More customer feedback
Hi Julie,
Thanks for following up with us. We had a really great time. Yes, we did miss the kids but I think it would've been a much more challenging trip if we brought them so I'm glad it worked out for us to go by ourselves.
We definitely want to make it an annual vacation and soon with the kids when they are old enough to ski and enjoy it.
Since I'm in the travel industry too, I know how important feedback is so here is mine.
River Run Condomininiums
We were very pleased with the lodging. The room (2 BR/3BA with Murphy) was a great size. They had everything we needed to make dinners in the evening. We were happily surprised to see that they provided laundry detergent (4 small boxes of Tide detergent and 4 small boxes of Chlorox for colors). And we were pleased to be provided a bag of Starbucks ground coffee (1 bag of Decaf and 1 bag of regular). I don't know if it would have been restocked each day or not though because we had already purchased our own can of coffee so we didn't use the Starbucks bag until almost the end of the trip.
The staff were rarely seen but the check in and check out process was painless and very efficient.
There were probably one two negatives. One was the bed. It wasn't the most comfortable bed, but I know that is to be expected unless we were staying at a Westin with a Heavenly bed. The other is that it wasn't a bad walk to go into the village if we were wearing our regular shoes, but walking in the ski boots made it seem like it was a mile away. We ended up utilizing the lockers near the lift so we could wear our regular shoes walking to/from the lift. If we stay in Keystone again, we would want to stay in lodging that is the closest to the lift (I think it was JackPine).
We took some time to take a ride to Vail, Copper Mountain and Breckinridge. We skiied Breck on our last day there and thought it would be the best place to stay when our kids are ready to learn. The slopes were so wide and very, very easy!! Great learning mountain. We also liked that it seemed to have some ski in/ski out options (Beaver Run) - so that might be our next location when we're ready again. I liked the casual feel of Keystone and Breckinridge much better than the higher-end feel of Vail. If I'm on vacation, I don't want to always get dressed up and feel like I need to do my hair and makeup. I felt very comfortable just being very casual in Keystone and Breck.
The good news is my husband (it was his first time), LOVED IT!!!! and we definitely want to return and ski every year. We haven't decided about next year though because the kids will only be 2 1/2 and won't really be ready yet - but starting 2010 and after...we're there for sure.
Thank you again for all of your work on this trip. We had so much fun!
Best Regards,
Theresa Scalzitti
Labels: Keystone
Ski Your Day – And Night – Of Arrival.
If you are like most destination skiers that use Rocky Mountain Vacations, you don’t live within an easy drive of western scale skiing. You have to fly here. And if the pattern follows, you don’t have 7 days to devote to a ski vacations – perhaps years ago, but now-a-days the average is more like a 4 to 5 night stay. So naturally, you want to maximize your time on the mountain, skiing or boarding to your hearts content. Right?
Well here is good way to stretch that slope time without spending another night.
Ski Keystone your day of arrival. Here is the game plan I recommend to clients…
Keystone, which is a easy two hour drive from Denver International Airport, offers night skiing Wednesdays – Sundays throughout most of the season (ask us for specific dates of operation). So what you do is either select Keystone as your vacation destination (and there are a multitude of good reasons to go this direction) or else plan to visit Keystone on your day of arrival, and buy the 2 PM – 9 PM ticket.
Naturally, you will need an airline arrival time of no later than 11 AM. But that’s no problem, there are any number of flights that arrive at DIA by that hour. In fact, getting an early start from your hometown airport is a good idea always, as that puts you ahead of any airline traffic delays that are almost certain to come into the system as the day wears on.
Next, you will want to select a rental vehicle within your Ski Org vacation package – in order that you are not waiting for the shuttle to leave the airport. Instead, you just grab your gear at baggage claim, hop on the van to Hertz or Avis, pick up your pre arranged rental vehicle, and drive south on Pena Boulevard to I 70 and head west. Turn south at Hwy 6, and 12 minutes later you are entering Keystone.
Look for the River Run parking lot, pull as close as you can (the day skiers are already starting to leave, thank goodness) and park. Walk through River Run (probably the nicest of the several Resort “neighborhoods) and look for the River Run Lift Ticket office, If you bought your lift tickets through Ski Org, then your ticket is waiting for you. You did buy that ticket from us, right?
