The Ultimate Vail Ski Mountain Guide
Vail Resorts as a whole has become somewhat polarizing in recent years. For many who don’t live a short drive from the mountains, the rise of season passes, high-end hotels, and absurd single day lift ticket prices have prevented them from experiencing the joy of skiing. As Kansas Citians, we’re just about a 10-hour drive from Vail. Over the years, we’ve been able to keep ski trips from breaking the bank. This requires a little risk with how temperamental winters have become. To us, it’s worth the risk.
We want to make sure you’re prepared with the right information to plan your trip well in advance. Advanced planning is essential if you want to keep costs as low as possible. This guide includes some of our favorite places to stay, an overview of the mountain, where to eat and our best tips and tricks to have the best time without breaking the bank.
Heads up: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book at no cost to you. We only link to stays and experiences we'd actually choose for ourselves.
Where to Stay
Figuring out where to stay on your ski vacation will ultimately make or break your trip. You want to stay close enough to the mountain that it’s not inconvenient getting there, but also stay far enough away that you don’t give away your life savings for a spot on the mountain.
When we first started going skiing as a couple, we did our best to find bare bones lodging in town rather than on the mountain due to where our finances were at the time. Over time, we migrated closer to the mountain. The following locations are just a few good options for the Vail area which are relatively inexpensive when compared to the rest without giving up some of the nicer amenities of a more luxurious resort.
The Lodge at Vail
The Lodge at Vail is an old hotel but the location is perfect if you want to take advantage of all that Vail Village has to offer. Even though it’s in the heart of the village, the location does have its drawbacks.
It’s too close to take a bus but far enough away that you’ll be a bit winded from the walk in your ski gear through the village to the lift. However, they do have a handy perk of a ski valet right off the gondola, so you don’t have to trudge back carrying your skis.
Furthermore, the fact that it’s an old hotel results in some annoying quirks; noisy utilities, old fixtures, finicky heating/cooling, etc.
Nonetheless, we enjoyed our stay here. The convenience of location was key and the lodge has a nice atmosphere overall including amenities such as a heated pool, hot tubs, fire pits, and spa.
The Wren at Vail
The Wren is a bit further away than The Lodge at Vail, but still close enough to the action that it’s not super inconvenient. Gondola One is just about a 10 minute walk away, which is quite a trek in ski gear. But, that’s not really an issue since they have a ski shuttle to commute you there and back. It also means you can save a bit more money on your accommodations.
The rooms are your typical ski lodge style with plenty of amenities including a heated pool, hot tubs, and apres snacks. The rooms have kitchenettes as well for those looking to save some costs of food.
Sitzmark Vail
If you are looking for more modern accommodations vs the typical ski lodge aesthetic then Sitzmark Vail is a great choice. This hotel is more boutique style with only 36 rooms for a more intimate experience. The rooms are modern, bright and comfortable for a spot to relax after a day on the slopes.
Located in Vail Village, it’s just a 5 minute walk to Gondola One making for a convenient spot to start your day on the slopes.
They also offer breakfast, discounted ski rentals, and apres ski snacks in addition to the usual heated pool and hot tubs.
Getting There
If you can road trip to Vail that is an excellent way to save money. It’s a 10 hour drive for us from Kansas City, which is just on the verge of being too long but is worth it to have our car available and save some money on flights.
If there is one thing we can recommend it is to plan your trips for the weekdays. We know it’s often much more convenient to travel on weekends due to taking time off work, but we have found it makes a huge difference both in prices and crowds. The traffic on I-70 on the weekends can be horrendous as everyone descends on the mountains. Though it’s typically just under two hours to get from Denver to Beaver Creek based on GPS, always give yourself more time and check the weather. Your journey on I-70 will ascend to more than 10,000 feet at Loveland Pass and Vail Pass and the weather can be unpredictable.
Lift Tickets & Rentals
It’s imperative to plan your vacation in advance. Getting ahead of it can mean all the difference in prices. Sign up for Epic Rewards and purchase your “Epic Day Pass” well in advance. We suggest planning your trip 4-6 months prior. Epic usually has sales for tickets the further in advance you buy your tickets with the cheapest tickets available prior to Labor Day.
