in search of Valdoro Lodge info

[feed the otter]

Hello all. Long time TUG BBS reader, first time poster. TERRIFIC site, always with loads of great info!

We're HGVC owners in Hawaii, but managed to swing a 2BR plus at Valdoro Lodge for a week in January starting the weekend of MLK on club points (knowing we're VERY fortunate to have gotten it , with no illusions of ever being able to do so again short of another aligning of the planets as we had this time).

For any Valdoro veterans out there, our family just had a couple questions I figure are best answered via first-hand knowledge and experience:

1. Does Valdoro handle lift ticket, ski school, rental, etc sales, or ought we be handling those things elsewhere? For that matter, might anyone know of a good door on which to go knocking to try and get these items at a better than off-the-street price?

2. I understand the swimming pool is indoor heated, but in a separate building. Is this right? There are many things far worse than a quick dash through the cold air to get to the pool, but was just wondering if my understanding is correct.

3. Anything else anyone would care to share about a trip to Valdoro, good or bad, ski season or not, would be great to help us prep for our trip, and likewise greatly appreciated.

FEED ME !!!

Thanks much in advance.

 

[DeniseM]

Welcome to TUG!

There are about 20 reviews posted for this resort in the TUG Member's only Reviews - if you join TUG, you will be able to access them yourself.

(The reviews are listed under TUG Resort Database in the red bar at the top of the page.)

 

[PigsDad]

Great snag on that reservation! I have been there several times, so I can share some info with you.

1. Valdoro does not handle selling lift tickets -- they have a great ski concierge where they will store your skis and put your boot on warmers overnight (so you have toasty, dry boots in the morning :whoopie: ). I assume you will be skiing Breckenridge. Unfortunately, there will be little you can do to get a discounted lift ticket. The management think very highly of their resort, and have discontinued any real discounts in the last few years. The best you can do is to take a look at their web site -- you do get some breaks on multi-day tickets. There is your best bet for lesson packages as well.

As for equipment rental, I highly recommend Alpine Sports Rental, located just a few blocks from Valdoro. Great equipment and prices. Plus, they have a 20% off coupon on their web site. With that discount, rental prices are about half of what the resort will charge you.

2. The swimming pool is unique. It is an outdoor pool, and for the winter months they put a temporary "dome" over it and heat it. You do have to walk out the front entrance and down a path a bit to get to it. There are locker rooms there, so you can change at the pool or make the dash with your lovely Valdoro robes. There are also two outdoor (on a covered balcony) hot tubs that are great -- and a great place to socialize after a day of skiing. In addition, since you scored a 2BR plus unit, your unit will be on the second floor on the back side of the building, and you will have your private hot tub on your balcony.

3. Valdoro is a great place. They also have a very comfortable owner's lounge w/ bar service, pool table, fireplace, games, etc. They also usually have live entertainment there a couple nights a week. There is a free shuttle service that is great -- they will take you most anywhere in town, and when you are ready to come back, you just give the driver a call on his cell and he will be on the way. We always tip him a bit and have gotten great service. You don't really need a vehicle while you are there, but there is a heated underground parking garage so you don't have to worry about a cold vehicle.

The town is great, and has a ton of really good restaurants. You must eat as Extreme Pizza at least once while you are there! There is a big sledding hill across town, and you can borrow sleds from the ski concierge at Valdoro if you want. Breckenridge has a good grocery store with decent prices so I wouldn't worry about having to pick up groceries before getting there. It is usually about a 2 hour drive from Denver, but it could be 4 hours depending on the weather, road conditions and traffic. A 4WD is nice, but not necessary as it is mostly interstate and they keep the road cleared.

Have a great trip. I'm sure you will not be disappointed with Valdoro.

Kurt

 

[feed the otter]

Kurt,

That sounds awesome. Once again, I'm pleasantly reminded what a great source of info threads like this continue to be, and all the more so as I've now taken to posting. I'll be sure to give back wherever I can.

Thanks again.

 

[Kildahl]

Not much to add to Kurt's informative and accurate responses except
We wouldn't miss tapas at the "other" Alpine establishment, the Alpine Grill( not related as far as I know) AND
we will be on our way there 3 weeks from tomorrow!

 

[JMBC]

It has been a couple of years since we have been to Valdoro, but we were able to buy discounted lift tickets at a grocery store in Denver called King Soopers. I believe this is a large chain store in the area, so I'm sure there are several locations. Just find a phone number for a Denver store from their website and give them a call to see if they still have discounted tickets. I'm thinking that it saved us something like $10/day. Enjoy!

 

[feed the otter]

Whether King Soopers works out or not, it's certainly worth a shot. Thanks for the heads up.

We'll also check out the Alpine Grill (along with extreme Pizza).

Again, it's very nice of you all to help. We're just under two months now!!!

 

[iiderman]

This month the Valdoro just completed an extensive refurbishement of its units. They spent 1.1 million in new furniture, window coverings and plasma tvs for the units.
Enjoy!

 

[jlhorne]

Daylight Donuts is one of my favorite breakfast places anywhere and is on the main strip in Breck. They have a lot of unique breads/donuts/cinnamon rolls/etc, but don't be fooled - you can get heavy duty breakfasts there (omelets, bacon, etc), great coffee, and great prices.

 

[Kildahl]

Whether King Soopers works out or not, it's certainly worth a shot. Thanks for the heads up.

We'll also check out the Alpine Grill (along with extreme Pizza).

Again, it's very nice of you all to help. We're just under two months now!!!

Hope you have a great time! Please give us your impressions when you return.

 

[feed the otter]

Hope you have a great time! Please give us your impressions when you return.

Absolutely, positively. Gotta keep the info train runnin'.

As an aside, the more great places we keep hearing about to get out to eat, the tougher it may be to get ourselves to eat in as we at least imagine we'll try and do. Oh well, I guess if that's the biggest problem we have . . . add Daylight Dounuts to the list.