Colorado vacation advice: SUV rental necessary? & more...

July 30, 2009 7:37 AM

Colorado (Denver/Vail/Boulder) vacation advice: SUV rental necessary? Weather adjustments for a Floridian? General suggestions?

Boyfriend and I are taking a vacation to Colorado Aug 5-12. We're flying into Denver from Orlando, FL, but will be spending most of our time around Vail (where we're sleeping).

1) We've been told by others who've visited CO that an economy or mid-size won't cut it for a rental. Why is that, exactly? What risks do we take by renting an economy or midsize? I ask because renting an SUV for the week is ~$800-$1100. Economy/midsize prices are hundreds less. Before we rent an SUV, is it really necessary? We're not going skiing obviously, and I don't know what exactly we'll end up doing (probably festivals, tours, maybe some hiking/biking (most likely with guided tours), hopefully whitewater rafting, perhaps horseback riding), but we will be driving a bit, definitely every day. Also, it's just the 2 of us.

2) We're used to warm, humid weather at low altitudes. What should we expect or prepare for in CO? I've heard it's very dry, hard to breathe, and that Floridians tire much more quickly in that atmosphere. Boyfriend has asthma & allergies, though he takes meds for both.

3) Any other general advice or suggestions for anything to do or see in Denver/Vail/Boulder areas is much appreciated.

posted by mojabunni to travel & transportation (17 comments total)

In the winter, an SUV for the drive to Vail is a good idea. I can't see any reason you would need one this time of year though. You might run into a brief, intense storm on the way, but no worse than you get in Florida. The drive is pretty much all 4-6 lane highway.

There are a lot of off road trails where a 4wd suv would be nice, but you can do a guided tour for that as well.

I've mentioned it before, but the drive to Glenwood springs is pretty cool and the giant hot spring filled pool is fun.

Drink lots of water, use sunscreen and lip balm. People's reactions to altitude vary a lot. I haven't heard of problems breathing other than when doing something strenuous. More typical are headaches. Also, you'll probably be more strongly affected by alcohol.

I got married in Vail and my out of state guests had a great time. You will too!
posted by cosmac at 8:00 AM on July 30

If you're not planning to do any offroading up icy hills (of which there are very very very few in August), an SUV is so not necessary.

As a rule, it is extremely dry here, even when it's warm. Give yourself a few days to acclimate before you go walking up any mountains. Drink TONS of water. Asthma probably won't be exacerbated, and allergies just depends on what kind of plants get ya and how windy it is or isn't.

There's tons to do in Denver and Boulder (I'm not much of a mountain expert). Try this post for a start: http://ask.metafilter.com/77694/Help-me-have-a-great-Denver-Vacation
posted by mynameisluka at 8:03 AM on July 30

My brother has lived in Vail since 1978 and I have been to visit dozens of times, so here is my experience:

1) Unless you plan to go off-road four-wheelin' through some of the wilderness areas, a compact car is fine. It will be pretty sluggish climbing Loveland and Vail Pass on I-70, but so are some larger vehicles. If you are REALLY into hiking there is a lot to be said for taking a four-wheel drive vehicle into the backcountry to get your start, but there are hundreds of trailheads that start right in the Vail Valley that will take you to gorgeous lakes, forests and overlooks.

2) I just got back from Vail about two weeks ago and the day-time highs were in the mid-eighties. Overnight lows are in the 40s. Be prepared for the occasional hail storm (yes, even in August), and the weather can, and will, change very quickly. Be prepared with rain gear and hats. Lots of sunscreen for the high altitude UV, but you should be used to the sun as Floridians. It is dry, especially compared to Florida, so you may want skin lotion and lip balm. Vail Valley has an average elevation of 8,150 feet. It is even thousands of feet higher up on the mountains. The air is thin. You will have trouble breathing and acclimating to the altitude. If you are in good shape, i.e. have been working out every day for a long time, you will handle it better. If you are couch potatoes, expect problems.

Vail summer is full of outdoor activities. In addition to the whitewater rafting and horses you mentioned, there are a dozen (expensive) golf courses around, guided four-wheel tours that will take you into the backcountry, bikes (both road and mountain) to rent and miles of bike trails. Be sure to check out Beaver Creek Village, about 10 miles down valley in Avon. Both Vail and Beaver Creek run chair lifts and gondolas up on the ski mountains for beautiful views of the surrounding Gore Range and Holy Cross Wilderness.

