Sonnenalp, Vail, Colorado, USA

The Sonnenalp is a family-run luxury hotel in the heart of Vail Village, and its story began in 1919, when the Faessler family opened a small guest house called the Sonnenalp, "sun on the mountain", in the Allgäu Alps of southern Germany. Decades later, the family brought the same spirit to Vail, and today it is one of the most beloved hotels in the Colorado Rockies. Run by Johannes and Rosana Faessler, the fifth generation of the family, it is a warm, Bavarian-style hotel with spacious suites, an excellent spa and a reputation for old-world hospitality that keeps guests returning for decades.

Location: Vail, Colorado, USA

The Sonnenalp stands in the centre of Vail Village, beside Gore Creek, surrounded by the town's pedestrian streets of Alpine-style buildings, shops, galleries and restaurants. The lifts of Vail Mountain are about a four-minute walk away; it is not ski-in, ski-out, but the hotel's ski concierge makes getting to the slopes easy.

Vail is one of the largest ski resorts in North America, with more than 5,000 acres of terrain, including its legendary Back Bowls. Eagle County Regional Airport is around 35 to 40 minutes away, and Denver International Airport roughly two hours by road, along the dramatic I-70 corridor through the Rockies.

Rooms and suites at the Sonnenalp

The hotel has 127 rooms, of which 112 are suites. They are spacious and inviting, decorated in a Bavarian-inspired Alpine style, with wooden beams, panelled walls, custom-made oak furniture and gas fireplaces. Bathrooms are generous, with heated marble floors and soaking tubs, perfect after a day on the mountain.

The range includes hotel rooms, junior suites and one- and two-bedroom suites, many with balconies, making the Sonnenalp an excellent choice for families. Guests rave about the beds, and the homemade cookies left at turndown are a much-loved tradition.

Facilities at the Sonnenalp

The Sonnenalp Spa draws on the German tradition of spa culture and, according to the family, was the first in Vail. It has 27 treatment rooms, an indoor-outdoor heated pool with a summer pool bar, several hot tubs, Turkish steam rooms, Finnish saunas and a grand relaxation area with a fireplace.

Dining reflects the family's European roots. Ludwig's serves a famous European-style breakfast buffet, overlooking Gore Creek, and refined dinners in winter. The Swiss Chalet, with hand-carved wooden furniture and panelled walls, specialises in fondue and raclette. The Bully Ranch offers casual American and Southwestern dishes, burgers and a lively après-ski scene, and the King's Club bar has live music. In summer, the family's Sonnenalp Golf Club, in nearby Edwards, offers a fine 18-hole course.

Families are well looked after, with a supervised Kids' Club offering activities and dinners, game rooms and a library with a fireplace. The hotel's guides can arrange mountain and backcountry adventures.

The mountain moment

The defining Vail experience is a powder day in the Back Bowls, the vast, open, treeless bowls on the far side of Vail Mountain, where fresh snow and sunshine combine to create some of the most exhilarating skiing in North America. Afterwards, the walk back into Vail Village, with its twinkling lights and snowy rooftops, feels like stepping into an Alpine village.

The perfect end to the day is a soak in the Sonnenalp's outdoor pool, steam rising into the cold air, followed by fondue at the Swiss Chalet.

Why the Sonnenalp is one of the best mountain hotels

The Sonnenalp earns its place because it combines the warmth and personal service of a family-run European hotel with the convenience of a central Vail location and the excitement of one of North America's great ski mountains. Its large suites, excellent spa and family facilities make it superb value for the quality.

It is traditional rather than contemporary, and it is a short walk rather than ski-in, ski-out. But for families and couples who value warmth, comfort and a sense of tradition, it is a Vail classic.

When to go to the Sonnenalp

Vail's ski season usually runs from mid-November to around mid-April. January and February tend to bring the best powder in the Back Bowls, while March offers longer, sunnier days. Christmas, New Year and Presidents' Day weekend are the busiest and most expensive times. Summer, roughly June to September, brings hiking, mountain biking, golf at the Sonnenalp Golf Club and the outdoor pool bar, with festivals in the village. September adds golden aspens. Spring and autumn shoulder seasons are quieter, with some village restaurants closed, so check opening dates if you travel then. Families should ask about Kids' Club dinners, which give parents an evening of fondue at the Swiss Chalet on their own.