Hyatt’s Only Hotel in Vail Is Officially a Category 7 Property
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Earlier this month, The Points Guy reported that, starting this winter, you'll be able to stay at a ski-in location in Vail's Gore Creek using your World Of Hyatt points.
The Hotel Talisa, formerly part of the Marriott Bonvoy Luxury Hotel Collection, has been officially reflagged as the Grand Hyatt Vail, and classified as a Category 7 property. Previously a Marriott Category 7 costing 60,000 Marriott points per night and, before that, known simply as the Vail Cascade while a member of the SPG Luxury Collection, the hotel underwent a $60 million renovation in 2018.
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While the hotel is accepting cash reservations for stays from July 27, 2019, award nights are not yet bookable online. Redemptions -- once they are loaded in Hyatt's system -- will start at 30,000 World Of Hyatt points per night.
If you love Colorado in the summertime, plan to visit soon. There are some fantastic cash rates available (think: under $200 per night).
Related: Review of the Hotel Talisa in Vail
But, it's the winter rates you're probably most curious about. Here's how January 2020 rates stack up compared to the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort, which is also a Category 7 property:
In January, we found cash rates from $616 at the Grand Hyatt Vail, while the nearby Park Hyatt Beaver Creek starts at $882.
The Park Hyatt is located just feet from the main gondola, while the Grand Hyatt Vail is off a smaller chair lift that can take you to the mountain — but you have to be at least a competent green or easy blue skier to use that lift and ski those runs. This means that young kids just starting ski school and those newer to the sport will need to take the shuttle to Lionshead or Vail Village.
I stayed at this property in 2018, back when it was a Marriott, and it surprised me that it was reflagging as a Grand Hyatt. It just doesn't feel like any Grand Hyatt I've ever stayed at before. There is no club lounge, there is one true restaurant (plus a lounge and grab-and-go market) on the grounds and the kids playroom was under construction during our visit.
To use Hyatt terms, the hotel feels more like a mix between an Andaz and a Hyatt Centric. There are 285 rooms (29 of which are suites), but the hotel doesn't feel that large, in part due to the footprint that goes a bit wide instead of high.
With winter rates often in the same $500 to $1,000 range, just as you'll find at the Park Hyatt, I'm not at all surprised the Grand Hyatt Vail has been added to Hyatt's collection of Category 7 properties. That said, it would have been nice if Hyatt had ranked it a Category 6, given that it's not ski-in/out for all guests.
Thankfully, since Hyatt doesn't charge resort fees on award stays, the property may now be an even better award deal than before.
If you don't have Hyatt points at the ready (or Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio from cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve), the property is bookable via the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Collection for those with The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Booking via that method will confer daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, late checkout and a shot at a room upgrade.
Bottom Line
The Grand Hyatt Vail is Hyatt's only property in Vail, though Hyatt does have ski properties in locations such as Beaver Creek, Keystone, Aspen and Park City. This hotel will not have the five-star location convenience of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, but still fresh off a massive renovation, it is a lovely place to stay while skiing in Vail.
Continue your ski trip planning:
- Use Miles and Points to Book a Vail Ski Trip
- Cheap Eats and Worth It Splurges in Vail
- Best Annual Ski Pass
- Best Credit Cards for Ski Trips