| Want to receive extra benefits for your stay at the W Hotel Aspen, including complimentary breakfast, a space available room upgrade, a property credit, and more? Contact [email protected] for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. |
The W Aspen opened in late August 2019, and is the first new hotel in Aspen in about 25 years. That’s exciting, since this presents an opportunity to redeem points in one of the most popular (and expensive) ski destinations in the US. I’d note that the W Aspen is only a few blocks from the St. Regis Aspen, which I’ve reviewed before.
The W Aspen has a total of 99 accommodations — this includes 88 guest rooms and 11 residences.
The W Verbier is one of my favorite Marriott properties, and it’s my understanding that this hotel was modeled after that one, which I’d consider to be great news.
In this post:
Booking The W Hotel Aspen
We were visiting Aspen for a fall getaway. It was Ford’s birthday, and we were also traveling with a friend who was celebrating his birthday. The W Aspen has Sky Residences, which are fully integrated into the resort.
Looking at rates, a standard room cost about $300 per night, though they were also selling incredible-looking two bedroom residences for just under $1,000 per night. These residences looked huge and beautiful, so we decided to book one of these, since it seemed fun to be able to share such a big space.
As you’d expect, the price of these residences (and all rooms, for that matter), is highly seasonal. For example, the rates for the two bedroom residence seem to range from about $929 per night to $3,000+ per night, depending on the time of year.
If redeeming points, the W Aspen is a Category 8 property. That means a free night ranges in cost from 70,000 to 100,000 points per night, depending on whether it’s off-peak, standard, or peak. You can’t redeem points directly at the Sky Residences, though.
On top of all rates the hotel has a resort fee of $50 per night.
W Hotel Aspen Review
Now let’s get into the review. First I’ll talk about how we got to the hotel, then we’ll look at the public spaces (including pool, bar, and restaurant), then we’ll look at a standard guest room in the hotel, and then we’ll talk about the service a bit. Boy do I have a lot of things to say about this hotel…
W Hotel Aspen Arrival
We decided to fly into Denver and drive from there, rather than flying straight into Aspen. Flights were way cheaper, and we’ve had so many bad experiences with flight cancelations into & out of Aspen that we just preferred a nonstop flight there.
Ford suggested this would be a “fall” getaway (which to me means a light sweater and a pumpkin spice latte), though as it turned out we got the first day of snowfall of the season. So it was super beautiful, though I wasn’t mentally prepared for the single digit (Fahrenheit) temperatures.
Driving to Aspen
Maroon Bells
The drive from Denver to Aspen took about four hours, so while it takes a while, it was such a pretty drive, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
If you do fly into Aspen, the W offers a shuttle service, which is included with the resort fee.
W Hotel Aspen shuttle
The W Aspen has a gorgeous modern chalet-style exterior.
W Hotel Aspen exterior
The bellmen were friendly and offered to help with our bags and also parked our car. Valet cost $52 per night, which is pricey, but not unexpected.
I was immediately reminded of the W Verbier inside the lobby, since the entryway is very similar, with stairs and seating that’s cool-looking but not necessarily that practical.
W Aspen lobby
W Aspen lobby
Inside the entrance and to the right was reception, which was a colorful space, with some cool wall art.
W Aspen reception
W Aspen reception
W Aspen reception
The check-in process was a bit odd:
- First they couldn’t seem to find our reservation
- Then I clarified we were staying in a residence, so they said they’d get a residence host to check us in
- After going to the back for a minute, they returned and said no residence host was available, so they could check us in
- Then we were informed that our room wasn’t quite ready, because they were “putting the finishing touches on the room to make sure it’s perfect”
I was a bit surprised our room wasn’t ready since the hotel seemed to be nearly empty, but fair enough. Check-in time was only technically at 4PM, and that’s when our room was ready.
W Hotel Aspen Marvelous Residence 2 Bedroom Suite
The W Aspen residences are fully integrated into the hotel, which is to say that they’re in the same hallways as the rest of the hotel. We were assigned residence 391, located on the third floor (the hotel has a total of four floors, plus the rooftop). Speaking of which, I’d understand if they were called ski residences, but where does the sky residences name come from? I wouldn’t exactly call a third floor room as being in the “sky.”
