Lodging

Beaver Creek lodging is expensive. It's tough to find a room for less than $200 per night, unless you want to vacation pre-Christmas or in April.

Consistently rated among the top hotels in the world, the ski-in/ski-out Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa (800-233-1234; 949-1234; $$$$) recently completed $20 million in improvements and the expansion of Allegria spa to 30,000 square feet, making it one of the largest and innovative spas in the country. The renovation also created 15 fractional ownership units, as well as enhanced public areas, meeting facilities and lodging accommodations. All rooms have free Internet access and wireless keyboards with flat screens. Ski Ambassador Cory Carlson gives guests lessons and tours (fee), and storyteller Frank Doll, a third-generation Vail Valley resident, weaves tales fireside. There's also a heated outdoor pool, whirlpools, fitness rooms and marvelous lobby lounge as well as concierge and ski attendant services. The five restaurants and lounges address all styles of dining.

Chateau Residence Club (949-1616; $$$$) offers private luxury hillside condos with all the amenities of a hotel: concierge, daily maid service, a great restaurant and lounge, etc. It echoes the castle-like elegance of the Banff Springs Hotel with suites starting at $750 per night with a three-night minimum. The staff is warm and welcoming no matter whether you're wearing a floor-length mink or fleece vest.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (800-241-3333; 748-6200; $$$$), opened in November 2002, is architecturally inspired by the grand lodges of Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Yosemite National Parks. It delivers, as promised, seclusion, luxury and excellence. All guestrooms have separate showers and marble bathtubs; Frette linens and feather beds with duvets and goose down and non-allergenic foam pillows; three telephones, including one cordless, with private voice mail; television with Internet access; DVD players and other high-end amenities. Twice-daily maid service and evening-turndown, valet, ski valet, concierge, and a technology butler are among the services. Also available are a full-service and fully equipped 21,000-square-foot spa, outdoor heated pool, Ritz Kids program and ski and snowboard services.

The Pines Lodge (800-859-8242; $$$$; left), a RockResorts condo-hotel near the Strawberry Park lift, is a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Guests can enjoy a hot tub, heated outdoor pool, fitness room and massage therapy. It has an award-winning restaurant (see Dining).

The Inn at Beaver Creek (800-859-8242; $$-$$$$; above), ski-in/ski-out lodging on a far smaller scale than the Park Hyatt, has 37 rooms and eight suites with a free hot gourmet breakfast. Cocktails, cappuccinos and a light menu are offered apres-ski. Guests also have a sauna and steam room.

The Beaver Creek Lodge (800-525-7280; 845-9800; $$-$$$$) is the only all-suite resort in the Vail Valley. The 71 units have living rooms, fireplaces, and TVs with VCRs. Once guests find the lobby to check in, the rest is easy.

The Centennial Lodge (800-845-7060; $$$$) claims to have the best prices on the mountain, but doesn't provide full hotel service. It has underground parking and a pool. This lodge has some condos and three hotel rooms. Both the Centennial Lodge and Creekside Lodge (949-7071; $$$$) are in the village.

The Poste Montane (800-497-9238; 845-7500; $$-$$$$) is in Beaver Creek Resort Village, as is St. James Place (800-859-8242; 845-9300; $$$$).

The Borders Lodge (800-846-0233; 926-2300; $$–$$$$) is a comfortable ski-in/ski-out condominium complex next to Chair 14, within easy walk of the village. Its condos range in size from one to three bedrooms and the list of facilities includes two outdoor hot tubs and year-round pool. Many corporate- or privately owned condominiums are available for weekly rentals. Note that restrictions are more severe than for a hotel reservation. Hefty cancellation fees apply, so read the fine print before booking.

Book Trappers Cabin (888 485-4317; $$$$) for a high-end, first-class adventure. It's a plush, four-bedroom log chateau at 9,500 feet, one of the only overnight moutaintop lodgings at US ski resorts. Meals are prearranged and first tracks are right out your door.

Elkhorn Lodge (888-833-5018; 845-2270; $$$$) has studios and one- to four-bedroom condos and penthouses with ski-in/ski-out convenience adjacent to the Elkhorn Lift (Chair 14). Amenities include fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, balconies, spa tubs in the bathrooms, two outdoor hot tubs and a fitness area.

The Charter (800-525-6660; 949-6660; $$–$$$$; right), which bills itself as having "all of the conveniences of a condominium with all of the luxuries of a world-class hotel," gives guests more of the typical Beaver Creek amenities—wonderful wood-paneled interiors, European decor, fireplaces and stunning mountain views. One- through five-bedroom units are available. Two restaurants offer menus to suit anyone's tastes.

If your budget won't support accommodations inside Beaver Creek's gates, head to the nearby town of Avon for the valley's best condo deals at the Christie Lodge (800-551-4320; 949-7700; $$–$$$$). Or, you can stay in the town of Edwards, about 5 miles from Beaver Creek. One possibility there is The Inn at Riverwalk (888-926-0606; 926-0606; $$–$$$). VailNet (www.vail.net) has a very good lodging search feature that will suggest lodging according to location, amenities and price.

Accommodations Legend: (double room) $$$$–$200+; $$$–$141–$200; $$–$81–$140; $–$80 and less.