We visited Arrabelle about three years ago, just after they opened (first couple of weeks) and had a poor experience. They just were not ready for guests. Service was bumpy and construction was still going on. It does have a slope-side location but they didn't have a dedicated ski concierge location, we were putting on our boots in the lobby. Lastly, since it is in Lionshead, getting over to the main Village requires a bus ride.

Ritz Bachelor Gulch and Northstar are very similar in both location and layout. Both are mid-mountain and right on the slopes - great for skiing. However, getting to the Village is a challenge for both. Bachelor Gulch had a shuttle and Northstar has a (very slow) gondola to their respective villages. I prefer the skiing in Colorado to Tahoe. As expected, Ritz service at both locations is outstanding.

All four resorts provide different experiences. For us, the central location and more modern feel of FS Vail puts it at the top of the list (even with the distance to the slopes) followed closely by Ritz Bachelor Gulch then Ritz Northstar. The Arrabelle experience was marred by the fact we went during their first weeks and don't have a reason to go back given the quality of FS Vail.

As far as the restaurants, we had dined at Sweet Basil and Larkspur several times before. We always had good experience and food including these visits. But Flame was just a little bit better and being in the hotel, of course, was a plus.