With this year's ski season rapidly approaching, and my upcoming winter trip to Utah finally booked, I thought it'd be worthwhile to reflect on my past few excellent years at Vail with some tips: 1 - If you do nothing else for the rest of your life, SKI THE BACK BOWLS (maps here: http://www.vail.com/mountain/explore-mountain/mountain-trail-map.aspx). Don't ever leave...Seriously! Vail's whole claim "like nothing on earth" comes to life once you've skied here. Blue Sky Basin is pretty badass too if you're looking for untouched powder, tree skiing, and plenty of rocks/cliffs to jump off. These areas are what distinguish Vail from almost every other ski resort in the U.S. (European skiing above the tree line is very similar in experience to Vail's back bowls). Both areas are also much quieter than the front side, which has a tendency to always crowd up by the lodge area...this brings me to #2... 2 - If you must ski the front side of Vail, get as high up as you can, and take small runs down (ie. from the summit to Mid-Vail). Rinse and repeat, and you'll stay away from the sometimes overwhelming base-area crowds. 3 - If you're not staying in Vail or Lionshead Villages, hang out there for a round after the ski day. Vail is known for their apres ski scene, and you'll see why once you get out of your skis and boots after your last run. There are a plethora of restaurants and bars, many with live music and drink specials. Certainly, you can probably get cheaper food/drink if you're willing to drive out of the village, but the scene and people alone make everything worth it. 4 - Regardless of where you're staying, utilize the free in-town shuttle buses. Vail Village is typically more expensive than Lionshead, so we end up staying in Lionshead (same proximity to the slopes, walking distance to both Born Free and Eagle Bahn gondolas). You're already spending $120+ a day on skiing and even more on food and drink, so if you're looking to shave cost without really sacrificing much, this is the way to do so. read more

Vail Mountain Club - Good morning Vail :) - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

This is the mountain I truly learned how to curve on my snowboard. The snow is pure powder. It makes falling not painful and it makes the falls more of a small bump. I am proud to say that because of vail I can now snowboard with ease. If you are debating between what mountains to board when in Colorado, I would say vail is a perfect option. The mountain runs are a good 30 to 45 minutes. The lifts up the main mountains are called gondolas and they are insulated and warm. Once you hit the main slopes in order to get to the top upper slopes you need to take the regular lifts. The regular lifts are cold, as expected. Lift tickets are about 160$ per a person for a whole day pay. It's $80 per a person for half a day. The vail village makes this a must. It's a quaint town with loads of shopping, dinning and ski/ boarding related stuff. As a boarder, I do have to mention that this mountain is way more skier friendly than boarder friendly. But overall, it's a great place to board. read more

Vail Mountain Club - Me in the hot pink pants having fun! - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

I absolutely agree with Vail's slogan, it's "like nothing on earth". It's one of the prettiest places & landscapes and it's a great place to learn how to ski for beginners. I was nervous about how well I would be able to handle the hills in Vail but my fears were put to rest immediately since the all day lessons are taught by top notch instructors. They place you in a group based on your ability and start you in the training area then gradually take you to more difficult hills as you improve. I took three days of lessons and stayed with the same instructor who took us all over the mountains. I went from being able to barely ski to being able to ski the blue squares by the end of the second day! The lessons are totally worth the extra money. You can get a discount on your lift tickets and lesson packages if you book online in advance. Get to the equipment rental place the night before or early the day of your lesson since the lines can get really long. Vail isn't just for the experts; it's also a place for beginners who want to learn how to ski, improve their skiing and conquer their fears of skiing. My goal is to come here each year since it's the best and most beautiful place to ski on earth! read more

