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In a town with lots of hotel options, the Highline Vail can compete as one of the city’s older gems. Built 30 years ago it has the look of a classic ski lodge with wood-beamed ceilings, a roaring (glassed-in) fireplace, and a long bar to sidle up to after a chilly day on the slopes. All of which is not to imply that the spaces are worn or dated. On the contrary, a full renovation in 2018 when the hotel went from a Doubletree to a Highline, a step up in category within the Hilton chain, means that the furniture and spaces, while cozy, are modern and elegant.
The downstairs lobby sits below sweepingly high ceilings and is a hub of action with guests checking in and out, requesting information about local attractions like skiing and hiking, and purchasing goodies from the stocked in-house mini mart which has beer, wine, sunscreen, alka seltzer and lots of other necessities you may have forgotten at home. I visited during fall, just when the stands of aspens that crawl up the mountainside were beginning to turn burnt orange and can be seen from the massive picture windows of the hotel’s two hangout spots – one with tables and couches, the other with a TV, foosball table, and shuffleboard table.
The hotel’s restaurant Westside Cafe, also on the first floor and accessible from the street to the public, is a dining institution in the area. My incredible poached eggs and giant cup of coffee were enjoyed surrounded by locals who poured in the doors, often having to wait because the place was so packed. The menu includes lots of home-style favorites like Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs, Corn Beef Hash, or Bison burgers for lunch. The service was a little slow on my visit, but I chalked it up to all the hungry hordes.
Also on the first level of the hotel is a medium-sized gym, nicely outfitted with weight machines, exercise bikes, and other equipment, as well the spa which I didn’t get to try during my stay but was told they offer a hefty list of wellness options like massages and facials. Past the gym is the outside pool deck which doubles as another hang-out spot for guests year-round, with lounges, tables, and chairs, and some Adirondack chairs circled around an outdoor gas fire, running all day in the cold months.
To one side of the pool deck is a patio with extra seating that is often combined with the executive board room next to it, which is 360 square feet and has a live-edge conference table that runs its length. The hotel also has a 2,000-square-foot ballroom and their Wildwood conference room which is a little over 500 square feet.
The rooms have the simple decor and neutral color palate that you would imagine for a Hilton. There are two standard King categories, one with a small balcony, which are both 444 square feet. Some of the private patios look out over the parking lot which is not ideal but it’s still lovely to have an outside space. There’s also a standard two-queen room with 420 square feet of space. The best room layout in my opinion was the King Suite Loft room which I stayed in during my four days in Vail, which had a kitchenette with a full-size fridge and coffeemaker, a cozy living room with a couch that faces a flat-screen T.V. as well as a gas fireplace, and then an upstairs bedroom with high, sloping ceilings and an open bathroom sink area to one side.
There are also skylights that you can open up to enjoy the evening stars or let in a little more natural light. All rooms have basic toiletries, hairdryers, bathrobes, quality Wifi, satellite TV, and coffee makers. A nice little extra is the humidifiers in each room for the dry climate. Standard rooms range from $150 -250 in the shoulder seasons (Fall and Spring) and $280 to 800 during the high season of summer and winter. Suites are $219 – 349 in the shoulder seasons and $359-1,199 in the higher seasons. You can compare rates at Booking.com or other online hotel sites.
The staff at the hotel really made my stay. You could say it was because they knew I was hosted media, but they went out of their way to give me directions, help me with the shuttle, loan me an umbrella, and even explain a walking trail that I wanted to go on. The shuttle drivers were fantastic as well, and you really come to depend on them to get around the city (unless you rent a car), so it makes a big difference when they are always pleasant.
Vail is known much more as a winter destination than a summer or fall one, but I found the weather just perfect and the scenery so stunning that I didn’t once wish for snow and skis. The town of Vail is officially trying to promote those shoulder seasons to help spread out their tourism for the whole year and make sure that the local economy is thriving even in the off-season.
The hotel’s only tiny drawback is its distance from Vail Village, as most of the hotels are built along the highway that leads into town with transportation via shuttles or the city bus which runs till 6 pm (the Highline Vail shuttle ran until 11 pm). No cars are allowed in Vail Village anyways.
Overall my stay at the Highline was full of history and hospitality, and it is a lot homier than other hotels in a similar category nearby. Its special feature for me was its extremely friendly and helpful staff which made this guest feel at home.
Reserve your stay at Booking.com.
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