Hop the Gondola, and within minutes you are at the top of Dercum Mountain, the easiest of the three Keystone peaks. Now cruise down Schoolmarm, a green trail, to the mid mountain Montezuma Express – just to warm up. And then once back on top, assuming you are an intermediate skier or better, immediately drop down Mozart and up Santiago Express to begin skiing the North Peak area.
From here work your way to the Outback. Both of these peaks are Blue and Black terrain only. The idea here is to get yourself all the way to the ‘back’ of the resort before those areas close at 3:30 PM. Actually, that’s when those lifts close, so plan on catching the last Outback Express ride at 3:25 PM, and get that last run in this pristine section of the Resort.
Once The Outback and North Peak close, ski your way back to the top of Dercum Mountain. Now pause for a drink or an early dinner, and wait while the most of the destination and Denver day skiers head for home.
Now the fun ramps up … because you have 2,360 vertical and a dozen long, long trails basically all to yourself. It’s just amazing – and this time of the year, the sun won’t set for another couple of hours. But the lights come long before that ( to help with the lengthening shadows ) – and once it is dark, the runs glow before you. The sensation of skiing this huge mountain after dark, yet with perfect visibility, with nobody it seems but your friends around with you, is utterly unique in western skiing.
Ski or board all the way till 9 PM and I promise you, you will feel like you own this mountain. This time of the day, Keystone is your private playground. Moreover, you will be well satisfied with your first day of skiing Colorado. Why? Because you just enjoyed 7 hrs of ski/board time. That’s basically a full day on any other mountain. And with use of the River Run Gondola and several other high speed lifts, you just skied a ton of vertical and many, many miles of terrain.
So there you are, a great way to stretch your Colorado ski vacation by one, very full day.
Labels: Keystone
Keystone Is Bigger, and skis much, much better than you might imagine.
Another surprise directly ahead …
On our drive to the west from Denver we have already passed the historic town of Georgetown and the landmark skiing of Arapaho Basin. Now we descend from over 12,000 feet to the relatively low elevation of about 9,600 feet, when on the left you see impressive, yet not glitzy, Keystone Resort.
This place has a lot to offer a lot of different types of skiers. The reason can be found in the three mountains that comprise the skiing portion of this multifaceted resort.
Durcum, the “front mountain”, the only one you see from the highway, looks pretty gentle. It’s about 2,400 vertical, and much of this peak is designated as Green and Blue terrain. So warm up here – and take advantage of the night skiing, Wednesday – Saturday. It’s included on your daily lift ticket
You can have a blast at night, with almost no one around, skiing in a tuck from the summit down a groomer called Schoolmarm. Take it non stop to the Gondola (just don’t miss the Durcum Dash cutoff – or you end up at Peru Express. Time yourself. Hop the Gondola for a quick, out of the wind dash back to the top. Try it again, set your line and carve the turn. Or … take the Peru Express back up the mountain - and in two minutes you are cruising along under the stars in total, and I mean total, darkness. It’s a unique experience – at least in the west where night skiing if rare and the sky is generally clear. Try it.
Next morning, take that same gondola. But this time ski down the back side of Dercum to the Santiago Express – and on up to the top of North Peak, elevation 11, 660. OK, this is a different world – all stronger pitch blue and black terrain here. There are over a dozen challenging descents – and when you are done with this frolic, ski down Anticipation to the base of the Outback. Mountain number three, who would have guessed.
Take the Outback Express to the summit of the third and final Keystone peak, elevation 12,200 feet. Now it’s almost all Black terrain, with glades, and bumps and a notable lack of grooming! Is this Keystone? You bet. This resort can be gentle, yet fun, challenging but not intimidating if that’s what you seek – or downright difficult, particularly for those willing to hike a bit.
Did you say hike? Yup, Keystone has “above and beyond the lifts” terrain as well. In bounds, but out of sight. The Bergman and Erickson Bowls above North Peak, also the North and South Bowls - and the Wombat Chutes all above the Outback. All black terrain as you might imagine. But not Double Black, so try it.
There is so much more to Keystone than meets the eye. And the skiing is just the start.
Next time, lets take a look at the lodging and dining options. That’s an eye opener too.
Labels: Colorado, Keystone