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Wow wow wow My ski gang of 15 and I have just returned from 9 days skiing in the Colorado Rockies. After a lot of research, we settled on Vail as the transfer from Denver was a reasonable 2 hours and the slopes looked extensive with the promise of huge bowl of powder skiing We lucked out this year with the snow. Speaking to locals, Vail has had a couple of lean years, snow-wise but we had 2 feet of fresh snow when we were there. This led to amazing thigh high powder adventures but it also limited us to only one sunny day and temperatures of minus 15 with wind causing horizontal snow blasts The runs are extensive and single lifts will give you decent length descents. The front side of the mountains give the most variety for a mixed ability group. There are really fun green/blue run mixes from all areas but our favourites were just above the Lionshead, the Wildwood bowl and the runs leading down from the Buffalo's/Henry's hut area. That's not to say that there aren't challenges for expert skiers and Highline and Riva Ridge will test more adventurous skiers A word of warning - unlike European resorts, you'll find that the grooming patterns change from day to day. You may arrive at your favourite run from the day before to find it huge mass of giant moguls. So, look at the list of groomed runs carefully beofre setting off if bumps scare you! One of the best things about Vail are the many information guides - they wear red suits with an ''i on the back and they're an invaluable source of information about navigation and day to day conditions However, it's when you get to Vail's Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin that you get to its strength. Be aware that strong winds can close access to these areas though and when skiers and boarders are limited to the front face, lifts can get busy. You need to be at least an intermediate skier to get the most of their big open bowls though there's always a blue run down to the lift. The stronger skier you are, the more you'll probably get out of skiing in Vail - they pride themselves on being a more extreme ski resort, hence policies like allowing slopes to mogul up more than other resorts Our group enjoyed some amazing powder and tree skiing. Wonderful flully floaty powder. In fact, we didn't encounter any ice at all during our 9 days on the slopes. The most extreme conditions we enjoyed were in the Mongolias, eliciting one of our group to scream,'It's skitastic' as she zoomed down the slope They try hard to offer freshly made food in the mountain lodges. We probably spent most time in Two Elks because it offered the most seating though the best food was at the Wildwood on the mountain and at the base of Lionhead off the mountain There is a good bus system linking the base areas in Vail Village with a good choice of restaurants and shops. With a few exceptions, Vail is an expensive resort and the one downside is a slight snobby attitude about the resort in that they don't make it easy to access the other Colorado resorts, especially when the Epic ski pass includes days at othe resorts for free. There is a bus to Beaver Creek but you have to pay. There are no public buses to any of the other resorts. However, this isn't enough to dampen my new found love for Vail and this is in my top 3 favourite ski resorts ever read more

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10 Lessens Learned at Vail: 1. Vail is mostly for skiers. 2. Don't go to Vail Mtn. on a holiday weekend. Long lines at the lifts and even to order food at the lodges. 3. Back Bowls are great on a powder day. 4. Ungroomed, unskied 2+ ft deep Back Bowl runs suck for a intermediate level snowboarder, like myself. The powder was nice, but without sufficient packing by machine or by other skiers/snowboarders, it was difficult to traverse down the hill. 5. Front Side is overcrowded and has too many cat walks (as a snowboarder, it was annoying). 6. Lifts close too early in the Back Bowls, contributing to more overcrowding on the Front Side after 3PM. 7. The EPIC burger lives up to its name. 8. No gondolas, but plenty of 4-person express lifts. 9. Insufficient signage. Easy to get lost or go down undesirable runs. 10. Awesome, but expensive indoor garage parking connected to Vail Village. read more

Vail Mountain Club - View of Back Bowls from Two Elk Lodge - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

There are people that give this place a bad review? WTF for? This place is radical. Huge. I can ski for days and never be bored. Orient Express Lift is COLD... Even on Sunny Days... Love the mountain. Love love love. read more

Vail Mountain Club - Northwoods Chairlift. - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

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Vail is a FAIL. This place is made for skiers with the flat runs and moguls galore. There are super rude skiers too who were trying to pick a fight with us 3 boarders. Seriously? We're just here trying to have a good time minding our own business. I don't care if you were an ex-hockey player. Does that make you tough when you're 50 years old and balding? $116 for the lift ticket $25 for parking read more

Yes the price of a day lift ticket is anywhere from $105-$130 and that parking is another $25/day. Save on the ticket by getting the EpicMix season pass so you can use for Tahoe resorts too... or borrow your friend's. Or you save a couple bucks for buying online 7 days in advance. For the parking, drive past the resort down a couple exits to the Holiday Inn right off the freeway and park there. There's a free shuttle that goes to and from the resort (stops both at Lions Village and the Main Village) every half hour until 8:30 pm or so. Trail maps: http://www.vail.com/mountain/explore-mountain/mountain-trail-map.aspx Best runs if you are intermediate or advanced are on the back bowls. Get to one of the top to Two Elk, Wildwood, or Buffalo's lodge. You don' t need a gondola to get you there, those lines can take forever so just plan our your lifts and catwalks to get up. There are a number of tree areas where you can ski/snowboard through, however some are so dense (particularly in the Sun Down bowl) where it just looks like winter wonderland. One of the backside bowls: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vail-mountain-vail?select=T_b60p30cs8v3_kwnWFPfQ#T_b60p30cs8v3_kwnWFPfQ View from the backside: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vail-mountain-vail?select=V_irLoBPLJ0EfHMcJN0p7g#V_irLoBPLJ0EfHMcJN0p7g Note: if it's too windy/stormy, they will close the backside. So if you are stuck in the front, the runs off Northwood Express (goes up towards Buffalo Lodge) are pretty good and tree-filled too. Can't wait until next season! read more

