Hotel Spotlight: The Little Nell

May 10, 2019

“The city of Aspen at our front door, Aspen Mountain at our back door. And in between, a gathering place for the brave and the bright. We’re proud of our 5 Stars and 5 Diamonds — hospitality is our passion. From our kitchens to our cellars, with their 20,000 bottles of wine, from the Concierges in our lobby to the Concierges on our mountains, and from family adventure to après ski, this hotel is, guests have said, “the Aspen of Aspen.” – The Little Nell

Aspen is well known for its alpine skiing, fresh powder and attractive village-feel. This was my first time visiting Aspen and it happened to be in the summer. I’m not sure why, but I thought that the city’s only high season was winter, for the skiing. Boy, was I wrong! Aspen boasts an array of summertime activities that truly make it the place to be for summer vacation in the mountains. I was so impressed by The Little Nell‘s attention to detail when it came to the adventure activities. For a luxury Relais & Chateaux, they sure to pay attention to delivering only the most eclectic of experiences for travelers seeking both luxury and adventure. Their off-road sunset tour was one of the best experiences I’d had this year. The rugged nature, pastel painted skies amidst the vast mountains reminded me as though I was in Switzerland. To top it off, a glass of champagne as the sun sunk into the mountains on one side while the full moon rose on the other. Absolutely fantastic.

I’m a stickler when it comes to room comfort, style and decor, and I was so pleasantly surprised by my Town Side Guest Suite. Even for their most basic accommodations, there is so much comfort and attention to detail. I could have stayed there for at least a week in all honesty! From the little dining area, welcome charcuterie and wine, complimentary gourmet mini bar snacks and beverages, a seating area in front of the fireplace, a sunken tub and separate shower, and even little ear buds on the bedside table with chocolates to complement. It’s all about the finer things in life at The Little Nell, and I really appreciate that. What I also love, is should you desire, you can choose from an array of their other suites and residences that boast immense luxury and style. But wait, did I mention that they are pet-friendly?!

Near to the heated outdoor pool facing the mountains, is their brightly colored garden wall in abundance of all things flowers. It’s absolutely beautiful and really adds to the taste of the outdoor area. The food at Element 47 was so delectable (go for the Avocado Toast at breakfast!), and the service was wonderful. Their gym had everything I needed during my short stay, and their spa looked so inviting. But if you know me, you know that what really sets a luxury hotel apart for me is how sustainable they strive to be. With a focus on sustainable dining, they partner with local farmers and vendors to source their produce and meats, and they’ve completely eliminated plastic straws for biodegradable ones. They offer reusable water bottles to their guests, and they really focus on supporting their Environmental Foundation through donations. Please have a look at the page they’ve dedicated towards sustainability here for further info.

Be sure to check out their end of summer adventures, like their Clip-In With Christian cycling camp from August 19th-23rd, fly fishing, Sunset Off-Road Tours, Stargazing and cycling through September!

The overall rating that I gave The Little Nell is a 10/10.

What I loved: Attention to detail when it came to combining unmatched luxury with adventure activities and sustainability.

What Set It Back: Absolutely nothing

Overall: Get ready to ski in/out from luxury!

What makes a sustainable or regenerative hotel? A reverse osmosis water system, farm to table produce, supporting local dairy and meat farmers, engaging with local non-profit or community organization endeavors to address an issue within the country or community, energy efficient lighting, low pressure water systems, recycling, employing locals and offering fair and equal pay, replanting what was lost during the construction, use of biofuel (for boats), engaging guests in local cultural experiences and making them aware of environmental and cultural needs, LEED Certification, educating staff on importance of sustainability (turning off lights, observing for wasteful practices, etc.), reducing bathroom amenities waste (using bamboo toothbrushes instead, locally made/organic soap, shampoo and conditioner that help the environment), the list goes on.

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