A cozy retreat with convenient skiing: A review of the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley
Editor's Note
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay so that we could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities shortly after its renovation. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren't subject to review by the hotel or any external entity.
From direct gondola access to the slopes to fireside dining and apres-ski cocktails, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is a self-contained spot in Colorado’s popular Vail Valley that offers pretty much everything one would need for an easygoing ski vacation.
Located conveniently next to Beaver Creek Resort, which is on our list of the best ski resorts in Colorado, the property just unveiled a major renovation that has left it with extra-comfy beds and refreshed, mountain-inspired decor. While the customer service can be laidback at times, most features of the hotel live up to the steep price tag.
Here’s what I experienced during my recent stay at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, which is part of Marriott Bonvoy.
Related: 17 of our favorite ski-friendly resort hotels you can book using reward points
Getting there
The Westin Riverfront is located in Avon, Colorado, next door to Beaver Creek Resort and a 15-minute drive to the slopes at Vail.
You can fly into Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) and drive about half an hour to the Westin, with ride-hailing services starting around $50 each way. If you fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), the drive will take at least 2 hours and 15 minutes — often significantly longer if you hit traffic (in which case, you may want to spend a night at one of our favorite hotels in Denver).
If you drive to this hotel, be aware that they charge $45 per night for either self or valet parking. This isn’t well advertised on the hotel website, and you’ll need to factor it into your ski trip budget.
Booking details
The Westin Riverfront has 230 accommodations, which it dubs "residences," ranging from traditional rooms to three-bedroom condos.
On peak ski weekends, prices start around $900 or 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for rooms and studio suites. If you book with cash, the hotel offers a 20% discount for stays of five or more nights during ski season.
Since you can top up Marriott free night award certificates from cobranded credit cards with up to 15,000 Bonvoy points, you could use an 85,000-point certificate plus 15,000 points to book a night here. But remember that you’ll still have to pay the $45-per-night resort fee on award stays.
If you visit during off-peak dates in the spring and fall (prime time for activities like hiking, biking and rafting in the Vail Valley), rates start around $290 or 61,000 points per night.
I stayed in a one-bedroom suite with a balcony and fireplace, which cost $1,364 or 198,000 points per night on my February weekend dates. That comes out to a value of 0.69 cents per Marriott point — right on par with the averages we’ve been seeing since Marriott’s recent devaluation.
You can maximize your points at the Westin Riverfront by booking your stay with a Marriott credit card. Or, if you’d rather earn transferable points and hold The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can book the Westin Riverfront via Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and take advantage of elitelike perks. You can also book with points or cash through Chase Travel℠ and Capital One Travel.
When booking this Westin, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits. These include:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Platinum Elite status and 25 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Silver Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: The best ski resorts in the US for your next trip to the slopes
Standout features
- Very comfortable beds and spa-quality robes in every room.
- Amenities include a well-outfitted fitness center, mountain-view hot tubs, live music on-site and a hot cocoa bar in the lobby.
- Wide-ranging menus and nice service at the in-house restaurant, plus fun tableside service for some menu items.
- Kitchens, connecting rooms and plenty of storage make this hotel a great choice for large groups and extended families. (You can even bring your dog.)
- Convenient location for skiing the nearby Beaver Creek and Vail resorts, plus ski-friendly services like an in-house gear rental service and ski valet.
Drawbacks
- Prices are high during peak ski season, both in points and cash. Between costs like resort fees and parking (even the in-room safes require an extra fee) and add-ons like dining and spa treatments, costs can add up fast.
- If you have dietary restrictions or picky eaters in your group, dining at the hotel isn’t worth the high price.
- The location is convenient for skiing but less so for exploring the Beaver Creek and Vail villages. If you want to spend most of your time wandering the towns' dining and shopping scenes, you’re better off staying elsewhere.
- The check-in and parking processes can be chaotic, and the front-desk staff weren't always informed about things like fees and public transportation.
- There are very few accessibility features for visually impaired guests.
The vibe
The Westin Riverfront’s mountain-inspired style embraces what most travelers come here for: snow sports and the great outdoors.
The hotel leans into the beauty of its natural surroundings. Everywhere you turn, floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of the Rocky Mountains.