Vail Mountain Club - Back of the mountain - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

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As an avid boarder, Vail is definitely a legendary destination to visit. Upon arrival, this town is nestled at the base of the ski mountain, giving some vibrant and beautiful views when you approach it. With a little over 5,000 acres of skiiable terrain, Vail sits at 3rd place among the largest ski resorts in the United States! That's no small feat. Seven bowls and intermediate gladed terrain make up this vast playground. The terrain most certainty has a style that suits everyone as well. There are intermediate-friendly slopes off of every lift you could take and more challenging runs featured throughout the entire mountain. They have a total of 193 trails tallying out at 18% beginner, 29% intermediate, 53% advanced/expert. The thin air here isn't the only thing that takes your breath away as well. Vail is something that you can walk upon and stand at awe at. The above-cloud skiing is something that is entirely out of this world. Everywhere you look, there are never-ending, gorgeous views. Tickets are $179 per day. My recommendation is to purchase an Epic Pass. With the Epic Pass, you can ski up to 'X' amount of days not only at Vail, but Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain to name a few. It is by far the best way to get the bang for your buck and gives you the option to hit a few different mountains. The town is also a place to marvel. With entertainment ranging from live music bars, a movie theater, a bowling alley and shopping to keep you occupied until your feet hurt, apres ski is king here. Trust me, you will not run out of things to do in this small mountain town. Don't hesitate to check Vail off your list of beautiful ski towns to visit. read more

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For some reason Vail just didn't do much for me the last two years I've skied it. There is a ton of terrain, but the way it is laid out makes it a huge hassle to get around, especially to get to and from the back bowls. The base area is nice, especially for apres ski, but there is no free parking, only a $25/day garage. The snow last year was great, but this year Vail had by far the worst conditions of the three mountains I skied. The prices are some of the highest, if not the highest, in the area, but there is probably more terrain here than the other areas. Ultimately we had a great day here, but that was mostly because we brought beers and brauts to toss on the free grills at the top of Mountaintop Express/Northwoods Express to spend a good two hours eating, drinking and enjoying the sun, not because of the skiing itself. read more

If you've got a Heavenly season pass, you get 3 free days at any of the 4 Colorado resorts (e.g. Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek). Moreover, your 4 buddy vouchers to get lift tickets at the discounted price of $40 is totally worth the investment for you and your friends. This saves pass holders $261 or $141 for your friends. What can I say except the mountain is huge compared to Tahoe. There are multiple peaks with high speed lifts with longer trails to explore in the white winter wonderland bowls of dry powder. It's even got a great village atmosphere to shop, eat, and chill. If you don't to take the local shuttles, there is plenty of parking with reasonable rates of $12 for 12 hours on Sun. - Fri. or $20 for Sat. read more

Whoa! We went early in the season and had an epic snow dump. It really allowed these slopes to shine. Huge amount of terrain but I still really, really hate the cat walks at the end. (Just sayin' ouch!) It's Vail, so it's $$$. but the customer service was remarkably friendly everywhere I went. (Yes, I had a preconceived notion of snottiness) All the spots to eat were good and there was plenty of options. read more

Great is you're a skier! If you're a snowboarder.... not so much. This place gets dumped on a lot which is good, but so many runs are all moguls, or are VERY bumpy. Every route we took, was pretty much moguls every other run. The prices here are RIDICULOUS!! $100/ticket... really?? Good to go if you got the money to spend, and if it just dumped the night prior. Stick to the back bowls for pow. Otherwise, try elsewhere. read more

Vail was awesome - no surprise there - compared to other resort towns I've been to there are so many more stores, restaurants, bars and interesting nooks and crannies to explore when off-mountain. On-mountain, most the runs aren't necessarily made for beginners (note how nice easy green run Flapjack drops right into black diamond Log Chute), and the week we were there was unfortunately lacking in new snow. This resulted in the groomed areas being very rough for beginner-level snowboarders (like myself). Icy catwalks and tight turns make for some pretty epic falls and an increased need to be really aggressive with your edges. But the weather aside, we had a fantastic trip. Once you get the hang of the shuttle system there's honestly no need for a car. And be prepared for a wait at the lift-pass windows near the gondola. The back bowls were all closed during our visit (18" base FTL) so it was pretty crowded on the front side as well. Even with all those people, there are some nice pockets of solace because Vail is also gigantic. Plenty of terrain to explore and I'd love to come back and do with some powder. read more

