Vail is a world-renowned vacation destination nestled in the Colorado Rockies. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, a ski weekend, great shopping and dining, or Colorado outdoor family fun, Vail has it all.

Named after state highway engineer Charlie Vail, the mountain was discovered as an ideal spot for skiing in the mid-1950s by 10th Mountain Division trooper Peter Seibert and local rancher Earl Eaton. In January 1962, the U.S. Forest Service granted the final permit to Seibert and Eaton, and Vail opened in December 1962. Vail has grown to become the largest ski area in North America.

It is currently undergoing a$1-billion, multiyear expansion and facelift, tearing down anything that isn’t up to five-star standards, and rebuilding it including a new Four Seasons resort.

Vail is conveniently located just off Interstate 70, approximately two hours from Denver and 110 miles west from Denver International Airport. Summer high temperatures range in the 70s to mid-80s, with cool evenings that can dip into the 30s. While rare, winter lows may reach minus 30 degrees, though daytime temperatures are usually in the 20s to 30s. Snow is possible at any time of year in the highest elevations. Always check the local forecast before venturing out.

How to Get There

By Plane – Flying directly into town is a great way to get your vacation started quickly. Many of the major airlines fly into the Eagle County Airport, including direct flights from Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami. Denver International Airport offers more than 700 flights daily from most major airports in the U.S. and non-stop service from London, Frankfurt, Mexico City and several major cities in Canada. From there you have the option of flying into Eagle County airport via United or United Express.

Vail Valley Jet Center located at Eagle County Airport offers personalized service for pilots and passengers alike. If you fly private, make sure your pilots are familiar with mountain landings. Consider aexjet, a small private jet company that specializes in mountain destinations such as Aspen and Telluride.

By Automobile – Getting to Vail is easy – just hop on Interstate 70 and go west! From Denver International Airport, take Pena Boulevard to Interstate 70 going west. Proceed for approximately 120 miles (about 2 hours depending on traffic) to the Vail exit #176.

From Eagle County Airport, take Cooley Mesa Road (main airport road) to Highway 6. Take a right on Highway 6. You will be heading east. Follow Highway 6 to signs for Interstate 70 (I-70) east. Proceed on I-70 for approximately 25-30 minutes, to the Vail exit #176.

By Limo – These are a few of the companies will transport you between DIA and Vail:

Front Range Limonsine – 866-969-7788 or 303-699-7788 Town and Country Limousine – 800-610-1909 or 303-576-8121 DIA Luxury Transportation – 720-934-9470 Colorado Mountain Express – 888-649-5982

Where to Stay

Destination Clubs in Vail (To see a map of all the destination club home locations, check out our map widget.)

Vail has several destination club locations. Here is a list of clubs that have homes in Vail:

Exclusive Resorts (6 homes)
Portofino Club (1 home)
Portofino Club (Signature) (1 home)
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World (2 homes)

Other Fractional Luxury Accommodations

In addition to the Vail’s destination clubs, there are also fractional real estate communities such as:

Chateaux Society (formerly named: Elysian Societe des Chateaux) – This is an $8 million, six bedroom, 7,128 square foot home named the Chateaux Society – Vail. The house, built in 1997, sits on the south bank of Gore Creek, 200 yards from the base of Vail Mountain. The estate also includes a separate two bedroom guesthouse and office for additional guests. The property will be sold for about $1.4 million per fraction to a total of ten owners with annual dues of $30,000.

The Club at Solaris members will have access to a variety of pleasures including open-air ice skating, pop-jet fountains, sushi bar and sake lounge, fine dining and, of course, world-class shopping. Fractions at the nineteen units will cost around $1.9 million for 203 guaranteed days per year.

Austria Haus Club – Managed by the Sonnenalp Resort of Vail, the Austria Haus Club combines the luxury of an equipped vacation home with the privilege and service associated with an upscale private club. Members reserve five weeks each year plus space available in a fully furnished two or three bedroom residence. Membership is priced at $245,000 and includes deeded interest in the Club’s private residences.

One Willow Bridge Road – Offering both whole and fractional ownership, whole residences are priced at $3.6 million while fractional ownership of a three-bedroom residence is $690,000 (two-bedroom residences are sold out). Club owners enjoy a club dining room, private, and an infinity-edge swimming pool and two hot tubs, and state-of-the-art electronics systems. One Willow Bridge road also features secured, heated underground parking, on-mountain ski lockers located just steps from the slopes, and all of the luxurious amenities and guest services provided by the renowned Sonnenalp Resort of Vail, which includes preferred reservation privileges at Sonnenalp Golf Club.

Vail Plaza Club – Vail Plaza Hotel & Club has 38 fractional units available for purchase, each comprising one- to four-bedroom penthouses and apartments. As an owner, you have your own club relations contact, concierge service, a personal chef who is available to cook your meals in your condo, and by request a massage therapist. Pre-completion prices begin at $200,000. Certain penthouses and prime weeks are still available.

