The Four Seasons Vail is not only superbly located in the middle of Vail Village and a short walk to the Vista Bahn gondola, but it also offers visiting families spacious and beautifully decorated rooms, complimentary kids’ club, a heated outdoor pool that’s open year-round and free dining for children under age five. This luxurious property truly welcomes families with open arms.

The Four Seasons Vail, which opened in December 2010, is designed in a contemporary alpine lodge style with peaked roofs and wooden beams outside, and natural hickory wood and limestone inside. Large windows, multiple balconies and terraces throughout the public spaces bring the outdoors in. The 10-story property offers not only 121 hotel rooms and suites, but also multi-bedroom residences in their rental pool. If you’re planning on a long stay in Vail or a trip with extended family or friends, you might consider a large, two-, three- or four-bedroom unit with a fully equipped kitchen, or request connecting rooms and suites for more space. The least pricey accommodations for a family of four are the standard garden- or mountain-view rooms with two double beds.

For excellent customer service, you can’t go wrong with a stay at Four Seasons Vail. Known for their helpful and accommodating staff, we weren’t disappointed and found everyone gracious and friendly as well.

Children are welcomed at the Four Seasons Vail by finding a surprise gift of special items just for them waiting in their rooms. Every season the property gives children a different stuffed animal so that returning families can amass a collection of stuffed souvenirs from annual visits. (When we visited, it was a grizzly bear.) A sweet treat delivered to your room at bedtime, such as chocolate-covered Rice Krispies treat or cookies and milk also make kids feel special. Make sure to tell the reservations staff the names and ages of your children before you arrive so the staff can best personalize the amenities.

In the rooms, it's standard to find child-sized robes kids love and can bring down to the awesome outdoor pool and hot tubs as well as stools to help them reach the bathroom sinks. If you're traveling with a baby, you can have baby shampoo, wash, powder and lotion delivered to your room as well as child-proofing gadgets such as outlet protectors, bumper guards and bathtub spout covers. Forgot to pack enough diapers? The Four Seasons Vail has you covered with complimentary baby supplies such as diapers, formula, bottles and bottle warmers. Guests also have free use of high chairs, pack-and-plays, strollers and baby joggers -- just ask the front desk staff for any of these items (subject to availability). Cribs and rollaway beds are also available at no extra charge.

Guestrooms
Rooms at the Four Seasons Vail range in size and views. The least expensive accommodations are Garden View Rooms, which are still quite large at 575 square feet. Deluxe Mountain View Rooms are the same size, but with best-available views of Vail Mountain on higher floors.

Suites
One-bedroom suites in various categories feature separate bedrooms and living areas; the Deluxe Mountain-View One-Bedroom Suite has gas fireplaces in both the bedroom and living room and averages 1,065 feet. You might book adjacent rooms -- such as a one-bedroom suite and a standard room to create separate sleeping areas for your children.

All rooms and suites are furnished in contemporary Western decor in warm, welcoming tones. Dark wood and natural accents, such as slate and limestone, leather chairs and comfortable sofas, are classy and cozy. All accommodations have flat-screen televisions, Wi-Fi (covered in the daily resort fee), in-room safe, iHome docking station, espresso maker, DVD player (with complimentary lending library via the concierge) and refrigerator. The bathrooms, featuring L'Occitatane bath products, are unusually large with separate soaking tub, glass-enclosed shower, double vanity and separate WC. Some rooms even have a television in the mirror in the bathroom!

Residences
The residences range from two- to four-bedrooms; these are fractionally owned units placed in the hotel's rental pool. These rooms are spacious and accommodating, typically featuring open living areas, gourmet kitchens, gas fireplaces, entertainment centers, washer/dryer and steam showers.

Kids For All Seasons
Kids For All Seasons is the name of the complimentary children's program available at many Four Seasons properties worldwide and available in-season in Vail from November through April. At Four Seasons Vail, children ages five to 12 are fully supervised from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in a small but colorful room across from the spa on the ground level of the hotel. Here children can play Wii and board games, build with Legos or create arts and crafts. Parents can drop off children all day or for an hour or two at a time -- at no cost! (Well, it's one of the amenities covered in the daily resort fee.) If the kids are playing in the room through breakfast or lunchtime, they can order off of a kid-friendly menu (for a fee), that features items like French toast and cheesy scrambled eggs in the morning, and burgers, grilled cheese, chicken fingers and fish sticks in the afternoon.

Teen Center
Just down the hallway from the Kids For All Seasons room is Teen Central intended for tweens and teens. Teens will enjoy the pool and foosball tables as well as teen magazines and books that may be borrowed. Kids have free Internet access here (bring your own laptop and ask spa reception for the password) and can borrow PlayStation video games from the spa as well. Although the room is intended for tweens and teens, all ages are welcome. No one seemed to care that children under that "tween" age use the facilities.

