355 S. Monarch St., Aspen, CO 81611, 800-433-0832,
Rates: Standard rooms with one king $116- $432 in the winter, $99-$342 in the summer; deluxe rooms $116-$496 in winter, $109-$366 in summer; suites $288-$2,000 in winter, $169-$1,000 in summer. Overnight parking is $5 on the street; indoor garage parking is $15 nightly.
Stay here if you: want all the amenities of a fine hotel without paying inflated Aspen prices.
It’s close to: Aspen Mountain, Wagner Park and the shops and restaurants in the heart of Aspen.
The rooms are: compact but amenity-rich. Even in the standard rooms, guests get a desk, 32-inch flat-screen TV, wireless Internet (included in the daily room charge) petite kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave oven, sink, silverware, some basic dishware, coffee and tea. The beds are sink-into comfortable and piled with pillows. The bathroom has a granite sink and is stocked with orange-scented soaps and toiletries, and there are fluffy terry robes for lounging in.
They put all of the money into: redoing the property from the ground up. The Limelight has been family-owned since the 1950s, hosting entertainers and artists, as well as the hoi polloi. It now boasts 126 rooms and suites, including pet-friendly rooms on the first floor. Accommodations range from 325-square- foot standard king rooms to suites and a family-friendly casita. The spacious lobby features a fireplace, breakfast area and lots of seating. For après-ski soaking, there is a large heated pool and two smaller hot tubs.
The morning breakfast buffet includes hard-boiled eggs and cold meats and cheese, as well as yogurt, pastries, juice and coffee. In the winter months, the Limelight offers wine and cheese après-ski. Coffee and hot chocolate are available all day.
The bottom line: The Limelight offers a lot of bang for the buck in a town that’s not exactly rolling in good deals. The staff is friendly, helpful and welcoming.
Suzanne S. Brown
