FAQs
How do I get to Steamboat Springs?
In the winter, Steamboat Springs, CO is one of the most accessible ski resorts in Colorado and North America. Many of the major carriers, such as American Airlines & American Eagle, United Airlines & United Express, Delta, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines have non-stop, jet service from mid-December to early April.
This allows guests from many major cities – Denver (DEN/DIA), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Boston (BOS), Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW), Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), Newark (EWR), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), San Diego (SAN), Seattle (SEA), Washington Dulles (IAD) to travel to Yampa Valley/Hayden (HDN) very quickly and without a plane change. For those without access to direct flights, we strongly recommend taking the connection from one of the above-mentioned cities and flying directly to Steamboat Springs.
If flying directly into Denver International Airport (DIA), often the less expensive option, we suggest booking a connecting flight from Denver to the Steamboat Yampa Valley/Hayden airport just 23 miles from downtown, and a quick 30-minute flight. Driving from Denver is approx. 180 miles, we can arrange private or shared ground transfer for the group if you are not planning on a rental vehicle. The drive from Denver to Steamboat, based on road and traffic conditions, is about four hours of travel time from the Denver airport in a private vehicle, shared shuttles will make added stops.
When is the best time of year to enjoy Steamboat Springs?
Steamboat Springs is a year-round destination and community, established as a ranching town in 1900. Many of us choose to call this home versus a developed ski town that only operates when tourists come to visit. Locals will tell you they “came for the winter and stayed for the summer”, so there really is no bad time to come visit and enjoy all the benefits and comfort of a community.
For skiers, the answer will vary based on the type of skier and what conditions you prefer. Our ski season opens faithfully every Thanksgiving and closes the second weekend of April. For those wanting to enjoy our Champagne Power®, your best bet is the end of December, January or February. For those from the south who are accustomed to “Spring Skiing”, your corresponding March School break is generally the time when temperatures are warmer in Steamboat, not as much powder – though not out of the question, and more “packed snow” conditions.
To escape the heat or humidity of your home town, there is no bad summer month in Steamboat. We experience over 300 days of sunshine a year and due to our mountains, our climate is very comfortable with no humidity of the Midwest or scorching heat of our south and southwestern friends from Arizona and Texas. We have races, festivals, free concerts & movies, world-renown music artists, and all the activities of winter (and then some) just with fewer clothes!
Can any level of skier or snowboarder enjoy Steamboat Springs?
One of the many reasons Steamboat has been voted Best Family Ski Resort in North America is because we are one of the largest ski resorts with 2965 acres (1200 hectares), 18 lifts and 169 trails.
We have an excellent blend of beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs to include options for all levels and preferences like groomed runs, moguls, trees skiing, which we are internationally recognized for, and a couple of terrain parks both for beginners and those more advanced.
What’s included in my vacation rental condominium or home?
Because we specialize in luxury, thus the name Luxe Traveler, we believe in providing the basic necessities while away: toilet paper, tissues, bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, paper towels, dishwasher detergent, and dish soap.
Our kitchens tend to be well stocked with all the needed pots and pans, bakeware, small appliances and of course dishes, glassware and cutlery. We are not able to provide spices or any perishable items but offer a wonderful grocery delivery service so you don’t have to waste time shopping while on vacation.
All private homes have private hot tubs that we provide clean for every arrival. We don’t nickel and dime on things like utilities, phone, cable, or internet. On seven or more night stays, a complimentary mid-stay clean is offered. Many of our private homes in winter offer light, daily clean complimentary and for those vacation rentals that don’t offer the service complimentary, it can be added for a nominal fee.
Is there a good selection of restaurants to enjoy?
We have been a community first and foremost for centuries and yes, we like to eat out! We have well over 100 bars and restaurants to choose from ranging from casual barbeque, family-friendly, or fine-dining (though dress is always informal) and all types of options including: Asian and sushi, Italian, Mexican, Irish, French, Jamaican and Indian.
In summer we suggest taking advantage of the many patios for outdoor dining, some located on the Yampa River flowing thru downtown. For large groups, a reservation is a must so let us provide a recommendation and make a reservation in advance of your arrival. We only recommend restaurants that we would personally frequent so we can stand by the chef, management, ambiance, and service. We believe all our recommendations are a reflection of our service and your total vacation experience.
What’s your cancellation policy?
We do NOT reserve “generic” accommodations like many other companies. When you select your vacation rental home, you will have the exact bedding, location, view and amenities of your choice. As such, each of these is unique and once confirmed we will never offer the same choice to another and thus, each subsequent guest will make the next best choice for them. We are happy to explain the policy of any property you are considering.
Cancellation terms vary by season and individual property/owner, if you are concerned about a change in plans we offer outstanding Travel Insurance from CSA to protect your investment. Please contact our office if you would like more details.
What activities are available for a non-skier like my mother, grandmother, nanny, or injured husband?
We know that not everyone can, or wants to, ski all day, every day. Sometimes you need to rest those legs. Because we are a family ski resort (consistently voted in the Top 10 Best Family Ski Resort in North America by Ski Magazine readers), we strive to offer many options for all ages and abilities.
Some of our personal favorites are tubing, hot air balloon rides, dog sledding, horseback riding, sleigh rides with or without dinner, ice climbing or ice fishing, indoor ice skating, spa treatments, and of course, shopping.
Do I, or my children, need ski or snowboard lessons?
We can’t recommend ski lessons enough for either “never-ever” skiers of all ages, to learn to ski our legendary Champagne Power®, finally tackle those moguls and learn they come in all sizes like “ego bumps”- a favorite, or just to bone up on skills if it’s been a few years or decades since you last enjoyed skiing. We are known for our ski school which boasts many former Olympic athletes like Nelson Carmichael, Deb Armstrong, and Billy Kidd. There is even a specifically named Olympian Ski or Snowboard Program for a full or half-day to ski and ride with one of our 88 Olympians.
Everyone in ski school is grouped by age and ability so adults don’t have to worry about being shown up by their teenager and younger children don’t have to be intimidated or try to keep up with their older siblings. We are passionate about skiing and want you to be successful so you’ll return every year. Part of successful skiing is having fun so the programs and selective instructors excel in customer service and teaching to achieve this result.
Can you help me with _______________ (fill in the blank)?
YES is the answer to this question, whatever your fill-in-the-blank is! From the very basics needs of a ski vacation: ground transfers from the airport, lift tickets, ski rentals, ski school, travel insurance to the more pampered needs of: private chef and dining out, grocery pre-stocking, in-home massage or a day at the spa, private instructors for skiing/snowboard/yoga/Pilates, professional baby-sitting, reservations for all activities on river, ranch or mountain.
Our complimentary concierge services are available to take the Work out of your Vacation. We live here and have helped thousands of guests over a decade and with all humility call ourselves experts. We love challenges and creating memorable experiences and are happy to share some of our favorites: finding, ordering and setting up a pool table at a home that didn’t have this amenity; decorating for a wide range of celebrations like: Mardi Gras, 60th Birthday, 50th Wedding Anniversary; and arranging private photographer and/or videographer to capture all the highlights on the ski slopes are just a few of our hundreds of original requests.