Pool
Families flock to the spacious outdoor courtyard with a 75-foot outdoor pool ranging in depth from three to five feet. Also outside are two hot tubs that are pleasurably located adjacent to a fireplace. Robes and towels are warmed in an oven next to the fireplace, and every afternoon a complimentary snack, such as warm brownies or apple pie is served poolside.

Flame
Flame is the main restaurant at the Four Seasons Vail, serving both hearty mountain fare and light healthy options for breakfast and dinner. Children under age 5 eat for free at Flame all year round. The kid-friendly menu features cereal, fruit, pancakes and French toast in the morning, and fish sticks, chicken fingers, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and hamburgers in the afternoon and evening -- all served with carrot sticks or French fries. High chairs, crayons and coloring sheets are all available. There is both indoor and outdoor seating at Flame.

Pool Bar
In the summer, families can grab a quick bite to eat at the Pool Bar, which serves salads, sandwiches and snacks.

Bean & Gone
Bean & Gone, only open in season, is a cozy spot for lunch (soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps), apres-ski nibbles and cocktails, but are still welcome here. If the kids don't love what's offered, just ask for the children's menu from Flame; these items can be served poolside or in the lounge, too.

All About the Extras
Children are welcomed at the Four Seasons Vail not only with kid-sized robes and slippers in the room, but also a sweet treat and a stuffed animal.

During ski season, guests will enjoy the special conveniences provided for managing their ski gear. Guests can leave their gear with the Ski Concierge right at the base of Vail Mountain, just steps from the Vista Bahn lift -- no need to lug boots, skis and poles back to the hotel at the end of the day. If you need to rent equipment, you can get fitted at the Gorsuch outlet at the Four Seasons Vail property, and your needs will be sent to the Ski Concierge who will have all of your gear waiting for you (including your warmed boots!) when you're ready to hit the slopes.

Babysitting
The concierge can arrange for individual babysitting with highly qualified pre-screened sitters.

Fitness Center
A 2,185-square-foot fitness center with large floor-to-ceiling windows features top-of-the-line strength-training and cardiovascular equipment. Scheduled spinning, fitness and yoga classes are complimentary. All hotel guests have access to the fitness center, and the great amenities in the locker rooms (whirlpools, sauna, steam).

Business Center
Additional perks are the 24-hour business center with computers, printers and Internet access, and the complimentary coffee, tea and muffins in the hotel lobby every morning.

Resort Fee
Note that the hotel charges a per room per night fee to cover many of the amenities mentioned above (Wi-Fi, ski valet, fitness center and spa facilities, Kids For All Seasons child care).

Pet Friendly
Pets, under 25 pounds, are welcome to stay here.

The Art of Smart Timing
Families flock to Vail for the world-class ski slopes in the winter, but that's also when you'll find peak prices. Christmas week is the most expensive time to visit. In mid-March and the beginning of April, the Four Seasons Vail teems with visiting families during schools' spring breaks.

Summer is a glorious time to travel to the Colorado Rockies because the weather is absolutely incredible -- bright blue-sky days and low humidity. Lodging prices are typically lower in June through August than in December through March, but if you're looking for a true bargain, consider visiting the Four Seasons Vail in late Spring or Fall. Note, however, that if you visit in the "off season," you'll encounter a quiet town; some stores and restaurants may be closed for a few weeks in May and October.

Also check the Four Seasons Vail package deals for best pricing with included extras.

Getting There
The easiest way to get to the Four Seasons Vail is to fly into Eagle-Vail Airport (EGE), which is about 25 minutes from Vail Village, and then book a shuttle ride to the hotel via Colorado Mountain Express.

Otherwise, you can fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), which is 2.5-hours away and also served by Colorado Mountain Express. You can rent a car to get to Vail from DEN, but if you're staying at the conveniently located Four Seasons Vail it isn't necessary (unless you want to explore outside of Vail). There is a nightly fee for valet parking.

Getting Around
The Four Seasons Vail's complimentary shuttle service and SUV drivers will take you anywhere you want to go in town. Plus, families can enjoy day use of a Mercedes-Benz SUV at no charge (based on availability, no advance reservations taken).

For Mom and Dad
Spa
For adults, the spa is extraordinary. It is more than 14,000 square feet with separate large soaking tubs, steam rooms and saunas in the men's and women's locker rooms as well as 13 treatment rooms. Services focus on hydration and nourishment to the skin in the arid high-altitude climate as well as sports therapies. A salon offers hair and nail services. Wait for your spa treatments next to the fireplace in a cozy co-ed relaxation room or outdoors relaxing on a chaise lounge on a small private courtyard. After your treatment, you might just fall asleep in the appropriately named Slumber Room. More chaise lounges, separated by drapes for privacy, indeed invite repose!

Teens over the age of 14 and accompanied by an adult are permitted to use the spa facilities; teens ages 14 to 17 who book body treatments must have parents sign a waiver.