Vail Ski Resort | Vacation Packages
About Vail, Colorado
In addition to being the second largest ski destination in the United States, Vail Ski Resort is one of the most diverse of its kind in the world, which is why it’s such a great ski destination for families. Every level of skiing, every lodging preference and just about every budget can find a cozy place to call home during a ski vacation to Vail, Colorado.
Skiers and snowboarders looking for incredible views will be thrilled with the scenic vistas of the surrounding Gore Range while they explore Vail Ski Resort. Restaurant-goers can find everything from Iron Chef foodie-fare to down-to-earth pub food and New York City-quality pizza in Vail Village. Those looking to relax in luxury will be happy to find a multitude of hotels whose objective is to pamper their guests like VIP's all throughout their stay in Vail.
How many Vail ski resorts are there?
Vail Resorts operates some of the largest and most iconic resort destinations around the world, including Heavenly, Kirkwood, Keystone and Whistler Blackcomb. All of these and the partner resorts are accessible with purchase of the Epic Pass. The namesake and flagship Vail Resort is located in Vail, Colorado and is a renowned option for guests who travel both domestically and internationally when skiing resorts. The Vail Ski Resort is one of two located in the Vail area, with the second being Beaver Creek, plus Breckenridge and Keystone which are along the I-70 route in the Colorado Front Range ski country.
Is Vail a good ski resort for beginners?
Yes, Vail ski resort is a good option for beginners, with terrain that’s perfect for learning and beginner levels at all three of its base villages. This world-class resort boasts more than 5,200 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain located at 8,150 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest-elevation resorts in the United States. The size and variety of terrain at Vail also enables access to beginner terrain all around the mountain, meaning they won’t be limited to base areas and can still enjoy some of the breathtaking views Vail, Colorado has to offer. The ski school at Vail is excellent and provides classes for all levels; whether you're a total novice or just brushing up on your skills, you'll find an instructor who can help you.
Stay...
in one of the villages of Vail Ski Resort, like Golden Peak, Lionshead or Vail Village. Or, find lodging in one of the nearby neighborhoods of East Vail or West Vail.
Ski...
at a top elevation of 11,571 feet on an annual average of 350 inches of snow throughout 5,289 acres at Vail Ski Resort.
Travel...
by flying directly into Eagle County Regional Airport, only about a half hour drive from Vail, or take the shuttle to the ski resort when flying in from Denver, Grand Junction or Colorado Springs.
Enjoy...
the breathtaking views at Vail Ski Resort, specifically of the rugged Gore Range to the east.
Explore...
Vail’s seven wide-open Back Bowls.
Taste...
Vail's 100+ world-class restaurants.
Treat...
yourself to designer shopping and award-winning spas around the villages of Vail.
Experience...
cross-country skiing, sleigh rides, ice skating and snow tubing, which are just a few examples of Vail’s many winter activities.
Skiing Vail, Colorado
As North America's fourth largest ski area (behind Whistler, Park City Mountain Resort and Big Sky Resort), the terrain in Vail will please every level of skier or snowboarder. Vail ski resort's vast 5,289 acres offers wide-open, pristine bowl skiing, a plethora of meandering intermediate trails, multiple beginner areas and plenty of steep and deep terrain in the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin to keep expert skiers satisfied.
The beginner skiing at Vail is found all over the mountain, providing novices and first-timers with breathtaking views they won’t soon forget. Beginner skiing at Vail ski resort can be found at all three base villages: Golden Peak, Vail Village and Lionshead Village. Gentle traverse trails allow beginner skiers to explore nearly the entire front-side of the mountain.
But, at its heart, Vail is an intermediate to advanced intermediate's paradise. From the legendary Back Bowls to the many zippy, groomed runs off of the Mountaintop Express lift, the varied groomed terrain is perfect for skiers and snowboarders alike. Blue Sky Basin is the expert skier’s playground, with cornice drops, leg-burning mogul runs, trees and open powder fields making it one of the highlights at Vail ski resort. As North America's fourth largest ski area (behind Whistler, Park City Mountain Resort and Big Sky Resort), Vail's terrain will please every level of skier or snowboarder. The resort's vast 5,289 acres offers wide-open, pristine bowl skiing, a plethora of meandering intermediate trails, multiple beginner areas and plenty of steep and deep terrain in the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin to keep expert skiers satisfied.
