The Peaks is a ski-in/ski-our resort located in Mountain Village. It recently changed ownership and will be undergoing a full renovation after the ski season closes in April.

The Peaks is a luxury resort offering full service amenities including valet parking (the only onsite parking option), bell services, concierge, and ski valet. There are indoor/outdoor heated pools, full work-out facilities, personal training services and a hot tub. Our rooms had a microwave, mini refrigerator and coffee pot.

It is conveniently located on a green run allowing you to ski down to Lift 1 and take the lift to Mountain Village (where ski school is located). At the end of the day, it is an easy run back into the hotel. If you or your kids are beginners, there is a golf cart waiting by the entrance to run you across the street to the ski school.

Things we liked:
• The rooms were spacious with ample room for all the gear that accompanies a ski vacation.
• The rooms were quiet and we did not hear our neighbors or people in the halls.
• All of the staff - from the front desk to the valets – were friendly and attentive.
• The ski valets had our boots warmed and skis waiting on the snow every morning – my favorite aspect of the entire resort.
• The breakfast buffet was plentiful and reasonably priced.
• While I did not have the opportunity to use the spa services, it offered a comprehensive list of treatments and other guests gave it rave reviews.

Room for Improvement:
• One of our rooms had not been cleaned prior to our arrival. As it was late and time to get the kids to bed, we made do with spare sheets, pillows and towels from the adjoining room.
• The overall maid service was sub-par. We found dirty clothes from prior guests in the room and the glasses did not appear fresh.
• No in-room guide to hotel services/amenities. Most hotels have a binder with local phone numbers, restaurant menus, and hotel services. This was missing in all of our rooms.
• No room service. I would expect 24-hour room service in a hotel of this caliber. Everything in the hotel, including the lobby bar, shut down at 9.
• This is not a cheap hotel and is made even more expensive with the valet parking fees and daily resort charge of $25. I would like to see the daily charge rolled into the price of the room.

Pricing:
During ski season, a standard room with 2 queen beds averages $395 per night. As with all ski resorts, there are discounts and package options available.



Bottom Line:
The Peaks has a fantastic location and great potential. The new owners have a good vision for the hotel and I am eager to see how it is executed. We hope to return early next ski season and write a follow-up review on all the changes.

Disclosure:
This review is based on 3-day complimentary double room at the resort for my family and a discounted single room for my parents. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.

Those were the words my kids used to describe our recent trip to Telluride. My oldest 3 kids are avid skiers but after spending the entire season at Breckenridge, I was curious how they would react to a different mountain, new ski school, and unfamiliar instructors. Simply put, they loved it and are ready to head back for more.

The Basics:
Ski school runs from 10 – 3:15 (the start time varies with daylight savings time, be sure to check) and is located in Mountain Village by Lift 4. It is easily accessible from all hotels in Mountain Village or via the Gondola if staying in Telluride. Gear rental is located inside the ski school and is handled by knowledgeable, patient staff. Gear storage is available at the ski school if attending multiple days. Lunch is included.

All ski school kids have a tag on their jacket with name, parents’ names and emergency contact information.

Drop-off Overview:
All kids check-in at the ski school by Lift 4. There is ample space to fill out the necessary paperwork and plenty of staff to assist with questions. The ski school is divided into 3 age groups, each with their own mascot and meeting spot: 3-4 year old Otters, 5-6 year old Bears, and 7-14 year old Eagles. With kids ages 4, 5 and 8, we had the opportunity to experience each process.

The Bears meet inside at the same location as the check-in. No parents are allowed into the back area and the drop-off process is speedy. Each child is individually greeted by an instructor and taken to a designated table where they have some time to play, get fitted for rental gear (if necessary), drink hot cocoa and get to know their fellow skiers and their instructors. A few kids were crying at drop-off but stopped quickly when a staff member came over, knelt down with them, and offered comfort (and the promise of hot cocoa). About 30 minutes after arrival, they gear up and head to the mini-mountain to show off their skills. Once the basics of stopping and turning are mastered, they head to the green runs aptly named Meadows for lots of practice and fun.

The Otters meet outside at the top of a flight of stairs (an elevator is available if you don’t like doing stairs in ski boots). Check-in was smooth and the instructor took the time to ask questions about the skier’s ability and personality. They meet at the bottom of a tiny, fenced-in bunny hill allowing the kids to do a few practice runs (and the instructors to assess their ski level) prior to hitting the slopes.