Luxury Resort & Hotel Picks

Sonnenalp Resort of Vail – The Sonnenalp is a world-class hotel, offering the finest of luxuries and comforts. Exceptional dining choices, outstanding shopping and the slopes of Vail are only steps away. Enjoy some pampering at their spa facility, or during the summr play at their private 18-hole golf. course. There’s activities for families, too.

A Travel & Leisure Top 500 resort.

Vail Cascade Resort & Spa – Undergoing a $5-million room renovation project, the resort features two heated outdoor pools, indoor/outdoor tennis courts a state-of-the-art health club and spa, 2 outdoor, and 1 indoor tubs, sauna, concierge, babysitting, and a shopping arcade including sporting-goods stores with rentals and apparel. The resort offers a children’s program and child-care service, too.

The highlight of the Vail Cascade is the Aria Spa & Club, a 78,000-square-foot spa and athletic club, offering a complete spa experience with practically every treatment imaginable. There are also three squash courts, racquetball, and basketball, Cybex and free weights, cardio equipment, an indoor track, and exercise classes.

A wonderful choice for those who love pampering, the Vail Cascade gets better every time we visit. – Frommers review

Austria Haus Hotel – Located in the heart of Vail Village, the hotel perfectly combines an ideal location, European-style architecture, exceptional guest services, and topnotch modern amenities. Amenities include a heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, a fitness center, lobby lounge and library, valet parking, and on-mountain ski storage. In addition, you’ll have full charge privileges at all restaurants at The Lodge at Vail. Guests receive preferred tee times and special rates at the prestigious Red Sky Ranch.

The Lodge at Vail – Renowned for relaxed luxury and impeccable personal service, this hotel combines the charm of an alpine inn with the warmth of western hospitality. Visit their award-winning restaurants and world-class accommodations where the staff greets you by name and anticipates your every need. At the base of Vail Mountain, in the very heart of Vail Village, you’ll find all you need within a few steps – the main ski lift at their back door to boutiques, shops, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, and Vail’s pedestrian village. Vail’s Front Door project is currently underway and may affect your stay at The Lodge at Vail.

AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning hotel

The Game Creek Chalet – With dramatic views at 10,150 feet above sea level, the Game Creek Chalet is a private retreat nestled in Game Creek Bowl on Vail Mountain. The Chalet is available to one private party on a nightly or multiple night basis. Your stay includes meals prepared by the private chef, all beverages, ski lift tickets and a morning mountain guide during the winter. Accommodations in the Chalet are four bedrooms and four bathrooms, living room and dining area. Sleeps up to eight people. Rates are $2800/night ($700 per additional person) based on a minimum of four persons with a two night minimum stay.

Where to Eat

Chap’s Grill & Chophouse – 1300 Westhaven Dr., Vail. Real food for real appetites, expertly prepared and presented in an upscale mountain lodge setting, makes Chap’s among Frommer’s top dining choices in Vail. The dinner menu includes prime-cut steaks, seafood, Colorado lamb, and game. Soups, salads, and sandwiches are served at lunch, and there is a delicious breakfast buffet including made-to-order omelets. In summer you can dine outside on the patio. The Fireside Bar is a great place to relax in the evenings, with nightly entertainment by local musicians. 970-479-7014

Beano’s Cabin - Diners board the 42-passenger, Sno-Cat-driven sleighs at the base of the Centennial Lift, arriving 20 minutes later for a candlelit five-course dinner around a crackling fire with musical entertainment. (In summer, diners can go on horseback or in a horse-drawn wagon.) Entree choices may include grilled Colorado tenderloin of beef, balsamic-marinated ostrich, grilled Atlantic salmon, wood-grilled venison, or Colorado lamb loin. Vegetarian meals and a lower-priced children’s menu are available. Recipient of AAA Four Diamond, DiRona Award and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. 970-949-9090

Montauk Seafood Grill – 549 Lionshead Mall, Vail. Owner Gary Boris grew up around the harbors of Montauk Point, New York, thus the restaurant’s name. Considering it’s in landlocked Colorado, Frommer’s considers it one of the best seafood restaurants you’ll find in Vail. Boris flies fresh fish in daily from both coasts, Hawaii, and the Gulf of Mexico. Top choices include the Hawaiian ahi, seared rare, with a soy-ginger sauce. Steak, chops, chicken, and pasta are also available. 970-476-2601

Sweet Basil – 193 E. Gore Creek Dr, Vail, CO. Menus change seasonally but include items like tender slow-roasted rosemary pork with crispy polenta (highly recommended by Frommer’s), a grilled Colorado leg of lamb with white-bean ratatouille, grilled rib-eye steak, or pan-roasted Alaskan halibut with black-truffle risotto and asparagus. Sweet Basil’s wine list earned Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. 970- 476-0125

What to Do

Consistently ranked the country’s most popular ski resort, it’s hard to imagine that you’d want to do anything else but ski, ski, ski (and snowboard too). Yet, off the slopes, Vail has a more transatlantic feel than other Colorado resorts with its numerous restaurants, lodgings, and trendy shops.