The decor reflects the outdoors through the use of neutral colors, natural materials and artwork featuring mountains and aspen trees. Fireplaces and firepits abound, providing plenty of cozy spaces to take in the views.
The hotel also highlights its sporting roots with photos of Olympic skiers who cut their teeth in the Vail area and decorative snowboards adorning the walls.
The room
Although I only stayed two nights, my one-bedroom suite had everything I would have needed for an extended sojourn: a full kitchen with breakfast bar and dining table, a washer and dryer, a workspace, plentiful storage, a pull-out sofa, a gas fireplace, a balcony with mountains views and even a humidifier in the closet.
Not all room types offer these amenities, but you can get a fireplace and kitchenette in the studio suite (which costs the same as a standard room). With the high cost of dining in ski towns, you could save a lot of money on your vacation by cooking in your accommodations. Plus, many accommodation types offer connecting rooms, excellent for friend groups or extended families.
As part of its recent renovation, the Westin Riverfront revamped each guest room with Next Generation Heavenly Beds — and mine was indeed heavenly. As someone with back problems who often struggles to get comfortable in hotel beds, I never thought I’d say this, but I loved that bed.
If you bring a furry friend (for a fee of $150 per stay), the front desk will provide them with a Heavenly Dog Bed, too.
The hotel’s renovation also included modern furniture and new Western-inspired artwork, which felt aligned with the views of the Vail Valley outside my window.
The spacious, recently remodeled bathroom included plenty of light and storage as well as Lather bath products. I availed myself of the luxurious bathrobes for nightly trips to the resort's hot tubs.
Snow sports
As mentioned before, the Westin Riverfront is adjacent to Beaver Creek, a high-end, family-friendly ski resort near Vail.
Although the Westin Riverfront isn’t technically a ski-in, ski-out hotel, it provides a free gondola called the Riverfront Express, which takes you to a chairlift at the base of Beaver Creek’s Bachelor Gulch area in just a couple of minutes. From there, you can ski and take lifts to any other runs or dining venues in Beaver Creek.
If you’d rather start your ski day in Beaver Creek village or explore neighboring Vail, the hotel offers a free shuttle to both Beaver Creek and Vail villages. The Beaver Creek shuttle runs every 30 minutes during peak ski hours; the Vail shuttle runs every three hours or so.
To make it as convenient as possible, there’s a ski valet (free for hotel guests) and ski rental shop inside the hotel. There’s also another gear rental shop and lift ticket office at the other end of the Riverfront Express gondola.
If your vacation plans will take you beyond the ski slopes, you can borrow snowshoes, sleds and other equipment (including gear for summer activities like fly-fishing) right from the hotel.
Beaver Creek offers a good variety of terrain for all skill levels. You could stay in the McCoy Park area if you’re a newbie looking for greens, hang out on the Arrowhead side for intermediate blue terrain or head to the central area for black diamonds. There are also plenty of nice glade runs through evergreen and aspen trees for more experienced skiers.
Both Beaver Creek and Vail are on the Epic Pass. If you’re not an Epic passholder, a lift ticket will set you back $295 per day for adults, $285 for seniors age 65-plus or $204 for children between 5 and 12. Lift tickets include access to both Beaver Creek and Vail.
Related: How to ski for free by showing this airline’s boarding pass
Amenities and service
When you’re done shredding for the day, the Westin Riverfront has good offerings for relaxing and refueling.
Cozy touches like cookies, a hot cocoa bar and live music every afternoon (only during ski season) made the hotel lobby a fun place to relax for apres-ski. Plus, you can warm up at the balcony firepits overlooking the mountains or in the heated saltwater pool and three infinity hot tubs.
On the hotel’s lower level, you’ll find a spacious fitness center with additional rooms for classes like aerial yoga and cardio kickboxing ($20 per class for hotel guests).
The hotel's Spa Anjali offers a full menu of massage, nail and facial treatments, plus a boutique with spa products and souvenirs.
There’s also 24-hour room service and a grocery shopping service. And the Riverfront Market, open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., peddles everything from toiletries and to-go meals to s’mores kits and board games.
Although the dining staff we interacted with were always on their game, the front desk staff were a little less helpful. The check-in process was confusing since the staff didn't communicate how parking and luggage transport worked. When we stopped by the front desk later in our stay to inquire about shuttles and transportation, the lobby staff weren't able to answer our questions, which may have just been due to post-renovation growing pains.
