If you’re a true lover of skiing in Vail, or simply enjoy the beauty of the snow covered mountains usually try to take a skiing vacation every year. Visiting your favorite ski slopes becomes even more possible when you're able to save money by finding Vail hotel deals. This money saved staying in a discounted hotel can add up which will allow you to enjoy more than one great ski vacation every year. Finding the best and most cost-effective hotel doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. 

Here’s a quick guide to show you ways to save money on lodging so you’ll be able to have lots of great ski trips.

• Budget Hotels- If you intend to use your lodging purely for sleeping and showering, a budget hotel can provide you with an inexpensive yet clean and comfortable place to stay. Instead of paying for a lot of amenities that Vail resort lodges provide, staying at a budget hotel is able to save you a lot of money on your ski vacation. You may not have a swimming pool or in-room internet, but you can still enjoy a comfortable bed and clean room.
• Season Specials- During certain times of the year, some of the upscale hotels offer discounts to draw guests. If you've got a favorite hotel but don't want to spend the money on it, call and ask when they'll be running specials. Depending on the time of the season it is, they may have a special coming up or may even give you a special deal to fill up empty rooms.
• Book Online- Hotels run various marketing campaigns to draw guests. Online marketing has become a huge tool and reaches a wide audience and online specials that aren’t available any other way can save you a lot of money. This method can be especially effective when looking for last-minute lodging.
• Save Money With Inclusives- If dining, lodging and activities costs such as lift tickets and storage fees gave you an unpleasant shock the last time you went, consider hotels that combine some of these costs into one price. While a hotel with inclusives might appear to be more expensive, if it saves you more money overall, it ends up working as a discount on the entire vacation.

Taking advantage of ways to save money that makes sense for you and your family, you’ll be able to enjoy your Vail vacation without paying a fortune. Doing so enables you to enjoy more skiing vacations throughout the year, rather than waiting another year to enjoy your favorite activity in the city you love.  This can be a pattern you build so you’ll be able to enjoy years of cost-effective yet fun vacations by using the discounts and resources available so you’ll be able to take more vacations and enjoy more during your vacation.

Imagine yourself gliding down the slopes, the spring sun shining on your face for what feels like the first time in months. As you approach the lodge at the bottom of the hill, your mouth waters; you can almost taste the gourmet meal that awaits and feel the warmth of the crackling fire. But in addition to all Vail normally has to offer, there are additional attractions for two weeks in April, including free concerts and sweepstakes and other fun festivities. Daydreams like this can only mean one thing: It’s time for Spring Back to Vail!

While winter draws to its muddy, gray conclusion across the rest of the country, here in Vail, spring heralds one of the mountain’s most enjoyable events, a big bash in the Rocky Mountain. It usually sunny at this time of year, as we get more than 300 days of sun per year, and that famous Vail powder – an annual average of 366 inches – lasts until mid-April: So there are still plenty of snow thrills to be had.

The Mountain

With 5,289 skiable acres, our stats are pretty impressive. Vail Mountain offers:

• • 193 conventional trails, the longest clocking in at a stunning 4 miles
• • 3,450 feet of vertical drop
• • Seven back bowls
• • Three groomed terrain parks
• • Nine children’s adventure zones

Plus, Vail has 31 lifts -- no waiting in line - - and more than a dozen on-mountain eateries, including:

• Ski-in, ski-out Vail Hotels, fine dining and Gore Mountain views at The 10th
• Multiple-course meals at Game Creek, accessible by gondola or snow cat
• Family dining at Bistro Fourteen atop the Eagle’s Nest
• Quick bites at Buffalo’s Restaurant and Gondoly’s Pizza

In addition to skiing and boarding and the Spring Back To Vail activity, here are even more activities that make spring in Vail a hot destination.

Dining

If all that riding and activity makes you hungry, never fear: Vail has more than 100 restaurants. Whether you're craving authentic European pastries at Alpenrose or cutting-edge fusion at Matsuhisa, seasonally inspired American cuisine at Block 16 or pub-fare at Garfinkel’s, Vail’s culinary offerings excite the Epicurean palate.

Shopping

After a morning on the slopes or before an evening watching a concert, hit the town and browse along the -- pedestrian-friendly, car-free -- cobblestones while admiring stunning views of Vail Mountain and the Gore Range.

