Destinations / Colorado
Colorado Travel Guide
Colorado's three big luxury mountain towns feel very different once you're on the ground. Vail is the easiest to reach and the biggest mountain, Aspen is the best town with four mountains on one ticket, and Telluride is the most beautiful and the hardest to get to. I pick between them based on your ski pass, your flight options and how much travel time you'll accept.
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Where I'm sending people now
Vail is on the Epic Pass, the Epic Pass also includes 7 days at Telluride, and Aspen Snowmass is on the Ikon Pass (7 days on the full Ikon).
Mid-December to March for skiing, with mid-January and early March the best mix of snow and value. Late June to September for hiking, wildflowers and festivals, and late September for golden aspens.
The top hotels run about $800 to $3,000+ a night in ski season and jump over Christmas and Presidents' Day. Add lift tickets that can top $300 a day at the window, so buy online well ahead or use an Epic or Ikon pass.
Vail opens Nov 13 and Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Telluride target Nov 26, 2026, conditions permitting, and many restaurants stay closed until then or later. Aspen's airport (ASE) closes April 4 to Nov 19, 2027 for runway work, so summer 2027 Aspen trips route through Eagle or Denver.
Places in Colorado
Which one is right for you?
Aspen
Great for
Skiers traveling with non-skiers, food lovers, milestone birthdays, summer hiking
Skip it if
You want quiet and value, or you're on an Epic Pass
Vail
Great for
Strong skiers, families, Epic Pass holders, first Colorado ski trips
Skip it if
You're on an Ikon Pass, or you want a historic town with a local feel
Telluride
Great for
Couples, advanced skiers, summer festivals, travelers who hate crowds
Skip it if
You want easy flights, or you need lots of nightlife and shopping
Know before you go
Getting there
Denver (DEN) has the most flights, including international, but it's about 2 hours to Vail, 3.5 to 4 hours to Aspen in winter and 6 hours to Telluride. Flying into Eagle (EGE) for Vail, Aspen (ASE) for Aspen, or Telluride (TEX) or Montrose (MTJ) for Telluride saves the drive, at higher fares and more weather risk.
Getting around
Each town is walkable with free buses, and Telluride's free gondola links town and Mountain Village, so I usually tell clients to skip the rental car once they arrive. If you do drive from Denver, rent an AWD or 4WD with good tires, because Colorado's traction law covers I-70 from September through May.
Money and tipping
Expect roughly 10 to 13% in taxes on hotel rooms (Aspen is about 12.35% after its 2026 sales tax increase), and many hotels add valet parking or resort fees. Buy lift tickets online 7 to 30+ days ahead for the best prices, and look at the first weeks of January or early April for lower hotel rates.
How I'd spend 7 days
Day 1 Fly into Eagle (EGE), transfer 35 minutes to Vail and keep the first night easy while you adjust to the altitude.
Days 2-3 Ski Vail's front side and the Back Bowls, with dinners in Vail Village.
Day 4 Transfer about 2 hours to Aspen and walk the town in the afternoon.
Days 5-7 Ski Aspen Mountain and Snowmass, then fly home from Aspen or Eagle.
Tip If you already own a pass, start with the town it covers best, since Vail is Epic and Aspen is Ikon.
Hotels I'd book in Colorado
Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
Perks when you book with me
Things to do in Colorado
Where to eat in Colorado
Bosq
White House Tavern
Sweet Basil
Mountain Standard
221 South Oak
Allred's
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Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Colorado FAQ
Should I go to Aspen, Vail or Telluride?
Pick Vail for the biggest mountain and the easiest trip from Denver or Eagle, Aspen for the best town and four mountains on one ticket, and Telluride for scenery and fewer crowds if you can handle trickier flights. Your ski pass often decides it: Vail is Epic, Aspen Snowmass is Ikon, and the Epic Pass includes 7 days at Telluride.
Which airport should I fly into for Aspen, Vail or Telluride?
Denver (DEN) has the most flights but means a 2 hour drive to Vail, 3.5 to 4 hours to Aspen in winter and about 6 hours to Telluride. Eagle (EGE) is 35 minutes from Vail, Aspen (ASE) is 10 minutes from town, and Montrose (MTJ) is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Telluride. Note that ASE closes April 4 to Nov 19, 2027 for runway work.
When does ski season start in Colorado for 2026/27?
Vail opens Nov 13, 2026, Beaver Creek Nov 25, and Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Telluride target Nov 26, with Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk on Dec 12. All dates depend on snow, and early-season terrain is limited, so I steer clients to mid-December or later for a full-mountain trip.
Is the Epic Pass or Ikon Pass better for Colorado?
Epic covers Vail and Beaver Creek and includes 7 days at Telluride, while the full Ikon Pass includes 7 days at Aspen Snowmass. For 2026/27 the Epic Pass started at $1,089 and the Ikon Pass at $1,399, and either pays off after about four or five days at window prices.
How do I avoid altitude sickness in Colorado ski towns?
Aspen, Vail and Telluride all sit around 8,000 feet, and Telluride's Mountain Village is closer to 9,500, so headaches and poor sleep the first night are common. Drink a lot of water, go light on alcohol the first day or two, and plan an easy arrival day. If symptoms are severe or get worse, see a doctor; resort clinics see this every day.
Do I need a 4WD car to drive from Denver to the ski resorts?
Not legally, but from September through May Colorado requires good winter or all-weather tires with at least 3/16 inch of tread, or chains, on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero. Fines start at $133 and jump to $657 if your car blocks a lane, so I recommend an AWD or 4WD rental or a private transfer.