One of the most important influences to any ski vacation or summer excursion, is the service you receive from the people who work where you stay. Last week, for my youngest brother’s Spring Break, my boyfriend and I took him and my other brother to Vail, Colorado where we stayed at the Manor Vail Lodge. Some of the other mountain towns in Colorado where I have experienced lodging and hospitality have been Telluride, Breckenridge, and Aspen, where I have enjoyed winter skiing and at others summer hiking. I’ve also stayed in Steamboat Springs, Silverthorne, Keystone, and Pagosa Springs. My recent stay at the Manor Vail Lodge in Vail, is one of the best experiences the four of us have had in a Colorado ski resort and here’s my take on why.
The Story
A couple of months back I received certificates for two nights stay at a variety of locations. One was the Manor Vail Lodge and by the time that I called to make reservations, they were not taking my type of certificate since they were almost booked and the dates we needed were prime times. This was not a big surprise, because Spring Break season in the month of March is one of the high seasons of any ski-resort. Things like that don’t deter me though and I’m a big believer that it never hurts to ask. The reservation staff I spoke with were very kind, with great service and willing to take time to ask managers. They didn’t mind at all that I asked about what could be done and even though at the time they had to say ‘no’, I appreciated their kindness, great attitudes on the phone with me, and their willingness to try.
So we made other plans but we really wanted to visit Vail, so I didn’t give up. The day before we were to leave for the mountains, I called the Manor Vail Lodge again. The reservation representative I spoke to was Nina and she was so kind and helpful. She took the time to put into motion a request to her manager. This required her to follow-up and call me back and over the course of that morning, she found that a cancellation had just occurred, waited for her manager to finish a meeting and be available, and called me back two different times to answer my questions and have for me good estimates of what the taxes would cost and other related charges so that I was aware and informed of everything involved.
All that Manor Vail Lodge Has to Offer
They worked it out! We were able to use our certificates and stayed at the Manor Vail Lodge for the two nights we desired. Not only were the reservation staff wonderful to us, but when we arrived Kelsey who was working at the front reception desk was friendly and helpful. Every staff-person we encountered had a smile on their face for us, a kind and warm greeting, and went out of their way to ask if we needed anything. The Fitz Lounge was great for apre-ski, with good food and drinks and our server was attentive and kind. People working at the Manor were happy and they shared that happiness in their words and the great quality of service to us. When we checked out, the front-desk ladies joked with us about not wanting us to leave and sincerely asked if we enjoyed our stay and needed anything else. They were personable, nice, accommodating and helpful.
With staff such as this, it was no surprise that our 1 bedroom unit was so nice and clean. It was a great size, with a full kitchen, a murphy-bed that stowed away into the wall, and a pull out sofa bed in the living room. The finishing touches throughout the unit were beautiful and good quality, like the granite counter-tops in the kitchen and bathroom, the stone gas fireplace, and wood cabinets and furniture. Our bedroom had a king-size bed with a beautiful view of the ski slopes (see a video tour of our unit further below). From the living room, we could step out onto a large balcony that had a huge Weber grill on it and chairs to relax in as we took in the glorious view of skiers and boarders soaring down the runs right in front of us. Just below us was one of the lodge’s two heated pools and two hot-tubs and to the back of our unit’s building was the mountain creek that runs throughout Vail. It was only a short stroll from our unit and across the street to the Golden Peak lift (it’s also referred to as Riva Bahn Express Lift 6). Our stay also included for free a ski and snowboard locker and a delicious continental breakfast that had tons to choose from and an omelette chef making custom orders.
More than anything, the staff at the Manor Vail Lodge really made the experience wonderful and has me looking forward to recommending it with others and going back to visit soon. My family and I loved getting to experience all that Vail has to offer. From enchanting European-style Vail Village to the regal Lionshead center of town, we loved experiencing the best of all worlds in a ski-vacation: great dining and shopping, good rental options for skiing and boarding, and of course the fantastic terrain for skiing and snowboarding. If you’re considering visiting Colorado, definitely make time to be in Vail and stay at the Manor Vail Lodge. It’s still not too late to take advantage of great deals that they have before closing day on April 20th!
Watch this video for a tour of our Manor Vail Lodge unit and to be inspired to ask for what you desire.