What month is best for skiing in Vail?
The best month to ski Vail likely falls between mid-January and mid-February, based on snowfall history for the best overall conditions. However, it is also a good idea to try visiting Vail Ski Resort in off-peak times, so avoiding holidays and other popular vacation times can be in your best interest when deciding when to visit Vail, Colorado.
Mountain Stats
3450'
Vertical Drop
8120'
Base Depth
11570'
Summit Depth
Activities
TerrainPark
No
Tubing
No
Night Skiing
No
What the experts are saying
Vail is one of North Americas Largest resorts
We love the mountain and village.
You never can go wrong with a Vail vacation. The mountain offers skiing for all. The views are amazing and the food delicious.
Fabulous trip, our new favorite!
We haven’t been here since 2015, and have been going to Breckenridge. While we have had great experiences there, we LOVED our trip to Vail! Lines moved quickly, and staff was friendly. There is more space for intermediate skiers to ski without new skiers, the slopes were Well groomed and when we had powder there was a great mix of powder and grooming. Cafeteria dining was diverse and the food was very good. One downer, that keeps us from a five star: we had a disappointing dinner at Bistro 14 one night after going to the trouble to take the gondola back up the mountain after skiing.
Great spring skiing experience
This was our first time back to Vail since 1995, both where March visits. The area is much more developed and slightly less of the insane party scene it was back then. Those looking for nightlife are still going to find it, but I would describe Vail as more family friendly then I remembered. Some day I want to hit those back bowls on a powder day. We got there 4 days after the "bomb cyclone blizzard" when the resort got 16 inches. On day 1 we found some untouched good snow in the Glades of Beaver Creek. After that we needed to wait for the snow to soften up to ski any un-groomed terrain. Chairlifts still shut down at 3:30 PM even after we "spring ahead". This did effect our ski days, you had less time on softer snow. Tip: Dinner reservations where hard to get at the better places, book before you get there. We couldn't touch Russell's but had good meals out at "The Tens" at Vail Mid-station, Elway's (John Elway's place, we're Patriots fans and loved it anyway), and Vintage. Bart & Yeti's is a good low key burger bar nearby. Hit your local Safeway grocery store early and preferably not on a Friday if you can. It was insanely packed. There's a convenience store nearby Montaneros that has a bit of everything.
Great variety
Excellent overall experience. - Especially the Facilities and Staff
ski trip 2019
Vail was amazing as far as snow. The prices are a little high, but great skiing, The only complaint I had was Epic CME who did not help us get to DIA when 70 was closed to avalanche.
Awesome experience with my Son. Can not beat slope side accomodations!
Vail is a well run organization with little to desire!
vail family vaction
great experience at vail had 6 people in my party and a great time had by all
A Winter Wonderland!
We were very excited to make our first journey to Vail to experience the infamous bowls. We loved the beauty of the mountain and the Village. The shops and buildings are so charming. We experienced wonderful meals each and every day. I can't wait to go back again next year.
Ski was good
Had good time ski in vail, holiday is busy season there, but everything organized well.
Fabulous family fun!
We loved loved Vail! The friendly bustle of Vail Village and Lionshead Village were great for an afternoon of browsing shops, grabbing a coffee, or souvenir. The food was delicious at every restaurant we tried. There was something fun to do for our whole family. The boys loved skiing and mareveled at how well-maintained the slopes are and how beautiful the scenery is. The girls enjoyed ice skating at Solaris and tubing at Adventure Ridge. The icing on the cake was the ski parade and fireworks show on New Year’s Eve. It was truly spectacular!
