Note that the resort charges a hefty resort fee of $45 per room per night. This does cover internet

Lately when I m frazzled with work obligations airline tickets international compare engine or the kids are driving me nuts, I close my eyes and go to my happy place; I think back to my two-night stay at the unparalleled Arrabelle at Vail Square earlier this month. To call The Arrabelle just a hotel is like calling the Alps just some mountains.
After all, the entire property is comprised not only of four towers of hotel rooms and condominiums, airline tickets international compare engine but also a rooftop pool, a 10,000-square-foot spa and a spacious restaurant, Centre V. Then there s more than 33,000 feet of retail space, plus an outdoor ice rink in the winter and a plaza for concerts airline tickets international compare engine and activities in the summer. The Arrabelle at Vail Square is reminiscent of an Old World Alpine village with plenty of upscale details and thoughtful touches that make it one sophisticated spot eat, dine and play, no matter what the season.
Butler Service: The staffer who showed us to our room was no typical bell boy (that was a different guy), but a butler. He showed us our menu butler services, which included having complimentary coffee delivered to our room in the morning (no cheap plastic Mr. Coffee in the bathroom here), ice replaced, clothes unpacked, baths drawn and more. They work in tandem airline tickets international compare engine with the concierges who can make dinner reservations (including romantic in-room dining) and recommend area activities. We were tempted to put our butler through the ringer, asking him to do jump through hoops for us in some silly way just for kicks (to see if the Arrabelle promise of personalized service really delivered), but in the end, we just asked for morning coffee two carafes, three cups, one container of skim milk, one side of cream.
Breakfast at Centre V: While dinner at The Arrabelle s brasserie-influenced restaurant was quite good, we especially loved our morning meals at Centre V. We sat outside on the patio, literally a stone s throw from the Eagle Bahn Gondola at the base of the mountain. The Eggs Benedict Duo with ham or crab, as well as the Arrabelle Omelette with caramelized fennel, boursin and truffle oil were out of this world. Other options we didn t sample, but should have: French Toast with Warm Banana Chutney and Candied Pecans and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.
The RockResorts Spa: I ve been to a lot of hotel spas in my adult lifetime and The Arrabelle s ranks right up there in at least the top 5. What impressed me most was the huge sunken Roman tub in the woman s locker room surrounded by comfortable chaise lounges. I sampled the Vin Chaud (Hot Wine) Indulgence. After full-body scrub with Dead Sea salts, I rinsed off and my therapist applied hydrating moisturizer and wrapped me in a heated blanket while she massaged my scalp. Then there was a full-body massage with oils rich in antioxidant wine extracts and a mini-facial. airline tickets international compare engine And a glass of wine to top it off! A scrub, a rub and a glass of wine. What else does a girl need?
The Rooftop Pool: Sure, it would be amazing if The Arrabelle had a spacious pool area like the Westin Riverfront in Avon or the Vail Cascade , but its prime location next to the gondola airline tickets international compare engine and in the heart of Lionshead Village just doesn t allow for such a ground-floor amenity. So, the pool area is on the roof of one of its four buildings. With a heated, narrow lap pool, two hot tubs and about a dozen lounge chairs, it s not that big, but you cannot beat the views of Vail Mountain from here. It s a cozy little respite from what can be a bustling plaza below.
The Beds: The Arrabelle hasn t been open long only since January 2008 so everything on the property is brand new. That s evidenced in the rooms, where all of the furniture, the unique local artwork and the decor accents were in tip-top shape. But the beds really stood out for their luxurious qualities. They were about as close to perfect with high thread-count sheets airline tickets international compare engine and not-too-firm, not-too-soft mattresses, and cozy comforters as you can get in a hotel bed. Come to think of it, I think the bed and its bedding were way nicer than what I ve got at home. No wonder we all slept so well.
Well, except for Friday morning. The one huge downfall of our stay at The Arrabelle was that our mountain-facing room (#230) was adjacent to next-door construction. We woke to jackhammers airline tickets international compare engine and other very loud banging and drilling noises at 7:30 a.m. The Arrabelle is a luxurious and upscale showpiece for Vail s Lionshead Village, so older surrounding properties built decades ago appear even more dated than ever before. These buildings are getting spiffed up, and renovating could be ongoing for a while; just ask when you book your room to be kept away from any construction noise. If that means you might not get your mountain view, it s really no big deal. The views into Vail Square are equally intriguing; plus, how much time are you spending in your room anyway? Most visitors are out hiking, biking or skiing in the mountains during the day, not looking at them from afar.
With its stellar location, rock-star service, excellent dining, pretty pool area and top-notch airline tickets international compare engine spa, The Arrabelle is not cheap, especially in the peak winter season. However, RockResorts brand is known for running seasonal specials at all of its properties. Check out the get a free night during the holidays promotion that includes Labor Day, Thanksgiving, airline tickets international compare engine Christmas, President s Day and Easter and many holidays in between. If you want to head to Vail soon, consider the Arrabelle Advantage deal with superior rooms starting at $265/night, including a buffet airline tickets international compare engine breakfast and a $50 resort credit per night through September 26, 2009.
The off-seasons, spring and fall, will bring you the best deals and that s typical at most Colorado mountain resorts. airline tickets international compare engine This autumn, rates drop to $145/night but you get that deal only when you also purchase a $75 half-day biking trip down Vail Pass. See the Fall Foliage special through October 25, 2009.
Note that the resort charges a hefty resort fee of $45 per room per night. This does cover internet access, butler service, valet parking and in-town transportation. We thoroughly took advantage of the included private car service to neighboring Vail Village; and we surely appreciated the fast pick-up at 2 a.m. (after airline tickets international compare engine a fun night out on the town), when we were ready to return to our cozy beds at The Arrabelle for a good night s sleep.
[...] I checked airline tickets international compare engine rates for a Saturday night stay in September, and they begin at $195/night; prices drop in the off season of October, and likely increase sharply in the heart of winter season. Note that the hotel does charge a $30/night resort fee per room, to help cover those internet, breakfast and valet parking amenities you ll enjoy. airline tickets international compare engine I wish hotels in general would stop with the resort-fee nonsense, and just include that fee in nightly room rates (making complimentary Internet truly complimentary). Still, despite the resort fee, I wouldn t hesitate to recommend the Austria Haus to a family, a couple or a few gal pals for a comfortable, convenient, lovely place to stay during a trip to Vail. [...]
[...] Month September 20 to October 17, rates at these properties start at $139 (Lodge at Vail) and $199 (Arrabelle). Each of the resorts is also hosting some special events, including a Romantic Evening at [...]