The Eagles meet outside in a fenced area near Lift 4. Plenty of instructors make the process quick but they took time to ask questions about ability, strengths and weaknesses. Telluride is known for its steep terrain and the instructors ask a lot of questions to make sure a good placement is made.


Pick-up Overview:
The Otters are picked up inside and the Bears and Eagles are picked up by Lift 4. We were not required to show id to pick up, which concerned me, especially given that I had dropped-off and my husband and mother picked up.

Best Experiences:
My 8 year old had the opportunity to visit the video analysis area and loved seeing footage of herself (I wish we could have purchased it but it wasn’t offered).

My kids loved their instructors. They were friendly, engaging, and had the ability to push them to achieve their personal bests.

Telluride adjusts its lift/ski school times when the time changes. It was very nice to have the extra time to get everyone up, fed, and dressed in the morning.

Areas for improvement:
My 4 year old is a very good skier and was upset at having to ski “with the babies” on the first day. She perked up the second day when they took her on more challenging runs. She is used to skiing with her 5 year old sister so being separated was something of a shock to her. I think the ski school handled her lessons appropriately. The first day was spent on easy greens and they moved her up as soon as they felt comfortable that she was ready.

I would like to see a secure pick-up process, including showing identification to pick up kids.

Tips & Tricks:
Each ski resort has its own skier rating system. Be sure to spend time talking to the instructors about where your child best fits. For example, my 8 year old is a level 8 skier at Breckenridge and can ski just about anywhere on the mountain. In Telluride she is a level 6/7 skier and not ready for the double black extreme terrain.

This is a good resort to allow your kids to take things slow the first day. Ski down a level the first day and build up to the challenge of the steeper terrain.

Telluride is a vacation destination so the weekends tend to be less crowded than resorts closer to Denver.

Allow about 15 minutes to go through the check-in line and make it to the designated meeting spot.

Bottom Line:
My kids loved Telluride ski school and are ready to head back for more. In fact, we purchased a second day of lessons at their insistence. I highly recommend this experience.

Disclosure:
This review is based on 1 day of complimentary lift/lessons and 1 day of purchased lift/lessons for my 3 kids. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.

Telluride has the reputation for being a very challenging mountain. Being a marginal skier, I was apprehensive about our trip and even mocked by my friends. I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised – it was a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to return.

I traveled with my husband, 4 girls (ages 2, 4, 5 and 8) and my parents. My oldest three kids attended the Telluride ski school while my parents, husband and the 2 year old explored the town. We drove from Denver and spent an amazing long weekend at the resort.

Favorite Aspects of Telluride Mountain:

1. No lift lines. Telluride is a destination resort and tends to attract 7-day visitors instead of weekend commuter traffic. On the Saturday and Sunday I skied, I encountered no lift lines. The Telluride staff I talked to said that it is highly unusual to wait over 5 minutes in a lift line anywhere on the mountain.
2. Amazing views. Telluride is nestled in the southern Rocky Mountains and offers fantastic scenery from everywhere on the property. The greatest concentration of 14ers in the United States is visible from the property.
3. Quiet, peaceful slopes. The slopes were not crowded and it was unbelievably quiet. At one point, I skied a 2-mile stretch without seeing another person.
4. The longest run at the resort (4.6 miles) runs from one of the highest lifts (Lift 12) to the Mountain Village and is a double green.
5. Terrain of all levels (from double green to double black-extreme) is accessible from one lift (Lift 12). This allows families and other groups to ride the lift together, ski terrain suited to their ability and meet at the bottom of the lift to do it all over again.
6. Some of the best beginner terrain I have ever seen. The green runs off of the Ute lift are virtually deserted, wide open and a great place to practice new skills. There is even a beginner terrain park along one side for when you start to feel brave.
7. No need to drive. The town of Telluride, Mountain Village, and the parking lots are connected by gondolas that run until midnight so there is no need to worry about parking.
8. The town of Telluride has a rich history and it is worth spending time exploring the museum and stores. Unlike some ski destinations, Telluride maintains its small town feel and seems to welcome visitors with open arms. We met people everywhere we went and kids were always welcomed with a smile.

