Vail
Photos courtesy of Vail Resorts.
Once upon a time Vail Mountain was known as "No-name Mountain", but now “Vail” is a household name when it comes to ski resorts. Everyone knows about skiing and snowboarding at Vail.
Vail ski resort absolutely has it all – huge terrain, super-dooper lift infrastructure, great nightlife and fine dining, and plenty of non-skiing activities. The mega-resort is a multi-award winner that has more of everything. Vail is the quintessential world class ski resort that many others try to imitate.
Vail is located in Eagle County, Colorado, USA. Gateway airports are the Denver International Airport about 177km (110 miles) away, and the Vail/Eagle County regional airport which is only 56km (35 miles) away. Ground transportation to the resort is readily available from both airports.
The ski terrain area at Vail is one of the largest in the world with 2,140 hectares (5,289 acres), and has three distinct areas. The front side is generally crowded, and includes lots of cruisers and the beginner areas. The north facing Blue Sky Basin is more peaceful, and has boundless backcountry trails, lots of intermediate terrain and tree skiing. The Vail back bowls are infamous amongst expert skiers and are a good way to escape the hordes. The lift system is amazing with 34 lifts in total, including one gondola and 16 high speed quad chairs!
The variety of terrain is fantastic considering that the mountain is so huge. You’ll never run into your ex-wife, and you’ll still discover new trails after skiing there for a week. The mountain might lack the deep powder compared to some other USA resorts, and there aren’t any really scary steeps, but for those of us that like to keep the skis in constant contact with the ground, Vail has all the terrain you could ever desire.
At Vail, skiing and boarding is really only part of the holiday. The off-slope activities are numerous and just a few examples include sleigh rides, day spas, galleries, and of course the amazing shopping. Definitely pay off the credit card before you arrive because there are too many temptations. The purpose-built “village” of Vail is bustling and trendy, yet still somewhat charming. Dining, après and nightlife options abound.
Accommodation options are seemingly endless across eight different neighbourhoods. Vail village is the centre of all the action; the Lionshead area has good access to the skiing area via the gondola; Golden Peak is a great area for families; and Cascade is a quieter village that still has good access to the lifts. Across the different villages, you can choose from hotels, condos, and bed and breakfasts to suit most budgets.
Vail has everything that money can buy, and considering the limitless opportunities, chances are that your wallet will be empty by the end of your vacation. The ski lift tickets are some of the most expensive in the world, but no one seems to mind because you get plenty in return for your dollar. Your money is well invested back into the resort facilities, and millions of dollars are spent on redevelopment. A bit like Madonna and Kylie, Vail is always re-inventing itself. “I Should Be So Lucky” to “Holiday” at Vail.