EXPERT REVIEWS (4)
- 3.0Terrain Park
- 4.0Spa
- 4.8Nightlife
- 4.5Family Vacation
- 5.0Ski-in Ski-out
- 4.0Access
- 4.5Accommodations
- 4.8Intermediate Skiing
- 1.8Budget Vacation
- 4.8Activities
- 4.0Expert Skiing
- 5.0Dining
- 5.0Shopping
- 4.8Luxury Vacation
- 4.3Beginner Skiing
Key
1=Poor 2=Fair 3=Average 4=Good 5=Excellent
Reviews
Fun Town and Great Skiing
Vail is one of my favorite destinations! It caters to families, singles, couples or anyone who likes a large mountain with a huge variety of terrain! While it is one of the more expensive destinations to visit, the experience is well worth the money and should be on your bucket list. It offers shopping, nightlife, a multitude of activities and some of the best skiing Colorado has to offer. There are a variety of areas to stay in....whether you pick one of the Villages (Vail Village or Lionshead) or if you want to save some money and stay in East Vail or across the freeway. There is something for everyone as far as lodging goes. There are 4 star hotels all the way down to your basic condo options. The mountain is so large that it is easy to find some powder stashes and short lift lines! Great ski school makes this one of the premier mountains to have your kids learn to ski!Good
Vail is for everyone
The Vail ski resort and the town of Vail continually offer upgrades to the mountain itself, the lodging, infrastructure, free village shuttle service, restaurants, and equipment rental and sale shops. Since there are four base areas to access the mountain, almost all of the ski resort's lodging is either a short walk or very short shuttle ride from the lifts. Non skiers can access the activities on the mountain by gondola so non-skiers and skiers can meet up for lunch or hit the state-of-the-art tubing hill. Don't be afraid to take your non-skier family member(s) to Vail. There is a lot to do on and off the slopes.Excellent
Vail...one of the best
The Vail ski resort and I go way back. I started going there when I first moved to Colorado when I was 23. When I worked at Keystone, my co workers and I would have a blast heading over there for a few nights. Vail has always been on my radar and is probably the root of the reason I live here. Longer story... Getting to Vail has always been pretty easy. Fly to Denver and it is 2 hours away by car or shuttle. Or you can also fly to the Vail/Eagle airport and drive only about 40 minutes. Skiing Vail is the reason to go, and they make it easy for you with their EPIC pass, a season pass valid at multiple ski resorts. If you're shopping early, you can snag this from Ski.com for under $500. It is the best deal in the ski industry. Anyway, the chance for a powder day in the back bowls of Vail have to be the best reason to come and visit in my opinion. You simply cannot fathom how wide open, humongous and steep these intermediate level bowls are until you have experienced them first hand. Sure Vail has the village plucked right from the streets of St. Moritz and the countless 5-star level hotels and the best ski shuttle system I have ever seen. But the back bowls are why they built this village in the first place. I recently visited Vail with a group of people and we had a blast. We stayed at the Antler’s in Lionshead and thought it was great. The river is outside the back door and it's a very short walk from the gondola, making it a perfect location. The Inside of the condo itself did not blow us away with its furnishings, but nobody complained and it was very spacious. We saw a free concert, had high-octane après ski and enjoyed a few inches of fresh snow. Hot tubs were hot, pool was warm and we did not get in our vehicles until our trip was over. Could not ask for anything more. Vail is overall one of the best places to go in the country. And even though the skiing is great, you might still find yourself sitting at Garfinkels in Lionshead, having a beer and watching all the people.Good
Vail is one of North Americas Largest resorts
Vail has 5289 skiable acres so it is not hard to see why I love it. It is one of my top selling destinations. Vail has plenty of terrain for every level of ability, and an excellent ski school. My clients love the fact that Vail is loaded with shopping (over 100 shops!), an abundance of dining options, as well as a lively après ski and night life in the vibrant town. There are several world class spas and many luxury hotels to choose from. Vail is not just about luxury either. It is a popular destination for families as well, with an abundance of family friendly venues to choose from. Adventure Ridge on Vail Mountain is one of my favorite family activities, where this year they will begin offering night tubing. That is pretty unique in the industry, and the ski biking there also looks like a blast. Call or email me today, and let’s discuss a vacation to Vail.Excellent
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