Being a resort area, Vail is VERY expensive. Be prepared for sticker shock on the restaurant menus and in the assorted shops. I noticed, however, that a lot of the local businesses are running discounts because of the general malaise of the economy. In summary, I really love Vail and try to go back nearly every near. I know you will have a great time.
posted by netbros at 8:16 AM on July 30

I currently live in Fort Collins and have lived in the Colorado frontrange area since roughly '86.

1.) In my opinion, the advantage of renting a SUV is one of capability. While a midsize should make it to Vail with no problems, an SUV is going to make that drive (up the mountain) much much easier. You're going over the continental divide, which is average elevation of over 11,000 ft. On top of that, any little small town (or dirt road to a hiking trailhead) may contain a variety of tight switchbacks or rough terrain that may pose difficulty to an average midsize (poor ground clearance, etc). You may not run into those issues, but having an SUV gives you options in case you do. ( I drive a Jeep Wrangler. 90% of time I don't use those capabilities. But that rare moment the road is washed out, or traffic is backed up, I can put it in 4-High, drive through the ditch (with ease) and be on my way.

2.) Many people here refer to Colorado as the "high desert" (for atmospheric reasons, not the drug reasons :P.... it is very dry, clean, crisp air. Coming from sea level, are you going to spend any time in Denver acclimating?.. even if just for 24 hours?..That might be a good idea. Otherwise you're forcing your body to jump from sea level to over 11,000 feet ... thats probably going to kick your butt unless you're in really good cardiovascular shape. (less oxygen up here.. puts more pressure on your heart to pump a larger volume of blood ) Remember to stay hydrated .. and be aware that at higher altitudes, exhaustion will hit you faster than you anticipate. Take "breathing breaks" BEFORE you need them (pace yourself) and you'll have a more enjoyable time.

3.) I'm not an expert on the I-70 canyon ... so I'll skip this question .. if I think of anything I'll post another response.
posted by jmnugent at 8:16 AM on July 30

Certainly there are people who live in Vail who make it year-round without an SUV. (I was one of them.) In August, a mid-sized or economy car is fine, as long as you don't plan on off-roading. (Even some of the remote areas are accessible by car, by way of graded dirt roads.) You'll use I-70 or highway 6 for just about all driving, and those are well-maintained, large highways that accommodate semi-trucks and all kinds of vehicles all year.

You might find it cool, even during the summer. After the sun goes down, the temperature drops quite a bit. Bring a light fleece jacket, long sleeve tee/sweat shirt, and jeans. Sunscreen and water are no-brainers; you'll need them everyday, no matter the weather. Bring your meds.

Just in case, familiarize yourself with the medical facilities. Make sure they take your insurance in advance. There's a hospital in Vail, a small emergency room in Avon, a medical center in Edwards with urgent care, and doctors offices in Eagle. All are well-staffed and equipped. Your accommodations will likely provide a humidifier. You'll probably want to use it at night.

There's a ton to do in Denver/Boulder/Vail. Look for visitor's centers online and the local papers: Denver Post, Daily Camera/Boulder Weekly, Vail Daily.

Have fun!
posted by jodyr at 8:20 AM on July 30

Colorado native here (Denver) - not sure why you'd "need" an SUV to over Vail pass. My first car (back in the 80's) a '76 Pinto did just great on mountain roads. A mid-size with a 6 cylinder engine should do you just fine.

Listen to cosmac about Glenwood - the pool is great and the town is nice relief from the resort-ness of Vail. Another side trip worth considering is the town of Marble. Once one of the largest marble mines in the states (the marble for the Lincoln monument was quarried there), it's now a sleepy town in a gorgeous setting. It's about two hours from Vail.

Crested Butte (founded in the 1880's is another lovely mountain town that's less modern, and can give you a better sense of Colorado's mountain history pre-ski industry. It's also a couple hours from Vail.

Another warning regarding altitude sickness: pay attention if you get shortness of breath combined with congestion, or a severe headache that won't go away. These can be signs of edema, and the very best solution is to go down in altitude as quickly as possible. Glenwood is a few thousand feed below Vail, so that could work for you. My husband used to live in Telluride, but nowdays when we go to Colorado, he frequently struggles with altitude sickness when he's above about 9.000 feet. YMMV, of course.

Also, if you normally have a couple-three beers of an evening, cut back to one until you're better acclimated - it'll dehydrate you, kick your butt, and give you a hell of a hangover!
posted by dbmcd at 9:27 AM on July 30

Renting an SUV would probably be a big waste of money. Don't let your friends scare you into it. I've driven a full-sized car (Chevy Impala) to Breckenridge during snow storms and didn't have any problems. During August I'd feel fine with a mid-sized, no question. My buddy lives in Boulder and he drives a small little car during all seasons.

