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Daniel
from Ft.lauderdale, Fl
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Jan 5, 2008 |
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Overall Rating: 5.0   |
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There is truly no comparison, Vail is everything, luxury, great service, good atmosphere and incredible terrain all in one. If you go to Vail you have to go to blue sky basin and the back bowls, you have not experience Vail until you go there. The front side is fun but you can find that terrain in other more affordable resorts. But Vail truly shows its power in the blue sky basin. It only takes you about one hours to get there and the views and terrain are absolutely incredible. The food is a little expensive, but hey it's Vail do not complain. Life is short enjoy it and ride all the snow you can.
Crowds can be avoided if you get there early, escape to back of the mountain and stay there. People are extremely friendly like in all summit county. Well except for one local that thought he was God. But over all what an incredible experience. Best resort I have ever been to.
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Don
from Los Angeles, CA
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Oct 16, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.8 |
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Well...I was a Vail local for 3 years and I can say those were some of the best times ever. I've pretty much been to all the well known ski resorts in Colorado (and many in California) and nothing compares to Vail. I've spent about 250 total days on that mountain and if I had a choice to go anywhere I'd go back there first. And I do, ever single year. I'm constantly disappointed at other mountains that tend to be windblown, cold, and offer mediocre terrain and lots of traversing. Vail has something for everyone. They have good greens, blues, blacks, cliffs, trees, bowls, etc. so depending on what you feel like you can head to a particular part of the mountain and find plenty of what your looking for. Blue Sky Basin is my heaven. I love to go back there and BBQ before hitting up some tree runs. Chair 2 rocks for all around fun and Northwoods ain't bad on a powder day, especially the cliffs off chair 11. The back bowls are great too if you're into wide open tree-free bump or groomed skiing or riding. And those few locations I just named are just the beginning. So much good stuff it's hard to get sick of, I'm not yet. Copper, Breck, Keystone, Aspen, Winter Park, Loveland, can't touch Vail. I know, I've been to all these places at least 5 times each and I'm already tired of their terrain. Bottom line is that Vail never gets old, it just gets better the more you go. Can't wait until my next trip out there. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to put up with a few more visits to Mammoth (so overrated) before I can head out to the best all around ski resort ever----VAIL.
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james
from London
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Mar 20, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.4 |
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As someone who has recently returned to ski-ing, and having previously visited many of the resorts in Europe, I found Vail a truly impressive resort.
Vail's tagline, "There's no comparison" was refreshingly accurate: the range of ski-ing was comprehensive and included gentle groomed pistes for the learners and enough off piste and double diamond blacks for the experts. You'll do well to 'do' the resort in a week. The service, as one might expect in a USA resort was remarkable (tissues at every lift, just in case you need to blow your nose), lift attendants who call you by your first name (!), and excellent teachers, generally smaller queues than one might expect.
There are some downsides though. As befits one of the most exclusive resorts in the world, it's expensive. Every other skier was a New York stock broker; you're as likely to find media moguls in Vail as ones made of snow. It's also very high, something you'll notice immediately if you land at Denver - the mile high city - the nearest international airport. Ski-ing is hard work that high, and altitude sickness is by no means uncommon. Even if you don't get altitude sickness, expect to be wiped out the first day or two. Vail village itself is chocolate box pretty and a good effort has been made to pass it off as a traditional alpine resort. The downside to this is that there are relatively few bars and restaurants inside the village; you may be forced to travel to find reasonably priced food, nightlife, entertainment. A feature of the mid-west is early bed times. You'll be hard pushed to get a table after 10pm and apres ski means exactly that- after ski-ing. Bars are full from 4-8pm, and after that it's bed time. There simply isn't the culture of a quick snooze after skiing followed by late dinner that you get in Europe.
The teaching is also expensive - too pricey for some. But that would be a mistake, as many of the teachers are relatively mature by European standards, and all the better for that. Less macho means more considered. You'll learn a great deal in a much shorter time. Even hiring a teacher for a few hours it's worth it.
Vail is part of a wider network of resorts, all run by a single company. It's an altogether more commercial enterprise than European resorts. As such, they are out to make a buck, and you're wallet will be much lighter than you anticipate by the end of your holiday. That said, the commercial imperative results in an altogther more pleasurable holiday experience.
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Ivan
from Washington, DC
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Feb 20, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.2 |
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Having been in Vail, Breckenridge and Copper Mtn., Vail stands out as the best. Challenging terrain and a glorious view from top of the mountain. Also, you can go to the top and ski your way down regardless of your level. As in Breckenridge, the trails are wide and the crowds are not a problem. The view is so good that you should schedule a good time in the top. I liked the place so much- trying to get back in 2008. Only downside: the Disney-like town. In that category Breck is way better.
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Felipe
from Ft.Lauderdale, Florida
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Jan 31, 2007 |
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| Overall Rating: 3.6 |
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Vail, i expected something different. don't get me wrong the place is huge, but if your not familiar with the mountain, your going to spend more time looking at a map than enjoying a day riding. Its pricey, the crowds were non existent, and the food was very $$$, but hey its Vail don't complain. Over all we had a great time, but are better places in this area I rather spend my time.
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cristian
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Dec 18, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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its the best place ive ever been.
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Lizzie
from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Jun 18, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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There truly is no comparison to Vail. The best skiing of anywhere I've been. The back bowls are incredible and Blue Sky Basin has amazing backcountry skiing. Spring Break is a great time to go- lift lines die down, but the skiing is still amazing. Vail is by far the best ski resort in North America.
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Neal Humphrey
from Layton, Utah
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Feb 21, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 3.6 |
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My wife and I spent two days skiing at Vail in January of '06. It's an awesome mountain and my CPA wife said the pricey lift pass was worth every penny. Locals told us it was the best snow in 20 years. Well, I'm a Utahn, so I'm used to a lot of snow all the time.
What I'm not used to is lift lines and rude skiers. Vail has plenty of both. I stood in line more in two days than I had in two seasons in Utah. And the only other place I had to deal with rude and dangerous skiers like I did at Vail was skiing in California.
I hope they stay in Colorado.
Oh yes, I'm an expert, ex-racer, all-terrain, aggressive skier. 'Started skiing in 1953. But I'm not making any plans to return to Vail.
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Dan McNamee
from Dayton, Ohio
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Feb 8, 2006 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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All i have to say is im moving to Vail.
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Mike
from Waconia, MN
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Nov 7, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 4.4 |
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Back Bowls are where it is at. I laugh when others say they have a great bowls There are plenty at this place. I don't care for the cost of the food, but that's why I bring my own. Stay in the back till the very end of the day and it is earie having the whole place to yourself while everyone else is skiing down the front side to their hotel rooms. I love the end run of the day.
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Adam
from Vancouver
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Nov 4, 2005 |
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| Overall Rating: 5.0 |
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People compare Vail to Whistler, but trust me, go to Vail. It's a thousand times better, and Whistler is just plain boring in comparison, and its ALWAYS raining. Trust me, just stick to great American resorts like this one, and avoid crumby Canadian resorts such as Whistler like the plague.
