Vail wasn't built by Texans. Not the ski area or the village.

Vail is good for a lot of people. Try to avoid skiing there on weekends as it can get crowded, especially on a powder day. Nearby Beaver Creek provides a nice alternative for destination guests on Saturdays and Sundays. True experts won't be happy in Vail, but family groups with diverse ages and abilities, and those who like to cruise will.

If you are an expert and find yourself there with a family or larger group, there's decent backcountry skiing adjacent to the resort, including the euro-style Minturn Mile off the west side of the mountain down to the town of Minturn and cold beers at The Saloon (check the local bus schedule for a ride back to town or have someone pick you up).

And if you're a true hardcore, day tours into the committed, steep and rowdy Gore Range across from the mountain await. Avalanche gear, technical route finding ability and solid partners are essential in this regard. There's good access, including parking, from several hiking trailheads in the East Vail part of town.

On a final note, I'm glad a reviewer from Italy liked Vail, but the interconnected ski areas in Europe (St. Anton, AT; St. Moritz, CH and Alagna, IT actually offer a lot more terrain than Vail, with much more variety including easier access to off-piste expert skiing than Vail. Vail is great, but Europe is better.

[note from editor: names of other reviewers are not included in submissions]