Tips & Tricks:

• Take a mountain tour to get your bearings. They offer them every morning and for all ski levels.
• Begin the trip with a lesson. Telluride has amazing terrain and ski instructors are the best people to show you secret stashes of powder, the best place for lunch, or even the easiest way down.

Getting there:
Telluride is a 6-hour drive from Denver. Most visitors fly into either Telluride or Montrose airports. Telluride staff noted that the Telluride airport sometimes closes for inclement weather but the Montrose airport rarely, if ever, closes.

Bottom Line:
Telluride has terrain for everyone from the beginner to the expert skier and it is an extremely family friendly resort. The restaurants in Mountain Village had children’s menus and short wait times (even après ski). The people in the town of Telluride were friendly and welcoming and the restaurants also family friendly. The gondola made it fun and easy to get around the resort without needing to drive. I cannot wait to return and highly recommend this as a top ski destination.

Disclosure:
This review is based a 2 day complimentary lift ticket and expert mountain tour conducted by Telluride employee Tom Watkinson. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.

Breckenridge Ski & Ride school runs out of 3 locations on two peaks. This review is based on our experiences at the Beaver Run school on Peak 9. We choose this location because it is the only one with parking. The Village location has parking across a busy street and the Peak 8 location has access only via the gondola. The kids program is called Mountains of Discovery and is geared toward getting them out of the yard and onto the mountain as soon as they are ready.

My kids are frequent attendees at the Breckenridge ski and ride school and are always ready to go back for more. In fact, my 5 year old acts as an unofficial greeter for the school and welcomes other children that are attending for the first time by introducing herself and showing them around the facility.

The Facility: The Beaver Run location has 2 check in points. Kids 6 and under check in at ground level right beside the only slope side parking lot in Breckenridge. 7 – 14 year olds have to walk up a flight of stairs to their own check in location.

Check In: You can book lessons 2 or more days in advance through the website (www.breckenridge.com) or by calling 1-888-LRN-2SKI. Walk up availability is limited during peak times so reservations are recommended for holiday periods.

Check in is between 8 – 9. Plan to arrive no later than 8:45 to fill out the necessary paperwork and receive the colored id tag that is attached to the skier’s jacket. Parents say their good-byes at the counter and the kids are taken back to the play area for coloring and other activities until it is time to hit the snow (between 9 and 9:30). This time can be chaotic in the lobby so I recommend checking in the day before (available until 4:30 P.M.). Early check in allows you to bypass the lines and is worth the effort.

The Day: The 6 and under skiers are separately by ability and given color coded vests (with handles on the back that allow the lift operators to easily assist them in getting on the lift). The ski school has a fenced yard with a magic carpet and 2 tiny hills for the beginning skiers to learn on. Once they have mastered the tiny hills, they are off to the QuickSilver lift, which services some easy green runs.

The 7 and over skiers are divided by ability and age and hit the slopes between 9:15 and 9:30. They return to the base for lunch but take hot cocoa breaks during the day at restaurants all over the mountain.

Pick up for everyone is at 3:30. All skiers are picked up in the ski school yard and parents must show identification to leave with a child. They are very strict about this policy and will not let you leave with a child without photo id that matches the name on the jacket id tag. Everyone gets a Discovery card that details their accomplishments during the day. As you leave, look for the SharpShooter displays. They often capture great pictures of your child’s day.

The Good

• Skiing for more than one day? They will store the kid’s skis at the school so you don’t need to haul them back and forth.
• Using “regulars” as greeters seems to work very well at transitioning shy kids into the environment.
• They are very adaptable to skier’s abilities. For example, they allowed my three year old to ski with the “big kids” down the blues in the morning but switch to an easier group in the afternoon when she got tired.
• Every instructor we have ever had has been great with kids.
• The waiting room has a one-way glass so you can watch the kids on the tiny hills.
• On the weekends it costs $15 to park in the lot. Just dropping off at ski school? Tell the gate attendant and they will let you in for free.
• Peak 9 has two “kids only” ski areas (Ripperoos Forest and the Haunted Forest) that are all time favorites.
• If you rent equipment from the school, they handle the fitting and make adjustments as necessary during the day.


The Bad

• The parking lot is often very icy. Having a few extra staff in the lot around drop off times would be helpful.
• Ability to make reservations just 1 day instead of the currently required 2 days in advance would be convenient.
• My kids hate walking up and down the stairs to the 7 – 14 year old drop off.