The wallpaper is allegedly supposed to make the hotel look like a mine, so I appreciate how different it is, if nothing else. Our room was almost to the end of the hallway and to the left.
W Aspen hallway
Oh my gosh this room was beautiful! The W Aspen Residences are really, really nice. The room had a massive living room.
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence living room
In the far corner was more of a formal living area with two couches and two chairs around a coffee table.
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence living room
Then there was another couch overlooking the TV and fireplace.
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence living room
Then to the side of that was a dining table with eight chairs, plus a huge kitchen.
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence kitchen
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence kitchen
There was also a Nespresso coffee machine.
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence coffee machine
Waiting on the dining table was a welcome amenity of three espresso martinis, apparently to celebrate the first snow day of the season. I love espresso martinis, so was happy to see that.
W Aspen welcome drink
Outside the living room was a large balcony. The residences face the interior of the town rather than the mountains, which is fair enough, since I’m sure they’d be double the price if they had a direct view of the mountain.
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence patio
W Aspen Sky Residences Marvelous Residence patio view
One bedroom featured a king size bed and daybed to the side, and it faced a wall-mounted TV.
W Aspen Residences bedroom
W Aspen Residences bedroom
W Aspen Residences bedroom
The bathroom next to this was large, with double sinks, a tub, a steam shower, and a toilet.
W Aspen Residences bathroom
W Aspen Residences bathtub
W Aspen Residences shower
W Aspen Residences toilet
There were large Bliss toiletry bottles in the shower.
W Aspen Residences toiletries
The second bedroom was on the other side of the suite. This is definitely designed more for families than anything, because the second room has two twin beds.
W Aspen Residences bedroom
W Aspen Residences bedroom
W Aspen Residences bedroom
This room also has a private bathroom.
W Aspen Residences bathroom
W Aspen Residences shower
There was a second guest bathroom near the living room.
W Aspen Residences toilet
The residence also has a washer & dryer, which sure is a nice feature if you’re on a longer trip.
W Aspen Residences washing machine
So all around I thought the room was incredible, and it greatly exceeded my expectations in terms of decor and size. At first I wondered if it was worth the premium to book a two bedroom residence over booking two separate rooms, and it most definitely was. It’s so much fun to have such a large living space.
W Hotel Aspen Rooftop & Pool
What makes the W Hotel Aspen so special is the rooftop. The hotel has the ideal location right on Aspen Mountain, and it has a rooftop unlike any other hotel in town, in my opinion. This is an incredible space.
The rooftop has a pool and hot tub.
W Hotel Aspen pool
W Hotel Aspen pool
There’s also a huge deck with lots of seating.
W Hotel Aspen rooftop
W Hotel Aspen rooftop
W Hotel Aspen rooftop
W Hotel Aspen rooftop
W Hotel Aspen WET Deck
W Hotel Aspen rooftop view
We were in Aspen during what was probably one of the quietest weekends of the year, but in the afternoon the deck already got pretty full, so I can’t even imagine how full it’s going to be in winter.
This is such a unique aspect of this hotel, because the St. Regis doesn’t have a space like this.
For what it’s worth, the drink list read as follows:
A couple of interesting notes. First of all, apparently the pool and deck are open to the public, as that’s a concession they had to make in order to get permits (or something). So in the hot tub we did get to hear from several Aspen locals about how “yeah bro, this is the new spot, this is really tight, we dig it, bro.”
Also, we essentially got heckled by a drunk bachelorette party for making the bold fashion decision of coming to the rooftop in slippers and bathrobes.
So the crowd up there is… interesting.
W Aspen Residence Deck
I’m still not sure exactly what purpose it serves, but the hotel has a deck for the residences that’s just a level below the standard rooftop deck. Since we were there in quiet season both decks were mostly empty, though I guess this is a nice space for those staying in residences when it does get busier.
W Aspen Residences deck
W Aspen Residences deck
While the deck didn’t have a pool, it did have a hot tub.
