TL;DR

Reputation: Aspen’s only 5-star hotel with over 40 years of history.
Luxury: Detail-oriented, customized service with ski boot warmers, bellboys, and concierge.
Atmosphere: Perfect for powder hounds or anyone enjoying après-ski, spa, and socializing.
Check prices here

Lauded as ‘Aspen’s only 5-star boutique hotel,’ Little Nell has been a fixture in Colorado’s most chic ski hotspot for over 40 years.

It’s got the accolades, and they’re well-deserved. It’s the detail-oriented, customized sort of hospitality you associate with super-luxurious hotels.

Bellboys are snagging your luggage on arrival, the concierge is sorting all of your slopes access and dinner reservations, there are even warmers for your ski boots.

It’s definitely a haven for the more affluent powder hounds, but we wouldn’t say you must be a skier to enjoy your time here.

The après-ski tradition is alive and well in the hotel’s bar, restaurant and common area, making for some A+ people watching, and let’s not forget the spa.

If you enjoy any or all parts of playing in the snow, lounging around in a cozy robe, and flexing your best fits in the bar, this is absolutely the place to be.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 92 total, from Standard Guest Rooms to Luxury Suites.
Features: Mini-bars, Lavazza espresso makers, LED TVs, Bluetooth speakers, fireplaces, soaking tubs.
Suites: One- and Two-Bedroom options, some split-level or vaulted, Luxury Suites with unique decor and high-end finishes.
See all the rooms in detail here

Rooms start with Standard Guest Rooms, but we would like to issue a gentle reminder that the standards here are pretty high.

Every one is decked out with a complimentary (and nicely stocked!) mini-bar, Lavazzo Espresso maker, tea kettle, LED TVs and Bluetooth speaker capabilities.

Bathrooms have lovely La Bottega & Seed to Skin amenities.

The most basic option is a King Single facing the small town of Aspen. They have fireplaces, soaking tubs in marble bathrooms—like we said, high standards.

You can also book the same basic room facing out towards the mountains.

Premium rooms are a bit larger, coming in around 650 square feet. Most have balconies and many have high ceilings that invite in the precious winter sun.

Suites are One or Two-Bedrooms, some split-level and vaulted, others comfortably sprawling.

Two-Bedroom Suites are perfect for families, with one King and two Twin beds.

The six Luxury Suites are each unique, generally turbocharged One-Bedrooms with luxury countertops and furnishings.

Wall decor is impeccable, collectible names all around, beautiful marble and more than a few rooms with lovely wooden beams.

Overall, it’s a bit beige for our liking, but when the giant windows let mountains do the talking, it’s hard to care.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: Ajax Tavern (casual), Element 47 (fine dining), Wine Bar, 24-hour room service.
Menu highlights: Michelin-level offerings, truffle fries, handmade pasta, award-winning wine program.
Facilities: Heated pool, Peloton-equipped fitness center, spa with private infrared sauna.

It’s a luxury boutique, and also a draw for skiers looking to snack and drink after a day on the slopes.

That is to say, feel free to look forward to the food.

The easy option is Ajax Tavern, an open, more-or-less casual mountainside gathering place. It offers well-considered cocktails and fancy takes on bar snacks (read: truffle fries, truffle fries, and more truffle fries).

If you opted for an ‘I own everything’ type of stay, Element 47 is probably more your speed.

It’s Michelin Guide-worthy, the wine program has won awards, the pasta is hand made, that kind of place.

The Wine Bar allows you to experience the wine program in depth, and the I-don’t-care-just-pamper-me style of vacation can be indulged with 24-hour room service.

Cut to the heated pool, a Peloton-studded fitness center and a spa with private infrared sauna in the treatment rooms, and you can see what we mean about not needing to ski.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Central Aspen, year-round appeal, skiing or sightseeing.
Accessibility: Complimentary transport to airport, town, and mountains.
Nearby: Main Street shopping and restaurants, Art Museum, Wheeler Opera House, John Denver Sanctuary.

Aspen is pretty functionally a little world of its own – we’ve talked a lot about skiing, but really it’s gorgeous year-round and there’s plenty to do at any time.

The hotel makes it easy to get around, with complimentary transport to the airport, around town, and to the mountains around Aspen/Snowmass.

If you want to stay in town, there’s plenty to see and do, like restaurants and shopping around Main Street, the Art Museum, and the Wheeler Opera House.

For nature-lovers who want to see more than the slopes, the John Denver Sanctuary sits on the east of town, and the concierge can help you choose which of the many hikes in the area is the perfect one for you.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Location is unbeatable and generally the service was amazing. They even unwound my wife’s hairdryers cable which was a mess – never before experienced something like that. Great snacks for free in the room. Quality breakfast….”

“Manager let us change our original room. We were above trash truck, gardener, delivery area, constant noise all hours of nite and day. Room we got after that nightmare was terrific. Very clean, spacious and above all…peaceful. Manager also sent up and bottle of champagne, a card and chocolate strawberries for our anniversary. That was extremely kind of him. He was great to work with and made things right. Lived how they picked us up and dropped us from airport. Overall the employees were all great….”