It’s easy to get to the fun
Here’s a few tips to consider when planning a ski getaway to Aspen:
How to get there: You have two airport choices: Denver International and Aspen. From Denver, shuttles directly to Aspen resorts are available. But while the Aspen airport may cost a bit more, it’s just so convenient. Flights from Boston link through Chicago usually, and when you land in Aspen, you are at most 15 minutes from your lodging (and most lodging has shuttles). It’s perfectly normal to leave your hotel just an hour or so before your flight takes off. The ease makes it worthwhile.
Where to stay: Aspen itself has plenty of lodging choices, from the glitz of the St. Regis (slopeside) to many other options. The Limelight, right in the middle of Aspen proper, offers sun-splashed rooms, a delicious daily breakfast, a cool vibe and impeccable service.
Getting around: There is absolutely no reason you need a car here. The town’s amazing bus system should be a model to all. Punctual, frequent, easy to navigate and clean, the free buses will take you from peak to peak and to most spots you want to visit in the area. Most hotels have shuttles as well, and Uber is available in a pinch.
How to ski and ride: Renting equipment here is a great choice, and by the time you add up paying to check your gear and the pain of schlepping it, it becomes worthwhile. Four Mountain Sports, the Aspen-owned rental company, is your best bet. Stocked with the most up-to-date equipment, they are pros at sizing you well and matching your skis to the conditions. Best yet, they allow you to leave your skis at the base of each mountain and will move them for you to wherever you’re skiing the following day at no charge.
What to do: Aspen is a community rich in culture, food scenes and just plain fun. While the local movie theater is small, the music scene is epic as there’s a concert almost every day (and often free). Be sure to have a drink at J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome, where you can sit in the seat Hunter Thompson favored. At the Aspen Art Museum you can take in all kinds of international contemporary art. And check out Explore Booksellers for a comfortable independent bookstore vibe.