Four Seasons Vail

When the Four Seasons Vail opened its doors, the greatest surprise was the fact that it hadn’t been there all along. So perfect a summation is it of this upscale Colorado ski town that it’s fair to say now that it’s here, Vail is just as it was before, only more so.

Meaning what, exactly? Well, meaning that the ratio of hardy mountain spirit to refined, genteel luxury is roughly one to one. The Vail Village location lends a certain air of accessibility, as opposed to the mountainside fortresses currently in favor among high-end resorts — it’s not technically a ski-in/ski-out hotel, though with the expert assistance of the ski concierge staff, you’ll scarcely notice the difference, and the proximity to Vail’s considerable social life is an asset to those of a festive bent.

Inside there’s plenty of rustic Western character along with the unobtrusive elegance that’s something of a Four Seasons trademark. Most of the rooms and suites come with balconies, gas fireplaces and freestanding soaking tubs. The après-ski scene here lies rather on the sophisticated end of things, even for this town — and the local taverns, needless to say, have nothing to match the Four Seasons’s fine-dining restaurant, to say nothing of its spa, pool and fitness center.

It must be said as well that this Four Seasons is true to its name. Skiing is obviously the big draw in winter, but Vail hardly suffers in the summer, with fly-fishing, hiking and mountain biking to rival any summertime mountain resort.