Inn at Lost Creek

Wouldn’t it be great if you could go on vacation without having to deal with the hassle of luggage?  An upscale ski resort and hotel in Telluride, Colorado has come one step closer to making that fantasy a reality with a creative new amenity.

The Inn at Lost Creek, which markets itself as “the little hotel with large amenities”, is offering to handle at least part of the luggage hassle for guests who book the Simply-Ski package.  Although you’ll still need to pack and unpack your own luggage, the Inn at Lost Creek will do the rest of the heavy lifting for you – literally.

The Simply-Ski package for the 2010/2011 ski season includes:

• Four nights ski-in/ski out accommodation
• Up to two free ski rental equipment packages per room/per night
• Daily continental breakfast
• Advance luggage pick-up and delivery between the guest’s home address and hotel for up to two bags
• $75 in groceries pre-ordered and stocked for the guest’s arrival

The hotel will also provide ground transportation from the Telluride Airport or wash your car before you head home.

Nightly rates for the Simply-Ski package start at $357 per room during the early season.  The package is being offered from November 25, 2010 to April 4, 2011.  No word on who will be responsible for tackling the laundry mountain once you’ve returned home.

Photo courtesy of the Inn at Lost Creek

Colorado's fresh powder and special ski packages beckon

With 26 unique ski areas and resorts offering more than 2,000 trails and 40,000 acres of mountain terrain, Colorado is the world’s premier ski and snowboard destination. The State also provides visitors with a variety of off-the-slopes winter activities including dog sledding, ice jeeping, snowshoeing and ice climbing. Now, with fresh powder from winter storms adding to the snowpack over the past ten days, resorts across the state are offering great values on airfare, lodging, lift tickets and more. The following are ten of the best offers:

Winter Park: Rates from $45 Per Person, Per Night. Save 50% off your 2nd night when you book one night. Restrictions may apply.

Aspen/SnowmassBuy 4 and Get More with the Perfect Storm Package. Buy a minimum four night/four day lift and lodging package and get a fifth night of lodging and a fifth day of lifts for free. Plus, get a Perfect Storm Card good for discounts on goods and services throughout the resort including in-resort discounts including, 15% off up to two adult group ski school lessons  and Read More »

The Top 10 Green Ski Resorts Hotel Report is a look at where to stay if you visit one of the top 10 green ski resorts selected by the non-profit group Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition.

Halfway through our exciting series, today we’re in California again, checking out the Alpine Meadows Ski Area and nearby hotels.

Like neighboring resort Squaw Valley, the Alpine Meadows ski area has a long snow season, and tons of runs and services. The difference is that it’s less intense and competitive. You’ll find more beginners and families here.

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort

It’s also a very proactive green resort, using biodiesel and supporting local environmental conservation. You can even buy a $2 SkiGreen Tag, a carbon offset program for your skiing! Each tag equates to 150 miles of not driving a car, and takes 140 pounds of CO2 and other greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. So cool, right?

Again, we’re in the North Lake Tahoe area, which has a gazillion options for hotels. In keeping with the resort’s personality, here are three hotel options: casino, family, and nifty thifty.

If you’re a beginning skier, you’re probably as more interested in the night life as the lift lines. If you want to be able to try your luck with slots, or catch a comedy show after a long (or short) day on the slopes, check out the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Room

The rooms have lake and mountain views, cushy mattresses, robes, tvs, coffee makers — all the comforts of home, plus a maid to clean up after you. Dreamy!

And then there’s the all important fancy spa and 24 hour casino, for pampering and debauchery. If you are in the Regency Club, you get to have breakfast in a private lounge (oooh, fancy like the airport!) which also serves evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

The so-fancy Regency Club

All of this luxury comes at a price — rooms start in the range of $200+/night and go up from there.

If you’re doing a family ski trip, you want a little more space for your kids and all of their messy gear. The Hampton Inn Suites in Truckee isn’t the most elegant place you’ll ever stay, but it’s clean and comfortable.

Expect to see mullets in the lobby and parking lot

You can get a suite with two queens and a pull out sofa (ha! the youngest always gets stuck here!), or a king and sofabed. Robes, 25″ tvs, coffee maker in the room — it’s a rec room away from home. They also provide cribs if you’re crazy/desperate enough to bring a baby on your ski trip.

Big enough for your kids' junk

There’s a pool and an exercise room, if anyone has any energy left after a day skiing. You get a complimentary breakfast, there’s an onsite convenience store (you’ll never run out of beer!), and laundry facilities. A suite will run you $175/night and up.

Cold beer? Yes, please!

If you just want a clean place with a lock on the door and no blood stains on the walls, check out the Carson City Plaza Hotel. It’s a bit of drive, but the price is right: $39/night for a room with a queen bed.

That gloomy sky = snow

Last decorated at the height of “80′s Cabbage Rose Fever”, the rooms are simple, cozy in a heavily floral way, and oh yeah, inexpensive.

So. Much. Lavender. But clean!

Check out the whole Top 10:
Aspen Mountain Ski Resort – Colorado
Buttermilk Mountain Ski Resort – Colorado
Sundance Resort – Utah
Park City Mountain Resort – Utah
Squaw Valley USA – California
Alpine Meadows Ski Area – California
Aspen Highlands Ski Resort – Colorado
Bogus Basin Mountain Resort – Idaho
Mount Bachelor Ski Area – Oregon
Telluride Ski Resort – Colorado

Photos:

• Alpine Meadows Ski Resort
• Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe
• Hampton Inn and Suites
• Carson City Plaza Hotel