Marriott's StreamSide Birch at Vail

We gave this two stars for the location. The rest of our stay at the Birch building at Marriott StreamSide was disappointing, and we wouldn't recommend it. Getting around with a stroller was a major hassle because there was no access at Douglas or along the path to the main building. The building also got uncomfortably hot at night in summer, with no air conditioning. The shuttle was another problem. Staying at Birch meant we often couldn't get a seat because the bus filled at its first stop, the main building. Some drivers acted unprofessionally, calling other drivers “stupid” where passengers could hear, and refusing to turn on the air conditioning in midsummer. Housekeeping was almost nonexistent. There was no regular cleaning, and when we asked for fresh towels, we were told to wash them ourselves. During our longer stay, we eventually got one cleaning, but they still didn't change the sheets as requested. Then, about a week after checkout, we were unexpectedly charged an $85 “cleaning fee.” We were told at check-in that a scheduled cleaning was included with our longer stay. After a phone call, the fee was reimbursed. The building smelled strongly and unpleasantly of chemicals every time we came in. The kids' activity center was underwhelming: painting was offered only once a week, and even when four staff members were just sitting and chatting, they wouldn't let the kids join in outside that time. We played bingo, but there weren't any prizes, not even a piece of candy. Between the lack of basic services, the staff attitude, and the surprise fee, the place felt more like an outdated timeshare than a Marriott resort. Do better, Marriott.

The pool was fantastic, and the grounds were very well kept. Tim and Robbie at the front desk were incredibly helpful and hospitable. We could hear loud traffic from I-70 in the room, which was the main downside. The free shuttle was a nice extra, and public transit to the village was close and easy to use. We had a great stay overall and would come back.

The rooms had mid-quality furnishings, and the indoor pool was dark with little room to hang out. It's an odd setup for a ski stay since the rooms and amenities are in separate buildings, so you have to walk between them. The skier shuttles to Vail were good, and the hotel is on a bus route.

We spent ten days skiing here. The room was nice and spacious, and the two queen beds in the second bedroom worked well for our kids. The service was uneven, though. We arranged a cleaning since we were there longer than ten days, but nobody showed up. After I called, they came the next day, which was okay, just inconvenient because we had planned to be out while they cleaned. The microwave kept tripping the breaker. Maintenance reset it and tested it for about ten seconds, but it tripped again as soon as we used it longer after he left. I called for someone to come back, and nobody did. The worst issue was the ride to the slopes. The drivers were good, but there weren't enough buses, or buses big enough, running often enough. At the end of the day, people rushed for the bus, and I had to stand for the ride back several times. A swaying bus is no fun after skiing. Vail is wonderful, but I doubt we'll return to this place.