to find the perfect fit. The sister resort of Beaver Creek, which is just around the bend, offers some amazing condos, for example, and you can access both the Vail slopes and the Beaver Creek slopes with the same lift ticket.

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Vail Village

Vail Village offers numerous amenities for the visitor, and it all unfolds right at the base of the mountain. After a full day on the slopes, skiers and snowboarders can glide right into town more or less. Once the skis and snowboards are off, they can walk to any number of bars and restaurants. Right around 4 p.m. daily is when the apres-ski fun begins, and it often doesn't stop until the morning hours.

Vail Village is set at an elevation of 8,120 feet and has the feel of a ski village that has been plucked out of Austria's Tyrol region. Since it is relatively compact and mostly car-free, you can basically park your vehicle upon arrival and forget about it until you are ready to leave. Free shuttle transportation is available to get Vail residents and visitors alike around town, so it isn't necessary to walk longer distances if you don't want to. Ski and snowboard racks are spread about in the heart of Vail Village and in the Vail Square area, so if you are coming off the mountain, you shouldn't have trouble finding a place to stash your stuff once you get to the bottom. If you are worried about your skis or snowboard getting stolen, which isn't a common occurrence, you can always put them in your vehicle, or better yet, your hotel room or vacation rental.

The Vail Village hotels include some true gems, and visitors can also consider booking an enticing condo rental in the heart of things. Some of the village's hotels are actually a mix between a resort and a condo complex, as they offer condo-style units to go with their rooms and/or suites. Such is the case with the Arrabelle at Vail Square, which has helped to transform the Lionshead part of Vail Village into a very visitor-friendly area. Some of the best Vail Village restaurants are found at Vail Square, and the revamped environs are also home to boutiques and an ice rink, among other things.

The restaurants that are located in Vail Village also offer a lot in the way of quality, not to mention diversity. You can grab a slice of pizza or a sandwich at some if that is all that you have in mind. You can also go the fine dining route and indulge in things such as foie gras and lobster. Whatever you have a taste for, you can likely find it at one of the Vail restaurants, especially if you head to the Vail Village core and the adjacent Lionshead/Vail Square area.

It's not all about the lodging and dining options in Vail Village. At the base of this upscale ski resort, you will also find a healthy collection of shops and galleries. The shops sell all kinds of things, including top of the line ski and snowboard gear. Also helping to make Vail Village such a complete ski resort village is its lively nightlife. At some of the bars and clubs, you can dance the night away. At others, you can relax over a martini, and there are a few pubs and sports bars if that is the scene that you seek. Big name performers are known to pass through Vail, so you never know who might be headlining at one of the local venues during your visit.

Parking is available for a fee in Vail Village if you need it. Those who aren't driving in typically take a shuttle from the airport. You can also arrive by way of bus, which is what many people do when coming from the nearby sister resort of Beaver Creek. Barely more than ten miles separates Vail from Beaver Creek, so trips back and forth are very easy to manage. Beaver Creek also has a charming alpine village appeal, it should be mentioned, and thanks in part to its smaller size, it is less subdued than Vail on the whole. Both are wonderful places to explore when you're not spending time on the mountainsides.

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Vail Square

Vail Square is the result of a $200 million renovation project that was initiated in recent years. Found in the Lionshead Village area and close to the heart of Vail Village, it offers numerous shops and galleries that can fill hours on end. That's not all, however. The Eagle Bahn Gondola offers high-speed access to the slopes from Vail Square, and the hotels that are found in the immediate area are among the best around. Add in the ice rink, and it only gets more enticing.

Over the years, Vail Resorts management started to feel that the experience in Vail Village had deteriorated. It was especially believed that the resort's village just wasn't competing with the villages at competitor ski resorts, such as Aspen and Park City. As such, the Vail Square notion was born, initiating a greater renovation process that aims to put the village experience on par with the skiing experience.

Lionshead Village unfolds to the immediate west of the Vail Village center. This basically puts Vail Square visitors in the heart of it all, and it also means that the hotels found in this area can make excellent vacation bases. Stay at one of the Vail Square hotels, and you won't have to go far to find all kinds of things, including boutiques, ski shops, and eateries of various kinds. Lively bars and clubs also call this part of Vail home, as does the Arrabelle Ice Rink, which is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rental skates are available if you need them.

At Vail Square, the Eagle Bahn Gondola is complemented by the Born Free Express chairlift, which provides a shorter ride to some of the runs. Because of both lifts, Vail Square basically enjoys a ski-in, ski-out location, and at least one of the local hotels promises true ski-in, ski-out bliss. This hotel is the Arrabelle at Vail Square, and it is easily one of the best Vail luxury hotels.

The Vail Square hotels are all enticing, and this has a lot to do with their locations. It also has to do with the high levels of comfort that they provide. At the Arabelle, you can indulge in personal concierge service, for example, and the well-equipped guest units are arguably the best that you will find anywhere in Vail.

Another lodging gems that figures among the Vail Square hotels is the Antlers at Vail, and the area is also home to the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa and inviting condo establishments such as Vail Spa Condominiums and Montaneros Condominiums. For those who are trying to save on lodging, the Lionshead Arcade and the Lionshead Inn offer some of the cheapest rates in the Vail Square area.

Vail Square plays host to various events, including outdoor concerts during the warmer months, and winter visitors who have kids in tow might be happy to know that it is where you will find the renowned Vail Children's Snowsports School. Also found at Vail Square is a Vail Information Center where visitors can get help with all kinds of things, including finding a place to stay, purchasing Vail lift tickets, and getting in touch with the area tour options.

If nothing else, you might keep Vail Square in mind when trying to figure out where to park at Vail. Just steps from the heart of this area is the Lionshead Transportation Center. It offers paid parking, and after 3 p.m. on summer days, you can park there for free. Vail Valley buses also stop at the Lionshead Transportation Center, and it is home to an information center of its own for visitors to take advantage of.

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