Austria Haus Hotel Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Vail Village, Vail, Colorado

In a historic, Austrian-style building in the center of Vail Village, the Austria Haus feels like a blend of mountain lodge with a European twist, craftsman-style home, and rustic Spanish villa. Its stucco walls, tile floors, and arched doorways point to the European influence, while the leather chairs, wood-burning fireplaces, and dark wood accents remind you that you're in the mountains in Vail.

The hotel is hard to miss -- with orange-and-white striped shutters and contrasting white and wood exteriors, you'll know the hotel when you see it.

View on a Larger Map

Right in the heart of Vail Village, the Austria Haus is accessible from the the town's main drag, Gore Creek Drive (a charming cobblestone street lined with shops and restaurants). Some of the room balconies face the Village.

Perhaps the biggest perk of staying at the Austria Haus is its proximity to the slopes. The Vista Bahn lift is a mere hundred yards from the hotel, making skiing easy -- or at least the getting up the slopes part.

• 2-hour-15-minute drive from the closest airport, Denver International Airport
• In downtown Vail Village
• 3-minute walk to the Vista Bahn lift up Vail Mountain
• 5-minute walk to the Colorado Ski Museum
• 4-minute drive to the Ford Amphitheater
• 1-hour drive to the hot springs at Glenwood Springs

Columbine Deluxe Room

The 25 rooms at the Austria exemplify craftsmanship and simplicity, with antique carved wood doors, understated real wood furniture, and simple homey decor. You'll find plush robes, humidifiers and fans, and in some rooms, fireplaces, and balconies with views of the mountain or the calming Gore Stream.

Rooms also feature exposed wood beams and warm colors -- red throws on the plush, white bedding, off-white walls, brown carpets and chairs. Bathrooms, which were upgraded in 2011, have marble tile and -- most impressively -- heated floors. Some have deep soaking tubs. Only the showerheads could still use an update.

• Humidifiers
• Marble tile bathrooms with partitioned toilets, wood accents, and in some rooms, deep tubs
• Heated marble bathroom floors
• Only a few rooms offer air conditioning
• Balconies and fireplaces in a few of the rooms
• Comfortable beds with plush linens
• Mountain and streamside views from some rooms

Pool and Jacuzzi

Austria Haus is an older property with only 25 rooms, so don't expect the features of a larger hotel. There's not much on-site -- just a cramped, lackluster fitness center, a library/business center, and a tiny outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.

The pool does have a beautiful view of the stream, but it's small, even for a hotel with so few rooms. Luckily, because the same company manages the Austria Haus as The Lodge at Vail (and because the hotels are vey close to each other) the Austria Haus is allowed full use of The Lodge's amenities, including its two outdoor pools, six Jacuzzis and 11-room spa. This access makes the Austria Haus a much better deal for the money than it would be otherwise -- if you're willing to walk the extra hundred yards.

• Small, windowless fitness center
• Tiny outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, with views of the Gore Stream
• Use of The Lodge at Vail's amenities, including the 11-room spa, two outdoor pools, and six Jacuzzis
• Heated, underground garage, but it’s valet-only, for a fee
• Resort fee includes Wi-Fi, bottled water, and in-town transportation, among other things

While the Austria Haus offers a free breakfast buffet to guests (which includes hot and cold breakfast staples), there is no full restaurant. However, it's a short walk to The Lodge at Vail's Cucina Rustica and Elway's.

• Free breakfast buffet with eggs, bacon, and cold cereal, among other offerings