Very nice and huge ski town! A lot of food options at the mountain base inside the village so you could avoid paying for the overprice food in the eateries on the mountain. We lucked out with good snow fall the night before and on the day of, so the slopes were very powdery. Good and challenging runs, but I still have to say I like Keystone a bit better. read more

Love this mountain! Although '09-'10 was supposedly a "not so great year" for snow out there, it was still great! With 32 lifts and 193 trails, you can't get bored and there is something for everyone. My favorites are: - Chair #4 Mountaintop Express (mid Vail - blue runs on the front side) - Blue Sky Basin (blues/blacks) - Chair #7 Game Creek Express (blues/blacks) - Black: Slot - Blue: Simba Luckily I get to go to Vail/Beaver Creek almost every year, although this year I only got to spend 3 full days - I did not get my fix of fun on the slopes. read more

Vail Mountain Club - Lion's Head from the gondola - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

$165 for a lift ticket? This better be good! Tip: Buy the ticket online on their website listed below so you can skip the long lift ticket line. It was insane to me how people stood in the long line when the online purchase line to the left was empty. Buy the ticket, show confirmation, get a lift ticket. DONE! Tip: A season pass is $599. So if you're gonna be there for a week, you might as well get the season pass This resort has all kinds of runs. They have. Something for every skill level. One of those once in a lifetime visits in my opinion because it's way too expensive. We ate at one of the lodges on top of the mountain and a burrito and sports drink ran me $22! I was shocked! Buy online and skip the line! https://order.vail.com/ read more

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Best life guard:) Ben saved my hubby's life at the china bowl:) He took us from china bowl to vail village. He guide us. It was wonderful experience:) read more

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Vail: Like NO Place on EARTH! #Vail2015 From Blue Sky Basin and skiing the back bowls to world class events, ski-country doesn't get any better than this. FIS World Alpine Ski Championships start tomorrow and skiing everyday through April. Viva Vail! read more

Vail Mountain Club - Vail looking toward Blue Sky Basin! - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

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It's expensive, I mean really expensive running almost 100$ per lift ticket and that does NOT include parking or food. On the other hand, in this case you get what you pay for. There are many reasons that make this one of the best mountains in North America. Even if you only plan on riding 6-7 days, get a season pass. It will pay for itself really quickly! I could fall off a cliff here and die happy. This mountain spans over 5,000 acres of rideable terrain. There are a plethora of runs for all riding abilities and here skiers and snowboarders can ride in harmony. People can be a little pretentious here, but overall we're all here just to enjoy the ride. I hucked a cliff here after a major snow dumping and found myself to be supremely burried in the powder. After struggling for a few minutes two skiers and a snowboarder came to my rescue and stopped to help dig/pull me out! Vail is what snowboard dreams are made of. The mountain is uber maintained, but not overgroomed. They leave lots of little pockets of powder and the back bowls are full of big open tree areas. Anyone who complains about the trees or the terrain just didn't know where to go. Ask a lifty or a local and they'll tell you where to go! Game Creek and Blue Sky Basin are pretty advanced and when I'm not here, I'm wishing I was. read more

Probably my favorite mountain and ski resort. This mountain is freaking huge and the view looks pretty from the top. More importantly, it has something for everyone. Vail during Christmas is something worth experiencing. The village/town is charming especially at night. There are tons of cool recreational activities particularly around holidays. The nightlife is excellent as well as plenty of nice restaurants/shopping to check out. The food is pretty good at the lodges but it can get pretty expensive. Lift ticket is also expensive but this is to be expected for one of the best resorts in US. If it is any consolation, Vail (as a vacation package with pass, hotel, parking, food etc) is a whole lot cheaper than Aspen. Back bowls (7 bowls) are totally awesome particular when there is powder snow. If that's not enough, there is also Blue Sky Basin and Pete's Bowl. You almost have the side of mountains to your own as most people spend time mostly at the front of the mountain (green/blue trails). The mountain is more crowded compared to Aspen and Breckenridge. The mountain is well-maintained and I love many trails they offer. Although I think Aspen has a better town, Vail is a total package. Bottom line is I highly recommend Vail if you are looking for a great vacation. read more

