Ritz Carlton Residence Vail

The rooms are fantastic, the location is lovely, and we enjoyed the pool and game room. I really wanted to give this place five stars across the board, but the service was uneven, especially with housekeeping and turndown. Maybe they were just worn out because we went at the end of the season.

We come back every year for Vail skiing, and staying here is always a highlight. We’ve already booked for next year. From valet when you arrive by car to the front desk and the well-appointed villas, it feels luxurious. We rent a three-bedroom each year for friends and family on a snow vacation. The kitchen is fully equipped, and the hotel pantry can provide ingredients and cooking gadgets for the group. Don’t miss the 4 p.m. cookies and 5 p.m. whiskey tasting in the main club lounge. There’s a heated pool, hot tub, gym, steam room, and kids’ game room. It’s a five-minute walk to Lionshead. Ski valet takes care of your gear, and there’s a generous lounge to get ready in. A shuttle drops you just steps from the Eagle Bahn gondola, where your skis are waiting. It also picks you up after you leave your skis or boards at the gondola base. Housekeeping is attentive and top-notch. They set up a crib with toys for our baby boy, and the diaper genie was an unexpected, much appreciated touch. They even made a little teepee tent for my son.

The staff really went above and beyond, greeting us by name and always being friendly and smiling. When the gas fireplace wouldn’t turn on, we called the front desk and an engineer arrived in under ten minutes to fix it. It’s on the pricey side, but well worth it for a ski trip. Our room had a full kitchen, lots of seating, a dining table with six chairs, two beds, and three baths. There was also a gas fireplace and a small bar cabinet stocked with different glasses for red and white wine and cocktails.

We think of this place as a home away from home and come at least twice a year. The whole staff makes us feel like family. From ski valet to the spot where you turn in your boots to the front desk, the guys stay in touch and greet us by name. We were there over Thanksgiving, and the concierge gave us a great suggestion for finding turkey dinner in town. The hot tub had just reopened after being redone over the summer, and everything was in perfect condition.