When most people think about Aspen, Colorado, they automatically think of a place filled with the elite, wealthy, and tons of celebrities. This past holiday season alone, we’ve seen Kevin Hart, members of The Real Housewives series, Mariah Carey and more posting photos from the popular ski town.
The reality is, it is a luxury ski resort, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to get the 5-star Aspen experience without totally breaking the bank. You just have to know the ins and outs in order to save money.
Rather than send you down a rabbit hole trying to research all the ways to save money in Aspen, we’ve done the hard work for you. So, if this luxury Colorado town has been on your radar for some time, but money has been holding you back, check out our tips and tricks for doing Aspen for less.
1. Your travel dates matter above all else
The most popular time that people head to Aspen is the holidays. Think Dec. 15 through the first week in January. This is the time you want to avoid as it is considered peak season, and most everything comes with a premium.
We highly suggest the week just after Thanksgiving, the second week of the New Year, and then late March/ early April as the best time to head to Aspen.
Sure, you may not spot as many celebrities, but also keep in mind they’re on vacation too, and honestly don’t want to be bothered.
When traveling later in winter— late March/ early April— most hotels and Airbnbs offer deep discounts since they need people to fill the rooms. Many also throw in discounted ski lift tickets, which are also VERY pricey in Aspen.
2. Book ski lift tickets in advance
In addition to traveling in low season, you’ll want to also book ski lift tickets as early as possible.
What many people don’t know is that when you book multiple lift tickets in advance, most of the ski lifts will automatically discount your tickets.
Also, in the late winter season, many hotels will offer the tickets at up to 50% off. Now that is some real savings!
3. Eat off of the bar menu
The best way to save money on meals, is to sit at the bar and order from the special bar menus.
There are lots of great eateries in Aspen, but yes, like most other things, they can also be expensive. If you want to splurge on a night or two, be our guests, but those other nights the bar is your friend.
4. Take advantage of local transportation
Aspen is a very small town. But, the altitude can quickly tire you, especially if there is a hill involved.
While you won’t need a rental car if you are staying in Aspen during your trip, getting from slope to slope will require a drive.
There is a local bus that is free of charge. It comes with free Wi-Fi, and it’s set up like a charter bus rather than a city bus. They run like clockwork every 15-minutes and go between the 4 Aspen mountains.
There is also a free rideshare app called the Downtowner, that will take you to places within the Aspen city limits.
5. See, Aspen can be done for less
As you can see, Aspen doesn’t have to break the bank. Take advantage of these tips, and you too can live it up in the luxury town, just like your favorite celeb.