While Aspen is indeed a stellar skiing and snowboarding destination, this chic and charming Colorado town is an alluring vacation spot off the slopes as well. The historic hamlet abounds with upscale dining options, an array of shops and art galleries, and cultural venues that include the Aspen Art Museum, Wheeler Opera House, and Aspen Music Festival and School.
A picturesque winter wonderland in the cold-weather months, Aspen also shines in summer with temperate blue-sky days, sublime wildflower meadows, and oodles of opportunities for outdoor adventures, from hiking and biking to river rafting and horseback riding. To rest your head after a day of play in the mountains, Aspen offers a variety of luxury accommodations, whether you’re seeking an intimate boutique experience or spacious digs in the center of the action. Here are some of the best hotels for your next visit to Aspen.
Best Hotels in Aspen in 2022
Editor’s Pick: The Little Nell
Why We Chose It
Just steps from the Silver Queen Gondola at the base of Aspen Mountain, The Little Nell is Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond ski-in, ski-out hotel.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Resort Fee: Yes, 6% of room rate
- Room Rate: $$$$
Notable Amenities
In-room snacks and beverages, Ladurée macarons at check-in, courtesy airport and in-town transportation
Hotel Description
Among Aspen’s hotels, The Little Nell rises above with its attentive yet unpretentious service, as well as its superb dining venues. These include the sophisticated Element 47 and slopeside Ajax Tavern, which hosts a spirited après-ski scene on its spacious patio. The 92 rooms are decorated in a natural palette of gray and tan with pops of blue and provide town, mountain, or pool courtyard views. The Little Nell supplies little ones with children’s robes and slippers, while pets are welcomed with beds, bowls, and house-made peanut butter treats. If you visit in the winter, a ski concierge stores and tunes your gear and even warms your boots for you.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort
Why We Chose It
This stately property near Aspen’s ski slopes is highly regarded for its 15,000-square-foot Remède Spa, which has a coed waterfall pool and oxygen relaxation lounge.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: No
- Resort Fee: No
- Room Rate: $$$
Notable Amenities
Frette linens and custom-designed Frette robes, electric vehicle charging station, heated outdoor pool
Hotel Description
Regal and refined, The St. Regis Aspen Resort’s tall red-brick buildings wrap around a large multilevel courtyard, where an inviting circular pool and three hot tubs are open year-round. Inside, the cozy lobby lounge invites relaxation in front of a roaring fireplace, and the restaurant Velvet Buck fuses modern mountain fare with Mediterranean favorites. Sumptuous guest rooms are outfitted with leather beds and desks by Ralph Lauren, as well as marble bathrooms with double vanities and Remède Spa bath and body products. Don’t miss out on the weekend evening s’mores, the daily Downhill Snapper (bloody mary) tasting, or the complimentary bubbly at the evening Champagne saberings, when a sword is used to dramatically open bottles.
Hotel Jerome
Why We Chose It
Welcoming guests since 1889, this venerable downtown hotel, an Auberge Resorts Collection property, blends Old West charm with modern sophistication and top-notch service.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Resort Fee: Yes, $50/$150 per night for rooms/residences
- Room Rate: $$$$
Notable Amenities
In-room snacks and nonalcoholic beverages, courtesy airport and in-town transportation, Alo Moves custom meditations, in-room yoga mats
Hotel Description
If you’re a history buff, you’ll want to book your Aspen stay at the venerable Hotel Jerome, which has stood on a Main Street corner for more than 130 years. Victorian antiques and mountain-inspired decor (think antler chandeliers and cowhide chairs) are found in both public spaces and guest rooms, which exude luxury while paying homage to the hotel’s storied past. Check out the vintage key holder behind the grand reception desk and visit the J-Bar to order an Aspen Crud, a frothy bourbon milkshake that was introduced during Prohibition. Hotel Jerome also has an outdoor pool, an intimate spa with three treatment rooms, and a fitness center with Peloton bikes.