Best Ski Area

Vail – Vail boasts three distinct areas of the mountain, each with their own features and fortes, including four terrain parks, seven bowls and 5,289 acres of freeride terrain. At seven miles wide, finding fresh tracks is as easy as finding elbow room. In fact, on an average day, there are only two skiers per acre, and on a busy day, only four.

Best Golf Courses

Vail Golf Course – 18 holes over 7,024 yards with a par of 71, a 71 rating, and a 121 slope (municipal) – 1778 Vail Valley Dr., Vail. 970- 479-2260. Designed by Ben Krueger, the Vail golf course opened in 1962. $99 green fees on weekends/weekdays (includes cart)

Eagle Vail Golf Course – 18 holes over 6,819 yards with a par of 72, a 71 rating, and a 127 slope (public course) – 431 Eagle Drive, Avon. 970- 949-5267. Designed by Bruce Devlin/Robert von Hagge, the Eagle Vail golf course opened in 1975. $92 green fees on weekends/weekdays (includes cart).

Beaver Creek Golf Course – 18 holes regulation length course, 6,646 yards with a par of 72, a 69 rating, and a 133 slope (public course). 103 Offerson Road, Beaver Creek. 970-845-5775. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., ASGCA, the Beaver Creek golf course opened in 1982. $165 green fees on weekends/weekdays (includes cart).

Sonnenalp Golf Club – 18 hole regulation length course, 7,059 yards with a par of 71, a 72 rating, and a 138 slope (public course). Designed by Jay Morrish, ASGCA/Robert E. Cupp, ASGCA, the Sonnenalp golf course opened in 1981. 1265 Berry Creek Road, Edwards. 970-477-5371. $175 green fees on weekends/weekdays, $75 twilight fees (includes cart).

Best Shopping

Vail Village: Axel’s – 970-476-7625 – High end mountain fashion for men and women. Breeze Ski / Max Snowboard Rentals – 970-477-0922 – Equipment and clothing rentals. Burton Vail – 970-479-1935 – Outerwear, decks, boots & bindings. KidSport – 970-476-1666 – Since 1978, kids’ recreational clothing and gear. Luca Bruno – 970-479-0050 – Imported Italian clothing for men and women. Manrico Cashmere – 970-479-9944 – Cashmere sweaters and jackets for men and women. Tezla Lingerie Boutique – 970-476-2731 – High end lingerie, personalized service.

Other Areas:
Blitz – Edwards, CO – 970-926-3339 – Contemporary high fashion with no rules.
Kid’s Cottage – Edwards, CO – 970-926-8697 – Fine children’s clothing, accessories, books and toys.
Lacy’s – Edwards, CO – 970-926-8240 – High-end lingerie and apparel for women featuring Casabella, AllenB, BCBG.
Mums to Be and Heirs – Edwards, CO – 970-926-7515 – Maternity fashions, newborn clothing and accessories.
Ptarmigan Sports – Edwards, CO – 970-926-8144 – High-tech, fashionable men’s and women’s apparel for an active lifestyle.

Other Insider Tips

1. Nightlife is centrally located on Bridge Street in the Vail Village. Clubs include the kitschy Pepi’s and the L.A. edged scene at Fubar. For later nightlife, The Tap Room caters to a movin’ and groovin’ mature crowd, while across the way, The Club offers live music with frat-style partying. Near the Covered Bridge, in its latest incarnation, is Samana, which has been revamped into a lounge bar.
2. Book the chef’s table in the kitchen at Larkspur, where Vail’s star chef Thomas Salamunovich holds sway. 458 Vail Valley Dr., Vail. You can also reach the restaurant by skiing down to Golden Peak ski area. 970-479-8050
3. Betty Ford Alpine Gardens – 183 Gore Creek Dr., Vail. 970-476-0103. A wonderful place in the spring and summer to take a break, these peaceful gardens offer a chance to see a variety of flowering alpine plants unique to the Rocky Mountains. At 8,200 feet, these are the highest public botanical gardens in North America.
4. Colorado Ski Museum-Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame – Located at the Vail Transportation Center, Vail. 970-476-1876. Free admission. The history of more than a century of Colorado skiing is depicted, including the evolution of snow boarding, plus the role of the U.S. Forest Service. One room is devoted to the 10th Mountain Division, and a theater presents historical and current ski videos. The museum also incorporates the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.