Train
I don't care about Denver or altitude sickness. I just want to go straight from the airport to Vail. This shuttle is about 2.5 hours and offers discounts if you book 3+ seats at a time.
Travel Note
$10 ticket direct from the airport to Union Station in the heart of Downtown Denver. This is a great area to find a hotel for the night if you decide to explore Denver.
Travel Note
$17 charter bus from Union Station to the Welcome Center of Vail. About 2.5 hours. They typically run every hour and pickup is downstairs in Union Station.
Travel Note
There is a super simple bus transportation within the town of Vail and in between other nearby mountain towns. The Vail Transportation Center is the central hub that will be where you get picked up and dropped off for everything.