W Aspen Residences deck
W Hotel Aspen Gym & (No) Spa
The W Aspen has a gym located on the basement level, which is open 24/7. The gym doesn’t have any natural light, though it’s still pretty well equipped.
W Aspen gym
W Aspen gym
W Aspen gym
Much to my surprise, the W Aspen doesn’t have a spa, and also doesn’t plan on having one. Personally that’s not much of a loss to me since I suspect a massage would be $250+ per hour, but it’s still kind of surprising to me.
I was told they have a “partnership” for using the St. Regis Aspen spa, which I suspect just means that they’ll book you there?
Are hotel spas in places like Aspen like room service, where they’re surprisingly a cost center rather than a money maker?
W Hotel Aspen Living Room
The W Aspen’s main restaurant is the Living Room, and it’s located on the second floor.
W Aspen Living Room
W Aspen Living Room
W Aspen Living Room
W Aspen Living Room
W Aspen Living Room
W Aspen Living Room
There’s even a shuffleboard table, which we enjoyed.
W Aspen Living Room
The Living Room also has a great outdoor space.
W Aspen Living Room outdoor space
W Aspen Living Room outdoor space
Breakfast is served in the Living Room, and Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above can get a $52 credit per room towards breakfast. That’s quite generous, given that technically they only have to provide “continental” breakfast, so some hotels will offer you a coffee and croissant and call it a day.
The breakfast menu read as follows:
Food here was a real highlight of the hotel, which I don’t often say about Ws.
I loved the eden bowl…
W Aspen breakfast
The omelets were also really good.
W Aspen breakfast
As was the bloomed chia seeds dish…
W Aspen breakfast
The hash bowl was also popular.
W Aspen breakfast
On our last morning they also brought out the cider donuts, which were great, but oh-so-unnecessary.
W Aspen breakfast
Also, as someone who loves hot sauce, I have to give the W Aspen credit for their selection. Any dining establishment that has more than just Tabasco instantly scores points in my book.
W Aspen breakfast hot sauce
W Hotel Aspen 39 Degrees
The W has a nightclub of sorts that’s called 39 Degrees. It’s open from 8PM until 2AM, and is on the ground floor.
W Aspen 39 Degrees
On our first night we checked it out after dinner, and the door was nearly closed, as there wasn’t a single soul in there, except the person working there. We went back the next night, and at that point there were maybe five people in there, so we left once again.
The space sure has unique decor. I’m not sure if this will be popular in winter, or…
W Aspen 39 Degrees
W Aspen 39 Degrees
W Hotel Aspen Room Service
The W has 24/7 room service, and that menu can exclusively be accessed on the TV. We did order once (when we wanted an afternoon snack prior to a late dinner and may have also had a few drinks).
W Aspen room service menu
W Aspen room service menu
W Aspen room service menu
While we ordered total junk, it was delicious.
W Aspen room service
W Hotel Aspen House Car
The W Aspen has a hotel car that can drive you anywhere in town. They use a BMW X7, and this is a super nice feature, especially when it’s cold outside and you’re feeling lazy. Given the lack of Ubers available in Aspen, this is a feature that most good hotels seem to have.
W Aspen hotel car
W Hotel Aspen Service
Oh, the service…
Everyone working at the W was pretty well intentioned. But I can’t help but feel like something can’t be a W Hotel if it’s actually well run. While W calls their service “Whatever, Whenever,” I tend to think a more accurate description is “Whatever, Whenever, Never.”
To start, we had quite a few issues with our room. All were minor, but they added up. The irony is that when we were in the elevator the first day, we heard a hotel manager bringing a guest to his room that the hotel had some opening kinks, but they’ve worked them out. I beg to differ.
First of all, none of the phones in our room worked. We would call down, and then a few minutes later someone would come knocking on our door to see what we wanted. They said this was a known issue, and they were working on it.
Someone had come to our room twice that day already, and then at 11PM we tried to make a call again, and it still didn’t work. So in addition to sending someone up to see what we wanted, they also sent up two (super friendly) maintenance people at 11PM. “We’re here to fix your phones, we just want to be proactive and make sure you have a great stay.” I’m not exactly sure I’d call that proactive, but…
Then we tried to stream something from our device to the TV (who doesn’t want to watch (90 Day Fiancé after a few drinks?!). As it turns out, this service completely doesn’t work — the Wi-Fi network that’s written there doesn’t even exist, and when you enter the code you get an error message. So they sent up maintenance, and they couldn’t figure it out either.