That being said, your car will probably perform differently at altitude. It might make noises you're not used to. It probably won't have as much power as you expect. There are times climbing I-70 where I've floored it and... nothing happens. Part of it's the grade, and part of it's the atmosphere. A car with more power would help mitigate this, but it isn't worth it unless you just have to speed everywhere you go.

After going through the Eisenhower Tunnel you'll descend a bit. You should be aware of how much you use your breaks because in a very worst case scenario they could overheat. Just don't lean on them the entire time and you'll be fine. I like to shift into a lower gear, but that's just preference.

Most people feel out of breath at altitude, especially when exerting themselves. My dad joined me on part of a ski trip and the entire time it was "Boy, I need to hit the gym because I'm really out of shape!" (this after just walking around downtown Breckenridge). I've heard that from him and from friends, and my grandma (whose had a vavle bypass) needs a wheelchair to make it through the airport.

Well... yes, you may be out of shape, and we could all spend some more time in the gym, but mostly it's just the altitude. People who live in CO are physically different -- after a couple weeks you start producing more red blood cells -- and that's why they aren't huffing and puffing.

Just take it easy and have lower expectations. I walk a little slower than my usual pace, and sometimes I pause for a minute after climbing a hill. Unless you have SEVERE heart or breathing problems I doubt it will be an issue.

Others have covered the dryness and sunscreen issues. Good advice! I always pack some extra moisturizer, otherwise I start flaking. And take the sunscreen issue seriously, even if you don't back home. Less atmosphere means less protection from UV, means more serious sunburns. If you're spending time around water, double that advice.

That's about all I have to say. I'm actually leaving today for a 5 day trip in CO! I love it out there and try to make it out several times per year. I'm sure you'll have a good time.
posted by sbutler at 10:17 AM on July 30

One other thing... yes, altitude does make you feel more drunk. However, the beer you buy in stores has less alcohol! I can polish off a six-pack in CO and barely feel it at all. I do that at home and I'm struggling to walk across the room.

But give me a bottle of wine and I'm under the table.
posted by sbutler at 10:26 AM on July 30

Denver resident here, we've been vacationing on and off in Vail since the early 80s (Oh, how things change! Remember how Minturn used to be?). It's definitely a high-dollar resort town now, so I'd recommend getting out of town for most stuff, or heading to West Vail, getting groceries at the Safeway or City Market, and cooking in your room. West Vail also has some cheaper food options; there's decent Italian and Japanese places over by the McDonalds that aren't quite as overpriced as the stuff you'll find in Lionshead.

1) As most everybody has said already, a compact/economy car is just fine for anything but 4-wheeling. You can get to most any trailhead just fine with a regular car; with careful driving, we've taken a fully-loaded Chrysler minivan down a lot of fire roads and over a number of dirt-road passes.

2) Expect large weather ranges. From 35 degrees up on the high passes at night, to 85 degrees and sunny during the day. Dryness is a relative thing; the air is dry but expect afternoon thundershowers and the occasional rainy day, so bring rain gear. Hydrate! Drink lots of water and less alcohol. USE MORE SUNSCREEN! The UV radiation is much stronger than you'd think at altitude, and because the temperature is lower you might not notice the burn until you're seriously crispy. Nosebleeds and headaches can be common for the first couple of days, but if the headache won't go away, descend and/or see a doctor.

3) Piney River Ranch is about an hour north of Vail up Red Sandstone Road. It's a beautiful area, and they've got guided horseback tours, canoe rentals, fishing (skip the lake, head up the creek towards the border of the Eagle's Nest Wilderness, we've had good luck with spinners and fly fishing) and a short hike up to a nice waterfall just inside the wilderness area.
posted by hackwolf at 10:27 AM on July 30

Colorado has a different type of dryness. It was so dry when we visited, the insides of my nostrils dried out and my eyeballs felt completely dehydrated. Very weird! Even when we were inside, it still felt uncomfortably dry. It wasn't enough for me to just drink extra water and use more lotion, I actually had to sniff water up my nose and use re-wetting drops in my eyes all throughout the day. If your boyfriend is on allergy meds, they might make him feel even more dehydrated, so heed those warnings about the altitude and staying hydrated. (Tip: to make your nostrils feel lubricated longer, after sniffing water, apply a drop or two of jojoba oil to your fingertip and rub it around in there.)

