By Kara Williams, on September 26, 2013

Upscale hotels in and near Vail

With days growing cooler and aspen leaves already beginning to turn gold in the Colorado Rockies, thoughts turn to the fluffy white powder that will soon blanket the state’s ski slopes. Colorado ski areas range from small, family-owned operations to some of the country’s largest resorts just a couple hours’ drive from Denver. Two of my all-time favorites are Vail and Beaver Creek, not only for their varied ski terrain, but for their luxury lodging a stone’s throw from the slopes.

Here are my picks for sublime accommodations and pampering service in Vail, just two hours on the highway from Denver International Airport, as well as Beaver Creek, 15 minutes further west of Vail.

Four Seasons Resort Vail

Conveniently located near a plethora of shops and restaurants in the pedestrian-friendly Vail Village, the Four Seasons Resort Vail rolls out the red carpet for both couples and families. When my family stayed here soon after the property opened in December 2010, we were completely wowed by the Kids for All Seasons complimentary child care; the Teen Center filled with video games, foosball, and pool table; the huge outdoor pool area with steamy hot tubs, an “oven” for warming towels, and complimentary afternoon sweet treats; and the nice kids’ amenities, such as a small stuffed animal upon check-in. Children under age 5 always dine for free at the on-site Flame restaurant.

 

Large living room at the Four Seasons Resort Vail

Accommodations here are spacious and warm, with luxury linens, gas fireplaces, and natural stone and hickory wood accents. Our “deluxe mountain view one-bedroom suite” even had a television in the bathroom mirror. I took some time out from the family to enjoy a solo treatment at the on-site spa, which has a lovely indoor-outdoor relaxation lounge, locker rooms with soaking pools, and a slumber room, for cozy post-treatment napping.

Although the Four Seasons Resort Vail isn’t slopeside, it’s just a short walk to Vail’s Gondola One, where you’ll find a dedicated ski concierge just for Four Seasons guests. Here, store your ski gear, get your boots warmed and your skis waxed overnight, and enjoy complimentary pastries and muffins before you hit the slopes.

European chalet exterior at The Arrabelle

 

The Arrabelle at Vail Square

I love The Arrabelle at Vail Square because I feel as if I’ve been whisked away to a European chalet as soon as I set foot on the property. In fact, it’s modeled after the grand hotels you might find in the Alps, with pointy roofs and intricate stenciling on the exterior of the multi-story buildings adjacent to Vail’s Eagle Bahn gondola. Inside, elegant guest rooms are decorated with rich draperies and plush carpeting, and gorgeous marble bathrooms have large soaking tubs – ideal for kicking back after a day of skiing.

And if you further need to soothe sore muscles, don’t miss The Arrabelle’s RockResorts Spa, with huge, sunken Roman-style hot tubs, as well as steam and sauna, in the men’s and women’s locker rooms. Another nice perk at The Arrabelle: a small rooftop lap pool with direct views of the slopes. The on-site restaurant is the classy but comfortable Tavern on the Square, an American “mountain grill,” with comfort-food favorites, as well as clever cocktails and Colorado’s best microbrews.

Viewfinder Tip: Find discounted hotel prices at Vail and Beaver Creek hotels at the beginning and end of the ski season; room rates during Christmas week are notoriously high.

The Arrabelle’s location in Vail’s Lionshead Village is excellent, adjacent to a small outdoor ice skating rink that’s especially fun for making spins under twinkling lights as the sun sets. While you’ll find many shops and restaurants in pedestrian-friendly Lionshead Village, I recommend one cafe right next to The Arrabelle: Rimini Gelato.

The Park Hyatt’s pool area is adjacent to the slopes

 

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek

The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek‘s lobby, with a giant antler chandelier and roaring fireplace, has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer fabulous mountain views. Indeed, you cannot beat the location of this upscale property right at the base of the ski area. It’s especially inviting for families, since the youngest novice skiers master the gentle slope in front of the hotel before hopping on the nearby Buckaroo Express gondola to another gentle learning area for pint-sized rippers. For more family fun, check out the Park Hyatt’s daily après-ski tradition: complimentary, gourmet make-your-own s’mores every afternoon at the fire pit.

My favorite reason for staying at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek? The stellar Allegria Spa. Here, all guests who book a body treatment – from Swedish massages to oxygen facials to hot-oil wraps – can experience Aqua Sanitas, the spa’s water ritual. This includes soaking in a hot tub with multiple waterfalls, sitting in a mosaic-walled steam room with light therapy, rinsing off under a rainshower, and relaxing in a heated chaise lounge in the Tepidarium. You don’t want to miss the opportunity for this self-guided journey, so arrive at Allegria Spa at least an hour prior to your scheduled spa service.

The 190 guest rooms at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek are undergoing a $2 million renovation this fall. A new color palette (creamy white, with grey and butterscotch), plus new in-room carpeting and artwork will debut just as the lifts open for the ski season.

What’s amenities do you look for in ski accommodations?