W Aspen technology issues
Then for logging onto the internet, we couldn’t actually get the regular Wi-Fi (where you log in with your room number and name) to work. They repeatedly tried to troubleshoot it, but it still wouldn’t work. So they gave us an access code, rather than letting us connect with our name and room number. That wasn’t a huge issue, but it also meant we didn’t get the high speed Wi-Fi.
Then we tried to use the hotel’s texting service, and there was consistently a 15-60 minute delay in responding. To me that’s pretty useless, and very much goes against the “Whatever, Whenever” concept that W promises.
While we mentioned each of these things individually, I decided to also bring this to the attention of the front office manager. I just figured they had to know how many technology failures they had. I phrased it in a nice way — I explained I didn’t want anything, and that I just wanted them to be aware of these things so they can work out these kinks before the busy season).
Along those lines, I feel like W service is so insincere. The same person I mentioned at least two of those issues to during the stay asked at check-out “was everything with your stay perfect?”
So all around I think service was well intentioned. The restaurant and bar staff were excellent. But there was a lot of attention to detail missing with the front office staff.
Lastly, I should mention that on the day of departure we asked for late check-out as a Marriott Ambassador. At resorts late check-out is subject to availability for Platinum members and above, but that should actually mean that it’s subject to availability, and not subject to whether or not the hotel feels like it.
The hotel was totally dead when we were staying there, and for the day of our departure they were selling the maximum number of two bedroom residences that show online. Check-out time is 11AM, and before even looking at anything, the front office associate said “usually we do 12PM as the late check-out.” After pushing she agreed to 1PM.
As usual, I feel like taking advantage of Marriott elite perks is like pulling teeth. I’d totally get this in peak season, but that wasn’t the case here.
Oh, and our room had a major leak in the wall that caused the carpet by the king bed to be soaking wet.
W Hotel Aspen Guest Room
We loved our residence, but right before we checked out we asked if we could see a standard room, as I was curious how those rooms compared. Overall I was feeling mostly great about the property based on the residence we had.
Well, unfortunately the hotel rooms are a different story. While we weren’t able to view one, the first thing worth noting is that the W Aspen has some really unusual guest rooms.
The W Aspen has rooms with queen bunk beds…
And they also have rooms with beds right behind one another…
I feel like there’s a novelty and shock factor to that, but this is virtually unheard of for a luxury hotel.
Anyway, the model room they showed up was a Fabulous King Mountain View with Balcony.
As it turned out, this was far from a standard room in terms of pricing. For the entire year this room retails for $400 more than a standard room (so for example, for tonight a standard room is $279, while this room is $679, while in high season a standard room might be $899, while this room is $1,299).
The room was compact, and felt typical for a W. There was a king size bed, a single seat in the corner, and a bar. There was no desk or surface otherwise.
W Aspen Fabulous King
W Aspen Fabulous King
W Aspen Fabulous King
The room did have a nice balcony, which most rooms here don’t have.
W Aspen Fabulous King
Back by the entrance was an exposed dresser, as well as a totally open bathroom with a partitioned off shower and toilet.
W Aspen Fabulous King
W Aspen Fabulous King
W Aspen Fabulous King
W Aspen Fabulous King
I was surprised to see that they didn’t have Bliss toiletries. I was told W is transitioning away from Bliss, which came as news to me. This room had “Momo” toiletries.
W Aspen Fabulous King
W Hotel Aspen Bottom Line
I’m really conflicted about the W Aspen. It’s so awesome to see a new hotel in Aspen, and in particular for it to be a points hotel. The property is modeled after the W Verbier, and overall I think the design is beautiful of the residences and public spaces.
The rooftop with pool and hot tub are incredible, the location of the hotel can’t be beat, the restaurant was good, and I found the staff to be well intentioned. I also thought our residence was awesome, and I was shocked by how big it was. If you are traveling as a group I think it’s such a fun place to stay, since you actually have some shared space.
