By Jim Darby
The ski slopes are just minutes away from the Limelight hotel.
CHECK-IN
Aspen's central streets run in a simple grid - roll up the Roaring Fork Valley, hit Main Street and take a right on South Monarch. When you see the rugby goal posts on one side of the road, you'll see the Limelight Hotel on the other. Of course Aspen has a rugby pitch - it hosts an annual Ruggerfest and is the home ground for the Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club. This also puts the Limelight about a five-minute walk to the Silver Queen Gondola that'll have you skiing or boarding on Aspen Mountain quick smart. There's a scrum of staff to meet you and greet you at the Limelight entrance and whisk you off the snow-covered street and into a warm reception.
THE LOOK
The Limelight is part of the Little Nell Hotel Group, which in turn is owned by the Aspen Ski Company, so the connections to the mountain run deep. The hotel underwent a "top-to-bottom" renovation in 2021 with New York designers Stonehill Taylor giving it a fresh, light and lively look, in the guest rooms, in the lounges, in the bar and outside around the pool and spa. It's refreshing and modern - no rustic timber ski chalet styling here.
THE ROOM
I'm in a "Grand Deluxe" room - it comes with a thankfully-unstocked bar fridge, a sink and a microwave so it would be possible to self-cater. There's a pod coffee machine, but in a rare design failure, the cupboard above comes down so low, you can't lift the lever to insert the pod. Plenty of storage space, including for wet ski gear (there's no boot room at the Limelight, so they come back to your room). The bathroom is well-sized with a walk-in shower and room to move around the sink. There's a king size bed, large flat-screen TV, small table and a couple of lounge chairs. Mountain views vary depending on your room's location - I've got a glimpse of Aspen Mountain if I catch the right angle. There are two room categories below Grand Deluxe and three above it, as well as suites.
FOOD + DRINK
The area known as "The Lounge" spreads across a few big rooms on the ground floor and hosts the hotel bar and restaurant for breakfast, apres ski drinks and dinner. Breakfast is a buffet and it's excellent - fresh fruit and pastries and hot dishes. Can't choose a cocktail for apres ski? Try the refreshing Paloma - tequila, lime and sparkling grapefruit juice; tequila has come a long way since the days of the worm in the bottom of the bottle. The dinner menu works downstairs or for room service, with a focus on shared plates, burgers and pizzas.
OUT + ABOUT
The ski slopes are minutes away, as are Aspen's designer stores if you want to go handbag-hunting. Wander the other way and explore its wonderful heritage architecture. You're spoilt for choice in restaurants. If you don't want to go far, Steak House 316 is just around the corner and serves sublime Colorado beef; Element 47 at the Little Nell is an innovator and most chic; and while Chica has an excellent Latin American menu, everyone in the room was using their phone torch to read it - lighten up folks. For apres ski, hit the bar back at the Limelight or on a sunny afternoon Little Nell or Chica will buzz at either side of the gondola base. There are plenty of bars in Aspen, but the J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome is well worth a visit; they make a wonderful Old Fashioned to finish the night.
THE VERDICT
A smart choice in a town with plenty of choice. The Limelight has easy access to the ski slopes and all the other highlights of this renowned Colorado destination. There is also a larger Limelight at nearby Snowmass, complete with fitness centre and climbing wall.
THE ESSENTIALS
Rooms from $US645 ($965) during the snow season. See limelighthotels.com/aspen. Limelight can be booked at discounted rates as part of a ski package with Travelplan, see TravelplanSki.com
OUR SCORE OUT OF FIVE
★★★★
HIGHLIGHT
Even in winter, many guests travel here with their pets. It's so civilised to ride the hotel lift with Rover - when will Australia catch up?
LOWLIGHT
By and large, the coffee in Colorado is ordinary, even at its premier ski resorts. The in-room pod machine could at least be a little easier to access.
Jim Darby was a guest of Travelplan Australia, Aspen Ski Co and Colorado Ski Country.
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