When the snow is gone, many ski resorts heat up in more ways than one. Summer in Aspen means hiking, bicycling, rafting and a cultural smorgasbord, with music festivals and live theatre abounding for families; kids would also dig the year-round nature museum, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies.
Deals are in bloom, too. The local chamber of commerce is opening the door wide for visitors this summer, offering discounts on activities and restaurants as well as hotels, with its Aspen Snowmass Summer Pass. We particularly liked two deals in the promotion, pegged to how long and when you might stay:
- 4th Night Free: Book at least three nights at participating Aspen hotels and you get the fourth night free. A great choice is the Aspen Square condominiums in downtown, which offers kitchenette suites and a heated outdoor pool. In June, suites start at $199 a night.
- 50% Off Wednesdays: Stay at least two nights, including a Wednesday, at a variety of local hotels, and you get Wednesday night for half price. Of the participating lodgings, we particularly liked the Limelight Lodge, another downtown spot with kitchens but also a free daily breakfast. And there's more good news: With this deal, even more discounts get heaped onto Hump Day:
- 50% off orchestra concerts at Aspen Music Festival & School (starting at $20)
- 50% off greens fees at the Aspen Golf and Tennis Club after 1 pm (usually $52.50)
- 50% off bike rentals at Aspen Sports (usually $29/adult and $21/child)
- 50% off transfer from Denver International Airport (usually $75 one-way)
- Two-for-one tickets to Theatre Aspen (usually $35/adult and $15/child for family shows)
- 50% off a second meal at the Hotel Jerome’s Garden Terrace restaurant or 39 Degrees at The Sky Hotel (dinner entrees start at $28)
When you do the math, both deals translate to a 25% rate break if you book the minimum stay, but the Wednesday deal wins out for added value, since the half-price perks are for activities you’d likely want to do anyway. Aspen is walking-friendly enough, too, that you could take that bus from the airport and never need a rental car.
The packages are good for travel between May 25 and October 31, and can be booked online (no code necessary) or by phone at 800/670-0792.
More ways to save:
Land of the Free: 5 Fab Freebies in Aspen & Snowmass
