Avon Hotels with Balcony

We have been going to the Ritz Bachelor Gulch for the last 10 years and recently realized that it was no longer a family friendly resort. Our daughters are now 17 and avid skiers so we are able to stay at the nearby Westin (another marriott property) which we find to be more suitable for families. It has become very evident by the techno music that is blaring when you ski back to hotel that the Ritz is promoting a more club like atmosphere. If you are looking for that you are in luck. If you prefer the days of the live mountain music in front of the fire, those days are long gone. One other thing I might add, the turnover of employees is yet another sign of days long gone. We used to have the same staff every year, now it is ever changing. The club is not like it was either, the quality of food has gone down and the fancy coffee machine is broken all the time. Very disappointed that our favorite winter getaway is now a memory of the past. I will say the one thing that has stayed constant over the years is our friend we made years ago who walks around the lobby and club and tells us which mountains have been groomed. If he ever leaves, that will be very sad!

SO... My purpose of being there was to be close to where I was having surgery (in Vail). I was so looking forward to being in a luxurious hotel where I could enjoy the views and have a nurturing place to return to post surgery to start healing and doing Physical therapy. I was told that it was ”15 minutes to Vail and my clinic” - which was not the most comfortable way to get there - in a shuttle bus with many steps and cramped seating. Our room (I travelled with one of my dearest lifelong friends who also was my caregiver) was nice enough -one bedroom suite. It had 1 bathroom we shared - again that was OK. However, the room was the furthest (distance wise) room from the front of the hotel ! There would have been no way that I could have walked post surgery the distance. Also while we were there the elevators were down and only 1 was working. Between the large dogs running around and mothers with double-wide strollers - there was absolute craziness ! My special diet was not handled properly - instead of a ”Cauliflower steak” they served me STEAK with cauliflower. I basically could not eat for 2 days - not good for pre surgery. (they had heads up too!). That was pretty much the last straw - sealed by getting slammed in the foot by an aggressive mom who said as she got into the elevator ” I am coming in no matter what - room or not!” At that point, I had to get another hotel and move to a much better match for the remainder of my trip. I could not take a chance of someone running into me post joint replacement !!! Seems to be the place to be with your large dogs and children - not for a calm environment. Anyway, that was my experience. Hope y'all have a better time!

Booked this hotel for skiing, it's pretty good, the room is big, with a kitchen, you can cook, because the hotel basically doesn't have breakfast. You can park in the basement, otherwise like me, you have to dig snow for half an hour the next day. The other thing is that the hot spring on the top floor is great, you can see the beautiful snow-capped mountains