We recently wrapped up a trip to Deer Valley, Utah. We traveled with our older son, Miles, as it was his first time skiing, so we enrolled him in ski school.
Continue reading: Review: Goldener Hirsch Deer Valley, Auberge Collection (Highly Recommend!)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Shh! Don’t tell people about this. Infinitely better than most other lodging - specifically St. Regis and even Montage. The “historic rooms” are also amazing.
No need for any other “vibe”. It’s just fine as is.
This blog I was a fan of since the year it launched has turned into "this is how the Top 0.1% lives". Nothing to do with the original "use credit cards/miles/tips so that normal people can travel in style".
Spending $1000 a night ok enjoy
Does the ski valet expect you to fork over $20 any time they do anything? I understand that by asking that I'm clearly not in the target demographic for this hotel, but I'm just curious. You certainly wouldn't in Austria... But in Utah, maybe?
Was wondering how this compared to the Pendry, also relatively new; seems far closer to actual ski areas than the other somewhat nearby Auberge afflicted Lodge at Blue Sky. Nice review! Heard Utah hasn’t been getting enough snow this season; hope that improves soon.
For most Americans, get real, the flights to Salt Lake are far easier than Innsbruck or Milan. But, yeah, if you’re already in Europe, especially these days, stick to the Alps, please.
Naw, 0.1% isn’t at Deer Valley… psh, they’re in Courchevel, and it costs more than $1,000/night there, most places.
Unless you were just whining about winter sports, generally, in which case, ‘naw’ again as anyone can ski or board at more affordable places, too. Like, stay at a Courtyard Marriott in SLC and day-trip to Alta or Snowbird instead.
I genuinely don’t understand why he calls this an Austrian-style chalet. It doesn’t reflect any of the defining characteristics of a traditional chalet, no wooden structure, no stone ground-level base... What it actually looks like is a perfectly average 1980s concrete building. At this point, Austria would be justified in retaliating and annexing Alaska in response to this misuse of cultural terminology.
If that is a valid justification, Italy should have annexed en bloc all the territories from Nuuk to Mt Erebus.
The Hirsh is a very nice olace, but I find it interesting that imitation of Old World remains in some settings the only way to recreate (simulate) an upscale experience.
A place like Deer Valley, which claims to have evolved into the StMoritz (but that’s Aspen, I’d rather say the Courchevel) of the US, still struggles to hit the mark of true luxury accomodation. Yes, the St. Regis gives a stunning first impression. The Montage is impressive but its most stunning feature is the nightly rate for what you actually get. Stein Eriksen lodge is a more boutique experience but still rather ordinary, with people lining up to get a sit at the bar for a burger and a beer, etc
Perhaps we must accept that no matter how affluent, the experience the US customer expects from a ski trip is a very ‘lodge style’ leave-the-shoes-outside-the -door type. Which not bad at all, most would rather prefer it, so like comparing a Cadillac with a Jag. Different beasts.
0.1% of the US is Deer Valley
0.001% Aspen
No point comparing US to Alps destinations
Different worlds different expectations and cultures
Pendry is so so
Rooms are nice but they are condos
Service is well intentioned South American J1s (as usual, labor cost to room rate ratio 1/1000, but thats now everywhere)
Vibe this year is DEAD
Food ok with the Kita steakhouse but atrociously overpriced
New gondola very convenient but not enough snow to even ski down there to Pendry. Hopefully things will improve quickly otherwise the whole season might be about to be written off
At least no lines whatsoever
No in Utah they're reasonable and they are J1 exchange from South America so they do not EXPECT like our very owns, because as seasonal staff make more than professionals in their own country (i wish our owns took a trip abroad and appreciate how good they get it here)
Why hotels in the US at this price level are still using paper cups? This is so cheap... what's wrong with using proper cups or one that is suitable for a small child?
There are a lot of Alphörner on the walls. Those are distinctly Swiss, not Austrian. From the USA that might look more or less the same, but try to tell an Austrian, that Alphörner are part of his culture or try to tell a Swiss that Alphörner are a part of the Austrian culture.
If you really want to try, have a fast and secure escape route prepared.
Alphörner have as much to do with Austria than Züricher Geschnetzeltes.
Oh and btw, I hope this thing called a Wiener schnitzel was at least made of veal. A real Austrian Wiener Schnitzel is flat, covers the whole plate and the crust shows blisters.
