Just as we were all getting used to the $200+ daily lift ticket at the ticket windows of Vail, the mega ski resort company announced this week that Epic Day passes will be available for the 2019-2020 ski season that will allow you to get a daily lift ticket for as low as $89!
So, if you’re coming to Vail (or Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, or any combination of the other 18 resorts covered by the Epic Pass) for a vacation and only intend to ski 7 days or less, check out the Epic Day Pass.
The $89 price can be achieved by buying a 7-day holiday-restricted Epic Day Pass. Coming during a holiday period and still want to ski or ride? Don’t fret, you can buy an unrestricted version of the Epic Day Pass that works out to just $105/day for a 7-day pass (which is still about $100 less than you would have had to pay previously at the ticket window).
Do you like paying more for your vacation than you need to? Of course not! Nobody does. Well, if you’re booking your vacation rental home through sites like Airbnb, VRBO, FlipKey, or Booking.com, you’re likely paying anywhere from 7-22% more than you need to.
“What? How could that be?” you ask. Well, take a look at the photos below and notice that in the first one there’s a service fee of $74 (which is a fee of about 13%) and taxes aren’t even included, so besides paying a service fee that costs more than the taxes, you’ll need to pay those taxes after booking, adding another $55.96 to your total that the booking site won’t clearly tell you about.
A quote from a popular booking website – notice the 13% “Service fee” tacked on? Also, this doesn’t even include tax – so add $55.96.
The quote from my website – notice there’s no extraneous “service fee,” so you’re paying $74 less. Congrats! Take that money and enjoy a nice dinner.
Why these fees? Well, the booking sites want to make a large profit, so they tack on fees that are usually never uniform, varying from property to property, season to season, and person to person. They have sophisticated algorithms that play around with the rates all the time to see just how much they can get away with charging you.
Feels dirty, right? Well, you know what, I agree. And the best part is there’s something you can do about it! Instead of making your vacation rental home reservation through one of the large booking websites, contact the owner of the home directly! Many vacation home owners have set up websites (like this one) with lots of helpful information not only about their home, but the local area as well. Most put their phone numbers and emails directly on the site so you can reach out and talk to them before booking. And best of all, you save hundreds of dollars in fees.
“But what about the ‘booking guarantee’ that the booking site offers?” I completely understand your concern about wanting to feel secure in the fact that your reservation is confirmed, the home will be spotless and ready for your arrival, and that you’ll have support from the owner or manager during your stay, and should anything go horribly wrong there’s a third party who can help you make it right, or at the very least get your money back. The listing sites have mastered the art of the scare tactic to make you believe that only they can provide this sense of security, but that’s simply wrong. If you book with a credit card (no matter where you book – a large booking site or direct with the owner), most credit cards have consumer protections built in; 0% fraud liability, travel insurance, the ability to file a chargeback if the merchant doesn’t deliver the promised service, etc. so you’re really no better off with a large booking site than if you were to simply pay for the reservation with your credit card.
So, how do you find the owners of a vacation rental and save lots of money on your next vacation? If you’ve found their home on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com or one of the many other listing sites you can try simply copying the title of their listing into Google, since us owners tend to use the same property names and descriptions across all of our marketing. Or, try searching (using Google, Bing, or whatever your favorite search engine is) using the terms “{town/city/region} vacation rental”, “{town/city/region} vacation rental home”, “{town/city/region} ski house rental”, {town/city/region} short term rental” … replacing {town/city/region} with the area you’re trying to find a rental in. Chances are you’re going to see lots of results for the big listing sites, but if you dig a little deeper you’ll likely find smaller regional listing sites that don’t collect fees as well as the individual websites for the property where you can book directly with the owner. You may also want to take a look at Google Maps, as some savvy vacation rental owners have made sure that their home shows up on the map!
I hope that you found this article helpful and look forward to welcoming you to Vail during your next vacation. Remember, always #bookdirect!
Have you ever seen a horse pulling a skier down main street? No? Well then, you’re in for a treat. Leadville, Colorado hosts an annual skijoring competition where you can watch teams of horse, rider, and skier compete to see who can collect the most rings on a course of jumps set up down Harrison Avenue in Leadville.
This year marks the 71st anniversary of Leadville skijoring, taking place March 2nd and 3rd in the historic Colorado mining town of Leadville. That weekend also happens to be Crystal Carnival weekend, so there will be lots more to do than simply watch skijoring. So, if you’re in Vail the weekend of March 1-3, take a side trip out to Leadville for a great western weekend.