Along with cheaper lift tickets, you’ll also be able to find discounts and promotions for your lodging as well as on-mountain food. You won’t be able to find any deals for blackout dates which include your typical hot spot days/periods like MLK Day, Presidents Day, Christmas/NYE and mid-March for Spring Break. We wouldn’t recommend going on those days anyways. Lodging is at its highest price points, slopes are crowded, and lift lines are long.
One of the drawbacks of planning in advance is you never know what you are going to get snow wise. You are also locking yourself into a ski trip without knowledge of what the snow will be like. We ourselves have had trips where we get out there and it’s been a bad year for snow with not all of the mountain open due to rising temps and less snow. So, if you want to ensure a better chance for snow late February to early March is ideal. You might encounter higher prices vs January or early February. You just have to determine what is more important to you.
To save some costs on rentals and time spent at the rental shop once you get to the mountains, we actually recommend picking up your gear in or around Denver before you get too far into the mountains. The prices are much more reasonable than what you’d get in any mountain town. We really like Larson’s Ski & Sport just west of Denver right off of I-70. They have reasonable prices and good customer service.
Vail Mountain
The Front Side - Vail Village
You’ll most likely start your day on this part of the mountain. This portion of the mountain has a high concentration of blacks near the bottom and can be really crowded. In our time at Vail, we tried to get away from the lower area quickly. Near the top of the front side on the Vail Village (left) end of the map, you’ll be able to find several pockets of easy (but short) blues.
The Front Side - Vail Square
The Vail Square (right) end of the map has some great long blue cruisers. You’ll encounter some crowds but there are many options for intermediate skiers.
Back Bowls
If you can ignore the fact they get crowded, the Back Bowls are the closest many intermediate skiers will ever get to back country skiing. There’s a good variety of Blue and Black runs with a few options that are regularly groomed.
Blue Sky Basin
Beyond the Back Bowls is Vail’s newest addition to the mountain. When you get to Blue Sky Basin, it’s easy to forget how crowded and developed the front side is. The views are fantastic, the crowds lighter and the skiing is fun. Unlike the Back Bowls, Blue Ski Basin is heavily wooded.
Where to Eat & Drink
Red Lion
The Red Lion is a Vail staple. The restaurant is large enough to accommodate a great Apres Ski scene in the lively bar area where you enjoy pints and live music as well as a quieter, more family friendly section. When I was a kid, my favorite restaurant was the Red Lion simply due to the chicken tenders.
El Segundo
If you’re in need of good margaritas, chips and tacos, El Segundo is a great option in Vail Village. It has a more upscale vibe and is a little pricey due to its location, but we find it to be worth it for the convenience and the quality of the drinks and food.
Bad Kitty Lounge
I’ve been going to Vail since I was a kid and didn’t discover this place until our last visit to the area. Amongst all the ritzy and overpriced establishments in Vail Village, this little dive bar is refreshingly authentic. They have a good cocktail menu with most of the classics as well as some good beer options.
Two Arrows Coffee and Bar
Our favorite place to grab a drink while on a ski trip to Vail is Two Arrows Coffee and Bar in Vail Village. It’s got a cozy, intimate atmosphere and a great drink menu. They have great mulled wine and typically have a food special.
Final Thoughts
While ski vacations are definitely pricing lower and middle class couples and families out, if you love skiing like us and want to still enjoy the slopes without breaking the bank there are ways to save some money.
It is just important to ensure you plan in advance and take advantage of the deals offered. Bundling your lodging and lift tickets can help you save quite a bit. Just don’t expect to find cheap hotels or lodges that still provide the comfort or convenience that you want to fully enjoy your vacation.
Lastly, try to be flexible with your dates. Your stay will be cheaper during the weekdays as well as earlier in the season. Figure out where you want to stay and just search the calendar for the cheapest dates. You will be rolling the dice more with weather the earlier in the season you go, but you can also determine what is more important to you or try to compromise for something in between.
Happy skiing!
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