The Arrabelle at Vail Square - Hotel Review

Nestled at the base of the Eagle Bahn gondola in Vail’s Lionshead Village, the old-world elegance of The Arrabelle has made it a favourite in these parts. Split across two Bavarian-style grand chalets adjoined by a walkway, the hotel’s 81 charming guest rooms and condos pair alpine European chic with rustic cosiness. Guests can dine at après haunt Tavern on the Square, which serves everything from hot cocoa to microbrews from local breweries. If you’re hungry, don’t pass up a piping hot bowl of delicious chili, or, if travelling in a group, a chance to dig into a paella dish full of nachos. The hotel also has a spa, rooftop swimming pool, fitness centre and one of the best views going of the Rocky Mountains from the comfort of your room.

The location

Facing onto Vail Square, The Arrabelle is in the centre of the town and only a stumble away from the slopes. Its position at the base of the Eagle Bahn gondola means skiers and snowboarders can be carving up the mountain’s 21.4 kilometres of skiable terrain in a matter of minutes. Vail is 160 kilometres from Denver, and 2.5 hours drive from airport.

The rooms

The lodgings at The Arrabelle cover off everything from sumptuous suites to fully kitted-out luxury condominiums. The suites are cosy-chic, with warm wood furnishings and touches that scream creature comforts (think very comfy bathrobes and a flatscreen TV in the bathroom). Each comes set with a super-plush bed to melt into after a long day on the slopes, an opulent marble bathroom with a deep bathtub and fireplace.

Food and drink

Though a wealth of Vail’s amazing restaurants sit at your doorstep, don’t look past The Arrabelle’s own après-ski offering. Tavern on the Square serves breakfast, lunch and dinner alongside a lengthy drinks list. The menu showcases Colorado-sourced products but is known for its inventive takes on comfort food classics, including a wild boar quesadilla served with dolomite pine syrup; a slab of coffee-cured Wapiti Elk loin; and a S’mores taco: a chocolate waffle served with toasted marshmallow ice-cream and graham cracker whipped cream. If travelling in a pack, don’t go past the Chile queso nachos – they’re served in a massive paella dish and must be conquered by a hungry horde.

For business travellers

The business centre is hidden away in a quiet part of the hotel and has computers, phones, printers, desks and comfortable seats. The hotel also has several conference spaces ranging from a 150-metre-square meeting room to the 800-square-metre ballroom, with a team ready to supply everything from full catering to computers and cordless phones.

For wellness travellers

If you aren’t tired enough from all the summer or winter activities that take place on the mountain, The Arrabelle has a well-kitted onsite gym. In summer, the place to be is the hotel’s rooftop pool, which offers one of the most scenic swims you’ll ever take, with the rolling Rockies viewable from the pool deck.

The Arrabelle’s huge spa offers the usual wellness suspects, alongside a host of mountain-inspired treatments, including the Alpine Retreat: an 80-minute therapy that incorporates a dry brush scrub to increase circulation, a herbal mud mask and Thai Sa-Wan compression massage to prevent ailments that can crop up at altitude like sleeplessness and nausea.

The fab factor

The Game Creek Chalet is a secluded private residence managed by the hotel located three kilometres up Vail Mountain. It’s the epitome of ski-in ski-out, with four-bedrooms and a private chef.

SEE ALSO: Your Slopeside Guide to Vail, Colorado