What: This Rocky Mountain getaway offers 121 of some of the best guest rooms in Vail—it’s a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel with all the trappings of a luxury adventure resort (think fireplaces in every room, alpine vistas and ski concierges). Plus, you can rent one of 19 private, two- to four-bedroom Residence  Club homes directly connected to hotel facilities. Here, the après ski lifestyle is encouraged with cocktails, hot chocolate and local fare (like bison pot stickers) at the Fireside Lounge, which has an outdoor terrace overlooking the mountain and is equipped with heat lamps and blankets.  Where: As the largest single-mountain ski resort in the country with 5,289 acres of skiable terrain, Vail attracts skiers and snowboarders in the winter months, and hikers, mountain bikers and explorers the rest of the year. Four Seasons Resort Vail is located in Vail Village, so you don’t need a car to get around the charming European-style town or to any of the legendary local bars packed with après skiers.  When: Four Seasons Resort Vail opened in late 2010 and it won a 2012 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star award. Hit the hotel for early spring skiing when snowfall is (surprisingly) still heavy and temperatures are usually up.  Why: Outdoor amenities abound: Skiers walk a heated path from the hotel to the base of the Vista Bahn chairlift where Four Seasons ski concierges greet you with pre-fitted boots and skis; after a dip in the year-round heated pool, a staff member will give you a warmed robe; and complimentary hot chocolate and maple syrup lollipops (made with fresh Vail snow brought in from the slopes) are served near the fireplace on the outdoor pool terrace.  The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Spa at Four Seasons Vail takes its cues from the outdoors, too. It features therapies designed specifically for high altitudes and harsh conditions, and every treatment starts with the Earth, Wind and Sky ritual—a cranial massage and a warm towel (infused with pine and juniper oils) wrapped around feet.
Four Seasons Vail is an amenities-packed, luxury home base for outdoor adventurers and those who just like to relax in a charming Rocky Mountain setting.