Though Aspen is lined with hotels where a single night will run you four figures, it’s actually quite easy to work around the massive price tag with a bit of research. We’ve done it for you here, compiling this list of where to stay in Aspen for every budget. We’ve also included two luxury options, just in case you really do want to go all out and experience the excess that Aspen can offer.

 

Aspen on a budget

St. Moritz Lodge — The word “budget” isn’t generally talked about when it comes to Aspen, but the St. Moritz Lodge is the one hotel in town that can save you from having to stay down valley in Carbondale or Basalt. Rooms often run for under $100, and you don’t even have to sacrifice the steam room, hot tub, or breakfast.

Photo: Mountain Chalet Aspen/Facebook

Mountain Chalet — When arriving with a group of friends for a few days of hard-hitting skiing or snowboarding, crash in the bunk rooms at the Mountain Chalet. Each sleeps four on separate bunks, and the lodge serves a hot sit-down breakfast each morning during winter. The real perk, though, is the free parking.

Basalt and Carbondale — Beyond the St. Moritz and Mountain Chalet, the most affordable hotels are located in Basalt, 30 minutes away, and Carbondale, 45 minutes away. In both towns, you can stay in mid-level accommodations such as the Basalt Mountain Inn or Aspenalt Lodge for under $150 during non-peak ski season weekends. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority runs buses throughout the valley, including to Aspen’s airport, bus and train stations in Glenwood Springs, and all four ski mountains.

 

Best for couples and groups

Limelight Hotel — The Limelight is Aspen’s most approachable mid-range hotel and your best bet for sustainable lodging. The vibe is contemporary and hip, with an inviting lounge in the lobby that is as comfortable for logging some laptop time over a cocktail as it is for a casual dinner. In the morning, the lounge offers Aspen’s best free breakfast buffet. The rooms are super crisp — clean and nice but far from the old-guard vibe that some of Aspen’s famous hotels can’t seem to let go of. The hotel pulls renewable energy from its parent Aspen Skiing Company and won the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association’s 2014 Greenkeeper Award.

Timberline Condominiums — If you aim to rent a condo or vacation home and Airbnb isn’t bearing much fruit, the Timberline Condominiums are homey and affordable (by Aspen standards) without too much of a timeshare vibe. You’ll be walking distance to the lifts and Snowmass Village but far enough removed that it feels as though you’re on the brink of wilderness.

 

Luxury

Photo: The Little Nell/Shutterstock

The Little Nell — When it comes to luxury lodging, there’s five-star, and then there’s five-star at the base of Aspen Mountain. The Little Nell is where the big names and big wallets come to stay, with luxury suites overlooking the gondola and an intimate social scene all its own. You’ll pay a pretty penny for the privilege, but spend enough time in the spa or the bar at The Living Room and you will see someone famous, only to be topped when someone even more famous pulls up a stool 10 minutes later.

Photo: The St. Regis Aspen/Facebook

The St. Regis Aspen Resort — On occasions that call for outlandish settings, the St. Regis Aspen Resort is your spot. It’s as close as Aspen gets to Vegas, with a bit of New York’s cosmopolitan charm and Aspen’s high-altitude elegance thrown in. The property encapsulates a heated outdoor pool, en route to which you’ll be asked to participate in the hotel’s ongoing tradition of Champagne sabering. If you don’t know what that means, all we can say is there’s never been a better time to hone your Zorro skills. There’s also a resident Bernese mountain dog named Kitty who is looked after by an official Fur Butler.