Besides being an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, Vail is also a town where the cosmopolitan folks can feel right at home, with boutique shops, art galleries, and plenty of theatre and music options. Case in point: this year, in addition to the already sizable list of annual arts festivals in Vail (Vail Jazz Festival, Bravo! Vail Music Festival, VPAC Summer Series, Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival, and Vail Arts Festival to name a few), Vail is starting a new music festival tradition with Whistle Pig Vail!
With 2018 being its inaugural season, Whistle Pig Vail’s list of performers isstill being finalized, but locals and visitors alike can plan on enjoying some well-known rock, pop, country and bluegrass icons at ticketed shows throughout the summer, including back-to-back concerts Aug. 17-18 as part of Colorado Classic Vail.
Vail is a beautiful place any time of year, with a variety of activities available, but it is, of course, best known for its skiing. So after the mountain closes, I sometimes have guests ask “what is there to do in Vail in April and early May?”
In most of the world April and May are lumped into the season that lots of people call “spring”, however, here in the mountains we call it “mud season”, “shoulder season”, or simply “off-season”. If you happen to come to town during this time of year and are wondering what to do, here are some ideas for you:
Visit Hot Springs
The hot springs throughout Colorado are perfect for relaxing any time of year, but particularly nice during the slower seasons since there are fewer people there and the milder air temperatures match well with the warm water. One of my favorites is Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, CO.
Hike
Skin & Ski: So the lifts aren’t running anymore and you can’t get a ride
Hiking up Meadow Mountain with skis and boots on my back. #EarnYourTurns
up (the gondola typically doesn’t start running for scenic rides until MemorialDay weekend), but there’s still snow to be skied; what to do? Hike! If you’re particularly adventurous and there’s still some good snow available on the mountain, you may want to consider skinning up and skiing down. Skinning requires a special setup that includes a pair of alpine touring bindings, boots, and skins for the bottoms of the skis (skins allow you to hike up on your skis without sliding backward down the hill). If uphill access is no longer allowed on Vail during the time of your visit, consider checking out Meadow Mountain in Minturn.
Or, if skinning is too technical for you, you could throw on a pair of hiking boots and microspikes, hike up with your skis on your back, and change into your ski boots for the ride down…I’ve done it, and it’s a VERY good workout.
Short Day Hikes: If skinning is more technical than you’re prepared for,
Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon
there are options for regular walking hikes throughout the Vail Valley.
One of my favorites during shoulder season is Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon.
A couple of others to consider are Booth Falls Trailin East Vail and Buck Creek Trailin Avon that starts either from the Walking Mountains Science Center(worth quick visit) or a small parking lot maybe 1000 feet up Buck Creek Rd. beyond Walking Mountains. The Buck Creek Trail is one that I feel is overlooked by many since it isn’t an overly strenuous hike, but it provides some rewarding views out to Beaver Creek Resort and if you happen to be there around sunset you may see deer coming down out of the woods for dinner.
Take advantage of off-season discounts at Vail restaurants
Although the village tends to take a break during shoulder season, there are still a handful of restaurants open and they usually offer amazing discounts during that time. So before you head out to a restaurant check out their website or call to see if they’re open and if they’re offering any specials. For example, Nozawa Sushi has offered as much as 50% off during the shoulder seasons in prior years.
Bike
Although the famous bike path over Vail Pass may still be covered with snow (and, thus, not usable) during mud season, the Gore Valley Trail is a 12 mile paved recreation path that runs through Vail Village on a mix of bike lanes, village streets, and a dedicated path along Gore Creek. It’s a great way to enjoy a bike ride while also exploring the town. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous or want to add some distance to your trip, the trail connects at the west end of town to the Eagle Valley Trail.
It’s no secret that skiing is a somewhat expensive sport, and by now I’m sure you know that lift tickets at Vail are some of the priciest out there. That being said, the sheer amount of terrain available makes it worth the price of a lift ticket, and keeps people coming back for more year after year. Though, if you’re like me, you want to save your dinero whenever possible without sacrificing quality (so you can perhaps spend that money on an amazing dinner in Vail). So, with that in mind, here are a few tips to help you get the most bang for your buck when buying lift tickets for your ski trip to Vail…
Buy a multi-day pass in advance of your trip – Vail Resorts offers a variety of discounted multi-day passes that they call Epic Day lift tickets. You save the most money by buying these 7 or more days in advance of your trip.
