Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas (Avon) vs Ritz Vail and Mountainside Park City

[Superchief]

We are planning our late August mountain trip next year and typically alternate between the Ritz in Vail and Mountainside in Park City. We are consider trying the Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas as an alternative, but I can't find much information about the resort. I'd appreciate any information that can be provided about the resort and surrounding area, and how it compares to our two favorites. Thanks for your help.

 

[sponger76]

We are planning our late August mountain trip next year and typically alternate between the Ritz in Vail and Mountainside in Park City. We are consider trying the Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas as an alternative, but I can't find much information about the resort. I'd appreciate any information that can be provided about the resort and surrounding area, and how it compares to our two favorites. Thanks for your help.

It's a pretty nice resort in and of itself, but not right in a cozy ski-village area like the Ritz, and not quite as fancy obviously. You do have access to amenities at the co-located Westin hotel. There are still a lot of restaurants as well as places for grocery shopping nearby. It's also right on the river, and not too far from a little lake and park. Bus stop is right there if you want free public transportation. To me it's a good place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the Vail/Lionshead villages, and Avon feels slightly less touristy despite having several timeshares and hotels.

It's also not slopeside like Mountainside and doesn't have anything comparable to Park City's Main Street nearby. Not as relevant since you're looking at August, but there is a gondola at Riverfront that gets you to the bottom of the Lower Beaver Creek Express Lift 15.

 

[pacman777]

The gondola only operates during ski season unless this has changed recently

 

[sponger76]

The gondola only operates during ski season unless this has changed recently

Which is why I said not as relevant due to looking at August. I added that more for color in case they decide to try it during winter some other trip.

 

[pacman777]

Which is why I said not as relevant due to looking at August. I added that more for color in case they decide to try it during winter some other trip.

Yeah I was just pointing that out again. It would be nice if they ran it year round to get up there and hike Bachelor Gulch. I do love having the ski valet and gondola just steps from the villas during ski season.

 

[mjm1]

We are staying at the Westin Riverfront for the first time in a couple weeks. I understand it is a small resort, but as others have mentioned you have access to the Westin hotel next door. We have visited the resort before so are looking forward to staying there.

We have stayed at the Ritz and love the village there, as well as both resorts in Park City. Hopefully we enjoy this one as much as those resorts.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[sponger76]

Yeah I was just pointing that out again. It would be nice if they ran it year round to get up there and hike Bachelor Gulch. I do love having the ski valet and gondola just steps from the villas during ski season.

I agree, having it open in the summer would be nice.

 

[The Colorado Kid]

Westin Riverfront is our home resort and one of our favorite properties. We are just finishing up a two week stay right now. Wonderful, quiet location as others have mentioned in a perfect location nestled at the base of Beaver Creek. You can fish right in the river behind the resort and we always see several fisherpeople catching fish.

Nottingham Park/Lake within walking distance is perfect for paddle-boarding (you can rent paddleboards right at the lake), and it also has a swim beach with an open water swim lane, and there are almost daily/nightly free events in the park from art fairs to live music to outdoor movies. Many folks paddleboard on the lake during the live evening music concerts.

We enjoy taking the Westin shuttle to Beaver Creek which has wonderful shopping and restaurants and free live music as well. We saw John Waite this stay and Ambrosia performed there last night. This stay we hiked up from the Westin on the beautiful paved trail one morning up to Beaver Creek which took about an hour. We then took the always available Beaver Creek Shuttles back down to the shuttle lot within walking distance of the Westin.

Our adult kids enjoy using the Vail gondolas for bike haul up the mountain and riding the many specially marked mountain bike trails.

The Westin pool area is large and wonderful with three large infinity-edge hot tubs that look out over the Beaver Creek ski area. There is a spa and a full workout area. Starbucks and separate market store on site as well as a sporting goods store where you can rent bikes including the ever-popular e-bikes.

The onsite Westin restaurant is recently renamed the Stoke & Rye, we have not eaten there yet. Live music often in the Westin lobby in the evenings. Firepit on the lobby balcony plus a couple of others on the property for 'smores and such.

Villas are nicely appointed with their own BBQ grills and firepit and underground parking.

Happy to answer any questions via TUG messaging as well.

Vince

 

[Superchief]

Westin Riverfront is our home resort and one of our favorite properties. We are just finishing up a two week stay right now. Wonderful, quiet location as others have mentioned in a perfect location nestled at the base of Beaver Creek. You can fish right in the river behind the resort and we always see several fisherpeople catching fish.

