The 3 Best Aspen Luxury Hotels

Nestled in the Colorado Rockies, Aspen is a year-round mountain escape renowned for its beautiful landscape, world-class ski slopes, and vibrant cultural scene. Aspen is a haven for both outdoor enthusiasts and luxury seekers alike, with innovative food and beverage destinations, fantastic shopping and unparalleled experiences throughout the year. The diversity of offerings really shines when you consider accommodations as there truly is something for every type of traveler. The three Aspen luxury hotels that are at the top of my list are The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome, and The St. Regis Aspen. Each of these hotels offers a different experience; thus depending on your preferences and style one might be a better fit for you than the other.

The Little Nell

The Little Nell hotel is known for its spacious accommodations on the stunning Aspen mountainside. All of their rooms are luxurious, offering ample space, gas fireplaces, stocked mini-bars, marble bathrooms and elegant furnishings. I love The Little Nell for families as they can easily host larger groups with many connecting room options, as well as multiple room suites and residences. For skiers the location cannot be beat as The Little Nell sits directly at the base of Aspen Mountain with ski in/ski out ability. The ski concierge sits right next to the primary gondola, making entrance onto the slope and later into apres — a breeze. The hotel also offers many dining options from casual to fine, including an award-winning restaurant and wine cellar. For vino lovers like myself, the wine cellar is a destination offering the ability to book private dinners in the space. If you prefer something more upbeat, you can also enjoy their fabulous wine bar that hosts a DJ spinning vinyl or the famous Ajax Tavern that sits slopeside. Overall, you will find that the hotel has exceptional personalized service and modern amenities with a heated outdoor pool, multiple hot tubs and a newly renovated spa and fitness center.

Hotel Jerome

For an Aspen luxury hotel, The Hotel Jerome certainly stands alone as an incredible unique offering. Founded in 1889, it is Aspen’s original luxury hotel. The historic charm of this property continues to shine through as no expense has been spared in continuing to lovingly maintain it. While Hotel Jerome’s rooms and suites may not be the largest in size, they do offer beautiful furnishings and bathrooms. For those who love high ceilings, I recommend staying in the original rooms at the front of the building. The hotel offers a small but beautiful spa, heated outdoor pool, hot tubs and fitness center. There are multiple dining options on site including the famous J-bar and a great coffee shop. Prefer to take your coffee with a view? Sit on the gorgeous outdoor patio with views of Aspen Mountain or take your cup up to the secret terrace for the most perfect photo opportunity. It is centrally located in Aspen, so it is easy to get to everything in town as well as to the mountains. They have an onsite ski concierge in the winter and shuttles to the slopes making sleep to ski an easy transition. The ski concierge transitions to an activities concierge in the summer to coordinate everything from fly fishing to hiking excursions. Even if you decide not to stay at the Hotel Jerome, it’s worth a trip to the hotel to enjoy the historical architectural details and a cocktail in the cozy Living Room on a cold evening. The Hotel Jerome truly is one of a kind.

The St. Regis Aspen

If you’re looking for more of a wellness retreat, The St. Regis Aspen may be your top pick. What I love most about this Aspen luxury hotel is their spa. It is a fantastic wellness destination with over 15,000 square feet of serenity. From cold plunge to hot tub to steam room and more, it is one of the best spas in Aspen. For those who suffer from altitude sickness, I always suggest acclimating by visiting their oxygen lounge. In addition to the spa, they offer a fantastic fitness center and outdoor pool area with multiple hot tubs and fire pits. The food and beverage offerings at The St. Regis Aspen are more limited than the other Aspen luxury hotels, but it is home to one of my favorite cocktail spots, Mountain Social. This is a great lobby bar that is perfect for apres with a daily champagne sabering ritual to enjoy. The hotel does offer a range of luxurious accommodations including rooms, suites, and residences. Every room is beautifully decorated with Ralph Lauren furnishings, marble bathrooms and cutting edge technology. Many of their rooms also have views of the mountains and gas fireplaces. While located near the base of Aspen Mountain, it is not ski-in/ski-out. The hotel does offer courtesy transportation in town, making it easy to get around. It is also centrally located so it is walkable to most restaurants and shopping. Finally, if you decide to leave behind your furry friend, this pet-friendly hotel also has a house dog, Kitty, you can pet when missing your own during your travels.

There is no wrong choice regarding deciding between these 3 Aspen luxury hotels. It all depends on your preferences, style and trip type.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Aspen. In need of further inspiration? Check out Melanie Pink‘s guide, 5 Days of Luxury & Outdoor Adventure in Aspen, CO.