What's the Best Way to Get There

The Pros/Cons of various transportation methods

to get from a major airport to a ski resort in Colorado?

When planning your next trip to the mountains, do not forget considering your ground transportation. Most resorts are 3+ hours away from a major airport. There are several transportation options available:

PERSONAL AUTO:

Your personal vehicle is the most affordable option. Does your vehicle have the proper equipment meeting state traction law requirements? Road and weather conditions change drastically, have you recently experienced driving in blizzards, sleet, or on black ice on twisting canyon roads? Fuel cost and parking/valet services are more expensive and less available in mountain areas. Additionally, free parking options are shrinking quickly. Non-cost factors but equally important are the stress and fatigue on yourself and family during the transition from air travel to mountain driving conditions.

RENTAL:

Renting a vehicle has become an exhausting and frustrating experience. After a comprehensive study of SUV rentals, in addition to the base rental price, the following additional fees are typically hidden: ski rack, child safety seats, taxes and fees, insurances (supplemental, personal accident, and auto coverage), GPS, Wi-Fi Access, Resort Parking, and higher fuel prices. A one-week average daily rental rate in Denver is between $380 and $590 or $2,000 to $4,100+ per week. The likelihood of standing in line for hours to get your vehicle (even with a reservation, vehicles may not be ready or even available, forcing you to find alternatives), then drive 3 to 5+ hours to your destination, after spending hours already traveling via air. Afterward, once you arrive at your destination, your vehicle typically stays in place due to limited parking.

Using Turo or a similar service could drop the weekly price to ~$2,200, but as demand increases, so do rates. Get your reservation(s) in early.

TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES:

Uber and Lyft are viable options, but frequently not desired. Safety is still frequently a top concern. Pricing is highly variable and not predictable. You can place a reservation on either, however, drivers cancel these regularly, impacting wait times, sometimes substantially. Many city-based drivers are unwilling to travel longer distances and the number of available drivers in the mountains has dropped, increasing on-demand rates for passengers. Recently we witnessed on Uber a one-way summertime rate from Aspen, CO to Denver Airport for Uber Black SUV at over $2,400.

PROFESSIONAL / PRIVATE BOOKING SERVICES:

Luxury Rides, LLC is an affiliate network of 1,500+ livery companies globally, 163 in Colorado alone. Operators’ rates are between $130 to $150 per hour and includes accounting for time to return to their home base of operations. For instance, a trip to Vail, CO from Denver International Airport during wintertime averages 3 to 4 hours, most one-way rates are $750 to $900+ including gratuity, fuel surcharges, tolls, and airport fees. Discounts may be available if a round-trip is booked at the time of hire.

Our drivers have 10+ years of mountain driving experience. Luxury Rides, LLC thrives in foul weather conditions, being at ease in even the worst of situations because we have the experience needed to know how to respond, the skills to adapt our driving styles, and a whole lot of patience. We are the “rescue” team called upon when no other drivers are available or are unwilling to reach the remote areas of Colorado.

Engaging Luxury Rides does more than save you time and money. It allows you to be present and engaged with your family. It gives you the opportunity to observe and enjoy the scenery, arriving rested and ready for your vacation.

Comparing our services to other options we can save you hundreds, and by the time you would reach your rental we can have you at or very near your destination.