Here are some great tips to help plan your Vail vacation

For those living on the Front Range in Colorado, Vail is a pretty easy drive — about an hour and a half to two hours, if you plan well. Nestled at the base of Vail Ski Mountain, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and surrounded by White River National Forest, Vail is a spectacular mountain town with bountiful recreational opportunities from skiing, snowboarding, ski biking, tubing, sledding, ice skating and even ice climbing to hiking, biking, jeeping, mountain climbing, kayaking, paddle boarding and horseback riding to wildlife watching.

When should you visit Vail?

The best timing for your visit depends on the experience you want to have on your Vail vacation.

Are you an avid skier or snowboarder? Of course then you will want to visit during the winter. Vail is truly an alpine winter wonderland with lights twinkling in the snow covered evergreen and aspen trees all winter long. With majestic snow covered mountains, bountiful outdoor activities and creative culinary offerings Vail has something for everyone.

The holidays and spring break are the obvious popular times to visit the resort, but they are also busier and more expensive. Very often early December offers fantastic snow, as can April late season. Last April, Vail Mountain actually extended operations to a week after their planned closing date after receiving almost two feet of snow the last week of March. Early December and April offer the best lodging rates and often great dining specials as well. The Antlers at Vail hotel is so sure of great early season snow that they offer an early season snow guarantee.

Are you an avid hiker or biker? Then you will want to visit anytime between May and October. With warm sunny days, cool nights, clear skies and the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Vail Summer is the perfect time and location to enjoy outdoor adventures, cultural events and nature at its best. During July you will have a difficult time deciding between the many world class cultural offerings, but in May, June and again in the fall you can better enjoy connecting with nature and easily getting into your choice of restaurants.

Where in Vail should you stay?

Vail is comprised of two village base areas less than a mile apart. A convenient free bus system, a beautiful bike path along the river, pedestrian friendly heated streets and four ski lifts connect the two villages. Regardless of which village you chose as your home base, you will have access to everything that Vail has to offer.

Guests are easily able to fully enjoy the resort without a car. The only thing you may want to access outside of the villages are the larger grocery stores. Many of the hotel properties offer grocery shuttles.

Both villages have the quaint feel of an Alpine village with cobblestone streets and architecture reminiscent of centuries-old Europe. Vail Village boasts a bit more nightlife and is center for much of the music for which Vail is known. Lionshead Village is slightly quieter, with newer hotel properties, many of which are condominium hotels ideal for families and longer stays. The Eagle Bahn Gondola also runs out of Lionshead Village up to the new Epic Discovery, a mountain playground.

Both villages contain several hotel and condominium hotel properties. While smaller groups and business travelers may want to stay at one of the standard hotel properties, families, larger groups and those coming for a longer visit may want to consider one of the condominium hotels. These will have full kitchens and more space for spreading out. Vail condominiums are available starting at studios all the way up to four bedrooms, and there are even some unique sizes in between.

Studio condominiums are typically priced close to the standard hotel rooms but offer more space as well as separate living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms for dining in. Some even boast private balconies with gas grills and fireplaces.

The Antlers at Vail offers two quite unique condominium types. Their one-bedroom condominiums with extra bunk alcove appeal to families with younger children. Still priced similarly to hotel rooms, they have a separate private alcove with bunk beds for the kids so that the adults can watch a move or relax by the fire after the children go to bed.

At approximately 2,000 square feet, the Antlers at Vail platinum-rated four-bedroom residences have the feel of a home but with the services of a hotel. Perfect for families, small groups and gatherings, each well-appointed suite sleeps eight, with plenty of room to spread out and relax in home-style comfort.

 Those who are considering renting a Vail home might want to take a look at these first. These Vail residences have the space and privacy of a home but are near the lifts and also offer complimentary ski valet service with Ski Butler hauling your skis to and from the lifts for you. The Antlers is also offering a “Big Fat Ski Vacation” package Jan. 2 – March 31, 2017 in their four-bedroom residences that comes with $500 “mountain money” good for ski passes, on-mountain dining or activities, resort-delivered groceries or on-site Ski Butlers Ski Rentals.

Insider Tip: When you stay 30 consecutive days or more at a Vail lodging property you are exempt from paying taxes on your lodging—that can add up to some significant savings! On top of that, some of the lodging properties offer discounts on month-long stays.

Liana Moore

Liana Moore is the Director of Marketing at the Antlers at Vail and Chief Mamma Blogger at InsiderFamilies.com. She has been a Vail Valley resident since 2001.