Purchase an Epic Pass – if you’re going to be skiing/riding for a week or more at any combination of the 15+ resorts that are part of the Epic Pass, consider purchasing a season pass, since you’ll likely save more money this way. For example, if you’re an east-coaster who will ski a few days at Stowe, Sunapee, or Okemo and then take a week-long trip to Colorado, you can get a week’s worth of skiing at your east coast mountain and then hit the hill in Colorado, all with one pass: the Epic Pass. Or, even consider the Epic Local pass, which comes with a few blackout dates and a limited number of days you can ski at Vail and Beaver Creek, but it will save you $200+ compared to the unrestricted version of the Epic Pass, if you’re able to plan your trip around the blackout dates. Be aware, though, that season pass sales do eventually stop towards the end of summer, so this is really only an option for people getting started planning their ski vacation well in advance.
Make friends with somebody who has buddy passes or ski-with-a-friend tickets on their Epic Pass – buddy passes and SWAF discount tickets are a perk that certain Epic Pass holders are given based on when they purchased their season pass. If you’re friendly with someone who has these perks and they’re able to accompany you to the ticket window, ask them to help you out with a discount.
One of the most common questions I get asked by first-time visitors to Vail, Colorado is “where do I park?”, followed by “how much does parking cost?”. Well, in this article I’ll answer those questions by pointing out some free parking options in Vail and giving you the scoop on the Town of Vail parking structures (parking garages).
First, let me preface this whole list by telling you that if you’re renting my Vail Slope-View Modern Loft, you are able to park your car/SUV for free in the condo parking lot, then it’s extremely easy to take the short bus ride into the Village, avoiding paying to park or jockeying for one of the few free spaces available. (So what are you waiting for? Book your dates now.)
Ok, with the shameless plug out of the way, here are the free parking options in Vail that are available to the general public:
Street parking along North Frontage Road in West Vail – there is limited street parking available along the western end of North Frontage Road, with the free town bus running regularly to shuttle skiers to the villages.
Street parking along Vail View Drive in the Sandstone neighborhood – again, the parking here is limited (be sure to only park between the signs indicating where parking is allowed, and not during the specific times of the week that it’s not allowed, as indicated on the signs). The free Sandstone bus line runs every 20-30 minutes from Vail Transportation Center during ski season, with a stop right near this parking area.
Parking at various trailheads throughout vail – trailhead parking is very limited, and some spaces are reserved for hiker parking
Parking in the lot at Donovan Park – when Donovan Pavilion is not in use for events the parking lot there is open for skiers to park, with a bus leaving from the lot and running to Lionshead Village. There is usually a sign posted at the entrance to the lot if parking isn’t allowed due to an event.
Vail Village and Lionshead Village Parking Structures (first 1.5 hours or between 3pm and 3am) – parking in the structures is the source of much confusion for Vail newbies. During the day (before 3pm), you must pay to park in the structures, however, the first one and a half hours are free. Additionally, if you enter the structure after 3pm, your parking is free as long as you leave the garage before 3am.
Oversized vehicle parking – are you driving cross-country in an RV or moving truck? Since lots of the parking options discussed above may not be able to accommodate anything beyond passenger vehicles, my best suggestion for you is to look into parking at the Lionshead Village Parking Structure. They have a designated spot for such vehicles.
Do you fancy yourself a beer connoisseur? Are you perhaps a little more of a novice, but know you like beer? Whichever end of the spectrum you’re on, Vail Brewing Company is worth a stop. At both of their locations (the brewery in EagleVail and the tasting room in Vail Village in Solaris Plaza) they have a variety of beers on tap that are constantly changing.
If you want some food while you’re enjoying your beers, the EagleVail location has Rocky Mountain Taco’s food truck posted up out front, while the Vail Village location serves up a variety of tasty items from Bol’s restaurant downstairs.
VBC Brewery Location: 41290 US-6 EagleVail, CO
VBC Tasting Room (Vail Village): 141 E Meadow Dr Vail, CO
One of the great things about Vail is the wide range of cuisine available in this small mountain town. If you find yourself craving something, chances are pretty good that you can find it here. In today’s post I want to focus on one specific type, though: ramen. If you find yourself craving it while you’re in Vail, don’t grab that salty brick of noodles off the convenience store shelf – get the real thing at Nudoru.
Located in an unassuming strip mall in West Vail, Nudoru is a small restaurant serving up large bowls of fresh homemade ramen noodles in a rich broth (there are a few different types to choose from), topped with a variety of vegetables, meats, spices, and a soft boiled egg. The serving sizes are so big that you’ll probably end up taking some home to eat later.