Vail has everything to offer! I live in soCal but have been coming to Vail to board for at least a week every year for 3 yrs now. We found it more and more crowded in the back bowls and blue sky basin every year, but luckily the resort is big enough for us to find fresh tracks and secret stashes everywhere. Advice for advanced riders on a good pow day - wake up early and head straight to the back bowls! By 10ish on weekends game creek would be completely tracked out, so if you get to the village at around that time, just avoid taking eagle bahn completely and take born free through avanti and wildwood to sun down. one gondi usually has the longest line, and the new mountain top exp is also mostly packed. Another tip - If you are heading back to the back bowls at 2:30-3ish on weekends because blue sky basin is closed, go through the cat track half way and do a short hike to orient instead. it will eliminate waiting 30-40 minutes at tea cup because all the crowds from blue sky are all being funneled back. We were able to get 3~4 more laps in the back bowls by skipping that wait every time. On a week day the wait is not that long, but Shangri-La right by orient and/or the drop down to siberia bowl make that short hike worth it. Tip for going from vail back to DIA - if you are skiing and flying back to your city the same day, download i-70 real time status on your phone! This is the first year we experienced really terrible traffic delays from Silverthorne to Georgetown. By moving the flight to later and checking i-70 status definitely help manage the travel experience much better. If you really do have to head back to the airport right after skiing and you know you will be expecting traffic, another suggestion - stop by at Yeti's grind first and get yourself a nice cup of ice coffee of any kind - My recommendation would be an ice karma-nut (hazelnut & caramel latte). It helps keep you awake while waiting bumper to bumper to get through the tunnel. read more

Vail is a great apres ski experience. As far as the mountain itself, not the best in comparison to other mountains in the area (see my review for Breck). Definitely worth a visit for the experience. I had dreamt (sp?) of going for many years, and I finally went - somehow I was a bit underwhelmed with the riding experience. Vail seems to be a mountain for skiers, rather than riders - it can be pretty flat, so tough on us snowboarders. Would I go again? - Sure, if I was forced to. There are better mountains for riders in the area. read more

Let me tell you what I remember of Vail Mtn: *A cute lil' set of shops before you head up to the runs. One in particular had excellent hot chocolate. (with a little bit of amaretto mixed in of course) *More skiers than snowboarders. *Really long runs -- and for the beginners they are way too flat, um, please to have some incline so that we can go somewhere? That's it. Why so little? Because I broke my arm at the top of the Mountain getting ready to come down a intermediate run. I do remember a cry-worthy ride down in the little toboggan and a very drugged up next few days as the end of my Colorado adventure. You still get four stars for the beginning, judging by that I know the rest of the weekend would've been fabulous had I not been such a klutz. read more

Vail mountain has the best of it all: long groomed runs mixed with sections of powdered moguls, ideal snow quality (thick yet soft... none of the Sierra cement) and lots of it. There are fast lifts, gorgeous mountain backdrops, and of course a village at the base with great food and amenities. I felt beyond lucky to come here. Skiing is an expensive sport, I know, but what an amazing one! It's an exhilarating feeling to carve your own tracks into an enormous mountain and it's a sport that's bonded my family since the edgie wedgie days. On this trip, we had great, clear weather the first two days, light snow in the afternoon on the third, and fresh powder for our fourth and final day. We couldn't have asked for more. We met skiers from all over the world here - from South America to Australia. Vail's slogan says it all: it's "like no place on Earth." read more

My favorite mountain for snowboarding... so far :) Let's not talk about the fact that I'm a snowboard instructor there too. Vail rocks! You get it all, wide long runs for carving. A huge Half pipe and great man made jumps and jibs. TREES glorious trees! So many tree runs and so much powder. I love Vail. It's Disney Land snow. If you want some secret (or not so secret) runs to hit, shoot me a note. read more

It's true what they say about Vail. There's no comparison. I've been lucky enough to ski at Vail my whole life, and it's tough to go anywhere else after experiencing the mountain. The slopes are gigantic, and contain all the terrain you could possibly imagine - practice areas, steeps, moguls, terrain parks, double-blacks, glades, the giant back bowls, and the adventure skiing of Blue Sky Basin. There's something for everyone. and the conditions always seem perfect. If you're intermediate or better and want to make the most of your day, it helps to know the mountain and where the crowds go on busy days. For example, you'll find that Chair 2 gets crowded by mid-morning, Chair 4 from mid-morning to afternoon, and Chair 11 later in the day. The best strategy is probably to get out early and beat the crowds across the mountain and over to the back bowls and Blue Sky. All Vail's employees are ultra-friendly and begging to answer questions, as well. Also, download the Epic Mix app before you go so you can track your progress throughout and at the end of the day. Vail is expensive. Lift tickets are more than 100 dollars per day, and even parking will cost you a hefty sum (there is a free shuttle system, however). Plan ahead. The villages, modeled after European ski towns, have tons of restaurants, shopping, and more. I prefer the smaller, calmer Lionshead area to the sprawling Vail Village (especially to ski out of in the AM). There's also a great ski school for the young'ins. read more

