Lodge Tower

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what struck me first about Lodge Tower? It’s actually right where you want to be in Vail without being in the middle of all the chaos. I mean, you’re literally a few minutes’ walk from the Village and the gondolas, but when you’re back at the hotel, it doesn’t feel like you’re camping out in Times Square. The building itself has this solid, mountain lodge vibe – not trying too hard to be rustic, just comfortable and warm.

The rooms are honestly better than I expected for a four-star place. I’ve stayed at some supposedly fancier spots in Vail that felt cramped and overpriced, but Lodge Tower actually gives you space to spread out your gear (and trust me, you’ll have gear). The beds are legit comfortable – none of that rock-hard resort nonsense – and the bathrooms are updated without being all marble-and-gold flashy. What I really appreciated was the soundproofing; you can hear some activity from the hallways, but nothing that kept me up at night. The mountain views from the upper floors are pretty spectacular, especially if you snag a room facing west toward the back bowls.

Here’s the thing about the location that locals know – being on Vail Road means you’re close enough to walk everywhere, but you’re not dealing with the shuttle chaos that hits some of the more remote properties. Parking is included (huge deal in Vail, honestly), and it’s covered, which matters more than you’d think when it’s dumping snow. The front desk staff actually knows the mountain – I asked about back bowl conditions one morning and got real beta, not just “everything’s great!” The pool and hot tub area gets busy around 4-5 PM when everyone’s coming off the mountain, but it’s pretty mellow other times. I noticed they keep the hot tub at the perfect temperature, not lukewarm like so many places.

The whole property feels well-maintained without being stuffy. You’ll see families with kids, serious skiers, couples on weekend getaways – it’s got that mix that makes a place feel alive. Breakfast isn’t included, but honestly, there are better coffee spots within a block anyway. The 8.8 rating makes sense to me – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in the valley, but it delivers on what matters: location, comfort, and staff that doesn’t make you feel like you’re bothering them. If you’re looking for a place that feels more like a solid mountain hotel than a resort, and you want to actually be in Vail proper without paying Ritz prices, Lodge Tower hits that sweet spot.