Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado Hotel Guide
Thinking of a family trip to Aspen or Snowmass, Colorado? They are fantastic places for a ski vacation. I’ll guide you on the best place to stay based on different styles of hotels and things to do. First off, you need to decide if Aspen or Snowmass is a better fit for your family. Aspen is an authentic, historical town filled with luxury stores and fancy restaurants. It has a smaller mountain than Snowmass and no beginning slopes. One of the huge benefits is that it doesn't have the lines at the ski lifts that Snowmass has. If you have any beginning skiers or snowboarders in your family, you will need to ski at Snowmass, which is about 15-20 minutes away from Aspen by bus or free shuttles from your hotel. There are many more runs in Snowmass than Aspen. Snowmass Village is not really a town, but a development built around the ski resort. I’d say it’s definitely more family friendly if you have young children. There are two levels, an upper and lower level and the family style restaurants and hotels are all in close proximity. Both are about equal distance from the Aspen airport.
Best All Around Resort- St. Regis, Aspen Resort - 5 Star
This property is a five-star luxury destination nestled at the base of Aspen Mountain. From the hotel's enviable vantage point, guests can enjoy world-class skiing or stroll one block over to historic Aspen, where luxury boutiques and charming restaurants line cobblestone streets. Remède Spa, their award-winning wellness destination, is the most complete of all the area’s hotel spas and even has an oxygen room (to treat guests with altitude sickness). The St. Regis also has the nicest pool area in town, with a heated outdoor pool and hot tubs overlooking stunning Aspen Mountain. The lobby “Living Room” is large and beautifully decorated during the holidays. The restaurants offer exceptional culinary experiences; Velvet Buck presents modern mountain cuisine and Mountain Social is the definitive après ski destination serving handcrafted cocktails. The luxury rooms, suites and residences feature sumptuous 400-thread-count Frette linens, spacious marble bathrooms and custom furnishings by Ralph Lauren. And to top it all off - Butler Service stands ready to assist you 24 hours a day.
Best Authentic Sense Of Place- The Hotel Jerome, Aspen - 4.5 Star
My family’s personal favorite and where we stay. This historic hotel is in an original building directly on Main Street, and has been the social hub of Aspen since its opening in 1889. It has been recently renovated but still has all the original artwork and western style in the lobby and rooms. There is a new, adjacent building with three bedroom apartments. These spacious bedroom residences have a full gourmet kitchen, inviting living and dining areas, plus outdoor space, all with sweeping mountain views. The small, luxury Auberge spa has unique treatments and three restaurants with world-class cuisine. During our stay for Christmas week, the professional carolers, hot cocoa, hot apple cider and fresh cookies were such a great touch. We saw families of all ages here and there was something for everyone.
Most Family Friendly Hotel - The Limelight Hotel, Snowmass - 4 Star
This brand new, contemporary ski resort at the base of Snowmass Mountain is perfect for families with young children. Snowmass Mountain has great beginner slopes and more family style restaurants than Aspen. It’s a master planned development which works well with the kids because there are no streets to cross and everything is in close proximity. The Limelight is at the very center, right near the restaurants, gondola and ice bumper car rink. It’s living room lounge has several family seating areas, a large fireplace and best of all, tons of free food such as pizza and candy.
Best Value On A Budget - Mountain Chalet Aspen, Aspen - 3 Star
The Mountain Chalet is a friendly, family run hotel ideally located right across the street from the St. Regis, at the base of Aspen Mountain and only two blocks from the Silver Queen Gondola. It has a homey, swiss chalet feel and is one of the few remaining old-time ski lodges in Aspen. Here you will find a casual, friendly environment, a cozy lobby, heated pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room and an adjacent game room with a pool table, foosball, game table and a piano. A complimentary breakfast with joiner tables is a nice start to the day. Rooms range from a bunk room to the remodeled, two bedroom apartments.
Best Condominium Hotel - North Of Nell, Aspen - 3.5 Star
No other condominium hotel in Aspen sits closer to the base of Aspen Mountain and the gondola, right in the heart of downtown Aspen’s shopping and dining district. The deluxe units have been completely renovated with quality furnishings and décor. All of the one bedroom deluxe condominiums feature approximately 900 square feet of living space, a fully equipped kitchen, living area, flat panel TV’s throughout, fireplace, balcony and fireplace. Services and amenities include underground parking, daily maid service, laundry on every floor, and complimentary wireless internet service.
Most Luxurious Resort- Little Nell Resort and Residences, Aspen - 5 Star
The place to see and be seen, The Little Nell, is as high end as it gets. Located right at the gondola, with its own ski valet. The popular outdoor restaurants are a great place to have lunch right at the slope. Its fine restaurant, Element 47 serves breakfast, lunch, après and dinner and is the only restaurant in aspen to receive the Five-Star Restaurant Award. The rooms are gorgeously decorated in a modern touch with beautiful fireplaces. If you want to get even more luxurious, the fractional ownership condos are occasionally offered for rent and have up to 4 bedrooms, a beautiful living room and a gourmet kitchen. Here you will also find a private owners lounge, ski valet and even dog sitting services next to the entrance.
Best Slope-Side Pool Area and Resort in Snowmass- Viceroy Resort - 4.5 to 5 Star
If you want to stay in Snowmass, I love the new Viceroy Resort. It’s a bit of a walk to the shops and restaurants but has its own ski-in/Ski out lift and a complimentary shuttle. A gorgeous, modern hotel with the second best spa after the St Regis in Aspen, this first full-service residential resort at the foot of Snowmass Ski Area has accommodations ranging from studios to four-bedroom condominiums. It has my favorite slope side year-round pool terrace and café–an ideal setting for the family to relax apre ski.
There are other well liked hotels in Aspen such as the W Hotel, the Hyatt Residences and The Gant Condominiums. In Snowmass, there is the Westin and the Stonebridge Inn which I did not have time to experience in great detail. I suggest you first decide as a family which location best fits your family, Aspen or Snowmass, then choose the budget, style of decor and distance from the gondola that most appeals to you. All the spas, shops and restaurants are close and can be accessed by any of the properties and you can go back and forth between Aspen and Snowmass pretty easily.
Wherever you stay in the area, I’m sure you will have a fantastic vacation!