Vail is amazing. Here's some tips for Vail's Debbie Downers. Chairlift line complaint----people complain about lift lines when they ski in large groups (some of the international skiers in groups of 8 or 10). If lines bother you, take the singles line or split up into smaller groups---you can literally quadruple your runs. Taking the singles line is how you meet new people and hear interesting stories. If you want to ski in big groups to bond with your family, then longer chair lift waits shouldn't bother you as you're still spending focused time bonding. If you have kids or family, ski school is great (they WILL appreciate it in a few decades when they're not terrified to ski downhill). Also, take trails in a bowl. Vail is expensive. But, if you think about it, lift tickets are almost equal across resorts in the area---between $80-$97---even at the lesser known mountains. There are affordable hotels and restaurants are in Avon and Edwards. I saw someone complain about $30 breakfasts. In Lionshead there is the French deli right near the Arabelle ($10 for breakfast) and there's one in Vail village (also Vendetta's) right there at the Red Lion. Also, there are cheap great places to have dinner at like Garfinkles in Lions Head and the Red Lion in Vail. Rentals are a legitimate cost complaint. One tip is to rent skis in Avon or Edwards. True, parking is less appealing at Vail and the walk is a legitimate gripe. If you want to cut costs, some people park their cars free on Frontage road or at East or West Vail and catch the free bus. They also have ski storage, if you don't want to lug. You should come to Vail to enjoy it. It's easy to gripe about Vail...until you go to Breckenridge or other mountains. There are many ways to conserve costs and we all find ways to do so, but there is a reasonable expectation that a renowned resort like Vail will come with a price tag. read more

I have a love/hate relationship with Vail, but it's mostly love. Vail is huge, so there are tons of options. I love the Blue Sky Basin. Yeah it takes over an hour to get there, but it's so peaceful when you do arrive. The blues there are a lot of fun and offer some great tree skiing that usually has some nice powder. And the views are fantastic. This area of the mountains also has one of the most affordable dining options in Vail with Dawg Haus near lift 39. What I hate is the access to Vail. Unless I'm running late and with 3-4 other people, $25 to park is just outrageous. There is a free bus system, but it's not as convenient as Beaver Creek and takes forever from the areas that don't charge for parking. Also, Vail just needs to stop with the moguls. Its landscape doesn't fit them well, and they're usually poorly done. I think overall I prefer Beaver Creek, but Blue Sky is one of my favorite mountains to ski along I-70. read more

The mountain itself is phenomenal. It has some of the best lift-serviced terrain in the country. However, there are several major problems that make this place a one-star experience: 1) $140 lift tickets 2) Crowds. Literally every day of the week this place is crowded from open to close. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Sunday - doesn't matter. It is a zoo at all times. Granted, there is enough terrain once you get out back to avoid the people, but almost everything is tracked out and destroyed within a couple hours of opening. Furthermore, it's not the crowding on the runs themselves that are the problem, but just getting to the mountain, parking, and actually getting on the hill is long, arduous, and at all times...crowded. And god forbid if any snow falls, you'll be fighting your way through literally tens of thousands of people - regardless of the day of the week it is. It didn't used to be like this, a few years ago you could snag good mid-week powder days no problem and it was a blast. Now the sheer number of human beings herding themselves onto the slopes makes it unbearable. Going on a weekend is insanity, literally 45 minute lines on the lifts that service the good stuff - and that doesn't even take into account getting to the mountain, which is a nightmare due to its location on I-70. Even if you live in Summit which is about 25-30 minutes on a dry day during the summer, it can take upwards of several HOURS to get there and get parked. Truly a nightmare. And if you're coming from Denver 6+ hours is not out of the question. 3) Parking. Unless you're a local and know the spots, AND get there at about 6:30 in the morning, you're paying $35 to park your car for the day. That's $175.00 we're up to now with the lift ticket. 4) Food: $19 hamburgers, $12.00 bottles of beer. 'nuff said. Let's say you have a burger, fries and a soda. You'll be spending at LEAST $25 per person. That's $200.00 we're up to now. 5) The yellow jackets: "Yellow Jacket" is the local term for so-called Mountain Safety personnel. They are required by their bosses to issue X number of citations per day for "skiing/riding too fast". If you ride non-groomers they can be avoided for the most part, but you still have to pass them while traversing the mountain from front to back. They are generally rude and have an authority complex: think overgrown hall-monitor... Not fun. 6) The company: Vail Resorts is an awful company that treats its employees and the communities it operates in horribly. Out of towners, don't let their smiley propaganda fool you, everything is NOT happy go lucky and ho-hum in these communities. Its employees are disposable, dispensable assets that are treated even lower than second-class citizens. They get no benefits, are paid an unlivable wage, and can be fired at the drop of a hat. They are single-handedly destroying all of the mom and pop ski areas of the state of Colorado, and I assume they'll start to do the same in Utah with their aggressive, hostile takeover of Park City. The culture at this company is so toxic that it makes corporations like Citibank and Wells Fargo look like friendly organizations. Absolutely cutthroat and despicable. Do everyone in Colorado a favor and DO NOT give these people a cent of your money. The small ski areas in Colorado offer a much more enjoyable, affordable and pleasant experience. The terrain is just as good too. Yes, most areas don't have the wide open bowls of Vail that make it such a huge draw for tourists, but trust me, they'll be tracked out in a matter of hours. If you're coming from out of town, go to Loveland, Wolf Creek, Crested Butte, Sunlight, Arapahoe Basin, Copper, Steamboat, ANYTHING but Vail. This review is written after spending 100+ days at Vail over the last 6-7 years. read more

