“I’ve got ‘em from here, thanks,” I told the attendant, who gently protested, but I took my skis from his hands and walked several yards to Vail’s Gondola One. Ski trips can be full of hassles, but I’d been spared even the slightest inconvenience since arriving at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail. In fact, the resort’s elegant new three-story Chalet had imbued luxury into every aspect of my day. 

I’ve visited Colorado’s biggest ski resort a handful of times, but this mid-December trip was a completely different experience. My equipment was stored in the mountainside Chalet, so there was no trudging over Vail Village’s brick walkways in ski boots. The new locker room is stocked with complimentary essentials like hand warmers, lip balm, sunscreen, and slippers for relaxing in the lounge upstairs.

In the morning, I enjoyed tea and a protein bar from the spread of refreshments—and pocketed a packet or two of gummy bears. After our last run, I stopped by the Chalet for lunchtime soup and sunk into the plush couches. The homey lounge surrounds guests in warm tones and natural materials, with seating draped in fur blankets and pillows, and polished logs serving as tables. I was content to people-watch from the floor-to-ceiling windows while other guests played chess, read, or socialized around the circular fireplace to cap off a day in the snow. 

The new lodge is just one aspect of the transformation the resort has undergone in the last 18 months, according to public relations and digital marketing manager Rebecca Lewis. “Every aspect of the resort has changed, not only from an aesthetic perspective but also in terms of streamlining our operations and doubling down on our commitment to the guest experience and the iconic Four Seasons anticipatory service,”  she told me.

Suites recently received a contemporary facelift following multimillion-dollar upgrades to standard rooms, and the spa’s design and programming have likewise been modernized. In December 2024, the hotel opened Tavernetta, the second location of Denver’s Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated restaurant of the same name. At the helm is Bobby Stuckey, co-founder of Frasca Hospitality Group.

I attended opening night of the Italian fine dining space during my visit. A charming master of multiple culinary trades, Stuckey was doing everything from recommending wines (he’s a master sommelier, after all) to bussing tables. “For him, it’s just approaching every guest, every dish, every table, every evening, with a level of thoughtfulness and warmth. That unwavering commitment to the guests, and the dish, and kitchen operations is just totally contagious,” Lewis told me. 

Design details combine traditional Italian architecture with contemporary twists, courtesy of Studio Collective, a Los Angeles-based agency that also worked on the Chalet. The restaurant’s mosaic stained glass doors were crafted using centuries-old techniques. On its facade, a fully functional “buzz for Spritz” button pays homage to Florence’s iconic wine windows. 

I couldn’t resist a walkup Aperol Spritz, but Tavernetta has an extensive Italian wine list, Champagnes, and elaborate cocktails. Everything from the antipasti to the dolci were immaculate in flavor and texture, but it’s the grass-fed carpaccio and linguine with generous heaps of Maine lobster that I can’t stop thinking about.

Along with the visions of carpaccio dancing through my head, my enchanting spa day and thrilling hours on the mountain have occupied wistful daydreams since my journey to Colorado. Here’s my detailed review of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail.

The Rooms

The resort has 110 rooms and 23 private residences. Having stayed in some of Vail Village’s highly sought-after accommodations in the past, I was surprised by the spaciousness of my standard double-bed guestroom upon arrival. It had a walk-in closet, gas-burning fireplace, and terrace furnished with two rustic chairs and a small table. The bathroom stood out with a double vanity, a large walk-in shower, L’Occitane bath products, and generous lighting for easy primping. These entry-level rooms are designated as Peak, Premier, Deluxe, and Resort based on the views from each. 

In addition to 575-square-foot single and double-bed guestrooms, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail has one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites up to 1,842 square feet. They’ve all been recently renovated to optimize comfort without sacrificing style. Natural materials like wood and stone, Italian-inspired accents (a nod to Vail’s European heritage), and warm, soothing tones invoking the mountain landscape were key elements of the upgrades. I toured a two-bedroom suite that delivered thorough luxury with a residential feel. There were three fireplaces in total with ample fireside seating, two bathrooms, each with a soaking tub and a walk-in shower, and a chic living space with a desk that allows for dining and lounging.

Food and Drink

Tavernetta, the second location of the award-winning Denver restaurant, serves breakfast and dinner and is perfect for enjoying a lavish Italian meal or upscale cocktail. The wine list is strictly Italian-only, but several Champagne brands are available for occasions that call for bubbly. Food is inspired by cuisine from multiple Italian regions, from homemade pasta dishes to branzino served with Sicilian salmoriglio sauce.