Nottingham Park/Lake within walking distance is perfect for paddle-boarding (you can rent paddleboards right at the lake), and it also has a swim beach with an open water swim lane, and there are almost daily/nightly free events in the park from art fairs to live music to outdoor movies. Many folks paddleboard on the lake during the live evening music concerts.

We enjoy taking the Westin shuttle to Beaver Creek which has wonderful shopping and restaurants and free live music as well. We saw John Waite this stay and Ambrosia performed there last night. This stay we hiked up from the Westin on the beautiful paved trail one morning up to Beaver Creek which took about an hour. We then took the always available Beaver Creek Shuttles back down to the shuttle lot within walking distance of the Westin.

Our adult kids enjoy using the Vail gondolas for bike haul up the mountain and riding the many specially marked mountain bike trails.

The Westin pool area is large and wonderful with three large infinity-edge hot tubs that look out over the Beaver Creek ski area. There is a spa and a full workout area. Starbucks and separate market store on site as well as a sporting goods store where you can rent bikes including the ever-popular e-bikes.

The onsite Westin restaurant is recently renamed the Stoke & Rye, we have not eaten there yet. Live music often in the Westin lobby in the evenings. Firepit on the lobby balcony plus a couple of others on the property for 'smores and such.

Villas are nicely appointed with their own BBQ grills and firepit and underground parking.

Happy to answer any questions via TUG messaging as well.

Vince

Thank you for this helpful information. This appears to have all of the things we are looking for. I'm surprised how little information there is about this resort on the MVC website. Does the athletic club have good equipment for weight training similar to other MVC resorts? The pictures only show the cardio options. Are there many dining options within walking distance? Is there a charge for parking?

I started to check points availability for next August and it appears they don't release much inventory. The only thing I found during the summer were studios. The Westins appear to have different release dates for MVC points, similar to the Ritz. I will keep checking and hope for the best. We plan to take the train to Glenwood Springs for a two night stay and then go on from there. We will take the train to SLC from there if we can't get a 2BR at the Westin Riverfront. I appreciate your help.

Has anyone had any luck making DC points reservations at a Westin resort for anything more than a studio?

 

[Superchief]

We are staying at the Westin Riverfront for the first time in a couple weeks. I understand it is a small resort, but as others have mentioned you have access to the Westin hotel next door. We have visited the resort before so are looking forward to staying there.

We have stayed at the Ritz and love the village there, as well as both resorts in Park City. Hopefully we enjoy this one as much as those resorts.

Best regards.

Mike

Were you able to make a DC points reservation? If so, how far in advance did you make it? Thanks.

 

[mjm1]

Were you able to make a DC points reservation? If so, how far in advance did you make it? Thanks.

We have some Westin Flex points that we used for our upcoming reservation. I haven’t looked at potential availability using Abound. Given the small size of the resort and then the likelihood of Riverfront owners electing Abound I am not confident that many units will be available via Abound. Time will tell.

 

[divenski]

For some reason, I thought that WRF is one of the few Vistana resorts that isn't fully part of Abound or at least wasn't a few months ago. It is a small TS property, maybe 30-40 2-brdm units, and I think there are more rooms in the hotel portion.

One suggestion is to consider Breckenridge for the summer. I've been several times in the winter, but went in early July for the first time. We traded into the Grand Colorado at Peak 8 which is fairly new and a lot nicer than Mountainside, which I own. Had a great time. Drove to the Continental Divide at Hoosier Pass and then around Lake Dillon on a different day. Did a few hikes too and wiped ourselves out on the Peaks trail from Peak8 to Frisco. The flights were full though as we got caught up in the aftermath of the cancellations that happened around the 4th.

 

[sponger76]

For some reason, I thought that WRF is one of the few Vistana resorts that isn't fully part of Abound or at least wasn't a few months ago. It is a small TS property, maybe 30-40 2-brdm units, and I think there are more rooms in the hotel portion.

WRF wasn't immediately part of the initial Abound rollout, with a similar situation as Harborside due to the need to negotiate with the non-Vistana ownership of the resort. But at some point in the past couple of months it was added in.

One suggestion is to consider Breckenridge for the summer. I've been several times in the winter, but went in early July for the first time. We traded into the Grand Colorado at Peak 8 which is fairly new and a lot nicer than Mountainside, which I own. Had a great time. Drove to the Continental Divide at Hoosier Pass and then around Lake Dillon on a different day. Did a few hikes too and wiped ourselves out on the Peaks trail from Peak8 to Frisco. The flights were full though as we got caught up in the aftermath of the cancellations that happened around the 4th.