Vail Mountain Club - Typical lift line at vail. Taken 01-31-16 - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

I learned how to ski at Vail. Yep, I know, I'm one very lucky girl. I never really knew how good I had it. And while I love nothing more than checking out other great resorts, when all is said and done, Vail is my favorite. There's something here for everyone, any age and all skill levels. I've partied here when young and have done the more mellow 30-something trip here as well. I'm looking forward to start doing family trips here pretty soon. My only complaint is really about skiing in general. It's sooo bleeping expensive. I mean about $100 for a lift ticket? Ouch. But, I have to admit...It's worth it. read more

5 Stars for living up to its name "largest ski resort in the nation". Nice work. Besides that awesome hotdogs at the Dog Haus and a plethora of Hot Foreign Boys! I mean seriously, it's like Y Tu Mama Tambien's casting director was the one hading out the ski passes. So hot. Why am I talking about boys and sausages and not snow? Well, it's because I had to get off the mountain early to avoid frostbite. Literally. Oh yeah and Vail has been voted the No. 1 ski resort for the 14th time in 19 years in "Ski Magazines" Top 50. read more

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!! This is my first trip to Vail. I've been a skier for almost 20 years now and a boarder for 8 years (made the switch and never looked back, yay for never having to clunk around in ski boots ever again!)... Season passholder at Mammoth Mountain for the past 4 years. Mammoth is TINY compared to Vail! Vail is HEAVEN for both skiiers and snowboarders. GIANT mountain, TONS of looooooooooooooooooooong runs that'll make your thighs burn and scream for more, and all the tree runs your heart could hope for. Vail Village is an adorable ski town. We stayed in the Lionshead Condos ($150/night via VRBO, baby!) within walking distance to the gondola at Lionshead Village, which is also freaking cute with its overpriced little shops and ice skating rink and all. Weekends suck line-wise so make sure you hit the slopes M-F... No lines today, a dusting of fresh powder, no wind, and miles of runs to explore = A very happy me. Tip: Pack your own lunch... We made the mistake of forgetting to do so our first day on the slopes and ended up paying $10 for a tiny cup of soup with a sad little chunk of corn bread. read more

Vail, you and your back bowls. That's all you guys ever talk about, enough already, but I will give it to you, they're pretty good. vs. Mammoth: Vail mountain's pretty steep, maybe not quite as steep as mammoth, but steep and a little bit bigger, but not by much. Powder days are better too if you're a skier, comparable on a board, but how often can you plan a trip around a powder day. The town is more interesting, but mammoth isn't at all interesting and breck kicks butt over both. All said and done, I still give mammoth the nod, but its close. The $20 difference in price of lift tickets seals the deal. If you're in CO, I still give the nod to A-basin & I might give the nod to Telluride because the town is cooler outside of festivals and they don't talk about their precious bowls as often as you guys do. read more

This was probably my last time skiing ever. I enjoy going down the slopes but I am old (not really), don't want to get hurt, can't acclimate very well to the altitude and get very sore. This mountain is great. The back bowl is scenic, serene, wide open, powdery and luscious. A great place to ski. $97 for a lift ticket? Damn. read more

