Viceroy Snowmass

HOTEL OVERVIEW

So I’ve stayed at the Viceroy Snowmass a handful of times now, and honestly? It’s one of those places that somehow manages to feel both ridiculously luxurious and surprisingly approachable at the same time. You know how some five-star hotels make you feel like you need to whisper and tiptoe around? This isn’t that place. The moment you walk into the lobby – which, by the way, has this incredible floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace that’s basically always crackling – you get this sense that yes, this is fancy, but it’s also the kind of fancy where you can actually relax.

The location on Wood Road is pretty much perfect if you’re serious about skiing. I mean, you’re literally steps from the Snowmass base village, which means you can stumble out of bed, grab coffee, and be on the gondola without any of that shuttle nonsense that plagues so many mountain hotels. During peak season (we’re talking Christmas week and Presidents’ Day madness), the area gets absolutely packed, but the hotel somehow maintains this zen-like calm inside. The rooms are what I’d call mountain modern – think clean lines mixed with cozy textures, and those heated bathroom floors that you don’t realize you need until you have them. Pro tip: if you can swing it, get a room facing the slopes. Watching the mountain wake up in the morning with fresh snow… well, it’s sort of magical, even if that sounds cheesy.

What really sets this place apart though – and this took me a couple visits to fully appreciate – is how they handle the details. The ski concierge actually knows what they’re talking about (rare!), the restaurant doesn’t feel like hotel food, and the pool area manages to be both heated and somehow not stuffy, even in January. I’ve brought both my parents (who need things to be comfortable and predictable) and friends in their twenties (who just want good après-ski vibes), and everyone’s been happy. The valet parking is clutch during snow season because honestly, navigating those narrow village roads with a rental car and snow chains is nobody’s idea of vacation fun. One small thing – the elevators can get a bit crowded during prime ski departure times around 8 AM, but that’s pretty much my only complaint. The 8.3 rating feels about right to me; it’s definitely a top-tier experience, just not quite in that rarefied air of absolute perfection. But for Snowmass, especially if you want to be right in the action without sacrificing comfort, it’s hard to beat.