This article gives you the MrFiveStar ski experience for Vail and Beaver Creek for 2007/2008. We also list our "must go to restaurants" during your holiday in the Vail Valley, including phone numbers and direct web links. Don’t just look at the pictures read the entire article.   

This year I suggest the following, for your week in Vail/ Beaver Creek, Colorado. If you want authentic “Ski in- Ski out” then there is only one five star choice, from my prospective. The Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch fits the bill. The accommodations are excellent and everything is pristine. The Ritz has great internet connections, flat screen TV, terrific ambiance, and with Spago opening in December, great food to wet your appetite. You will find a ski lift right at your back door that provides access to all of the Beaver Creek and Arrow Head terrain. There is also a great spa with a wide range of five star services. Go outside the box and one night take a sleigh ride to the mountain restaurant Zach’s Cabin for an evening with a unique twist. What more could you ask for? Well, you aren’t really within walking distance to anywhere. So, when you are there, your are there. Yes, there is transportation to get you out but it is transportation. Don’t get me wrong the Ritz Carlton is the best of the best at Beaver Creek.

Here is another idea for those who prefer to have a village feel for exploring and walking, with no need for transportation.   The Park Hyatt might be your answer. Their   Allegro Spa has a reputation that exceeds even the Ritz!   The hotel is a little dated but still in great shape.  Be sure to reserve at least a junior suite with either a mountain view or village view and definitely not the front view, unless you like watching people coming and going 20 hours a day. They have a great breakfast, not as good as the Sonnenalp but that’s next. If you just want something light they have a little deli that is delightful. The Hyatt has great mountain views; the kinder lift is just out the back door and not too far away is the Centennial high-speed quad, the main lift.

Now here is the deal about the Park Hyatt.  You have the ability to put your children in the best ski school in North America right next door to the hotel. After skiing they can ice skate till 10 PM.  There are fireworks every Thursday evening and several restaurants within a few steps of the hotel.  There is “dial a ride,” a service that costs nothing and   takes you anywhere in Beaver Creek. There are some excellent restaurants within 7 minutes of the hotel and “dial a ride” always seems to be ready for you when you need them. You will be skiing the same terrain as you would if staying at the Ritz. You can take a snow cat to Beno’s cabin for dinner. Ok, so it isn’t the sleigh over at the Ritz but you will stay warmer. Somehow it always seems colder on the way home, regardless of how much you have had to drink. Again, I do not consider the Hyatt a five star, but it is definitely a strong 4 star. You won’t hear the “my pleasures” as much and you don’t feel as pampered here with the exception of the spa, but perhaps the village aspect outweighs the secluded Ritz. That’s your call. I have stayed everywhere in the area. I prefer the Hyatt when I am traveling with my grandchildren. However we do ski over to the Ritz for lunch several times during out stay. Just get there early, like 11:30.

By staying in Beaver Creek you are a stones throw away from one of my favorite restaurants in the Vail area and that is Splendido.  Dress up and be ready for truly fine five star dining.  There is the Golden Eagle for lunch. There are two excellent Italian restaurants to choose from.   Toscanini is a few steps away and Tramonti is a short walk of two blocks or there is the good old “Dial a Ride” who will wisk you there in two minutes. The Hyatt restaurant is not bad for one evening. I have had some fine meals there.

For my last idea I suggest my favorite, the Sonnenalp Resort in Vail.

This is a family operation that leaves nothing undone. The Fessler’s are European with generations of five star resort experience.  There is not another resort in the Vail area that has a greater understanding of the wishes and needs of the traveler.  The service is exceptional.  The hospitality the best in the Rockies.  They truly know  how to make you feel welcome and at home. Johannas Fessler is always standing his watch.   He can be found at all times and his attention to detail is impeccable.  In real estate the key is said to be location, location, location.  At the Sonnenalp it is service, service. This is the difference between a private owner and a large company. The Sonnenalp accommodations are as good if in fact perhaps better that the Ritz. Heated bathroom floors, large soaking tubs, fireplaces in most rooms and great European decor. By the way, the Sonnenalp spa is right up there with the Allegra at the Hyatt, so my wife says. The Sonnenalp has the only authentic Swiss restaurant in the area.  For a very special fun evening of raclette, fondue, and great alpine specialties, tell Helga I sent you. Their fine dining restaurant, Ludwig’s is one of the top five restaurants in the entire Vail Valley and one block away is Restaurant Kelly Liken, another of the top 5. Two blocks away are two more of our favorites, Sweet Basil and the Wildflower.  You won’t go hungry in Vail. The Sonnenalp also has the Bully Ranch, an excellent warming up place for lunch or a casual dinner.