We didn't have any problems at all as far as altitude sickness, but we knew what the warnings signs were and came prepared anyway. Make sure your boyfriend has his inhaler with him at all times.

In spite of the dryness, we found Colorado absolutely gorgeous and that fresh mountain air is so exhilarating. I can't wait to visit again. I envy you!
posted by LuckySeven~ at 10:28 AM on July 30

I just want to second dbmcd's suggestion of visiting Marble. Fantastic scenery, and the mine is a really interesting visit. Also nthing everyone's advice about the car. Unless you specifically want to do off-road driving there's no reason you need an SUV.
posted by Eddie Mars at 10:28 AM on July 30

sbutler is buying beer at the grocery store. I don't know if this has changed, since Colorado recently changed their liquor laws, but beer not purchased at the liquor store (grocery, gas station) can only have a 3.2% alcohol content. If you wanted regular beer, you have to purchase it at the liquor store. This is why you will rarely see people purchasing beer anywhere except for the liquor store in CO.

nthing the car recommendations. Even in the winter, a car is usually fine, since CDOT does a pretty remarkable job opening highways, though all-wheel drive is pretty nice.
posted by jstef at 10:59 AM on July 30

I've driven a Civic from my sister's home in Denver to Breckenridge before. I'm not sure why anyone would think you'd need an SUV to get to Vail unless you were going in the winter.

There are large liquor stores right next to pretty much every supermarket I've seen in my visits to CO, so finding normal-strength beer isn't going to be a problem.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 11:41 AM on July 30

I'm from the area (went to college in the mountains, actually).

Make sure he takes it easy when you first get there, nothing strenuous for a few days, and make sure has all his emergency asthma meds at ALL times. Know where the closest ERs are. Schedule the least strenuous activities early in your trip and stick close to civilization in case he has any problems. Worst-case scenario, you end up two hours from the doctor and he can't get enough oxygen. He'll probably be fine but be prepared and be smart.

It's very...desert-like so don't be shocked by the dry air. Very different from the coast. I used to get bloody noses from the dry air on a regular basis, so maybe some saline solution would be in order.

No need for an SUV.
posted by kathrineg at 11:51 AM on July 30

Its actually been a very wet year in CO so the dryness is not as bad as it could be and the wildflowers in the high mountains are going strong! I don't find the lack of humidity a problem. It is actually a relief and I am much more comfortable when it is warm. But, because it has been a wet year, there might be things blooming that aggravate allergies. I also noticed many mosquitoes in the woods last week.

I drove my old Chevy Prism up to Breckenridge from Boulder last weekend and made it. We weren't fast but it wasn't unsafe. When we got to the trail head though, that is when an SUV would have been handy. If you are hiking, double check the road conditions at the trail head to make sure it is passable in a car. Most are.

Getting used to the altitude: drink tons of water, take it slow, naps in the afternoon really help. Hike early to avoid rain/hail in the afternoon. Eat lunch and then take a nap. If you can spend a day or two in Denver or Boulder before Vail it will help but you are going to get winded when you hike. I am very active, have lived in Boulder for a year and I get winded hiking quickly up mountains! It is hard work and you will enjoy your time more if you take it slow, enjoy the view and then keep going when you have caught your breath.

I recently posted things to do in Boulder so make a quick search for that. There are many good places to eat, shop and hike. And yes, you have to purchase full strength beer at liquor stores. There are liquor stores EVERYWHERE. Have fun! CO is really beautiful and incredibly green this year.
posted by rachums at 1:05 PM on July 30

SUV... no need in Aug.
Altitude... you'll feel it.
Denver... have some fun downtown, Larimer Square, LoDo (lower downtown), catch a Rockies game (@ home Aug 7-12), zoo's nice.
Boulder... walk the mall. Nice trails just west of town.
On the way to Vail... stop in Idaho Springs and have a look. Check out a mine. Have a Beau Jo's pizza.
On the way to Vail... Georgetown is fun too.
On the way to Vail... up for some adventure and high altitude and incredible scenery? Go over Loveland Pass instead of thru the Tunnel (you still won't need an SUV).
Vail... It's a great base for all kinds of activities. Try fly fishing on the Eagle river. Take a gondola ride to the top.

Have fun!
posted by ecorrocio at 8:02 PM on July 30

Make sure you bring a rain coat or something. This has been an extra rainy summer (at least in Fort Collins). Have fun!
posted by lilac girl at 12:16 PM on July 31