Sonnenalp Hotel

The idea of Bavaria in the Rockies may raise eyebrows, but it’s no gimmick — this remarkably authentic Alpine-style resort is owned by the same Faessler family that opened the original Sonnenalp hotel in Ofterschwang in the years immediately following the First World War. It’s the sort of personality that no contemporary designer could possibly fake: almost more European than its counterparts in the Alps, it’s the perfect antidote to the commercial luxury on offer elsewhere in Vail.

The service is charmingly old-world, as are the interiors: each of the 127 rooms and suites is decorated in classic style, with wooden ceiling beams and even the occasional set of antlers. Each comes with a gas fireplace and an expansive marble bathroom complete with double sinks, heated floors and a deep soaking tub. Views are of Vail Village or Gore Creek.

There are no half measures here: the Sonnenalp boasts no fewer than four restaurants, from Southwestern-style cuisine to a formal European restaurant. Winter is obviously Vail’s strong suit; the lifts are just a short walk through the village from the hotel’s front door, and any other winter sport you can imagine can be arranged. Or take it easy at the Sonnenalp’s spa, offering everything from massage and beauty treatments to aromatherapy and yoga, as well as the distinctive alpine pleasure of an outdoor Jacuzzi.