| Vail is one of the larger ski resorts in North America, | | | | Vista Bahn fast chairlift or in the Lionshead area, close |
| running all the way along a major freeway in Denver. | | | | to the gondola and the up and coming Vail Square. |
| The resort has one of the largest skiable areas in the | | | | There is also a free bus service around the resort as |
| US with slopes ideally suited to intermediate skiers or | | | | well as to other places nearby so you can easily |
| better. The slopes consist of 3 areas: the Front Side, | | | | explore the entire area. |
| Blue Sky Basin which features amazing, ungroomed, | | | | Vail has a brilliant natural snow record, averaging 348 |
| wooded slopes and the Back Bowls which, unusually | | | | inches per year, but also has extensive snowmaking |
| for American resorts, are almost totally treeless. | | | | capabilities that are only usually needed in the early |
| A Vail lift pass gives you access to slopes in the | | | | parts of ski season. During the season, the Front Side |
| surrounding resorts including Beaver Creek around 10 | | | | closes earlier than both the Blue Sky Basin and Back |
| miles away and Breckenridge and Keystone which are | | | | Bowls and both provide very different skiing |
| just a short drive over the Vail Pass. Vail Village has a | | | | experiences. The Blue Sky Basin is north facing, |
| distinctly European feel to it with a number of | | | | wooded and holds its snow well, but sometimes when |
| influences evident including numerous chalets and | | | | the weather is unseasonably warm, the snow on the |
| bierkellers. Over recent years the resort has gone | | | | Back Bowls can deteriorate and cause occasional |
| through a lot of redevelopment and now has a stylish | | | | closures. |
| and modern boutique feel. | | | | Vail is renowned for the quality of tuition available and |
| Vail Village is really part of a multi-centre resort that | | | | the Vail-Beaver Creek ski school is known as one of |
| includes the other places included with your ski pass. | | | | the best places you can begin to learn. Classes are |
| There are numerous chalets to choose from in and | | | | never in groups larger than four people and if desired |
| around the centre of Vail and these not only provide | | | | can be taken on the mountain from the start. Vail also |
| the best access to amenities, bars and restaurants but | | | | has a reputation for pioneering new learning techniques |
| to the lifts as well. Look for accommodation near the | | | | so is a great place to start from scratch. |