LODGING: IT'S ALL ABOUT CHARACTER

Room with a view ASPEN, Colo. (Spring/Summer

2012) - Aspen

accommodations run the gamut from the infamous luxury hotels and over-the-top resorts

to charming inns and affordable bed-and-breakfasts. Intentionally absent are

cookie-cutter lodging properties, and while hotel chains do have a presence in

town, their Aspen lodges are one-of-a-kind, crown jewels of their hotel groups.

For the indulgent or the budget-minded, Aspen offers a unique hotel or

condominium experience for every visitor's individual taste. The following

options are just a few examples of the distinctive character that sets Aspen

lodges apart from those in most mountain resorts.

For reservations or information, visit

www.stayaspensnowmass.com or

call 1.800.670.0788 or 970.925.9000. By clicking on the "Last Minute

Specials," visitors may find

incredible, last-minute lodging deals throughout Aspen.

Lodging

in Luxury

The

Little Nell.

Situated at the base of Aspen Mountain, the 92-room Little Nell is Aspen's only ski-in,

ski-out lodge and only Mobil five-star and AAA five-diamond hotel. Blending the

virtues of a small country inn with the personalized services and amenities of

a grand hotel. The Little Nell celebrated its 20^th anniversary in

2009 with an $18 million guest room renovation by famed designer Holly Hunt. (www.thelittlenell.com)
Carrying on the excellence of The Little Nell, the Residences at the Little Nell opened

in 2009 and offers 26 different three- and four-bedroom units with ski-in,

ski-out access on Aspen Mountain. By taking the luxury of The Little Nell and

combining it with a living space, the Residences truly redefine mountainside

lodging. (www.rlnaspen.com)
St. Regis Aspen Resort reopened December 2011 following a $35 million

renovation and redesign by renowned designer Lauren Rottet. Guestroom

renovations and a comprehensive interior and exterior redesign represent a new

standard of luxury in Aspen. Changes include completely redesigned

guestrooms offering a separate shower and tub experience;a new entrance;

newly created library with fireplace, sofas, bookshelves, and game tables; new

restaurant called the Chef's Club, featuring a rotating selection of Food & Wine Best New Chefs;

embellished ballroom and meeting space inspired by the Gilded Age; as well as a

renovated pool area. For details, visit www.stregisaspen.com/redesign.
Hyatt

Grand Aspen. With

50 luxurious condominiums hugging Aspen Mountain, Hyatt Aspen is an ideal retreat for a

grand family vacation. The residences are fractionally owned but available for

nightly rentals with guests receiving the same bespoke service as owners. (www.aspen.hyatt.com)
Frias Properties of Aspen. With a

stunning collection of rental properties ranging from centrally located

townhomes to expansive, ski-in/ski-out estates, Frias Properties offers visitors a plethora

of luxury lodging options in Aspen. Whether preparing the pantry prior for arrival to securing dining

or activity reservations, the Frias staff doubles as your personal concierge. (www.friasproperties.com)

Design

Hotels

The

Sky Hotel, a 90-room Kimpton property, sports a

post-modern-meets-Alice-in-Wonderland design finished with Aspen touches

including faux fur accents throughout. The 39 Degrees bar, known for its

irresistible cocktails, legendary outdoor pool, and model-esque guests, is the

center of Aspen's see-and-be-seen après-ski and summer pool scene. The pool and

suites are currently undergoing an update and will be ready for the summer

season (www.theskyhotel.com)
Hotel Jerome, built in 1889

at the height of the silver boom and restored to its original Victorian

splendor in 1985, is famous for its history, boasting the first electricity,

elevator and running water west of the Mississippi River. The Jerome is listed

in the National Register of Historic Places and retains its elegance today. In

November 2011, Auberge Resorts assumed management of Hotel Jerome and plans to

renovate the guestrooms are already underway. All 94 rooms will be

refurbished with new carpet, wallpaper and amenities, along with overhauls of

the lobby, dining room and ballroom. New offices and a new spa with three

treatment rooms will be added to the basement. (www.hoteljerome.com)
Aspen

Meadows, designed

by renowned Bauhaus architect Herbert Bayer in 1950, is a 98-room, all-suite

resort and conference center located in Aspen's residential West End featuring

two restaurants, a bar and lounge, health club and tennis courts as well as

30,000 square feet of meeting space. In 2007, Aspen Meadows unveiled the

22,000-square-foot Doerr-Hosier

Center, which is equipped as a meeting space or special event venue and

features an installation by famed sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. (www.dolce-aspen-hotel.com)

Au Naturale:

Camping and Hut Trips

10th Mountain Division Hut System. For the more

adventurous visitor, the 10th Mountain Division

manages a system of 29 backcountry huts in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, many

with easy access to Aspen, most accessible by four-wheel drive, mountain bikes

or hiking. Huts are equipped with fireplaces, cooking materials and water.

Visitors bring bedding and food. (www.huts.org)
Camping. Sleep under the stars at one of the seven drive-in

campgrounds around Aspen including Silver

Bell, Difficult

and Lincoln

Gulch. There are official campsites in many of the most popular

backcountry areas, and places where designated sites are mandatory are marked. Check with the U.S.

Forest Service for more information about sites and regulations.

Quintessential

Mountain Lodges

The Limelight Lodge, an historic Aspen inn, was owned by

the same family for more than 40 years and underwent a complete reconstruction

in 2008. Aspen Skiing Company purchased the 126-room hotel in 2010 and, while

they honor the tradition of family-owned hospitality, the contemporary lodge

now boasts a full bar, pizza-and-salad menu and fitness center as well as

signature ASC services. (www.limelightlodge.com)
The

Snow Queen Lodge, built in 1886, has been dubbed "the Jewel of

Aspen" by the Aspen

Historical Society. This historic B&B is the oldest Victorian lodge in town

and is walking distance to Aspen Mountain. (www.snowqueenlodge.com)
Annabelle Inn, originally known as the

Christmas Tree Inn, is a family-owned, 35-room lodge and was completely

renovated and renamed in 2005. Enjoy the freshly baked cookies each afternoon

in front of the lobby fireplace or the courtyard firepit, or watch a ski movie

projected on an exterior wall while soaking in the hot tub. (www.annabelleinn.com)
Hotel

Lenado, a

luxurious and architecturally distinctive B&B, has all the amenities,

including a delicious full breakfast, in-room fireplaces and an intimate,

wood-detailed bar. (www.hotellenado.com)
Chalet

Lisl, a small,

quaint inn with studios and one-bedrooms, is located in Aspen's quiet West End,

features a private garden, and is just one block from a free shuttle to the

Music Tent. (www.chaletlisl.com)