Highlights: The St. Regis Aspen

•Located at the base of Aspen Mountain, this luxury hotel is set in the heart of upscale sophistication

•Warm, friendly, and efficient service from a well-trained staff

•Subdued elegance blends mountain décor and rich furnishings without intruding on the natural beauty of the environment

•Tantalizing and imaginative dining menu that changes with the seasons

•15,000-square-foot Reméde Spa offers decadent treatments that soothe both your body and soul

Amenities: The St. Regis Aspen

• 199 rooms. Closed late October-mid-November. High-speed Internet access. Restaurant, two bars. Airport transportation available.

General Impressions: The St. Regis Aspen

In addition to a choice location in the legendary town of Aspen, the St. Regis resort is also situated between two primary mountain ski lifts, making it ideal for winter sports enthusiasts. Known as a playground for the rich and famous, this town has a multitude of shops, restaurants, galleries, and boutiques, all of which are an easy walk from the hotel. The St. Regis Aspen itself is conveniently located 10 minutes from Aspen Airport and about 3 ½ to 4 hours by car from the Denver International Airport.

This hotel expertly combines elegance, luxury, and excellent service, making it a good choice for a business trip, a romantic weekend, or a family holiday. This resort offers something for all travelers, from its thoughtfully planned architecture to its high level of quality with respect to food and service. Even youngsters are treated like VIPs here with the innovative children’s recognition program that strives to provide children with the same level of service and amenities that their parents receive.

Guests will enjoy all of the benefits of the resort’s pristine location. Fragrant pine trees, crisp, clean mountain air, and abundant sunshine are all part of the ambiance. Interiors are equally pleasing to the eye, and the designers have imparted a ski lodge feel with plenty of leather furniture, heavy wooden tables, large area rugs, and massive stone fireplaces. Guest rooms are spacious, quiet, and loaded with top quality furnishings and amenities.

There are many venues throughout the property where a business traveler can comfortably work. The guest rooms are soundproof and there are many nooks throughout the public areas where you can settle into an overstuffed chair and get down to some serious reading or writing. Both business and leisure guests will find that they can stay connected anywhere in the hotel with complimentary wireless services.

(+) Well-designed resort that can suit the needs of all types of travelers

Guest Services: The St. Regis Aspen

My arrival at the resort was seamless and well organized. Luggage was quickly taken to my room, and all of the staff was friendly and well trained. The housekeeping staff was also amiable and efficient. When I requested a razor, they handled it quickly by bringing me an entire toiletry kit in a small fabric bag complete with razor, shaving cream, deodorant, and comb. My only disappointment is that some staff members failed to call me by name and no one asked me about my stay during checkout. The staff, however, did anticipate my needs by offering car assistance and directions to the airport.

(+) Most staff strove to provide outstanding service reflecting the hotel’s quality status
(-) Staff sometimes wasn’t as attentive as I expected for a Four-Star property

Guest Rooms: The St. Regis Aspen

The guest rooms are an elegant and luxurious sanctuary from the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains. All of the 179 guest rooms and suites feature 30-inch flat screen LCD televisions, DVD players, digital music and videogame systems, fax machines, multiple phone lines, stocked refrigerators, and humidifiers. The bathroom was beautiful and well appointed with heavy stainless plumbing fixtures, double sinks, large mirrors, and marble floors. A nice selection of Lady Primrose batch amenities was carefully placed in a box on the counter.

The staff thoughtfully provided a welcome gift of a fruit bowl upon my arrival. Even though my room wasn’t large, it felt spacious with plenty of closet space for ski gear and baggage. The room was exceptionally comfortable with plush St. Regis brand mattresses and Frette bedding. The soundproof room was also conducive to work with ample desk space and free wireless Internet. The housekeeping staff never cut corners on cleaning, making sure that everything was thoroughly cleaned and keeping my room immaculate.

(+) Elegant and luxurious rooms designed to be a sanctuary for guests

Facilities & Activities: The St. Regis Aspen

The Reméde Spa has 15,000 square feet of space and includes a 24-hour fitness center and salon. You can relax in style with a variety of services including a steam room, vapor cave, whirlpool, warm and cold waterfalls, an oxygen lounge, and an assortment of treatments and exercise classes. The staff was upbeat and eager to serve, and the therapists did a good job of discussing relevant issues before the treatments. Furthermore, when I inquired about the Reméde’s line of spa products for sale, I never felt that I was being oversold, and the staff answered my questions in a frank and honest way.

Many come to Aspen for the winter activities and sports that include skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoe tours, and fly-fishing. Others may prefer less physical activities like attending the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet or the Aspen Art Museum. Summertime doesn’t mean that the fun stops for families, couples, or business travelers; there are nature hikes, scenic chairlift rides, and outdoor barbecues offered in Aspen and the neighboring community of Snowmass.

After the skiing, spa pampering, and other activities, browse through many of the town’s fashionable shops and specialty stores for which it’s famous. There are also many dining opportunities for a quick bite, an elegant dinner, or a late night snack.

(+) Nice spa facility with a variety of treatment options
(+) Off-site sports, recreation, and dining options are easily accessible

Dining & Lounge: The St. Regis Aspen

Celebrity chef Todd English helped create the menu at Olives Aspen, the hotel’s restaurant. Patterned after his successful restaurants in New York and Boston, the cuisine is Mediterranean infused with Aspen flair. The exhibition kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and also offers a healthy spa menu of breakfast entrees such as banana and toasted almond French toast or lemon and poppy seed pancakes -- both high in protein and low in fat. In addition to the nicely arranged breakfast buffet with plenty of fresh fruits, a menu is available in case you want to order something that isn’t out on the table. Unfortunately, I had to inquire about the separate menu because my server barely mentioned it and tried to steer me toward the buffet instead.

The dining room décor consists of wooden floors, soothing rustic colors, and richly upholstered chairs. Soft background music also created a nice ambiance for meals. Additionally, the restaurant bar is an attractive location for good conversation and libations. While the overall food and service at Olives was excellent, if more casual dining is desired, the Shadow Mountain Lounge and Pool Lounge (seasonal) are also available.

Ordering room service was effortless, and the staff member was very knowledgeable about the menu options. My meal arrived on time and the server was attentive to most small details such as the presentation of the entrees and removal of the dishes’ protective wrappings. There’s something about mountain air that always makes me hungry, and the St. Regis obliged with large portions and excellent cuisine. Although it did take longer than usual to remove the food tray, the staff was both warm and friendly.

(+) Variety of menu options, from casual to fine dining, available
(-) Guests need to be made more informed of their breakfast options

Business Services: The St. Regis Aspen

The business center is no less luxurious than the rest of the property with its rich woods and subtle lighting. The center is functional and professionally staffed with generally well-trained employees that were knowledgeable in many areas and provide ample services, like secretarial and photocopying, for those working away from home. Still, the overall service didn’t quite meet up to expectations, as I had to inquire about related services that would have been helpful. For those just needing a quite place to work or online access, the guest rooms and public spaces are all wired for Internet.

(+) Adequate business center for most needs and Wi-Fi services throughout the hotel
(-) Business center staff needs to better explain the services available