I'm from the East and ski in Vermont and would like to try Vail/Beaver Creek next winter since Vermont can be frigid!! Anyone stay at the Sonnenalp, Lodge at Vail, Beaver Creek Lodge, or Hyatt Beaver Creek?
Are these places really worth the BIG bucks? We like nice place to stay, but don't want to get ripped off. Prefer hotel instead of condo because like to be pampered, but would consider a condo if it's exeptionally nice!!! Any recomendations on CONDOS? What's the best time of year to ski (JAN, FEB, MAR)to get the warmer temperatures and non spring break
crowds in Vail/Beaver Creek? THANKS!

I haven't stayed at any of those, but have walked by Hyatt BC and heard great things about it. It's nice because it's very close to the ski lift and in a nice area with shops and restaurants.
Mainly wanted to comment on the temps...Colorado gets REALLY cold, too, in the winter, so don't count on it being warmer than Vermont. For the best chance, try very late Feb. or March. It will still be cold, though. Last couple of weeks of March will be spring break, so it's busy.

Well, if I stayed in any of the places you mentioned, I'm not sure I'd ever want to leave my room. Very, very nice and very expensive as you noted. But if you want to be pampered (massages, room service, etc.), you're heading in the right direction.

We go to Vail every year (#28 this year), and we've stayed in all types of places including the Sonnenalp before it was the Sonnenalp. Several years we went through the central reservation service to get a large condo (Creekside Village Condos, very nice) for groups of 6-10. We've never really been disappointed anywhere as long as we kept in mind that Vail is expensive. The past fews years, as it's been only two of us, we've stayed at the Tivoli Lodge in Vail Village. Basic, European-style chalet with swimming pool, hot tub and sauna, but no restaurant, room service, etc.

We always ski the first week in March. I'm a weather wimp (although I've gotten better over the years) and prefer not to ski when it's storming. January is cold. February gets a lot of storms. Early March is great, but in a bad snow year there can be bear patches. Spring break has changed over the years. Schools are on all different schedules, so it's hard to know exactly which week(s) to call spring break.

Gee, I suppose there are bears, but I meant "bare patches."

Hi Gail, My budget does not allow for those places, but have allways heard great things about the Sonnenalp. You might also look at the Ritz-Carlton at Beaver Creek. http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/bachelor_gulch/

BC is rarely crowded and often a few degrees warmer than Vail. I have to say that if my wallet was a bit thicker the Ritz is where I would stay in Colorado.

We usually stay in Condos so I can't give advice on the hotels. As said previously, the weather is iffy any time. Last time I skied Vail/Beaver Creek was about this time of year and it was beautiful weather. Acutally did apres ski outside on the patio at the bottom of Beaver Creek without jackets. (Of course they do have those marvelous outdoor heaters to warm things up!) If you get sunny days, which Colorado has plenty of, you will feel warm in the dry air even if the temp is in the 20's. The thing I think you will enjoy the most is the quality of the snow compared to the east. I must qualify this by saying I have never skied outside of Colorado and New Mexico, but whenever I've ridden the lift with someone from the east they just love the snow conditions, rarely icy.

I've skied Vail in mid-January, and while it was cold, if you are used to skiing in Vermont, it's nothing like the bone-chilling cold of skiing out east in Jan/Feb (and I've skied in Vermont/Lake Placid several times). In fact, some of the days were quite pleasant when the sun was out (and it was out often). I recall having my jacket off while sitting on an outdoor lounge chair mid-day in the Lionshead area. In fact, I overdressed the first day being more used to Vermont-type January cold weather.

The Sonnenalp is supposed to be very nice. We stayed at the The Lodge at Vail which was also very nice ... although expensive (but worth it for amenities and ski in/ski out). We also skied mid-week (Mon-Fri) to avoid weekend crowds. We only ran into long lift lines on Friday.

You will love skiing out west. Vail is awesome! Be sure to get over to the back bowls ... it's quite a skiing experience.

Just got back from the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. We were there the last week of January. For the previous two years, we were in Vail the last week of January. That time is our preferred time as the rates and crowds are relatively lower. The weather has been fairly consistent the past few years during this time. This year, we had temps of 20-30 degrees, a light to moderate wind and decent snow.

You didn't mention if your family is going or whether it's just a couple thing. That could change my response.

The big question for you is how convenient you want the hotel/condo to be to the slopes. You can't get anymore convenient than the Park Hyatt, hence, the high price tag. The Park Hyatt does a great job, albeit with a tip jar around every corner. The Beaver Creek Lodge is nice, but you'll have to take a shuttle to the slopes. The shuttles are great and frequent, but you have to decide whether you want to roll out of bed and hit the slopes or catch a shuttle.

In Vail, the Lodge at Vail is a little tired. Great location though. The Sonnenalp is a great hotel by all accounts but, again, you have to take a shuttle to the slopes. A great little hotel with a great location is the Christiania in Vail. Instead of pampered, you get old world charm. You may want to look there. The best rooms at the Christiania are about half the price of the Hyatt. It's right at the edge of Vail Village, so it's a very short walk to the slopes and the village.

