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Having been weaned on Alpine skiing but having made a few ski trips to the US, my experience was that American resorts often lack the cosy compactness of a village made up of wooden chalets and I worried that Aspen might prove likewise. I needn't have. It is a charming town and pleasantly compact, with bags of character and an authentic architectural ambience. We stayed in the Gant condos and it was a toss up between walking in or taking the complimentary shuttle. The other prejudice I had about Aspen is that it is the playground for America's rich and famous. Well it may well be and the luxurious villas and condos in the town bear testimony to wealthy people frequenting the resort but 'normal' people are equally well catered for. If you want to buy jewellry and art for $10,000 a pop, you will find many shops catering for you but also if you want to stock up on jeans for $29.99 then you won't be left out of sorts either. The dining options are similar. If it's fine cuisine you're after then you have any number of exquisite international dining options but also if it's a ribs 'n' wings combo you want then you won't go without. For this reason, Aspen does not feel as 'exclusive' as Europe's posh resorts like St. Moritz, Lech and Gstaad which seem only to wish to cater for the hugely wealthy. In my view, this is a big point in Aspen's favour. Given that we were there during Spring Break, we had anticipated some lift queues and were amazed to find very few at all. For the first time in my life I found myself yearning for a queue so I could catch my breath before going back up. The three mountains, which offer a diverse array of piste, mogul, bowl and tree-line skiing are serviced by an excellent bus service but I would still recommend taking a hire car. Note that the resort is very high and the altitude of some of the highest lifts (3800 from memory) can leave one a tad short of breath. There are a good number of mountain eateries dotted around the mountains and, I was pleased to note, not all of the bland motorway cafe type but rather some quaintt and quirky wooden hut type as well. Finally, apres ski is a more muted affair in the Aspen than in Europe but for those in the know, there is the Sky Bar where skiers and boarders (I kid you not) go from salopettes, wooly hats and goggles into bikinis and trunks without recourse to a changing room and hop into the large open air pool/jacuzzi. And what makes it even better is that because this isn't California, they're not all perfectly specimens of humanity so a pale and pasty Brit blends in quite nicely! I would absolutely recommend Aspen to anyone, especially if you are a European die-hard who might be tempted to try a North American resort but don't want to forego too many of the good bits of European resorts and when there are 2 Dollars to every Pound, what better time to go?

Visited Resort March 2007

My girlfriend and I had the fortunate chance to spend a short time in Aspen/Snowmass to catch some early season snow back in December. Many would say that this time of year is not the best time to go but with cheap air fares, availability in all the best hotels and lower early season rates means one can experience one of the best US resorts at reasonable prices. Another great feature is that at this time of year you can have those amazing run's to yourself, especially during mid-week. At this time only Aspen Mountain and Snowmass were open with Highlands and Buttermilk often opening mid-December. On mountain guest services are second to none and you feel really looked after. The hot apple cider goes down a treat with a peanut butter breakfast bar at 10am in the morning!! The choice of where to eat is a real problem as there are too many options to chose from... ranging from a light snack at one of the many bars whilst watching the evening's football game on TV with the locals; to dining in one of the fine restaurants on offer. We stayed at The Gant and found it to be a great location offering a 10minute stroll into town or a 2 minute hop on the complimentary shuttle service. The size and quality of the condominiums is excellent! Accessibility to the resort is also excellent either by plane into Aspen airport which allows you to step off the plane and be in your accommodation with 30mins of landing or by a scenic drive (approx 3-4hrs) up the I-70 from Denver International Airport. Everyone should try Aspen if only once.... but I'm sure you'll want to go back again and again!

Visited Resort December 2007

We were in Aspen last week and had some 'out of this world' conditions, it didnt stop snowing whilst we were there! Fresh powder EVERY morning and one day it was even deeper..Skiing in Snowmass was best ever conditions, if you have not been here then you are not a serious skier. The town of Aspen was good fun and not too expensive despite what everyone had said before we went, we had a really late one in Fly Bar but still made 8am freshtracks, ha ha

Visited Resort April 2008

There's no two ways about it - the skiing in Aspen (& Snowmass) is exceptional and as an overall ski destination, takes some beating on all fronts. We were in Aspen in April '08, and the conditions were simply superb. Powder skiing, day in day out - they've had(another)epic and record snow season. If you haven't yet been - you must. Simple as that. You won't regret it. Start saving for that airfare now - which itself is pretty reasonable especially with United now offering their new non-stop Heathrow to Denver service. Our lodging (The Gant) was very good value as well and was very reasonably priced for the excellent quality that you receive in return. All in all an excellent week's holiday and I'm already planning for another trip next season.

Visited Resort April 2008

Excellent holidays packages

Visited Resort June 2008