The Suite Life

by Jordan Martindell

This winter, enjoy a home away from home that keeps you safe and lets you keep exploring

While the nature of travel has drastically changed over the past nine months, you don’t have to say goodbye to your sense of wanderlust this winter. With some simple adjustments and smart planning, your cold-weather adventures can still happen, they just might look a little different than the typical apres-filled afternoon followed by a boisterous soak in a hot tub with strangers. This season will be the season of suites, where cooking, playing and socializing can be done in your own private space, allowing for maximum safety and maximum enjoyment. Check out these sweet suites and plan your epic winter of cautious travel that doesn’t sacrifice entertainment.

The Gant
Aspen
Embrace the finer things in life with a stay at The Gant in Aspen. This luxury property is just a stone’s throw from the slopes and has everything you could need for a premium vacation in one of Colorado’s most sophisticated towns. The resort offers one- to four-bedroom condos complete with amenities that are perfect for pandemic travel—external entries, grocery delivery, in-room dining, and wood-burning fireplaces that create the perfect ambiance. The Gant also has an on-site ski rental and boot-fitting service to keep all your gear in one place. The full concierge service can help you get an insider’s scoop on where to spend your precious moments of off-resort dining and adventuring. If you want to skip the resort crowds you can book a heli-skiing adventure, snowshoeing tour or dog-sled outing. Take advantage of this socially distanced year and design an alternative vacation of your dreams.

The Outlook Lodge
Green Mountain Falls
Have you ever dreamed of living in a Victorian home full of charm and character but didn’t want the inevitable renovations that come with an older property? The Outlook Lodge in Green Mountain Falls offers the perfect private getaway in a quintessential old-world atmosphere. Modern amenities and beautiful views are the perfect backdrop for a visit to the lodge. Tucked away in this small town outside of Colorado Springs, it is the ideal spot for the kind of vacation that involves snuggling, cooking, lounging and mostly staying in. For true self-guided R&R, don’t skip this tiny gem on the Front Range. 

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon
Vail Valley
Space reigns at The Westin Riverfront at Beaver Creek, where wellness and renewal accompany your winter getaway. There is something so pampering about a hotel—the plush beds that swallow you up at the end of the day, the anonymity of a large property, and the full-service amenities that come with a brand like Marriott—and The Westin Riverfront is no exception. The true stars of this property are its on-site spa, space to safely distance, and ski slope access. Natural light and a peaceful aura fill the atmosphere at Spa Anjali. This 27,000 square-foot spa has more than a dozen treatment rooms and offers mountain-themed and nature-derived treatments to help you kiss your troubles goodbye. The suites at this property have ample space for everyone whether you are a couple, on a solo visit, or have a family of six with small children. High ceilings frame each room and units are equipped with the tools needed to truly craft a home-away-from-home experience while cooking, lounging or playing. Finally, the skiing at Beaver Creek is absolutely stunning. The Riverfront Express Gondola gives guests access to Beaver Creek’s Bachelor Gulch side of the mountain. This lesser-known area is filled with aspen-lined glades that are rarely populated, even during high season. This “hidden” side of the mountain is the perfect place to spend easy ski days sur- rounded by majestic mountains.

Grand Colorado on Peak 8
Breckenridge; No Car Needed
This brand new property on Peak 8 has landed Breckenridge a modern, sophisticated and ski-savvy location for the adventurer who wants it all. Ice skating? Fine dining? Slope-side access? Privacy? Best skiing in Colorado? Enjoy apres ski in your own heated, private rooftop dome? You got it. Peak 8 leaves nothing to be desired and is the perfect home base for your winter adventures. Each room has a carefully curated Colorado casual decor that is cozy without feeling kitschy and modern without feeling snooty. This setting is the ideal spot to plan your itinerary. In the off-chance that you do want to leave the comfort of the resort, the Breck- enridge Gondola is easily accessible, making a trip to “the perfect mountain town” a breeze. In fact, The Grand Colorado is perfect for car-less travelers who want to be free of parking headaches while on vacation. And the resort has a complimentary shuttle service for when the gondola stops running. Easy peasy.

Mountain Lodge
Telluride SlopeSide Access Ski In, Ski Out
A more intimate trip can be had at Mountain Lodge Telluride, located in Mountain Village. This quaint, boutique property has a hands-on approach to service that can be felt immediately upon arrival. Each residence has a warm traditional feel and the convenience to the ski slopes can’t be beat. From the lodge, you can easily ski the long, slopes off the Sunshine Express ski lift—a less crowded side of the resort. In order to accommodate in-room dining, the lodge provides grocery delivery services before your arrival and throughout your stay. The Telluride Gondola is easily accessible from the lodge and the beautiful ride to the slopes or to town is worth the journey. The gondola runs until midnight. The lodge is also pet friendly, so you can bring Fido, too. Woof!

While traveling this winter may seem daunting, changing the expectation of your trips to a more home-centric model can help you take ad- vantage of this socially distanced year and design an alternative vacation of your dreams.

After growing up in California and years of East Coast city living, Jordan Martindell moved to Boulder, where she combines her love of aesthetics and the outdoors. She has written for Dorado Magazine, Elevation Outdoors Magazine, Outdoor Retailer Magazine and offyonder.com.