183 Gore Creek Dr, Vail, Colorado, United States | (251) 219-4428
Spacious rooms with balconies facing the mountains or creek
Heated rooftop pool and spa tub, open year-round
Apres-ski hot soup or mulled wine in the lobby
French restaurant for evening feasts
Free breakfast with make-your-own Belgian Waffles
Free loaner bicycles
In-room spa services available
Free area shuttle
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Free covered parking
Smoke-free property (a con for some)
No 24-hour front desk
Tiny fitness center
No air-conditioning
The 35-room mid-range Sitzmark Lodge at Vail is a boutique, family-friendly ski resort located in the center of Vail Village, within walking distance of Gondola One. The Sitzmark is family-owned and run, with an alpine feel; the comfy lobby sofas cluster around cozy fireplaces, ideal for drinking hot chocolate or mulled wine after a day on the slopes or hiking trails. Guest rooms are spacious and homey, with private balconies and picturesque creek or mountain views. It's a great value for the central location; the nearby Austria Haus Hotel is typically pricier.
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Scene
A laid-back Vail institution, with a cozy lobby and a popular French restaurant
The Sitzmark Lodge at Vail is a warm, laid-back Vail institution. The Sitzmark has been owned and run by the Fritch family since 1974, and the family continues to live on the premises, which adds to the personal attention guests can expect and the friendly ambience throughout the hotel. On Monday nights, there is a wine reception in the owners' apartment, where guests can meet and greet. Outside, the Sitzmark has an alpine vibe, but inside it is more like a big living room, with coffee, tea, cider, hot chocolate, espresso, and mulled wine available for the taking. Guests can watch TV and socialize, or find a quiet corner and read a book by the hearth. The deck overlooks Vail Village, and Gore Creek can be heard rushing by behind the hotel. The grounds are lined with pretty trails, great for summertime strolling or jogging. In the evenings, the Left Bank Restaurant serves a French and American menu in a sophisticated, but not overly formal dining room with a large wine cellar; the restaurant is popular with locals as well as hotel guests. The Sitzmark is a relaxed, casual, family inn, with enough amenities (including ski storage) to make groups, outdoorsy types, athletes, solo travelers comfortable, without the pricey, over-the-top luxuries of a high-end chalet. It's the kind of place to which guests return, year after year, for the warmth and personal attention.
Location
In the center of Vail Village but surrounded by nature, within walking distance of the slopes
The Sitzmark Lodge at Vail is located in the
center of the Vail Village pedestrian area, about a 10-minute walk to Vail Ski
Resort. Gondola One, one of Vail’s oldest, is steps from the lodge, and the inn
is surrounded by restaurants and boutiques. Cogswell Gallery is 10 minutes
from the hotel; the Gerald Ford Amphitheater and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens are
a mile away. Guests can park their car in the Sitzmark’s covered garage and
find plenty to do within walking distance. Gore Creek runs directly behind the
hotel, and there are hiking trails on the grounds. Nearby activities include
Golf, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding,
snowmobiling, and, in the summertime water skiing, sailing, kayaking, rafting,
hiking, and biking. The Sitzmark is two hours east
of Grand Junction. Denver International Airport is a two hour drive from the lodge.
Rooms
Clean, cozy, and spacious, with private balconies and creek or mountain views
The 35 rooms at the Sitzmark Lodge at Vail are
clean, spacious, and cozy, with private balconies overlooking either the
mountains or Gore Creek. (Creek views are gorgeous in the summertime.) Guest rooms come in a variety of configurations, from
Studio Rooms with kitchenettes to Deluxe Fireplace Rooms. Many
have separate sitting areas. The decor includes dark-wood furniture,
wall-to-wall carpeting, Tempur-Pedic beds, and mountain-themed
art on the walls. The vibe is homey, but there is no quirky Colorado
charm. There are ceiling fans but no AC (also the case at Austria Haus Hotel). Bathrooms are large and modern, with shower/tub combinations, plenty of
counter space, and vanity areas with stools. Amenities include flat-screen
TVs with cable channels and DVD players, mini-fridges, digital media players, and in-room
safes, but no microwaves. Second-floor rooms have direct access to the pool and
hot tub.
Features
Free breakfast, year-round outdoor pool and hot tub, ski storage, and high-end boutiques
The Sitzmark Lodge at Vail offers a free continental breakfast each morning, which includes make-your-own Belgian waffles. In the evenings, The Left Bank serves dinner, featuring a French and American menu, in a stylish dining room that is popular with both guests and locals. There's a bar and lounge for apres-ski cocktails, and coffee, tea, cider, and other drinks are always on offer in the lobby. The Sitzmark's heated outdoor pool and hot tub are open year-round, and there are lounge chairs on the sundeck for taking in the view. The fitness center is tiny, with a few cardio machines. The Lodge provides free ski storage and loaner bikes. In-room spa services are available, but guests should call to reserve before arrival, if possible. There are barbecue grills around the property for guests' use, as well as a laundry room on-site. Child care and babysitting are available for a fee, though there are no kids' club or programmed activities, unlike at the more luxurious (and expensive) Sonnenalp Hotel and The Sebastian - Vail. The Sitzmark has a one station business center with a printer. Finally, the hotel features several high-end boutiques selling clothing, jewelry, shoes, crafts, toys, art, and souvenirs. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.
