Viceroy Snowmass, Snowmass Village, Colorado

Viceroy Snowmass is the most polished ski-in, ski-out address on Snowmass Mountain. Its two towers rise right beside the Elk Camp Gondola in Base Village, so you can clip into your skis a few steps from the lobby and ski back to the door at the end of the day. Spacious suites with full kitchens and fireplaces, a slopeside heated pool and a large spa make it one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to ski the biggest of Aspen's four mountains.

Location: Snowmass Village, Colorado

The hotel stands at the heart of Snowmass Base Village, the modern, pedestrian-friendly hub at the foot of Snowmass Mountain, about 13 kilometres (8 miles) from downtown Aspen. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is only around 8 kilometres away, and the hotel offers complimentary airport transfers and transport around Snowmass Village, which makes arrival unusually easy for a major American ski resort.

Snowmass is the largest of the four Aspen Snowmass mountains, with more than 3,300 skiable acres and a huge spread of long, wide cruising runs that suit beginners, intermediates and families particularly well. The Elk Camp Gondola, Village Express and Assay Hill lifts are all a short walk or slide from the hotel. Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are reached by free shuttle bus, so one lift pass opens up all four mountains.

Right outside, Base Village has an outdoor ice rink, shops, cafés and restaurants, and the village's network of walkways and lifts links it to the Snowmass Mall further up the hill.

Rooms and suites at Viceroy Snowmass

Accommodation is split between two towers, Pinnacle and Cirque, and ranges from studios to residences with up to four bedrooms. This is a hotel built for space: even the studios, at around 35 square metres, have a kitchenette, a gas fireplace and a balcony, while the one-bedroom residences add a separate living room and a sofa bed, at around 50 square metres.

The larger residences have full kitchens, several bathrooms and generous living and dining areas, making them a practical choice for families or groups of friends who want to cook some meals, spread out and avoid squeezing into adjoining rooms. Interiors are contemporary and warm, with natural materials, fireplaces and big windows framing the evergreen slopes. Ask for a slope-facing room to watch the first skiers come down in the morning.

Facilities at Viceroy Snowmass

The centrepiece is the all-season outdoor heated pool, set slopeside on the third floor of the Pinnacle Tower and surrounded by hot tubs, with the ski runs rising just beyond. It is open in winter and summer, and a soak here after a day on the mountain is one of the great pleasures of a stay.

The Spa at Viceroy covers around 7,000 square feet, with treatment rooms, heat and hydrotherapy facilities and massages designed for tired ski legs. There is also a fitness centre, a ski concierge and a ski valet, so you never have to carry your gear far.

For dining, Toro, from chef Richard Sandoval, serves Latin-inspired cuisine with Central and South American flavours. Lift Line Tavern is the slopeside après spot, with live music, craft cocktails and local beers, while the Viceroy Lounge and Café V cover coffee, breakfast, light bites and evening cocktails. Children's programmes are offered in the main seasons, and the hotel was built to LEED Gold environmental standards.

The mountain moment

The defining Viceroy moment comes at the end of a bluebird ski day. You ski the last run straight down to the hotel, hand your skis to the valet and, ten minutes later, are floating in the heated slopeside pool, steam rising into the cold air as the sun drops behind the ridges and the gondola cabins swing home above you. Then it's on to Lift Line Tavern for live music and a cocktail by the fire.

Why Viceroy Snowmass is one of the best mountain hotels

Viceroy Snowmass earns its place for location and space. True ski-in, ski-out access at the foot of the Elk Camp Gondola, residence-style rooms with kitchens and fireplaces, and a slopeside pool and spa make it ideal for families and groups who want comfort without formality. It is a large, modern resort rather than an intimate boutique hotel, and it lacks the historic character of Aspen's grand old hotels. But for skiing Snowmass, few places are easier.

It pairs well with our Aspen favourites, The Little Nell and Hotel Jerome, for travellers who want to split a trip between the slopes of Snowmass and the glamour of downtown Aspen.

When to go to Viceroy Snowmass

The ski season at Snowmass usually runs from late November to mid-April, with the most reliable snow from January to March. Christmas, New Year and the February holidays are the busiest and most expensive weeks, so book early if your dates are fixed. March brings sunny spring skiing and long, warm afternoons by the pool.

Summer, from mid-June to September, is a wonderful and much quieter alternative. The Elk Camp Gondola carries hikers and mountain bikers up the mountain, the Lost Forest adventure area at the top has an alpine coaster and a ropes course, and Snowmass hosts concerts and festivals through the season. September adds golden aspen leaves across the valleys.