The Vail Collection at the Ritz Carlton Residences Vail

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what’s funny about the Vail Collection at the Ritz Carlton Residences? The name makes it sound super stuffy, but honestly, it’s got this relaxed mountain vibe that caught me off guard. I mean, yes, it’s definitely upscale – you’re right there in Lionshead Village where everything’s polished and perfect – but the staff actually treats you like a person, not a credit card walking around in ski gear.

The location is honestly hard to beat if you’re serious about skiing. You’re literally steps from the Eagle Brat gondola (locals just call it the Eagle), which means you can stumble out in your boots and be on the mountain in maybe ten minutes. No shuttles, no walking through slush in the village – just straight up the mountain. The residences themselves feel more like really nice condos than hotel rooms, which I actually loved. Full kitchens, separate living areas, and these massive windows that frame the Gore Range perfectly. I stayed in February during one of those epic powder weeks, and waking up to see fresh snow on the peaks through floor-to-ceiling windows? Pretty hard to complain about that. The building’s got this contemporary mountain thing going on – lots of stone and wood, but not in that overdone lodge way that screams “look how mountain-y we are.”

What really sold me, though, was the attention to details that actually matter when you’re here to ski. They’ve got a proper ski storage area that doesn’t feel like an afterthought, and the concierge team knows the mountain conditions better than half the lift operators. When that big storm rolled in mid-week and visibility was terrible on the front side, they steered me toward some protected runs on Blue Sky Basin that I probably would’ve missed otherwise. The heated pool and hot tubs are clutch after long days on the slopes – and honestly, soaking in a hot tub while snow’s falling around you never gets old. Parking’s underground and heated (crucial when it’s negative fifteen and your car’s been sitting all day), and they’re pretty good about keeping the driveways clear even when it’s dumping snow. I’ve stayed at places in Vail where you’re basically trapped until the plows come through. The only minor thing – and I’m being picky here – is that the walls aren’t quite as thick as you’d expect for the price point. Not a huge deal, but you might hear your neighbors coming back from late dinners at Mountain Standard or wherever. Still, with a 9.4 rating, they’re clearly doing most things right, and I’d definitely stay here again. It’s one of those places where the location and quality actually justify the Vail premium you’re paying.