Whether you’re seeking unique local art, elegant jewelry, snowboarding gear or a comfy pair of cowboy boots, the hundreds of Vail Village and Lionshead shops probably carry it. From backcountry equipment to ski goggles, cocktail gowns to artisan wines, you'll find the perfect souvenir to remind you of spring in Vail.

From skiing to boarding, fine dining to eclectic shopping, Vail offers a range of attractions for visitors of all ages, and especially so during Spring back to Vail. So join us this year – you’ll be glad you did! 

The USA Pro Cycling challenge is a week-long event that spans 518 miles over and around the Rocky Mountains. Over 125 of the world’s best cyclists will take part in the event and will experience some of the most challenging, and beautiful sections of road in the world. This event is so important and so popular that it will be televised on NBC and Versus on August 22nd through the 28th.
Each day will be a new section of road for the cyclists to compete on.

-    Day 1 is the Prologue course in Colorado Springs. This section is only 5.18 miles in length and has a total clime of 218 feet. This is the personal time trial section which sets the starting order for Stage 1 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

-    Day 2 is Stage 1 from Salide to Crested Butte. Stage 1 is 99.4 miles long and has a total climb of over 8,000 feet to a total elevation of over 11,300 feet.

-    Day 3 is Stage 2 from Gunnison to Aspen. At a distance of over 131 miles and a total climb of almost 9,750 feet, makes it the longest and highest stage of the race.

-    Day 4 is Stage 3 which is hosted totally in Vail. While the course is only 10 miles long, it is all uphill with a total climb of just over 1,780 feet and may well be one of the toughest challenges during the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

-    Day 5 is Stage 4 starting in Avon to Steamboat Springs. This stage is a bit less than 83 miles in distance and has a total climb of just over 5,000 feet. Riders will find it challenging, especially after the longest section, called the Queen Section, and the grueling Vail Time Trial.

-    Day 6 is Stage 5 from Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge. At 105 miles with a climb of over 8,300 feet, this stage will give riders another great day of scenic riding.

-    Day 7 is Stage 6 from Golden to Denver. This last section of the race is almost 74 miles ling and has a total climb of over 3,100 feet. Going over Lookout Mountain, this section may well be the most dangerous part of the course.

The USA Pro Cycling Challenge will give riders and spectators alike a beautiful, scenic look at Colorado. Riders will have an abundance of challenges to conquer from uphill stretches of road that is some of the steepest they’ll ever experience to high speed downhill runs that will push them to the edge of control. If you love a good bicycle race in a beautiful environment then the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will fit the bill perfectly.

For two hundred years, Oktoberfest has been THE party to go to in Munich, Bavaria in Germany. Millions of people show every year for what is essentially two weeks of food, beer, music and fun. Oktoberfest has become such a popular event that it is celebrated all over the world with multiple events taking place in the U.S. One of the most popular American Oktoberfest events takes place in Vail, Colorado with the Vail Oktoberfest being one of the most popular events there short of winter snow skiing and snowboarding.

Vail Oktoberfest is a great way to celebrate the year and to enjoy the agricultural festival being held in Munich without having to travel to Germany. While traveling to Munich is totally cool, with the five to six million people that will be attending, being in a somewhat more intimate environment such as Vail makes for a much better time. Even though the festival in Bavaria is going to be an astounding seventeen days this year (the longest in about a century), Vail will dedicate the last two weekends of September to the event.

Make no mistake, coming to Vail to celebrate Oktoberfest is a fantastic time to be had. All of the classic Bavarian foods will be available from the Hendl (chicken), Schweinebraten (roasted pork) and Schweinshave (grilled ham hocks) to Wurstl (sausages), Brezn (pretzels) and Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage). Even treats such as Weisswurst (white sausage) and Obatzda (a cheese and butter spread) will be available. And that’s just the food. Vail Oktoberfest is a treat for those who enjoy specialty beers as well.

The reason the beers during Oktoberfest are special is because only beer which is brewed inside the Munich city limits is allowed to be served in Germany. These beers have to have 13.5% of what is called Master Spice in order to be officially “Oktoberfest beer”. These beers also have higher alcohol content, ranging from just over 5% to as high as 8% alcohol in them. These traits make for truly special brews and are only available during Oktoberfest. Vail Oktoberfest will have the same variety of beers available for everyone over 21 to enjoy.

Oktoberfest is an amazing event wherever it’s celebrated. But if you're attending Vail Oktoberfest 2011, you’ll be able to enjoy all of the Bavarian music, the awesome food and the intriguing beverages without having to travel half a world away. If you want to have a great time and enjoy a great festival then Oktoberfest is the one to be at.