I’ll also give the hotel the benefit of the doubt on the service issues and we’ll call them growing pains, even though I also question the ability of W to execute on things.
But my real disappointment came with seeing the standard guest rooms. A room that retails for over $400 above the base room doesn’t have a bathtub, has a single seat, has a totally exposed bathroom, etc.
By comparison, the St. Regis Aspen feels so much more luxurious.
So I guess to sum it up, this is a cool addition with a great location and rooftop. If a residence were priced reasonably I’d return in a heartbeat. But I just don’t like the “regular” rooms here, and would definitely choose the St. Regis in a standard room, all else being equal (the St. Regis usually has higher cash rates, though when redeeming points it’s the same price).
Would you consider staying at the W Aspen?
Had a great 5 night stay. Would say 9/10 overall. The staff is courteous especially the guys out front that drive you around. I tipped them well so they jumped when they saw me coming. Their boss... the oldest guy at the check in station outdoors is a jackass! No need to have someone like him working there with an attitude like he has. (Typical older guy not making crap and mad at the world)...
Had a great 5 night stay. Would say 9/10 overall. The staff is courteous especially the guys out front that drive you around. I tipped them well so they jumped when they saw me coming. Their boss... the oldest guy at the check in station outdoors is a jackass! No need to have someone like him working there with an attitude like he has. (Typical older guy not making crap and mad at the world) Roof top was fun but much younger and there are no doubt professional hookers on the scene.
Looks like a psychedelic college dorm. Confusing. What exactly is the target audience here?
I booked a trip for January here in a whim and now I am nervous.
How does one eat at the Living Room? There do not appear to be many tables.
Does Austin Powers hang out at 39 Degrees? It looks shagadelic.
Great review Lucky! I don't know, this W is just not doing it for me. It looks overall depressing to me.
Can all bachelorette parties please go to Mars and stay there?? NOBODY CARES!!
Ill continue to stay at the Westin in Snowmass. Yes its a bit older but cheaper and a great ski in/out location on a better mountain!
Hey, @George Castanza (sic) and all you other complainers, here's a simple fact you are ignoring: reviews are subjective. What appeals to you may be different than what appeals to me.
I appreciate learning about (a) new properties and new plane layouts, (b) luxury properties, (c) points/miles redemptions, (d) paid-stay or paid-ticket prices, and more. To travel constantly and document those travels in easy to read reviews with plenty of pictures those travels is...
Hey, @George Castanza (sic) and all you other complainers, here's a simple fact you are ignoring: reviews are subjective. What appeals to you may be different than what appeals to me.
I appreciate learning about (a) new properties and new plane layouts, (b) luxury properties, (c) points/miles redemptions, (d) paid-stay or paid-ticket prices, and more. To travel constantly and document those travels in easy to read reviews with plenty of pictures those travels is no easy feat.
And trying to compare Ben to other bloggers is a wash. Everyone has their unique signature.
So stop with the sass and vitriol. I now live in Southern California but as they say in my native Louisiana, "Be nice or go home."
1) W's cannot in good conscience be considered luxury hotels, I think they're the cool hip trust fund kid who's father, St Regis, is all about the luxury, but he's just trying too hard.
2) Lucky, feedback is important, but in my opinion, don't focus too much on the negative comments complaining about your luxury stays & becoming TPG (which is laughable, this website is so much better and beyond that). I REALLY enjoy...
1) W's cannot in good conscience be considered luxury hotels, I think they're the cool hip trust fund kid who's father, St Regis, is all about the luxury, but he's just trying too hard.
2) Lucky, feedback is important, but in my opinion, don't focus too much on the negative comments complaining about your luxury stays & becoming TPG (which is laughable, this website is so much better and beyond that). I REALLY enjoy and appreciate all of your luxury, non points content. It's inspiring and fun to read.
This website is dynamic and has a little bit for everyone, which is important. I'm not part of the points crowd, so the endless CCs articles and the points-only stuff doesnt really interest me, and thats okay, its for others. But the rest-the flight reviews, whether paid or miles, the luxury and budget hotels, and other stuff, I enjoy that. Don't put too much pressure into shifting left or right suddenly because a couple of negative comments here demand something. In the words of Kris Jenner, "youre doing amazing sweetie"
Wow, what a really cool new option for Aspen. Time to start stocking up on Bonvoy points!!!
