Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / United States / Vail / Sonnenalp Hotel
Sonnenalp Hotel
Vail, Colorado, United States · Independent · High Luxury
Sonnenalp began in 1919 as a Bavarian farm with eight cows and a handful of rooms, and in 1979 the Faessler family's third generation, Gretl and Karlheinz, bought an inn by the Covered Bridge in Vail Village. Five generations on, the same family still runs it, with a Swiss Chalet restaurant and a Leading Hotels membership. MICHELIN gave it One Key in 2025.
- 127 rooms
- Opened 1979
- Neighborhood: Vail Village
- Rooms from 350 sq ft (33 m²)
About Sonnenalp Hotel
- Sonnenalp was founded in 1919 by Adolf and Eleonore Faessler as a farm with eight cows and a few rooms in Bavaria, Germany.
- In 1979, third-generation owners Gretl and Karlheinz Faessler bought an inn beside the Covered Bridge in Vail Village.
- The Faessler family has run the hotel for five generations, and the Vail resort later grew to include the Austria Haus, Swiss Haus and Bavaria Haus.
- The hotel is a Leading Hotels of the World member and earned MICHELIN One Key in 2025.
- Entry-level rooms start at 350 sq ft (33 m²).
The setting
7-minute walk to Gondola One.
Restaurants and bars
- Ludwig's — Restaurant
Experiences
- European Christmas at the Creek — Christmas experience at the hotel with family ornament decorating and visits from Santa.
- Ludwig's Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinners — Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinners served at Ludwig's, the hotel's restaurant.
- Thanksgiving dinner buffet — Thanksgiving buffet described as extravagant, with indoor/outdoor heated pool and whirlpools for overnight guests.
- Easter Brunch — Easter brunch with a large buffet and activities and treats for children.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Yoga
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
Open Sonnenalp Hotel in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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