You can’t beat the location of the Sheraton Steamboat Resort, in the heart of the pedestrian base village and just steps away from the Gondola and Christie Peak Express ski lift. Even a small studio comes with a convenient, compact kitchenette, while the two-bedroom condos feature comfy red plaid sofas, dining tables for eight, and panoramic views of the slopes. The massive outdoor heated pool is a treat, but head to the rooftop whirlpool with its bubbling, hot jets to soothe your muscles.

For the most unique lodging in Winter Park, drive 20 minutes out of town to the Western-themed Devil’s Thumb Ranch. This rustic-meets-luxury guest ranch sits on 6,800 acres with a choice of hotel rooms and multi-bedroom cabins decked out in reclaimed wood, plush bedspreads, and vintage ski touches like antique snowshoes. The onsite amenities are so good you may want to skip a day on the slope; the ranch offers nordic skiing, sleigh rides, fat biking, snowshoeing, and ice skating. Whatever you choose, end the day with a soak in the ranch’s geothermal hot tubs while you ogle the snow-covered hills.

If you’re looking for ski-in/ski-out in Winter Park, head to the timber-clad Zephyr Mountain Lodge. The condo-style lodging offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with spacious kitchens, soft leather couches, wood accents, and cozy stone fireplaces. You can watch skiers schuss down the mountain from four outdoor hot tubs, and the property’s ideal location in the base village lets you walk to ice skating, restaurants, coffee, and ski rentals. Pro tip: Ski lockers on the first floor can store your boots and skis so you don’t have to haul them upstairs.

The Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is a sprawling, stately timber and stone building that fans out at the base of its own high-speed chairlift at Beaver Creek Resort. Upon arrival, valets in cowboy hats and leather duster jackets whisk luggage up to well-appointed rooms and condos—all with fireplaces, marble-filled bathrooms, and valley or ski views. The hotel takes fireside lounging up a notch with two options: A great room features a three-story stone fireplace and comfy velvet couches in rich gem tones, while an outdoor fire pit hosts s’more roastings nightly. Relax your muscles at four slopeside stone hot tubs set in a grove of aspens, and don’t miss the resort’s spa, where a dreamy, candlelit grotto offers lounge chairs, a waterfall-filled hot tub, and cucumber water to hydrate.

Within ideal walking distance to both Main Street and the BreckConnect gondola, Mountain Thunder Lodge is like renting an Airbnb with hotel-style conveniences; the spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom condominiums and townhomes feature gourmet kitchens with all the cooking gadgets you need, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. The log-cabin style accommodations are outfitted in rustic alpine decor (hello, antique skis on the wall), with cushy couches and moss rock fireplaces. The townhomes boast private entrances, garages, and plentiful parking for large groups, and hot tubs scattered throughout the complex mean that it’s possible to soak and stargaze all by yourself.

The Bivvi costs a fraction of most ski hotels—especially if you opt for one of the hostel-style shared rooms—but it doesn’t skimp on style. Four-post timber beds, hip Navajo-print throws, and river rock fireplaces adorn the private rooms (all with ensuite baths), or you can pile onto sturdy wooden bunk beds with a pack of friends. Affordability doesn’t mean a lack of amenities, either; the Bivvi features a gear room with dryers for wet ski boots, a 10-person hot tub with views of the Ten Mile mountain range, and a complimentary breakfast bar. It’s also a top spot if you want to share your ski trip with your Instagram followers—just try to leave the hotel without snapping a pic of the blue antler chandelier; we dare you.

The St. Regis Aspen wows from the very beginning: An elegant facade made from 800,000 Colorado red bricks stands out against the snow-covered hills, and a chandelier-filled lobby features arched windows, oversized sofas, and a crackling fireplace. Ralph Lauren leather beds complement classic whites, creams, and reds in the serene guest rooms, and if you book a suite, a private butler will unpack your bags, deliver complimentary coffee and tea, and press wrinkled garments. Need to wind down? Throw on a fluffy robe and relax in the massive circular heated pool or three hot tubs nestled into the hillside. Even the daily Champagne toast is over the top—guests gather around a knife-wielding staff member who opens the bottle with a saber in a bubbly flourish.

As Aspen’s only five-star, AAA five-diamond hotel, the Little Nell is the hotel of choice for celebrities and the private-jet crowd. Locals and guests alike rub shoulders with Hollywood’s elite in a hot apres scene; head to the slopeside, sun-drenched patio at Ajax Tavern for a casual snack or to the Chair 9 bar for high-top tables, cocktails, and—if you’re feeling flush—VIP bottle service. Rooms were renovated in 2017 in a fresh palette of blues, tans, and grays, and if you can escape the cloud-like beds, you’ll be rewarded with steamy hot tubs and snow-covered aspens in the pool area. Oenophiles take note: The Little Nell’s onsite restaurant, Element 47, has earned a Wine Spectator Grand Award every year for over 20 years. Ask for a private tasting in the cellar from one of 50 sommeliers on staff—you’ll pay a premium for the wine, but there’s nothing quite like the hotel’s intimate, wine-filled underground vault, bathed in funky red lighting.

A quaint main street filled with candy-colored Victorians and timber-clad mining-era buildings has earned Crested Butte the reputation as America’s last great ski town. When we’re itchin’ for powder, our go-to lodging choice is the Lodge at Mountaineer Square, a multi-story hotel located three miles from town at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Accommodations can sleep a couple or a crowd in one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom suites, and full kitchens and washers and dryers add the conveniences of home. Enclosed heated parking is an under-the-radar perk, and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs are just the thing when it’s cold. Most importantly, you can’t beat the ski access (the Red Lady ski lift is 100 yards away), and it’s a short walk to Crested Butte’s free bus system, which will ferry you downtown in a matter of minutes.

You can’t get much closer to the lifts than the ski-in/ski-out Lumiere, a boutique, pet-friendly hotel perched above downtown Telluride at 9,450 feet in the resort’s Mountain Village. There are just 11 hotel rooms and 18 residences in the building, and all of the residences are giant—the one-bedroom clocks in at a whopping 1,050 square feet. Dark-wood floors and exposed beams contrast with light grays and blue ikat pillows, and steam showers, soaking tubs, and herbaceous smelling lotions transport you to spa heaven. If you can tear yourself away from the rooms, a ski valet takes care of equipment rentals and fittings, and an on-site concierge can arrange everything from restaurant reservations to transportation. Want to head into Telluride for dinner? The Lumiere is a short walk from a free eight-mile gondola that descends into town and provides 365-degree views of the snow-capped San Juan mountains.