At 4 o'clock every afternoon, the sound of a horn can be heard across Steamboat Square, the bustling base area at Colorado's Steamboat resort, marking the end of the ski day.
A guest is selected each day to sound the property's steam whistle. Photo Credit: An outdoor lounge overlooking the slopes at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas.
The sound actually comes from a brass steam whistle, positioned on a deck overlooking the slopes at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas. Every day, a guest is selected to be the "Commodore of the Boat" and pull the lever that sounds the whistle.
The moment is followed by a member of the Sheraton activities team telling the story of how the town of Steamboat Springs got its name. Spoiler alert: As the story goes, explorers in the 1800s mistook the churning noise made by a geyser about to blow for that of a steamboat engine.
The tradition is among the ways the 198-key Sheraton pays tribute to the town's Western heritage while giving guests a better understanding of Steamboat's place in Colorado history. Timber & Torch, the Sheraton's base-level indoor-outdoor bar that is very popular during apres hours, is named in honor of both the tree skiing Steamboat is known for and the many Winter Olympics athletes Steamboat Springs has produced -- more than any other town in the U.S. -- whose names are etched on the bar's ceiling beams.
The Sheraton's connection to the ski resort is also a simple matter of proximity: It's the main ski-in, ski-out property there, and one of very few, and seems to have every convenience visitors would want during a ski and snowboard vacation.
Steamboat's lifts and gondolas are steps from the Sheraton; at night, hotel guests may even hear the engines of the snowcats grooming the trails. At the end of the day, my family and I skied right to the snow's edge and walked just a few steps to the ski valet at the bottom of the property. A ski gear and rental shop is conveniently located on the hotel's lower level.
The hotel's Saddles Lounge is located on the lobby level facing the slopes. Photo Credit: An outdoor lounge overlooking the slopes at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas.
The property dubs itself a "family retreat," and after spending three nights there during spring break, I found it to be a well-earned title. Aside from the convenience of its location, the property has lots for kids to do.
There is a heated outdoor main pool and hot tub, which proved very popular in the afternoons and evenings, so much so that we avoided it at times. But those in the know can go find one of the two other locations with hot tubs around the hotel's three towers, where guests get a more secluded spot to soak on higher floors with great mountain views.
The game room, with a pool table, foosball and video games, was also very popular with kids, as was 7 o'clock s'mores at the fire pits each evening.
A living room at a Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas accommodation. Photo Credit: An outdoor lounge overlooking the slopes at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas.
Marriott Vacation Clubs property
The property is part of the Marriott Vacation Clubs, a portfolio of more than 90 properties with accommodations that are individually owned but can be booked similar to other hotels.
The Marriott Vacation Clubs touts the fact that renting the units is unlike renting from Airbnb or other home rental platforms: The rooms were all designed and are maintained by the property and have a uniform feel and look. Guests have all the support of the concierge desk (who recommended a great Vietnamese restaurant to us), the Sheraton brand and the ability to earn and redeem Bonvoy points.
The villas, as they call the one- to four- bedroom accommodations at the Sheraton, offer an experience similar to renting a condo: Every unit has a washer-dryer, a kitchen, living and dining areas, multiple bathrooms and ample closet space.
Our two-bed, two-bath villa had a pullout sofa bed in the spacious living room that would have very comfortably fit an additional two people. The kitchen was well stocked with appliances and tableware, an obvious bonus for families spending a full week away. The laundry and ample closet and drawer space was appreciated for a vacation that demands so many layers. It was too chilly to hang out on the balcony, but we could still enjoy our views of Steamboat Square and the mountain.
The foyer has storage for boots and helmets as well as hooks for ski jackets and rubber mats to catch all the messy snow.
The kitchen and living room in a three-bedroom villa. Photo Credit: Johanna Jainchill
Dining at the hotel and beyond
Some parts of the guest experience differ from more traditional Sheraton properties. For example, housecleaning is offered just twice weekly unless it is requested more often.
There is also less on-site dining than might be expected of a hotel of this size, owing to the guests' preference to use their kitchens and explore Steamboat Springs, known for its bustling dining and bar scene. The town's free bus system offers frequent departures from just outside the property to the main strip.
Timber & Torch serves food until 6 p.m. and is known for its Ski Town USA Burger. The main restaurant, Saddles Lounge, is located on the lobby level facing the slopes; it has a varied menu that's large enough for dining a few times during a trip. The accompanying Saddles Market is also a popular spot for grab-and-go breakfast and lunch, coffee and limited grocery items as well as wine, beer and sundries.
The property was ideal for our winter family vacation, but its location also lends itself to summer fun, such as mountain biking off the Steamboat lifts and nearby hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and kayaking.