Luxurious Side of Vail Resort

Photo: Courtesy of Arrabella Hotel

Hotels
At the Lionshead base area, previously a downmarket, family-oriented stepsister to the more-upscale Vail Village, has been transformed into a handsome mix of Swiss-Austrian alpine touches and tasteful contemporary exteriors anchored by the five-star Arrabelle Hotel at Vail Square, A RockResort, and luxury Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail. Less than a mile upvalley, a large portion of Vail Village has been redeveloped on the north side of Gore Creek. Handsome, modern, and bold, it radiates from the new eight-story Solaris Residence complex and the crescent-shaped plaza at its feet, with its elegant ice rink and dramatic outdoor-art pieces.

Dining
Storefront residents include Bol, a Euro-sleek bar and bowling alley; hip restaurant Matsuhisa (Nobu is the larger chain; there are only four other Matsuhisas in the world) has opened a few doors down; and CineBistro offers bar service and fine dining in the super comfort of recliners and small movie rooms.

On the Hill
Vail Resorts is an industry leader in cutting-edge ski-hill technologies. Its latest, EpicMix, reads a skier’s pass or daily lift ticket, now plastic like a credit card, through even thick ski clothes via RF readers above the lift entrances, records the data, and offers a download of your day’s itinerary and vertical. Hi-def screens at PHQ — the busy intersection at the top of lifts 4, 5, and 11 — provide real-time views of lift lines so skiers can avoid congestion.