W Aspen
Courtesy of Marriott International
Why We Chose It
This trendy hotel with playful decor has a rooftop deck with a pool, hot tub, firepits, and views of next-door Aspen Mountain.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: No
- Resort Fee: Yes, $50 per night
- Room Rate: $$$
Notable Amenities
Electric vehicle charging stations, seasonal use of bikes and paddleboards, fitness center with Peloton bike, BMW X7 and X5 test drives around town
Hotel Description
Marriott’s W hotel brand is known for its swanky vibe, bold decor, and cocktail culture — and W Aspen plays the part. A wavy blue and yellow carpet pattern winds its way from the ground-level welcome desk to the upstairs dining venues, including the indoor-outdoor 39 Degrees restaurant and bar. Colors continue in the guest rooms and Wow suites, where bright orange, red, and royal blue accents reflect groovy 1970s-style decor. Traveling with a group? Book a room with not one, but two queen-size bunk beds, which can sleep up to eight — an irreverent nod to Aspen’s party-hearty reputation of decades past.
Viceroy Snowmass
Courtesy of Viceroy Snowmass
Why We Chose It
A Travel + Leisure World’s Best award winner, this property beckons guests with multi-bedroom lodging and slopeside access to Snowmass’ ski trails.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Resort Fee: Yes, $50 per night
- Room Rate: $$$
Notable Amenities
Electric vehicle charging station, courtesy transportation to/from the airport and in Snowmass Village, fitness center with Peloton bikes
Hotel Description
Less than 10 miles from downtown Aspen, family-friendly Snowmass offers visitors still more upscale accommodations for a swanky Colorado mountain vacation. Ski-in, ski-out Viceroy Snowmass is particularly inviting, thanks to lodging that ranges from studios to four-bedroom residences, all of which feature a kitchenette or full kitchen and Natura Bissé and ROIL by Amanda George bath products. Nearly all have fireplaces and convenient washers and dryers. The 7,000-square-foot spa is divine, with a soothing, dimly lit relaxation room and treatments inspired by Ute, Nordic, and Asian rituals.
The Gant
Why We Chose It
Tucked into a residential corner of town near the base of Aspen Mountain, The Gant offers one- to four-bedroom condominiums.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Resort Fee: Yes, 5.5% of room rate
- Room Rate: $$$
Notable Amenities
Tesla charging stations, overnight ski storage, on-property ski and snowboard rentals
Hotel Description
The condominiums at The Gant are individually owned and uniquely decorated. Their ratings vary — standard, deluxe, or premier — to suit a variety of budgets, but all have a full kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and patio or balcony. No matter which type of condo you choose, you’ll have access to on-site facilities that include two heated outdoor pools, three hot tubs, tennis and pickleball courts, and a fitness center. Casual Pepperjack’s Cafe serves breakfast and lunch, with seasonal menus that focus on locally sourced produce.
Aspen Meadows Resort
Why We Chose It
Aspen Meadows Resort sits on 40 acres in the town’s quiet northwest side, and all 98 of its Bauhaus-style suites underwent a total renovation in 2022.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Resort Fee: Yes, $30
- Room Rate: $$
Notable Amenities
Seasonal use of snowshoes and cruiser bikes, courtesy airport and in-town transportation, covered self-parking garage
Hotel Description
The much-anticipated renovation of the guest rooms at Aspen Meadows Resort updated the spaces while paying homage to the property’s original designer, Herbert Bayer, an Austrian artist and designer who relocated to Aspen in the 1940s. If the style intrigues you, join one of the resort’s complimentary tours of the on-site Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies.
The bucolic property is set apart from busy downtown Aspen, so it’s an ideal place to stay if you appreciate a quiet retreat after a day’s adventures. Spend time strolling the grounds to take in the public art installations or visit the health center with its cardio and strength equipment, Peloton bike, steam rooms, outdoor heated saline lap pool, hot tub, and half-court basketball gym.
