Pokolodi Lodge

Inside, the property is more of a motel, but that doesn't detract from its attractiveness to those looking for good value, which is most of the families and couples who stay here. The stone-lined walls inside lead past a snow report board to a turquoise-painted reception desk, and in an adjacent room, a cozy living-room-like seating area with coffee, tea, and a microwave. The white walls and beige carpet are a bit drab, but it's livened up with some seasonal accoutrement: wooden skis and a sled hang from the high walls. Pleasant, well-maintained grounds have a pool and some mountain vistas. This is the last independently run hotel in Snowmass (as of summer 2017), giving it a more familiar vibe.

Located behind a willowy fence of aspen trees, Pokolodi Lodge is close to the center of Snowmass. More importantly, it's just a three-minute walk from the Snowmass Village slopes. It's also next door to the Snowmass Village Mall and restaurants, though guests wanting more shopping, or more slopes, can head into Aspen, 23 minutes by car down the road. In town, the Rafta bus service is handy for getting around Snowmass, and the four slopes that comprise it (racks are available on-site for skis). The hotel offers free shuttles to Sardy Field Airport, a 15-minute drive away, from late-November to mid-April. 

Rooms at ski resorts are hard-worn, but Pokolodi does a good job of keeping its units in good shape - -even if the walls are a little thin. They're not super-stylish, despite renovations in 2015, but they're cozy after a day of skiing, with white linens, green accents, and traditional, honey-stained wood furniture. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, desk, and coffeemaker, as well as an ironing board and iron. Conveniently, rooms also offer four-port docking stations for devices. There's no in-room safe, but safety boxes are available. Guests should know that rooms don't have air-conditioning, however, the mountain air is cool at night and the windows open. Fans and humidifiers are available on request. Bathrooms are a pretty standard size for this caliber of hotel, and come with a generous sink area (where the mini-fridge is located), toiletries, and a separate room for the shower/tub combo and toilet. The bathrooms in the newer wing, be warned, can very much be on the small side. One convenient perk is that guests are allotted a free storage room for ski and snowboard gear on the same floor as their room. Unfortunately, there's no elevator at the property, so those with mobility impairments should request a room on the ground floor. 

The hotel's daily continental breakfast is free and motel-standard but fine -- think cereal, boiled eggs, yogurt, and donuts. The hotel also offers free popcorn for guests back from the slopes, as well as free coffee and tea around the clock. There's also occasional wine and cheese happy hours. The property boasts a good-sized heated outdoor pool and fantastic hot tub a short walk from the rooms. Guests will have to get their exercise outside the property, as there's no gym. There is a coin-operated laundry room on-site -- a major perk for a ski property -- and a computer and printer in the lobby for guests. Fast Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the property. All parking in Snowmass is public parking, and lots are nearby for a fee.