The Sonnenalp is 3 blocks from the main Vail lift or you can take the free bus to the Lionshead lift just one block from the bus stop. Vail has a real village feel with more shops and restaurants than Beaver Creek. If you have your children with you, you will want to go to Adventure Ridge on Vail Mountain for late afternoon and early evening tubing and snow biking, it’s a great fun spot.  Make a reservation for dinner one evening at the Game Creek Restaurant. This restaurant is located on the Vail Mountain. You take the Lionshead lift, then board the plush heated snow cat for an E ride to the front door of the restaurant. Game Creek will offer you a great fusion of American-French style cooking in a well appointed lodge setting, complete with snuggie slippers to wear during dinner.

In addition to cross country skiing and snowshoeing I suggest you try a dog sled ride or even drive the sled yourself. For the peste de resistance you must try a hot-air balloon ride. So, as you can see there is ample opportunities for staying busy and creating a memorable experience.

Now, what does all this cost: Here is a general idea of what you may be spending.

Plan # 1BG $46,812, not including air fare and not during the Christmas holidays for 9 days staying at the Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch in a Club Executive Suite. This price includes breakfast, lunch and dinner with wine at the best restaurants in the area. It also includes two 9 day ski passes, ski equipment rental for two for 9 days, dog sledding and a hot-air balloon ride and après ski refreshments daily.  This further includes a spa treatment every day and one day a complete spa day for two. Transportation to and from the airport and around the Vail area is covered as well.  You will also have the services daily of a 12 hour personal Valet, ski instructor and driver. Everything is arranged for you with your Valet opening every door. No Checking in the Ritz Carlton; you will just be escorted to your suite, no fussing with the front desk or waiting. Your suite will be decorated with fresh flowers, the kitchen and bar will be stocked daily. You will be provided with a 9 day overview of planned activities and restaurant reservations, all are subject to your revision. This itinerary is discussed with you prior to the trip and then reviewed upon arrival. All restaurant reservations are pre arranged; no waiting for a table. The Valet will escort you to the restaurant and then to your waiting table. Simply order and enjoy the evening. When you are ready to leave the Valet will have already paid the bill, simply leave and meet the Valet for the return or on to the next event.

Skiing has never been easier. Your Valet and ski instructor will arrange for your skis to be brought to the  lift. The ski instructor will be able to bypass most lift lines permitting you to enjoy the magic of the mountain. Upon arrival you will be given 2 Razor Cell phones with all the telephone numbers preprogrammed for your Valet, Driver and Ski Instructor.  The Valet will also arrange for lunch on the mountain or in the village, again with no waiting; simply arrive and be seated.  

Plan # 2BGA $39,072, is the same as above but does not include the Valet, Ski Instructor and Driver.

Plan # 3V $37,092 with the Valet, Ski Instructor and Driver and staying at the Sonnenalp in Vail or the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek.

Plan # 3V1 $29,352 is the same as Plan # 3V but does not include the Valet, Ski Instructor and Driver.

These plans may be revised to fit your needs and desires.  They are presented here as a guide line as to how to implement a FiveStar Ski vacation. This entire package is of course subject to availability. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Similar plans are available for Aspen, Colorado and ZermattSwitzerland.

Dinner	Lunch
Swiss Chalet (Sonnenalp Hotel Vail Village) Swiss ****
Restaurant Kelly Liken (Vail Village) 970-479-0175 American  ****	Pepi’s (Vail) ***
La Tour (Vail Village) French ****
Left Bank (Vail Village)  French *****
Frites (Edwards) French ***
(Vail Village) 970-476-0125   American****
Timber Hearth Grille (Cordillera ) 970-926-5588  American ***
Toscanini (Beaver Creek Village) Italian ***	Bivans (Park Hyatt) 970-949-1234
New Spago (Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch)
Juniper (Edwards)  American***
Ludwig’s (Sonnenalp Vail Village) European *****	Golden Eagle (Beaver Creek) 970-949-1940 American/Colorado A casually elegant country setting serving creative American cuisine. Menu features fresh pasta, fish, beef, fowl and wild game. Serving lunch and dinner from 11:30 -10 pm. Located in the Beaver Creek Village 970-949-1940.
Game Creek  (on Vail Mountain) French American ***
Wildflower (Lodge at Vail) French American *****	Bully Ranch (Sonnenalp Hotel Vail) 970-476-5656
traMonti Restaurant (Chateau Beaver Creek) Italian ***
Splendido (Chateau Beaver Creek) 970-845-8808  French American *****
Mirabelle (Beaver Creek Entrance) French *****