While I agree with everything already said with one correction - the BC Lodge is walking distance to the slopes - walk out the back and about 50 feet and you're at the escalators to the snow. While the units are larger than a standard hotel room - separate sitting area, most with gas fireplaces, the property itself is less extravagant and less personal than the Hyatt, Ritz, Sonnenalp or the Lodge at Vail.

skipop-Glad to hear you just came back from BC. It will just be my husband and I traveling. We like "NICE" places and don't mind paying the hefty room rates, but I'm not sure the Sonnenalp is really worth the HIGH rates they are charging. Is this place REALLY THAT GREAT? Also, how are the rooms at the Park Hyatt? Do they have a nice pool/hot tub area? How was the food at the Park Hyatt (breakfast, etc.)? Do you prefer Vail or Beaver Creek? My husband and I enjoy nice restaurants, lively town ambience, and we are intermediate skiers, no black diamonds!, nice easy trails. Thanks and appreciate your opinions...

From all I hear, the Sonnenalp is worth it. However, I've never stayed there. For me, ski in/ski out is number one on my list of needs. The shuttle in Vail is great and picks you up right outside the Sonnenalp and delivers you right to Golden Peak or Lionshead (or the Vail Village if you want about a five minute walk to the Vista Bahn Lift).

As for the Hyatt, it would be great for a couple. The Spa is great. They have an outdoor pool and about five small hot tubs. Be forewarned, however, the outdoor pool is heated, but not hot. It's a crisp, invigorating swim but you won't want to frolic there in the target water temperature. The Hyatt also has an outsoor fire pit that fun to sit by at night.

The breakfast food at the Hyatt was very good, but expensive. Breakfast for two will run you $20-40 everyday. (Or you can just snag a small breakfast (Bagel, cereal, pankcakes, waffles) off the a la carte menu at the Double Diamond Deli in the hotel.

As for Vail versus Beaver Creek, I think its a tough call. More importantly, they're only about 15 minutes apart by shuttle or car, so can visit either place quite easily. We spent two night in Vail during our week. (We didn't ski Vail this year because we had two young kids and carting all that gear is a pain)

Vail has the better nightlife by far. Beaver Creek is the more quiet, more romantic resort of the two. I actually prefer the dinner choices in Vail. One warning, I would not recommend Beano's Cabin at Beaver Creek. It's a great experience (beautiful sleigh ride, gorgeous cabin, etc.) but the food was a let down. They've got all the right stuff on the menu, but the chef just can't deliver the quality the food purports to be. It was good food, not great. For the price, it should have been great.

Finally, for skiers at your level, you'll love both resorts. BC has great intermediate cruisers. Vail has China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin. Grand Review at Blue Sky Basin is one of my favorite blue runs. At Beaver Creek, Latigo and Harrier are great blue runs.

If you want to lean more toward the party side, I would go to Vail. If you want the more romantic vacation (open fire pit by the slopes, gorgeous skating rink in the village, picturesque village with lights in hundreds of trees), I'd go to Beaver Creek. In either case, I'd try and ski at least one day at the resort you don't choose. If you stay in BC, you should probably try and ski two days at Vail.

Skipop-Thanks for your feedback. After doing my research, the Sonnenalp seems to be getting GREAT reviews. I think we will stay in both places, a few days in BC and a few days in Vail. Another place is coming up with good reviews: The Savory Inn and Cooking School in Vail. It looks interesting, but not sure if my husband could survive with no TV in the room for a week, haha... Thanks again for your feedback....

just fyi - Hyatt and Sonnenalp are in town resorts with full amenities: on-site restaurants, spas, etc. Walking distance to restaurants, shops and skiing. The Savory is a B&B in West Vail. Small, intimate - but will need to drive, bus, or taxi into town for skiing, shops or restaurants. Its comparing apples to oranges.

BLYVAIL-But the "apples" are a heck of alot cheaper than the "oranges", haha!!
I'm getting sticker shock from some of the prices of the room rates in Vail/BC area!!! You probably could go to the ALPS in Switzerland cheaper!!
Do you know of any nice, affordable "CONDO" rentals in VAIL/BC?
I'm trying to keep this ski trip "reasonable" if that's possible to do in Vail... THANKS!!!!

Check out VRBO.com for Vail. We rented a condo at The Wren through VRBO last summer and loved it!

I'll second the suggestion of VRBO.com. I've used them several times for Colorado and Florida properties and always been happy. I have also used vailnet once for a house.

Thanks all for the info!!!

Gail - Vail/BC are not inexpensive. HOWEVER, you're also looking at the most expensive properties in area. There are many less expensive properties. As with Real Estate, you're paying for location, location, location as well as amenities.

The Charter at BC has condos and hotel rooms with full amenities but is about 300 yds from slopes with shuttle and bus access. The Inn at BC is a deluxe hotel-ski-in/out but no other amenities. Borders Lodge has great condos ski-in/out, no amenities.

Lionsquare Lodge is ski-in/out with lodge rooms and condos but units are individually owned - some are great, some haven't been remodeled since avocado green appliances were in. Destination Resorts manages several condo complexes in Lionshead -Vail 21, Vantage Pt, Landmark - 100 yds to lifts but same story as Lionsquare. Evergreen Lodge is a basic hotel (used to be a Doubletree to give you an idea of rating). A couple hundred yards to slopes but easy walk to restaurants and shops. Also on free bus route.

At the risk of repeating myself, I still suggest the Christiania in vail. (www.christinia.com). It's small and cozy and right off the Vista Bahn and village. They have a lodge and condos. I would opt for the lodge part. It's a great value (relatively speaking).

make that www.christiania.com (sorry)