For less formal but still decidedly refined dining, guests have The Remedy, which opens at 11 a.m. It’s bathed in sunlight by day and warmed by large indoor and outdoor fireplaces by night, attracting a lively après scene of locals and visitors. The globe-spanning menu has something for everyone, including a sumptuous hot, or haute, chocolate freshly poured over a marshmallow cube and solid chocolate lattice, worth every penny of its $25 price tag. 

If you don’t have time for a full breakfast, stop by the Speyside Café for complimentary coffee and tea, plus pastries, sandwiches, and fresh juices available for purchase. The café also houses seasonal pop-ups: visit Wednesday through Friday until April 2025 for a ramen bar with single-malt whiskey pairings.

Activities and Amenities

Alpine skiing at Vail Mountain is the area’s biggest claim to fame. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail provides guests with a roughly four-minute shuttle service to the entrance of Vail Village. From there, it takes about another four minutes to walk to the Chalet (escorted by an attendant if you have equipment to transport), where guests can store their ski gear, grab complimentary mountain must-haves like hand warmers and sunscreen, and enjoy refreshments by the fire. 

Back on the main property, there’s a 75-foot-long outdoor heated pool open year-round, plus two hot tubs. A covered outdoor lounge includes a fireplace where complimentary s’mores kits are put out nightly. 

There’s a gym for off-mountain workouts and a Gorsuch store for on-mountain needs. In addition to skiing, the concierge can arrange activities like sleigh rides and snowshoeing in the winter and biking and horseback riding in the summer. Meeting and event spaces ranging from 270 to 3,530 square feet are available for reservation.

The Spa

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail unveiled a redesigned spa in 2024. It has 13 treatment rooms, as well as men’s and women’s cold plunges, eucalyptus steam rooms, dry saunas, and hot tubs. If I hadn’t had dinner reservations, I may have stayed in the massive whirlpool’s frothy water all day. A coed relaxation room is the perfect place to unwind with companions. “The art is foraged with local flowers and textures and colors to echo the region’s landscapes,” assistant spa director Brandy Velasquez said of the room’s decor, designed by Rose Inc. Workshop. 

A wide range of treatments, including the Healing Ritual (formerly the Sleep Ritual) and a 110-minute massage, target wellness and recovery to ensure guests hit the slopes in peak condition. The Signature Extreme 360-degree Beauty Treatment left my face feeling hydrated and sculpted after the long flight and days out in the cold. Like many of the treatments, it involved soothing products by Evidens de Beauté, a skincare brand from a French-Japanese husband-and-wife duo drawing inspiration from both cultures.

Family-friendly Offerings

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail is a family-friendly property with babysitting services and baby-proofing tools available upon request. For older children, there’s a teen center with a pool table, air hockey, snacks, and a TV lounge. Kids under five eat for free at the resort’s restaurants. The concierge team can help guests plan year-round outdoor activities such as tubing, snowshoeing, and whitewater rafting.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort offers accessible rooms with either one king bed or two double beds and accessible one-bedroom suites with one king bed, a Queen-sized sofa bed, or a rollaway. Restaurants, ballrooms, the courtyard, and the spa are accessible. The outdoor pool and hot tubs and the spa’s whirlpool are equipped with lifts.

Sustainability efforts include no single-use plastic water bottles, food containers, and toiletries. Linens are changed every third day by default, and there are electric vehicle charging stations available for guests.

Location

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail is located just outside of Vail Village, the base of the largest ski resort in Colorado and the third largest in the United States. With roughly 354 inches of snowfall per year, 5,317 skiable acres, and plenty of off-mountain après options, it’s a wise choice for planning a ski trip. Vail’s legendary back bowls are a vast expanse of diverse terrain. From weaving through China Bowl’s aspen forest to sailing down the sweeping, groomed face of Sun Down Bowl, some of my most thrilling memories from a lifetime of skiing took place at Vail. 

Vail Mountain typically closes for skiing in mid-April, with optimal snow conditions peaking in February. The off-season offers hiking, horseback riding, and classical music performances. The village enjoys about 300 days of sunshine each year. 

The closest airport is Eagle County Regional Airport, which is just under 40 minutes away by car. Denver International Airport is about a two-hour drive away on Interstate 70. The property could arrange an airport transfer for a fee, but shuttle service around Vail Village is complimentary.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Guests who book select suites for three consecutive nights between May 22, 2025, and December 10, 2025, can receive a fourth night free. The resort has designated value days in January, February, and March that feature lower-than-average rates.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail is part of American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts portfolio, offering card members extra amenities and services such as 12 pm check-in, 4 pm check-out, and room upgrades based upon availability when booking a stay through American Express Travel.

Nightly rates at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail start from $600.