winter
season |
|
summer
season |
|
resort height |
Vail 2500m |
Beaver Creek 2255m |
highest lift
|
Vail 3430m |
Beaver Creek 3488m |
snow range |
8,200 - 11,440ft |
snow
probability |
excellent |
transfer
times |
Eagle 30-45mins |
Denver 2.5-2.75hrs |
|
queues ** | scenery *** | resort charm *** |
restaurants ** | convenience *** |
Vail's slopes are undeniably compelling, especially
with nearby Beaver Creek contributing to the offering.
Vail is surrounded by chalets. The intention was
for it to have a very Austrian-Tirol look, but Vail is now part of an
enormous resort offering a more modern style. The village has an
efficient bus service, making the location of your accommodation less
of a worry, but there is no hiding from the best located accommodation
is in the Tirolean Vail Village near the Vista Bahn fast chair.
Beaver Creek, a haven of peace and
tranquility, is just 10 miles away, and is included in the lift
pass. It is accessible by bus. Beaver Creek is for the
exclusive, with quality accommodation.
|
Vail is
the biggest area of slopes in America. There are runs to suit every
taste, although some runs tend to be over graded. The biggest new
development in Colorado is the Blue Sky Basin. |
|
There is a half-hourly shuttle service between Vail and Beaver Creek,
running between 0800 and 2400, priced $3 each way. The trip takes 25
mins. Also covered are nearby resorts of Keystone and Breckenridge
(all owned by Vail Resorts). Beaver Creek
centres with a pedestrian square, which features escalators to the
slopes, shops and an open-air ice rink (see webcam). Bars and après
ski is more constrained than in Vail. Small boutiques and art
galleries allow window shopping, or if you prefer, there are three
spas for the seriously indulgent. |
ü good points |
û
bad points |
ü |
|
wide range of slopes |
ü |
|
largely traffic free resort |
ü |
|
Quiet slopes in Beaver Creek |
|
û |
|
accommodation long way from slopes |
û |
|
expensive |
û |
|
inadequate mountain restaurants |
|
|
aprés ski |
for a lively atmosphere, head for Vail's Garfinkels and
Red Lion. if you want a more relaxed and stylish time, head for The
Saloon or Rendezvous or Coyote Cafe in Beaver Creek |
activities |
snowmobiling * ice biking * ice
skating * sno-cat skiing * balloon rides * snowshoe tours * dog
sledding |
eating out |
over 100 restaurants in Vail. 22 in Beaver Creek. prices about $6-$25.
try the Sweet Basil, Lancelot and the Beaver Trap Tavern |
other amenities |
health clubs * winter footpaths * wildlife tours *
Silverthorne factory outlet |
children & teenagers |
|
tourist
office |
PO Box 7, Vail, CO 81658 |
Vail
tel 970 496 9090 |
Beaver Creek tel 970 845 5745 |
|