@George Castanza
Speak for yourself! I, for one, love the personal insights about Ford's plane sleeping habits or Ben's love for cappuccinos. I feel like I'm reading a review from a real human and it makes me want to come back to OMAAT again the next day. :-)
Good review but appalling hotel! Massively overpriced for what it offers, esp $52/night parking and those ludicrous breakfast prices (even higher once taxes and mandatory 'tips' taken into account). I think you let them off far too lightly for all those issues you had given how much you were paying. I also hate that sort of careless/insincere service where they don't even adapt it for the issues you'd mentioned to that very person! Marriott Bonvoy...
Good review but appalling hotel! Massively overpriced for what it offers, esp $52/night parking and those ludicrous breakfast prices (even higher once taxes and mandatory 'tips' taken into account). I think you let them off far too lightly for all those issues you had given how much you were paying. I also hate that sort of careless/insincere service where they don't even adapt it for the issues you'd mentioned to that very person! Marriott Bonvoy just gets less and less appealing.
In comparison I had a phenomenal points stay recently in Tokyo with Hilton Diamond and some great ones with IHG Spire in Kyoto.
I agree with Mark's comment above. This place is trying too hard and I am too old to stay here. The decor has no appeal to me whatsoever. The bunk queen beds and the one behind the other is just stupid.
I agree with the others who suggested the hotel looks absolutely awful. I am not sure what age bracket would find its design to be cool or quirky. To me it just looks cheap and so so so generic.
I also agree with Lucky’s observation that there seems to always be something not quite fully thought out about these hotels.
Last but not least, I don’t really mind locals enjoying themselves at hotels...
I agree with the others who suggested the hotel looks absolutely awful. I am not sure what age bracket would find its design to be cool or quirky. To me it just looks cheap and so so so generic.
I also agree with Lucky’s observation that there seems to always be something not quite fully thought out about these hotels.
Last but not least, I don’t really mind locals enjoying themselves at hotels I stay in. It is usually quite a nice thing to see locals having a special occasion. The Ws I stayed in become nightclubs after dark, which is not quite the same thing.
@JJJ yes the public can access the pool area for free. You can change in the restroom and leave your clothes on a chair. This is a generous benefit, so do them a favor and buy a drink from their poolside bar rather than trying to sneak in your own flask.
The tone of your reviews has become so off-putting that they’re very difficult to read. I used to love this site, but now the credit card endorsement model has taken hold, and it’s just a rag.
Please reflect on the old days and strive to get back to basics. No one cares about your sleep patterns or your relationship with Ford.
I don't fully understand the "public pool" thing. Does that mean anyone in Aspen can access the pool/deck area for free? Or do they have to pay a fee?
@ the people who say OMAAT is turning into TPG:
This will never become TPG. Brian and Ben have two completely different personalities and Brian's a bit more into the money-saving aspect, while Ben's a bit more luxe-centric. Neither are insults.
Trust me, this won't turn into TPG. I do appreciate the greater effort into booking with points and staying at a hotel that most people here could at least kind of afford to...
@ the people who say OMAAT is turning into TPG:
This will never become TPG. Brian and Ben have two completely different personalities and Brian's a bit more into the money-saving aspect, while Ben's a bit more luxe-centric. Neither are insults.
Trust me, this won't turn into TPG. I do appreciate the greater effort into booking with points and staying at a hotel that most people here could at least kind of afford to look into. While I think this hotel would be a waste of money (I mean, if you have a large group you might as well splurge for a large house or condo to rent), I also don't ski, so.
I personally appreciated seeing this versus an Amanwhatever.
@Brian and @Daniel: Amen.
The nightclub looks like an opium den - but then again, the gym could be one too, given the creepy artwork! (A mural celebrating drug use in a fitness centre?!)
I know the W is supposed to be "hip", outré, and avant-garde, but there is a limit.
