Lodging in Vail can have many different moods, from old-fashioned to mountain-rustic to city-chic (and other hyphenated descriptions). The Antlers at Vail hotel falls somewhere in the mix with its unique layout and homey condominium accommodations. On a recent visit, we found it to be an ideal place to have a Colorado Staycation, any time of year.
The meandering complex of condos enclose a courtyard with an impressive sculpture and place to pull your car around while you check in. Our condo had a fantastic view off the balcony (complete with grill and chairs) overlooking the pool area, glorious pine trees and views of the mountainside. It felt very private and cozy and perfect for anyone who wants to really immerse in the mountain town feel.
The front side of our condo was on a long semi-open hallway which meant the kitchen and bathroom, and their respective windows, were along that path. For the little window at the shower, that meant fresh air but also a little weirdness that one could be going down the hallway and hear someone singing in the shower.
With the kitchen window along that hallway, it seemed really welcoming like anyone could call out, “Do you want to join us? We have plenty!” If you don’t want to be quite so welcoming, a simple drawing of the blinds gives all the privacy you want. It’s great to have a full kitchen available too, and the grill outside. A market is within walking distance so you can save some money and do your own cooking (although area restaurants should also be in your plans). When you do go out, bring back your leftovers knowing you have a full fridge to keep them fresh. If you want something in-between cooking in or going out, you can even order a prepared meal option from award-winning Vail chef Barry Robinson who has options like Roasted Herb Chicken & Rice Pilaf, Lasagna, and Chicken Pot Pie Ragout.
The benefit of staying in a condo is that it feels homier and has more individuality to it than a standard hotel where you know your room is a mirror image of all the others. Antlers at Vail has units available from studios up to four bedrooms. Our studio was very spacious with a dining table overlooking the trees, a couch and coffee table for lounging and TV-watching, and a big bed plus twin-bed in case you have a kiddo along. The TV was large and could easily be seen from bed, from the kitchen-living-dining-or sleeping areas.
The bathroom was roomy too, with double sinks at the vanity, a towel-warmer, washer/dryer, a nice step-in shower and, treat-of-all-treats, a bidet! The seat was motion-censored, illuminating and opening every time we passed by. A little off-putting, I may have said, “not now!” to it a few times. That said, it was quite “helpful” during middle-of-the-night trips in the dark to the bathroom!
Pets are welcome at Antlers too, but you must make advance reservations to bring them. Antlers at Vail will make them feel right at home with dog beds and dishes, treats, and ideas for exploring Vail with pets in tow.
The Antlers at Vail is in a great location, walking distance to many restaurants (we became regulars at The Little Diner just up the street), shops, a gondola, walking/biking paths, the Epic Discovery fun zone area, and the clear, sparkling Gore Creek.
We’re not the only ones who are fans. USA Today has Vail leading the list for 10 favorite mountain destinations across the U.S. and Canada and named Antlers at Vail as being an “incomparable” choice for a family getaway. We’d add couples, friends, and solo getaways to that too. The article points out the property’s outdoor pool and hot tubs that overlook the creek.
With a casual, un-stuffy vibe but all the conveniences you’d want, Antlers is a great choice when staying in Vail. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to repeatedly, making for a nice tradition year-round.
To learn more about Antlers at Vail, visit their website here. And to discover more things to do while you’re in Vail, their website is a great place to start.
-Story and photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor of InGoodTasteDenver.com
Please note: our stay at Antlers Hotel Vail was hosted as part of a larger visit to experience a variety of things Vail has to offer. As is our policy, however, that does not influence our opinions or reporting to our readers of what they can expect when they go.
Comments are closed.