Beaver Run Resort

Location: Colorado/Breckenridge Duration: 14 nights Cost £3500 (and worth every penny!)
What can I say, If you love to ski, the States is where it’s at. This is the 3rd time I have been, and it just gets better each time. Champagne powder, beautifully groomed runs, and no marked ski areas, they just open the mountain and patrol it, and the pisted runs are just there. Fantastic. All the lifts are high speed, and they are numerous, not too many drags or buttons, it’s actually relaxing! It’s the best skiing I have ever experienced. Lessons are superb, a group lesson costs about $70, but invariably that’s a 1 on 1 or 2 and graded according to a supervised run, there are no skill gaps. Not like Europe where E150 gets you a lesson with 15 other people. All of varying standards. These days I don't take lessons unless its backcountry or pipe, but my partner always does, infact I have to drag her away!
The Beaver Run Resort is exactly what it says on the tin, a resort. Don’t be at all put off by the concrete monstrosity that is built on the side of a mountain, it resembles the purpose built resorts of France; however it’s a world of difference. There are outdoor hot tubs, Jacuzzis, games rooms, a 5 star restaurant, shop for groceries and so much more. The main ski lift is right outside the back door, and it really is ski to door. The locker room is right there. Magnificent! The facilities are free to guests except the shops and restaurants. The staff are superb, if you even mention something you may have thought a little odd or you are unhappy with, they compensate you in some way, and fall over themselves to fix it. The tourist/leisure industry stateside is truly a wonder; nothing at all is too much trouble. You would think all the workers in the Beaver Run Resort owned the place, right down to the bell boys!
We booked the smallest suite, which is room only, you will be hard pushed to find any kind of board basis in the states, but food being so cheap (ill get to that later) who cares! Our holiday entitled us to a free room upgrade, wow, they gave us a 2 room suite with a kitchen, satellite TV, fridge/oven/microwave/toaster/kettle/pots and pans/crockery blah blah blah, dressing room, bath, shower and drying room for the ski clothes, not that you needed it as the "free with your room" ski locker is pumped with warm air all night - and boy that makes a difference! The crowning glory of the free upgrade was the log fire in the sitting room; the TV never got turned on! They even came and lit it for you at your request, delivered logs, and generally treated you like royalty. I have never had a holiday in 18 years of snowboarding like it.
Food in the states is an art form, you learn quickly that 1 adult meal feeds 3, and doggy bags are par for the course, infact halfway through your meal they come and ask if you need/want one. You can get everything you could ever imagine in Breckenridge, on my birthday there, I had 6 oysters, a bottle of Bollinger, and a medium rare elk steak like you have never tasted before, desert, coke, side salad etc etc etc, all for under $150, at the time the exchange rate made it almost 2 dollars to the pound, so that little lot cost approx. £75, by the way my partner eat as well! Careful with the alcohol though, at that altitude, its roughly 1 beer = 3, so having a few to numb the aches and pains in also cheap, if a little dangerous ;)
Breckenridge boasts an authentic 1850s mining town stature, down to gas street lighting (mock of course), a paddle steamer restaurant on a water filled gold mine, and any number of scenic streets and authentic buildings. It’s truly a sight to behold. The people are friendly, and be advised the states operates a uniform tipping culture, be prepared to pay a dollar at the bar for a beer, and 20% is standard, you tip everywhere, and for everything. The town has every eatery you can imagine, and a cheap meal for 2 with drinks will cost you $30 (even for a 4ft pizza!). For heaven’s sake don’t order the large order of nachos, available everywhere, ours fed 4 tables full of people!
One warning, if any at all, is the USA is cold in ski resorts, we had 2 -45 degree days, and in season expect at least -15/-20. However as it’s a dry cold it feels warmer, be aware not to be brave going out in the evening after a hot days skiing in just a jumper, its mighty cold on the way home!
I could go on and on, but the basics are there for all, besides I wouldn't want to spoil all your fun! It’s not cheap, but then again I just paid £1700 for 2 people and all I got was a substandard week in la Plagne, and in all fairness the French aren't really all that keen in the Brits, whereas the Americans love us! In fact at first you will think they are making fun of you with all the "have a nice day" stuff, in reality they mean it! And you invariably always do.