Ted - Remember, this is a job - the W Aspen will be a popular hotel for people looking to redeem points. As someone who goes to Colorado to ski regularly I found the review helpful...
I’m conflicted about the direction this blog has taken.
On the one hand, I loved reading the Singita reviews and found it very helpful. I’m also extremely happy for Ben that he has done well for himself.
On the other hand, it does feel more like Ben is losing his audience. “Points were hard so we bought 4 Air France F tickets...we wanted a big room so we spend $1k/nt...” etc.
Walking...
I’m conflicted about the direction this blog has taken.
On the one hand, I loved reading the Singita reviews and found it very helpful. I’m also extremely happy for Ben that he has done well for himself.
On the other hand, it does feel more like Ben is losing his audience. “Points were hard so we bought 4 Air France F tickets...we wanted a big room so we spend $1k/nt...” etc.
Walking a fine line...no real suggestion from me but may want to step back and reassess what the blog should be.
After all, over the top ultra luxury reviews like Luxury Travel Expert may be the way to go. Who knows!
I still don’t get the attraction of Aspen to non-skiers. What am I missing? Seems like you could have had a very similar experience at a nearby hotel, without the flight plus $50 resort fee (per guest per night?) plus $52 on top of that to park your car.
That W is considered luxury makes me happy that I don't care to be cool. The public spaces, to me, look like they are trying so hard to project a 1970's cool vibe and they miss the mark. The hallways are terrible. The colors are vomit inducing. And nothing looks comfortable. Even if I could get past that, I just can't get past the W bathrooms at this and many of their other properties. Some things just ought to be private.
Thanks for the excellent review.
I could see those 'residences' being valuable for a family/group on a ski trip, but I can't imagine what they'll charge during peak ski season. Sure, the proximity to Aspen mountain is nice, but when I'm on a ski trip, I spend very little time in my room. Function over fashion and those standard rooms seem to fail in that regard
I've never been convinced of the W as a luxury brand. The quirky design verges on tacky and the price is out of line with the comfort of the mediocre rooms. I can't see how Marriott clearly differentiates this brand.
For this hotel in particular, the public access to the rooftop pool totally kills any unique value proposition. I would be furious if I spent $1000 for a hotel with a rooftop pool only to...
I've never been convinced of the W as a luxury brand. The quirky design verges on tacky and the price is out of line with the comfort of the mediocre rooms. I can't see how Marriott clearly differentiates this brand.
For this hotel in particular, the public access to the rooftop pool totally kills any unique value proposition. I would be furious if I spent $1000 for a hotel with a rooftop pool only to be heckled by non-guests enjoying a $6 Bud Light.
Lucky is right. The St. Regis blows this out of the water.
Unlike a lot of places Lucky visits, I actually do know quite a bit about Aspen properties, and lived there for a few years. The wonky service is an integral part of Colorado ski town hotels, no matter what price point, and especially since pot was legalized. Also, especially during shoulder season the locals and bargain hunters do take over a lot of the high-end properties and such is life.
I was tempted to LOL...
Unlike a lot of places Lucky visits, I actually do know quite a bit about Aspen properties, and lived there for a few years. The wonky service is an integral part of Colorado ski town hotels, no matter what price point, and especially since pot was legalized. Also, especially during shoulder season the locals and bargain hunters do take over a lot of the high-end properties and such is life.
I was tempted to LOL at the price here, but indeed even during shoulder season some of the nicer places are pretty expensive compared to years past (4-5 years ago I could stay at Hotel Jerome, for example, for under $200 a night). Must be the economy (?).
I do love the review, and these places in particular do need to keep get dinged on the service.
Lucky, pay no attention. I love the reviews regardless if you spend cash or points. Especially in a points hotel because I know what my redemption options are. That being said go ahead and review an aman or four seasons as well because why not.
They probably call the residences the Sky Residences out of deference to this hotel replacing the former Sky Hotel. The Sky Hotel was had a ground level pool that was open to the public. It's nice to hear that are continuing that tradition with the new rooftop pool at the W, since I want to visit the pool but the room prices are out of my budget.
The reason for having a separate residence deck is to provide the big spenders with a deck that the public can't access.