@ Cal -- I appreciate you reading, and I hear you. Though in fairness, we've seen an absolutely massive amount of rate inflation to luxury hotel rates over time, especially in the United States. If you've been reading for 18 years (when the blog started), then I think it almost feels like what used to cost $300 per night now costs $1,000 per night.
Broadly speaking, I find hotels in the United States to be rather expensive while delivering very little, but this is actually among the more affordable luxury properties in Deer Valley, while delivering a good experience.
@ Chris K -- And personally we almost always ski in Europe rather than the United States. But when you're traveling for a relatively short period of time with a three-year-old, there's something to be said for the ease of hopping on a nonstop flight to Salt Lake City...
@ 1990 -- I've heard great thing about Lodge at Blue Sky as well, and it sounds like it's more of a destination in and of itself, separate from Deer Valley? I'd love to go in summer, as the nature in that area looks beautiful.
@ Florian -- It wasn't covering the whole plate because as mentioned in the review, they split the portion into two.
I've stayed at both, the Goldener Hirsch is a level above the Pendry. The finishes of everything on property are a touch higher then the Pendry's. The service at the Goldener Hirsch is a little better too.
A Wiener schnitzel has the meat at about 0.4 cm thickness. Also the crust must be fluffy and have blisters. At least I hope it was made from veal, but as you do not eat pork I trust that at least that did not sell you a "Schnitzel Wiener Art" as a "Wiener schnitzel".
Sorry to say as you seem to be greatly enthused about this hotel so criticism might not be well regarded and the hotel looks very nice, but is a sort of Disney version of the Alps with the hope that the mistakes (Alphörner in Austria) cannot be identified. And for 1000 Dollar/night I would expect the hotel to get it right.
Thank you for the review Ben, that is definitely another U.S. ski resort which we will not be visiting. It is the pretence which spoils impression, Disney could do it better.
Ben:
Nice review, despite the unfinished sentence:
"Personally I really like that, but I know it won’t be for everyone, so it’s something to consider if you’re"
lasdiner, I am aware of the U.S. J-1 Non-immigrant visa for University attendees and certain businesses, however, not in the hospitality sector. Can you or anyone else, enlighten me please? Thank you.
I just hope that the staff there speaks English, unlike that other Ben’s article where the guest was kicked out from the hotel for not speaking Spanish. It’s puzzling how you can go around the world and use English because it’s an international language, but in the US it’s not so.
I think this hotel can easily pass their Austrian flare because majority of Americans have absolutely no clue about Austrian culture, and probably cannot even show Austria on the map. Bty, Austria has several regions with various flairs.
LOL what's with the weird-ass culture critics on here? This hotel is one of the best in Deer Valley, right up there with the Stein. The St. Regis is more expensive and terrible. The Montage is mid and also in the middle of nowhere - it's essentially the Overlook hotel from The Shining.
Also, any visit to Utah has to entail dealing with their backwards semi-theocratic laws about alcohol, which while slightly modernized, are still annoying.
Crazy alcohol consumption laws that everybody's complaining about are thanks to latter-day saints Christian fanatic ideology.
With All Due Respect, sorry darlink. If that hotel is “One of the best in Deer Valley”, then you have convinced me that neither the hotel, nor, the valley will be troubled by my presence …. 🙂
This place is beyond underwhelming. Did they decorate it with IKEA rejects or something?
Curious: you say it was very important to you to be in the middle of the hotel, "as it made it easy". How would it have been "not-easy" with a not-baby child to be in, say, another room?
Just so readers understand that huge massive upgrade getting room 224 was. Thank you.
In the cae of park city, South American university students spend their summer for a student worker experience at several vail corp resorts. Years ago their VISAs were J-1 and they were
dubbed J-1 workers at the resorts, perhaps nowadays the specific status has changed
They are not professionally trained hospitality workers and end up doing anything from manning front desks at Hotels to materially operating chairlifts-a significant human resource cost saving for the Resort Operator
lasdiner, sure, Aspen may get more private jets, but until (if) they expand ASE, it’s a real hassle to fly into, and even more so to drive to; clearly, these properties outside SLC are more accessible. Still, as far as actual mountains are concerned, I’m personally a fan of Snowmass over Aspen, any-day. Way more variety. I’d much rather enjoy blues at Elk Camp and/or The Burn.
I like staying at Auberge properties but they have no loyalty-points programs..so that makes it not as much fun knowing you spent so much and no rewards along with it....
Ski Butlers is a third party business that does ski rentals. Those aren’t the hotel’s “ski butlers”