Vail. Otherwise known as "The Adult Disneyworld". Great tree-riding (WFO trees, mofucka), tons and tons of groomers, and BLUE SKY BASIN. I heart you Vail. read more

when it's dumping snow, you can expect this place to be ridiculously packed. we had a friend who was a local guide us around to the best places to snowboard - the back bowls. he pointed out that this weekend was outrageous. we arrived at 8:30a - and all the usual free parking spots were taken, which is unusual for this time. parking inside costs $25, so be prepared for that. 30 min wait for the gondola ride. 30 min wait for the first lift up after that. it took a few catwalks to get there to get to the back bowls, but it made a world of difference. if you're not use to catwalks, start training those legs. for that reason, people say that vail is more for skiing. anyhow, having learned in slushy snow in southern california, i cannot believe how much powder i had to plow through, and how vast and wide this mountain was. it's heavenly. note: one can easily get lost here. our friends that arrived late suffered through endless moguls and had a much different experience. if you can ditch work, go during the weekday. it's nice to have the mountain to yourself. read more

Vail Mountain Club - Country Clubs Near Me - Vail, Colorado

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"Like Nothing on Earth" - skiing powder in the Back Bowls really is a unique, incredible experience. There really is nothing like it. This for sure gets 5 stars from me. However, everything else in Vail gets 4 stars from me. It was my first time visiting Vail and I had such high expectations. Maybe because I was in Whistler last winter, but I was honestly underwhelmed by the whole experience here. I think part of the reason is because it was a little too warm. I was there during the first week of March for 5 days and everyday, except for one day when it snowed, was above 35 degrees and sunny. While the sunshine gave us unlimited visibility, it also melted snow and made the condition less than desirable (lots of ice). Luckily for us, it snowed on our 2nd day there. So on the 3rd day, I made sure I was one of the first people to get on the mountain and made my way over to the Back Bowls. Wow. What a great experience. Fluffy powder snow, incredible views, one of the best ski experience I've ever had. If you get lucky and it snows when you're there, you must do this!!! But since it was sunny all day on the 3rd day, snow melted and the condition was back to horrible on the 4th day... I also really liked Blue Sky Basin. Lots of good tree runs. Beautiful scenery. You really feel like you're on the mountain, since you don't see any hotels or highway. It's a little bit of a pain to get over there, so there are definitely less people, which is always nice. Also, since Blue Sky faces north, even when the Back Bowls are icy, Blue Sky is in pretty decent condition. What I really did not like was the front side. Meh. If I didn't have to go through the front side to get to the back bowls/blue sky, I probably would have skipped this area entirely. The only challenging runs are moguls. They don't have any steep slopes that are not completely bumped out. If you're into blue runs and groomers, you'll like it, but if you are looking for something more fun and challenging (but don't want to be on moguls all day), you'll likely find the whole front side boring. And this is where you encounter lots of newbies who probably hang out in the village in their fur coats after they spend a couple of hours on the mountain. Here is a great tip I got from a local: Do not take the gondola from Vail Village first thing in the morning, as the line there is typically very long. Instead, head to Lionshead and take the Eagle Bahn gondola up or start in Golden Peak and take the chair 6 up. I opted for Golden Peak most days. Every morning, I didn't have to wait in line at all. If you're heading to the Back Bowls, chair 6 then chair 11 is the fastest way to get up there. read more

Vail kicked my ass in the best way possible... The ridiculously long cat walks sucked but hey... they cot me to Blue Sky Basin! WOW... it is soooo pretty up there! The only thing that sucked it that I am out of shape and my legs were killing me back there and it took what seemed like forever to get back to the front... and bottom. But that is NOT Vail's fault.... that's my fault for taking 2 weeks off of riding! Damn 25 for parking? 14 dollar burger? sheesh.... at least I have a pass... i can't wait to get in shape and tear it up... may not be till next year but o well.... I can't wait to go back! read more

Oh hey Vail...yeah we all know you are the best of the best (debatable). The most expensive (probably Beaver Creek). Etc. Etc. I wont lie I really do like Vail...its so massive (think 3 resorts in one) that you can easily stay away from the crowds and have a great time skiing. The only problem with that is it takes FOREVER to actually ski. Lets say you want to hit Blue Sky...probably the best terrain there but it takes upwards of a half hour doing boring traverses to get there. The problems dont end there, unfortunately..The front side lifts get really long lines (especially on powder days). Parking is really expensive, but close to the lifts. Vail village has very little character to it...very upscale touristy. Lots of expensive shops and restaurants but nothing that has an authentic feel to it. So, should you go to Vail when you vacation to Colorado? Probably, its definitely something to experience. However, I would recommend staying elsewhere - like Breckenridge - where there is more of a REAL village and prices might be a bit more reasonable. The skiing is just as good if not better too. Thats where I spend most of my days in the winter. read more