This used to be the Sky Hotel. Guessing that's where the odd residence moniker comes from.
What a rip-off... I don’t quite understand why someone would fork out usd1000 a night for a room to start with and would stay in it with leaks and whatever attitude of staff.
I'm clearly getting old, because absolutely nothing appealed about that space. The food looked nice. but otherwise it just feels like it's trying too hard.
Wow - that hotel looks terrible. I in general do not like W hotels - I hate the exposed bathrooms, and the bars / clubs can be nauseating. Do not get me started on the W in Dallas - that place is a whorehouse. But aside from that, while the rooftop looks cool, those standard rooms look dreadful. I'm glad you had a good time in your residence and enjoyed the space there, but even...
Wow - that hotel looks terrible. I in general do not like W hotels - I hate the exposed bathrooms, and the bars / clubs can be nauseating. Do not get me started on the W in Dallas - that place is a whorehouse. But aside from that, while the rooftop looks cool, those standard rooms look dreadful. I'm glad you had a good time in your residence and enjoyed the space there, but even so, the decor in the residence looked pretty bad too - the common spaces looked like an airport lounge. This review was overall helpful for me, though. It confirms my overall feelings on W properties, and reaffirms my decision to stay at the St Regis, the Jerome, or condo/vrbo properties while skiing.
1) Almost all spas in the US are cost centers (or break even at best)
2) Curious to see how you look at the value of redeeming Bonvoy points now versus the cost of earning them. I just checked MLK weekend, W Aspen is priced at 300,000 for three nights, St Regis Aspen priced at 285,000 for three nights. Pretty fantastic values on a cent per point basis (W is $1,000 a night, St Regis...
1) Almost all spas in the US are cost centers (or break even at best)
2) Curious to see how you look at the value of redeeming Bonvoy points now versus the cost of earning them. I just checked MLK weekend, W Aspen is priced at 300,000 for three nights, St Regis Aspen priced at 285,000 for three nights. Pretty fantastic values on a cent per point basis (W is $1,000 a night, St Regis is $1,800+). However, you don't seem to encourage any method of earning Marriott points with credit card spend, and it is very hard to replace 300,000 Marriott miles without a lot of paid stays. So the question is, what is the really the best way to consistently earn Marriott points?
@ Anthony -- It's a great question. Nowadays I'd argue there's no way to earn Bonvoy points anymore without huge opportunity cost. There's no way to do so efficiently with credit cards, so the only option is to earn them through stays, and perhaps buy them occasionally. This is one of the reasons I'm conservative with redeeming Bonvoy points, because they are tough to replenish. Then again, they devalue rather quickly, so holding onto them sure is costly...
Does W have those pink LEDs trademarked? They use them everywhere.
Does this hotel have ski lockers? It doesn't even look like there's room to hang a parka in the standard-but-not-standard room. The toboggan luggage rack is cute, though.
@ Tortuga -- Yep, it does have ski lockers. While the hotel doesn't have ski-in, ski-out (unlike the St. Regis), it is very close to Aspen Mountain.
This is a metaphor for all of Marriott Bonvoy
This blog is rapidly evolving into TPG.
"Oh look - a new points hotel opened up. Why dont I spend 1K/night to get a suite?"
@ jettyboy -- We would have booked two rooms otherwise, which would have come out to about $800. This was less than $200 more, and we got an extra 700 square feet compared to two rooms. We had two birthdays, and it was so much more fun to have a shared room of this size, rather than two separate rooms.
Even redeeming points wouldn't have been a good deal here, at 85,000 points per...
@ jettyboy -- We would have booked two rooms otherwise, which would have come out to about $800. This was less than $200 more, and we got an extra 700 square feet compared to two rooms. We had two birthdays, and it was so much more fun to have a shared room of this size, rather than two separate rooms.
Even redeeming points wouldn't have been a good deal here, at 85,000 points per night per room (that's less than half of a cent per value). In high season that would of course be a better value.
I appreciate the feedback and promise for the rest of the year my hotel reviews will almost exclusively be with points. I hope this review is useful nonetheless, and I intentionally tried to get pictures of the "regular" rooms as well.