I do like Breckenridge, I visited briefly in June and will be back again for a full week in November at Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge. I know the resort itself is not as nice/fancy as Grand Colorado, but I do like the location better.

 

[dioxide45]

WRF wasn't immediately part of the initial Abound rollout, with a similar situation as Harborside due to the need to negotiate with the non-Vistana ownership of the resort. But at some point in the past couple of months it was added in.

Are you saying you can now make Club Point reservations at WRF? Can owners there now elect Club Points?

 

[sponger76]

Are you saying you can now make Club Point reservations at WRF? Can owners there now elect Club Points?

I don't know about electing, but I searched in Abound and saw some availability.

 

[Superchief]

I had checked availability in June-August next year and the only available units were studios. I found a few check in dates in early May for 1 and 2BR. I have a confirmed reservation for Mountainside in Park City, and will continue to check the Westin Riverfront. We are taking the train to Glenwood Springs, so we can easily switch if something becomes available.

 

[kozykritter]

Thank you for this helpful information. This appears to have all of the things we are looking for. I'm surprised how little information there is about this resort on the MVC website. Does the athletic club have good equipment for weight training similar to other MVC resorts? The pictures only show the cardio options. Are there many dining options within walking distance? Is there a charge for parking?

The athletic club actually sells outside memberships and is of a substantial size compared to the typical timeshare gym...it has machines, free weights, cardio and classes. Parking is free for reservations using ownership or exchanges. I believe only the hotel guests next door pay for parking...maybe those on an Encore package do as well.

 

[kozykritter]

I started to check points availability for next August and it appears they don't release much inventory. The only thing I found during the summer were studios. The Westins appear to have different release dates for MVC points, similar to the Ritz. I will keep checking and hope for the best. We plan to take the train to Glenwood Springs for a two night stay and then go on from there. We will take the train to SLC from there if we can't get a 2BR at the Westin Riverfront. I appreciate your help.

WRV is quite small with 34 units, those being 2-Bedroom lockoffs that split into a 1 Bedroom and a studio. Most of that inventory is still in the weeks pool except for the crummy mud season weeks that ended up in Westin Flex. Getting a 2 Bedroom unit will be challenging through Abound, most likely. Even within the Vistana reservation system, it's mostly all studios available once you get to the 8 month VSN booking window. That said, the studios are quite nice, 500 sf, kitchen you can cook in, washer and dryer in unit and great Westin upscale decor.

 

[tamu_bu]

We are taking the train to Glenwood Springs, so we can easily switch if something becomes available.

We quite like Glenwood Springs. Good choice!

 

[sponger76]

We quite like Glenwood Springs. Good choice!

My family's first trip to Colorado, well before we ever got into timeshares and we still lived in Hawaii, was to Glenwood Springs. It was long ago when my daughter was still in elementary school, but we all still talk about how fun that trip was.

 

[Superchief]

We quite like Glenwood Springs. Good choice!

We've taken the CA Zephyr several times through Glenwood Springs and always wanted to go there. We spent two nights at the Hotel Houston 2 years ago before going to Vail. The same train goes on to Salt Lake City so we can get back on the train if we need to go to Park City instead of Vail. It's an interesting town.

 

[Henry M.]

WRF has a dedicated area for parking inside the overall Westin Hotel parking garage. Your room key opens a gate to get in. It is free for timeshare guests. We were there this past Memorial Day.

The studio is much larger than the Hawaii studios and very comfortable.

I enjoyed the resort quite a bit. It was my first visit and plan to go back again. It was nice to walk along the river each day, and the resort was convenient to Vail an other activities in the general area. I think I prefer to be in Avon than Beaver Creek in the summer, since I like going to many other places down I70. However, I'm not really an expert on Beaver Creek. I only visited twice while in Avon, and it was just starting to open up after Memorial Day. I preferred Vail over BC during this first trip.

 

[Superchief]

I was able to make a reservation for six nights (2BR) using Abound points for 8/24/24. Only the Saturday check-in date was available and I hope to add a night at the end. I checked inventory at various times and the 12 mo was released after 2pm yesterday (Thursday). Only a few studios appear to be released at 13 mo. I typically find the Abound point 12 month inventory is released on Wednesday afternoons, but this was a day later. We will be at the Vail Ritz next week, so we can drive to Avon to look at the resort facilities.