The Limelight Hotel Snowmass
Shawn O’Connor/The Limelight
Why We Chose It
This lively hotel enjoys a prime location in Snowmass: just steps from the Elk Camp Gondola and next to a community ice rink that converts to a turf lawn for outdoor fun in the summer.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Resort Fee: Yes, 8% of room rate
- Room Rate: $$
Notable Amenities
Included breakfast; baby gear; dog beds and bowls; kids’ playroom with books, toys, and games
Hotel Description
Rooms at The Limelight Hotel Snowmass are comfortable, contemporary, and bright, though if you’re booking this family-friendly, ski-in, ski-out hotel, you’re likely not spending much time inside. Set your alarm early enough to fully enjoy the Lounge’s generous complimentary breakfast, which features fruit, cereal, waffles, and eggs. The Lounge is also a happening place for après-ski, thanks to its drink deals and regular live music. Kids especially love the on-site climbing wall (free for guests) and outdoor pool and hot tub. Guests at the Limelight have access to complimentary adventures, such as Inside Tracks, skiing or riding with an Aspen/Snowmass pro in winter, and Inside Trails, a similar event on mountain bikes in summer.
The Residence Hotel
Why We Chose It
This intimate boutique hotel in downtown Aspen has just seven suites, each uniquely and lavishly decorated with European, Indian, and Asian antiques, furnishings, and fabrics.
Key Specs
- Free Wi-Fi: Yes
- Resort Fee: No
- Room Rate: $$$
Notable Amenities
Molton Brown bath products, Frette bed and bath linens, full kitchens in most accommodations
Hotel Description
You might miss the narrow, unassuming entrance to The Residence Hotel as you walk past its home in one of Aspen’s most iconic buildings, which dates to 1886. The pet-friendly hotel is a veritable hidden gem (keep an eye out for a blue awning). Its suites include The French Studio, which has blue and white hand-painted antiques and an exposed brick wall, and the two-bedroom, two-bath Ralph Lauren Suite, which features an open floor plan for its full kitchen and living room. There aren’t a lot of resort-like bells and whistles at this boutique property, but if you’re looking for cozy sophistication for your Aspen stay, book early. Rooms go quickly in peak season.
Final Verdict
Aspen visitors seeking a posh resort experience can’t go wrong with The Little Nell. Its in-town location means you’re steps away from Aspen’s key restaurants, nightlife, coffee shops, art galleries, and boutiques. A stone’s throw from Aspen Mountain, The Little Nell is also ideal for folks who want to hit the slopes early and often — for skiing and boarding in the winter or hiking in the summer. For some Aspen tradition, book a stay at Hotel Jerome or try to snag one of the rooms at The Residence Hotel. That said, no matter which of these properties you choose for your Aspen vacation, you’re never far from glorious mountain landscapes that invite outdoor adventure.
Know Before You Go
- Aspen sits at 7,908 feet in elevation. If you’re visiting from sea level, try to take it easy on your first day in town while you adjust to the high altitude in order to avoid potential headaches, shortness of breath, and an upset stomach. Drinking plenty of water can also help curb symptoms. And don’t forget to pack your sunscreen — the sun shines year-round in the high country.
- Off the ski trails, winter activities include skating at Aspen’s outdoor ice rink, tubing at Snowmass, and taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride to Pine Creek Cookhouse. In the summer, don’t miss the downtown Aspen Saturday Market for farm-fresh produce and locally produced artisanal items.
- Check out our Aspen travel guide for more information.
How We Chose These Hotels
We evaluated more than two dozen hotels in Aspen and nearby Snowmass, considering elements such as the property’s reputation, quality of service, location, guest room configurations, and amenities. We also considered each property’s dining options, whether there is a spa on-site, and what kinds of experiences are available to guests. In determining this list, we also evaluated customer reviews.