Food and drink
The Westin houses a few dining venues, including the lobby bar and lounge and a Starbucks. But the flagship is in-house restaurant Stoke & Rye, helmed by award-winning chef Richard Sandoval, who has appeared on "Top Chef Masters" and "Beat Bobby Flay."
Stoke & Rye offers elevated American fare and — as you may have guessed from the name — a large whiskey selection. My husband’s entree, the cacio e pepe pasta with chicken ($45), came with a fun tableside service involving an enormous cheese wheel.
There are limited vegan options on the menu, but the kitchen was happy to prepare an off-menu couscous and vegetable dish for me ($30). I also sampled the butternut squash soup ($16), the broccolini with citrus sweet potato puree ($15), romanesco cauliflower ($16) and a flight of homemade fruit sorbets ($15).
For breakfast, Stoke & Rye typically offers both a buffet option ($25) and an a la carte menu. However, on the Sunday morning we visited, the restaurant was hosting a special jazz brunch ($45 adult, $28 child). The buffet had more options than normal, with all the usual suspects plus a seafood spread, omelet bar and live music with Vail Valley musician Kathy Morrow.
Next door, the hotel operates the aptly named Lookout Bar, a hip spot for cocktails and light bites with stupendous views. We tried the Goshawk and Lamplighter drinks ($24 each), which were delicious — and watching the cinnamon on my drink get smoked with a blowtorch was a fun touch. We also tried the spiced almonds ($10).
Overall, we agreed the Westin’s food was mostly very good, the service was exceptional and the atmosphere was lovely, though the menus were pricy. Foodies with the budget for it will likely indulge, but if you have dietary restrictions or picky kids in your party, you may prefer to eat elsewhere.
Related: Which card should I pay with when dining at a hotel?
Out and about
The surrounding town of Avon has plenty of dining and shopping options, but it’s less charming — and less walkable — than the nearby Beaver Creek ski village, which also offers other activities, like shows and concerts at the Vilar Performing Arts Center and an outdoor ice rink. Fifteen minutes down the highway, Vail village has even more to do.
Free public buses and hotel shuttles make it easy to reach the Vail and Beaver Creek villages from the Westin, though these options run less frequently after ski hours. Be sure to grab a transportation brochure from the front desk and check the schedule before planning your evening activities — otherwise, you may find yourself stuck and in need of a ride-hailing service. You could also opt to drive yourself; just be prepared to pay for parking.
Related: Haven’t booked your ski trip yet? Here are the best places to find snow right now
Accessibility
When I searched hotel availability and opened the Room Details section for each room type, most stated, “This room type does not offer mobility accessible rooms,” or “This room type does not offer hearing accessible rooms.” However, when I contacted the hotel, I was told they offer the following accessibility features at the property:
- Accessible on-site parking
- Elevators
- Self-operating lift or sloped entry in swimming pools
- Service animals are welcome
- Accessible vanities
- Roll-in showers and adjustable-height shower wands
- Bathtub seats and grab bars
- Wheelchair-height toilet seats
- Lowered handles, deadbolts, viewports and night guards on doors
- Lowered electrical outlets
- Hearing-accessible rooms and/or kits
- Closed-captioned TV
It seems the hotel can accommodate guests with wheelchairs or hearing impairments, but be sure to call before you book to confirm. Also, I didn’t notice any Braille signs around the building, so the hotel may be less prepared for visually impaired guests.
Checking out
With its cozy accommodations, array of amenities and easy access to the slopes, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is a great option for a ski trip, especially if you’re traveling with a large group and have the budget for this property. Although there are some kinks that need to be ironed out with the front desk service, I would happily stay here again.
Of course, rates aren’t cheap during ski season, especially when you tack on parking fees and steep menu prices. However, the Westin is more affordable than you might think when compared to ski-out properties like the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch and Park Hyatt Beaver Creek — and getting to the slopes is only slightly less convenient.
Plus, you can save big by forgoing the Westin’s high-end dining scene in favor of in-room kitchens and kitchenettes, and by using public transportation and ride-hailing services to avoid hefty parking fees.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.