Vail, USA

Vail ski resort

Glitzy Glamour & Pristine Powder

Vail offers a combination of sophistication and elegance with a distinct Tyrolean feel. Attractive, tree-lined streets are home to a vast array of boutiques, bars and restaurants. The resort extends along the Vail Valley, comprising four main areas: East Vail, Vail Village, West Vail and Lionshead. The high-speed, efficient lift system departs from Golden Peak, Vail Village, Lionshead and The Cascade in West Vail. As if Vail was not already a first-class ski destination, its continuing development this year has resulted in more shops, a new ice-skating rink, entertainment venues, enhanced streetscapes and landscaping, not to mention even better skier services.

A ski holiday in Vail has something for everyone: With 5,289 acres of terrain, Vail is the largest ski resort in the US, featuring seven legendary back bowls spanning seven full miles. On average, Vail grooms 1,500 acres of terrain per night, more than any resort. With a yearly average of 348 inches of snowfall and 300 days of sunshine, skiing in Vail is really is fantastic.

When you have finished skiing in Vail, Vail Village offers world-class dining, shopping, galleries, and après ski, nightlife and spa services, all just steps from the slopes. There are plenty of other winter activities such as ice-skating, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, tubing and ski-biking. For children, special play areas have been set up around the mountains, which include a fort and tepee village.

And for those who just want to lap up the après-ski, a ski holiday in Vail offers more than enough variety. The charming village, which lies at the bottom of Vail mountain, combines the best of American hospitality and an Alpine resort feel. The centre is completely pedestrianised giving way to more than a hundred shops to explore.

The nightlife in Vail is buzzing with numerous bars and restaurants where the friendly manner of the staff is second to none. For those looking for some fine dining, why not treat yourself to a meal at La Tour, one of Vail’s best restaurants? For visitors on a tighter budget, the village pubs offer good food and rustic atmosphere.   If you are looking to party later into the night, Vail holds street concerts every week and there are plenty of clubs for dancing or listening to live music.

Where to stay on your ski holiday in Vail?  

The resort comprises four main areas – Vail Village, East Vail, West Vail and Lionshead. High-speed lift systems and an efficient shuttle service make getting between these places and back to the slopes very easy.   When booking your ski holiday in Vail, choose from a variety of condos, chalets or hotels. Depending on your budget, the more upmarket hotels are mostly located in the village itself with more moderately priced accommodation in the Lionshead area. Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone resorts are all just an hour away.

Skiing and boarding in Vail

The jewel in the crown of America’s ski resorts and rightly recognised as one of the finest international skiing destinations, Vail has the largest single ski mountain in the USA. Add to this a fantastic range of tree-lined runs and the extensive back bowls and you have an unparalleled choice of superb skiing for all skier levels. Advanced skiers will enjoy the expert terrain in the back bowls and steep mogul challenges on the front faces. Vail is ideal for intermediates with its wide-open pistes. Beginners benefit from good nursery slopes and short lifts at the base area.

Apres ski in vail

There are plenty of activities for the non-skier: swimming, skating, sleigh rides, tubing, snowmobiling, ski-biking, theatre and indoor tennis to name but a few. Adventure Ridge, a huge floodlit snow playground for kids, is a fantastic addition to the Vail après ski programme. As the last lift stops, the many bars and restaurants of Vail Village and Lionshead come alive with numerous dining and entertainment options.