Limelight Hotel Snowmass, Snowmass Village, Colorado

Limelight Hotel Snowmass is the most fun place to stay on Snowmass Mountain. Owned and run by Aspen Skiing Company, it opened in December 2018 in the heart of Base Village, right beside the Elk Camp Gondola and an outdoor ice rink. Its facade is wrapped by Colorado's tallest indoor rock-style climbing wall, breakfast is included, the lounge buzzes with live music and wood-fired pizza, and the whole place has the relaxed, sociable feel of a ski lodge rather than a formal luxury hotel.

Location: Snowmass Village, Colorado

The hotel sits at the centre of Snowmass Base Village, the modern hub at the foot of Snowmass Mountain, about 13 kilometres (8 miles) from downtown Aspen and around 8 kilometres from Aspen/Pitkin County Airport. The Elk Camp Gondola is right next door, so you can ski in and out, and the Village Express lift is close by.

Snowmass is the largest of Aspen's four mountains, with more than 3,300 skiable acres, and its long, wide, beautifully groomed runs make it one of the best ski mountains in North America for families and intermediates. Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are reached by free shuttle bus, and the hotel's ski concierge can arrange for equipment to be moved to another mountain for the day.

The outdoor ice rink outside the door is the social heart of Base Village in winter, and shops, restaurants and the children's play areas are all within a few minutes' walk.

Rooms and suites at Limelight Snowmass

There are 99 rooms and 11 private residences with two or three bedrooms, most of them on the fifth floor. Rooms are designed with skiers in mind: there is generous storage for gear, an oversized table, a wet bar with a microwave and coffee maker, and a warm, contemporary mountain style with wood, stone and soft textiles. Terrace rooms add private outdoor space, and some rooms have fireplaces and balconies.

The residences have full kitchens and living areas, making them a good choice for families and groups. The hotel is also dog-friendly, which is rare at this level in a ski resort, with pet-friendly rooms available on request.

Facilities at Limelight Snowmass

The signature feature is the climbing wall, a 54-foot, rock-realistic wall that rises five storeys up the building's facade. It has self-belay routes and is free for guests, and children love it.

Outside, two oversized outdoor spa pools are the place to soak after skiing, with the mountain rising above. Guests can borrow ice skates for free from a converted Airstream trailer beside the rink. There is also a fitness centre, a family games room, a fire pit, guest laundry and a ski concierge.

A generous breakfast buffet is included in the rate, and because the hotel is run by Aspen Skiing Company, guests can join extras such as First Tracks sessions on selected mornings, when the Village Express lift opens early. The Limelight Lounge is the hotel's lively heart, with wood-fired pizzas, Italian comfort food, local beers, cocktails, après-ski deals and live music most nights. It draws locals as well as guests, which gives it a real village atmosphere.

The mountain moment

The Limelight moment is a classic Colorado ski day from start to finish: breakfast by the window, then straight onto the Elk Camp Gondola for first runs on corduroy groomers. In the afternoon, the children race each other up the climbing wall while you soak in the outdoor spa pool, then everyone heads to the lounge for pizza, a cold local beer and live music by the fire, with the ice rink glowing under the lights outside.

Why Limelight Snowmass is one of the best mountain hotels

Limelight Snowmass earns its place for its personality and value. True ski-in, ski-out access, included breakfast, free skates and climbing, and a genuinely lively lounge make it outstanding for families and groups, and far better value than most slopeside hotels in Aspen Snowmass. It does not have a full spa or a fine-dining restaurant, and it is busy and sociable rather than quiet and secluded. But that is the point.

For something more polished next door, see Viceroy Snowmass. For the glamour of downtown Aspen, try The Little Nell or Hotel Jerome.

When to go to Limelight Snowmass

The ski season usually runs from late November to mid-April, with the most reliable snow from January to March. The Christmas, New Year and February holiday weeks are busiest and most expensive, so book well ahead for those dates. Early December and late March often offer the best value, with long sunny days in spring.

In summer, from mid-June to September, the gondola next door takes hikers and mountain bikers up to Elk Camp and the Lost Forest adventure area, with an alpine coaster and a ropes course. Base Village hosts free concerts, and the climbing wall and outdoor pools come into their own. September brings golden aspens and quieter trails.