When planning the perfect skiing or snowboarding vacation there’s no finer destination for the ultimate vacation than Vail, Colorado. Staying in the right Vail hotels means you’ll not only be enjoying some of the best accommodations anywhere, but you’ll be right on the slopes. So knowing just exactly which hotels or resorts are located right on the slopes will help set the agenda for that ultimate vacation.

Golden Peak is the home of Alpine Ski Racing and skiing in the world. With ski schools and children’s nurseries and easy access to the ski lifts, staying at Vail hotels and resorts on Golden Peak gives you the best of everything. These hotels include The Wren, Manor Vail, Northwoods, All Seasons, Vail Trails East, and the Apollo Park Lodge.

Lionshead Village is a destination for those who love the best in life. With luxurious Vail hotels and accommodations everywhere you turn, restaurants with cooking that compares to none and with shops and boutiques scattered throughout, skiing almost takes a second seat. However, being right on the slopes means that Lionshead skiing is just as awesome as the hotels and resorts. The ones that are right on the slopes are:  Vail 21, Vantage Point, Antlers at Vail, Landmark, Vantage Point, Westwind, Lionshead Arcade, Montaneros Condominiums, and The Arrabelle.

Cascade Village offers first class Vail hotels and resorts as well as the incredible convenience of ski in/ski out access. Not only do you have some wondrous hotels and condos to stay in, but being able to ski to the lift and ski back at the end of the day makes for a totally amazing experience. Hotels in Cascade Village are: Coldstream, Millrace, Cascade on Gore Creek, Westhaven, Vail Cascade Resort and Spa, Greenhill Court and Liftside.

Most all of these Vail hotels and resorts are located on the shuttle route which offers easy access to Vail Village where some of the finest restaurants and shopping in the United States is available. Vail Village is also home to great concerts, shows and the unique feature of heated sidewalks. Regardless of where you stay, making the trip into Vail Village is definitely going to be a highlight of your vacation. With the stunning beauty and grand skiing and snowboarding you’ll get to enjoy, hotels in Vail, Colorado offer much more for the evenings and nights as well. With access to pools, hot tubs, exercise rooms, steam rooms, masseuses, you’ll get far more from your hotel experience than just a room to stay in.

Vail, Colorado isn’t just a winter destination for those who love skiing and snowboarding. As a summer destination, Vail offers guests far more than amazing summer views, hiking, biking and great shopping but music festivals that cover all aspects of the music world. From the Vail Jazz Festival to the Vail Soul Music Festival, if you love music, you’ll want to be in Vail all summer long.

Here are the hottest summer music festivals like the Vail Jazz Festival you’ll be able to enjoy in Vail:

1.    Bravo Music Festival – Aficionados of classical music will love the opportunities to hear three of the world’s best orchestras over the summer. Between the New York Philharmonic, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the power and majesty of classical music resides in Vail.

2.    Bud Light Hot Summer Nights – Enjoy all kinds of music from Celtic rock to dance and alternative with locals and visitors alike at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater every Tuesday starting at 6:30pm.

3.    International Dance Festival – Not only do you get to celebrate great music but great dance as well. Whether you’re a fan of tap, ballet or modern dance, this festival will deliver the best in the world.  From July 26 through August 13, you’ll be able to find the best of the best when it comes to dance.

4.    Vail Soul Music Festival – For those of us who find that Soul music really does stir our soul this two day festival will deliver the best that Soul has to offer. From R&B to Blues and Neo Soul, the best of the best will be delivering amazing performances.

5.    Vail Jazz Festival – All summer long, the sounds of jazz permeates Vail. From the Vail Farmer’s Market to Vail Square, performers will be kickin’ the tunes on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings every week until September 5th

6.    Vail Oktoberfest – The ultimate party time! If you enjoy Oktoberfest, you’ll love Oktoberfest in Vail. Grab your favorite beverage, sit back and enjoy Bavarian music and dancing, yodeling and even alpenhorn blowing. Two consecutive weekends in September, the 9th-11th and the 16th-18th are devoted to the coolest party anywhere.

From the Vail Jazz Festival all the way through Bud Light’s Summer Nights, you can see that virtually every night is devoted to music in one way or another. If you’re a resident of Vail, you know full well just how many awesome musical performances take place every week. For those who come to visit, you may wind up staying all summer long so you can enjoy all those great performances as well.