Vail Ski Holidays

For skiers who enjoy skiing immaculately groomed pistes, Vail ski resort is globally known as the best. The majority of the runs are on the front side of the mountain, which has six main lifts. The shape of the mountains is such that a single lift will provide access to a far greater variety of runs than one would usually find in Europe. Although the front side of the mountain does have a few double-black diamond challenges, they are most notably found in the Back Bowls area around the Highline lift to the east of the area.

There is only one ski school on Vail mountain and it is owned by Vail Resorts. With over 1,300 instructors, it is one of the largest ski schools in the world. British visitors regularly rate the instruction here, which often incorporates video sessions and other state-of-the-art ideas, as significantly superior to that found in Europe. Children’s classes are particularly highly praised and the fact that there is no language barrier is an obvious advantage. Standards of snowboard tuition are equally high.

Vail ski resort has a large variety of restaurants on offer, with something to be found for everyone.

Sweet Basil – a long-standing favourite, Sweet Basil offers contemporary American cuisine with an exciting twist.

Mountain Standard – Sweet Basil’s sister restaurant, Mountain Standard, delivers a more rustic experience with wood-fired cooking in a cosy setting.

The Red Lion – serving typical American burgers and pizzas, this is the ideal place to refuel after a day of skiing.

Vendetta’s – visit here for hearty pizzas and a lively bar atmosphere.

Vail ski resort is a big, sprawling resort with plenty of shops – many of them selling designer labels – restaurants, spas, bars and cafes that are not just open but lively during the day. It is easy for skiers and boarders to come down to resort level for lunch in both Vail and Beaver Creek and it is also possible for non-skiers to get up the mountain using the Eagle Bahn Gondola, for a mid-day rendezvous, with the Eagle’s Nest complex above the Lionshead area of Vail being the most obvious meeting point. Non-skiers can also take Gondola One from Vail Village to enjoy an on-mountain lunch at The 10th, Vail’s premier full-service restaurant, which combines fine dining with spectacular views.