Grand Hyatt Vail has the distinction of being one of Vail’s largest hotels. Over a third of a mile long, including 85 private residences and its own ski line, the Grand Hyatt property can feel a little dizzying to find your way around. Thankfully, the life of the hotel centers around its large, comfortable fireside lounge with picture windows that look out over Gore Creek. And this is the room you are greeted by as you walk in the door. Locals and guests alike mingle here and in the bar to one side of the lounge area where you can order a great cocktail, local craft beer on tap, or a series of small plates like Bavarian pretzels, meat and cheese boards, or hamburgers and sandwiches. There’s also a mini Moet champagne bottle vending machine!
Outside patios terrace down to the infinity pool that also looks out over the creek and surrounding woods. One patio has comfortable wooden chairs clustered around an outdoor fireplace running almost 24 hours a day in cooler months where guests can roast marshmallows or drink hot cocoa al fresco. The pool area is ample and was surprisingly bustling when I visited in the fall. Families, couples, and friends hop in and out of the infinity pool or the hot tub nearby and there is a small pool bar where you can order a cocktail or food.
The hotel’s main dining room, the Gessner Restaurant & Bar, sits above the swimming pool, encased in windows that look out on fantastic views of the woodsy landscape. The dining room’s octagon-shaped booths are perfect for tucking into a warm meal or sharing an intimate cocktail, and an additional side room stands at the ready for private parties with the same great views as the main room. Gessner’s menu claims a combination of European Alps and Colorado Rockies-inspired dishes and includes things like a baguette with honey-truffle butter and rosemary oil or Colorado striped bass.
The spa is one of the area’s best, with a full line-up of treatments including manicures, pedicures, and blow-outs for wedding parties. There is also a sauna and steam room in the posh locker rooms for men and women and a special eucalyptus steam room for extra relaxation. A chill-out area with views of the mountains beyond is available post-treatment and the hotel has a fully stocked wellness store that sells beauty products, clothing, and skin care products among other things.
Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Vail
The hotel has its own ski lift so all guests have to do is step out of their rooms and onto the lift to get on the slopes. The lift is Chair 20 in Vail and skiers/boarders need to purchase lift tickets or a pass for their stay through Vail.com. Hyatt recommends doing this upon selecting travel dates in advance of arriving in Vail as it’s less expensive in advance. That said, travelers can always buy lift tickets day of at any of the lift ticket offices. There is a ticket office right outside of Chair 20 as well. The concierge at the resort can assist with questions on this too as travel plans are secured. At the foot of the lift, during the winter, an igloo bar is erected for skiers’ post-slopes and chairs in twos and threes sit around mini fire pits. During seasons when the cold sticks around the hotel builds a mini ice skating rink in the same area.
Standard rooms come with either King or Queen beds and are around 350 square feet. These rooms can either have mountain views or interior views and there are several that are wheelchair accessible. There are several categories of suites that differ slightly in size, starting at around 450 square feet. Most of the king or two-queen suites have a separate living room and most have either partial or complete views of the mountains. Some of these suites also include private outdoor balconies and soaker tubs, and several are 100% wheelchair accessible.
Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Vail
Moving up in category, the Gore Creek Suite is over a thousand square feet with a living room and dining room for four, one-and-a-half baths, a soaker tub, fireplace, and two queen beds. The even larger (1,860 square feet) Blue Sky Presidential suite has two bedrooms, one with a king and one with two queens, as well a living and dining room for eight, an oversized master bath, and a double-sided gas fireplace. All this and incredible views of the mountains to boot.
The rooms are decked out in whites, greys, and pastel touches, with comfortable couches, pillows, and high-quality linens. All rooms include bath robes, safes, coffeemakers, hairdryers, bath amenities, and a refrigerator. Summer prices run from $209 to 799 and winter from $399 to 1200 a night.
Within Cascade Village, the small village where the hotel sits, Hyatt also rents 85 luxury residences and private homes that you can choose for ultimate privacy while still maintaining access to all of the perks of the hotel like dining, spa, and ski services. The luxury homes all include fully equipped kitchens, in-unit laundry, and parking, as well as 24-hour access to the hotel gym and its other facilities.
The hotel is often hosting events and weddings and has several meeting spaces that are pretty bland in terms of décor and design but very functional. They also have a sushi pop-up during the week that serves Sapporo on tap and Suntory Highball whiskey draft at a tiny bar across from the reception desks to one side of the lobby. There is a ski shop on the premises where you can rent all your equipment and they will have it warmed, ready, and waiting when you descend from your room to collect it. During the warmer months, this converts to a bike shop, with rentals that they will outfit to guests’ specifications. There are also Topgolf Swing Suites where you can try out your hand at virtual golf or play other interactive games with your group.
Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Vail
For a luxurious stay with lots of cozy mountain charm, the Grand Hyatt Vail is in a class of its own with tons of activities on the property and beautiful woodsy grounds to explore when you aren’t on the slopes.
Book your stay directly at the hotel website or try for a better rate at Booking.com, Hotels.com, or your favorite hotel booking site.
