Travel Guide: Vail Village
It's been a week and a half since we have gotten back from Vail and I had a few of y'all request all details on what we did in Vail. First, sorry it took forever for me to get this travel guide of Vail Village up. We have been so busy working and I haven't had the time to write anything. I definitely miss writing blog posts for y'all. Anyhow, let's dive in!
Wearing: Dress - Perfectly Priscilla | Sandals - Tory Burch | Bag - ABLE
Why did we go to Vail Village in the fall?
Most of the time with towns like Vail and Aspen, you normally go in the winter for snowboarding and skiing. That is honestly their main (and only) attraction, especially for Vail. But since it was my birthday, I wanted to explore a new town in Colorado and Vail was only 2 hours away. Initially, we planned for Aspen but realized that Aspen is 4 hours away and for a day trip, it was not worth it.
Vail Village
The drive to Vail Village was pretty easy -- we took I-70 West the whole way from Denver. We went straight into Vail Valley, the heart of the city. This is where you will find majority of the city's restaurants, shops, and attractions. It's honestly the cutest little area, especially with the fall leaves!
Free Parking
We made the mistake of parking at the Solaris Vail Parking. It was $30 the first hour!!! We did not realized that there were parking over on S Frontage Road (same road as Solaris??♀️). If you park here, your first 2 hours are FREE and it's free upon entry after 3 p.m. until 3 a.m.
Shopping
The shops were a bit disappointing, other than overly priced items that are not worth it, and lacking the little town boutique vibes. Vail was filled with a ton of art galleries, a ridiculous amount of tourist shops, and barely any boutiques. There is a Lululemon there! Funny story, I ended up dropping my phone and cracking it's screen right outside the Lululemon store. Even not buying anything, Vail somehow got money out of me yet again lol.
A few shops that we checked out
Pepi Sports: part boutique, part ski rental shop
Gorsuch: designer ski clothes, luxe cashmere sweaters, and an array of home and gift items
Buzz's Boards: old school ski and snowboard shop
Kemo Sabe: everything western
The classics: The North Face, Lululemon, Burton, Patagonia, Billabong, Christy Sports
Restaurants
I believe there are about 50+ restaurants in Vail Village. We checked out a ton of menus and there were some affordable places.
American: Mountain Standard (price range: $15 - $47)
Italian: Vendetta's Italian Restaurant (price range: $10 - $15)
Mexican: El Segundo (price range: $8 - $20)
Sushi: Yama (price range: $31 - $50)
Bar & Wine: Root & Flower (price range: $8 - $20)
Desserts:
- Chocolate: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
- Ice Cream: Sundae
Wearing: Blazer - Object Rare | Cami - Object Rare | Boyfriend Jeans: Object Rare | Heels: Nordstrom | Bag: ABLE
Hotels
Granted, we did not spend the night in Vail but I know a few of y'all asked for my research on best places to stay! Most of these are not directly in Vail Village.
Christiana at Vail:
With its cozy, Bavarian-inspired décor, the 22-room Christiania Lodge is warm, intimate, and bursting with character.
(price range: $250 and under/night)
- Amenities: Spa, Pool, Free WiFi, Skiing, Fitness center
The Lodge at Vail:
Vail’s first hotel is also the closest to Gondola One, making it the ideal place to stay for early-bird skiers eager to be the first on the mountain.
(price range: $250 and under/night)
- Amenities: Spa, Pool, Free WiFi, Skiing, Fitness center
Vail Mountain Lodge:
Health and serenity are the themes at this creekside boutique hotel, which is also home to Vail Vitality Center, a health-conscious hub that includes a full-service spa and the Vail Athletic Club.
(price range: $250 and under/night)
- Amenities: Spa, Free WiFi, Skiing, Fitness center
Sonnenalp:
Possibly the prettiest hotel in town, the Sonnenalp is fashioned after a traditional Swiss chalet.
(price range: $251 to $350/night)
- Amenities: Golf, Spa, Pool, Free WiFi, Skiing, Fitness center, Kids program or on-site childcare
Manor Vail Lodge:
Manor Vail Lodge offers the intimacy of a privately owned condominium with the amenities of a full-service hotel
(price range: $251 to $350/night)
- Amenities: Spa, Pool, Free WiFi, Skiing, Fitness center
The Arrabelle at Vail Square:
No other hotel in Vail offers better access to the slopes.
(price range: $351 to $500/night)
- Amenities: Spa, Free WiFi, Skiing
Four Seasons Resort:
It's a bit further from the slopes than most of the other big names in town, but the Four Seasons compensates with tons of beautiful common spaces. There's a stunning outdoor terrace for drinks, as well as one of the best pools around (it's open year-round).
(price range: $501 and up/night)
- Amenities: Spa, Free WiFi, Skiing
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