You’ve decided a vacation rental is for you–great choice, by the way. But what kind of rental will suit your needs the most? Here in Aspen, we have two types of rentals based on geographic location: central core and out of town. And within those types, there are multiple neighborhoods to choose from.

There is absolutely no wrong answer here but, it is important to have all the information you can in order to make the best decision for you and your group. In this blog, we will tell you about the options in the central core of Aspen. For more remote villas, click here. 

If you are looking for walkability, energy, and restaurants and shopping at your fingertips, being right in town is your best bet. From a rental in the Central Core, you can literally walk to everything. Nothing is more than a few blocks when you stay here, and that includes Ajax Mountain (aka Aspen Mountain). In the winter, this is prime for a quick walk to the gondola and aprés. In the summer, a spectacular hike up Ajax Mountain is right around the corner. And at night? Well, dinner, drinks and a show at Belly Up is a foregone conclusion. If energy and convenience is your style, we recommend you consider a villa, a penthouse, or a residence in the central core of Aspen. If space and privacy are more your bag, keep reading.

The West End. It seems like every city has one, but we promise you none of them compare to Aspen’s West End neighborhood. Just like the Central Core, this area is still walkable, but you might have a few more blocks to reach the downtown area. Unlike the Central Core, your rental is likely to have a little more privacy and space to spread out for the price. And don’t you worry, you’re still super close to trailheads and a lot of the summer activities like paragliding, mountain biking, or a nice midday stroll down the Rio Grande trail. 

Smuggler sounds a bit illegal, but it’s not. We promise you. Smuggler mountain was named after the Smuggler Mine, and it’s quite a sight to this day. Some say it’s Aspen’s “hidden gem”, and we aren’t arguing. So, what do you get on this side of town? Because you’re backed into the side of the mountain, you might get lucky and find a villa with a view and more sunshine in the evening than anything in the core. And just like everywhere else, you have trailheads right outside your door. If you like more of a deal on your accommodations, this might be a good option for you. Rentals here are more walkable than the West End and are serviced my multiple bus stops for you to ride into town at no cost to you. (Our bus system is a life saver for visitors and locals alike) 

If none of these sound like “you” but you still want to be in town, you should take a look at Cemetery Lane. Yes, there is a cemetery, but no it isn’t spooky. A Cemetery Lane rental will give you peace and quiet, that laid back feel. And if you’re a golfer, good news: Aspen’s highly rated golf course is right in the neighborhood. The only downside–and it might not be to you–is the lack of walkability. You still have public transit, you still have paths and trails of course, just not the “just around the corner” convenience as, say, the Central Core or other areas.

All in all, you really cannot go wrong when choosing a luxury vacation rental in Aspen. It’s all about what you’re looking for out of your stay. And lucky for you, you have plenty of choices. The unlucky part is the actual searching process, because for whatever reason there is no centralized search engine for Aspen villas. That’s where Aspen Luxury Concierge comes in. 

At ALC, we do all that work for you so you can sit back and think about all the memories you and your family or group will make. And that’s not all we do for you! We offer a plethora of services such as arranging your transportation, stocking your kitchen before you arrive, making your dinner reservations and planning your activities. And that’s just the beginning. 

For more information on our services and how we can make your trip to Aspen unforgettable, click here. 

Looking for more of a remote villa in Aspen? Look no further! Click Here. 

Even if you haven’t been to Aspen, you probably still know all the winter activities we have to offer here. Skiing, snowboarding, hiking the bowl, snowmobiling, and dog sledding–what’s not to love? 

But once you and your friends get off the mountain, what’s next? Sure, you can split up and go shopping (which you totally should while you’re here) and yes, you can meet back up to apres (an Aspen staple), but what if you just want to get down and party a little while you shop?

This is where I suggest a private shopping experience at Kemo Sabe. 

Whether you’re coming in with a group of your best friends, a bachelorette or bachelor party, or a corporate group, you will not be disappointed with a night spent in this western paradise. 

“A lot of times groups will rent out the bar upstairs, and we’ll whip up  a special cocktail to sip while they all shop for a buckle or a hat to commemorate their unforgettable stay in Aspen. Everyone loves it!” says Kemo Sabe’s Kate Valdmanis.

You can even rent out the entire place if you want, which, if you’ve ever been to Kemo Sabe, you know it is basically like being in a country western club with boots, buckles, hats, and some of the most unique jewelry you’ve ever seen. And the music! Country classics and the latest hits play all night long–it’s impossible not to sing along. 

My personal experience: Anyone can buy a hat, but at Kemo Sabe, it’s an adventure personalized to you. I wasn’t there for five minutes and Kate already had some hat ideas just by looking at my face shape and my skin tone. Once we narrowed it down to size and color, it was onto the brim and the hat steamer. And then the best part: the hat band, the feathers and, the BRANDING! I put my initials on mine because I just got married and I’m super proud of my new last name. But you can brand your hat with whatever you want! They have pretty much anything you can think of.

Just think if you all went home with a custom hat after your trip! The memories you’d make, the pictures in front of the boot wall you’d take’, the cocktails you’d sip while shopping! And I bet some of the ladies would dance if you asked! Actually, I know they would. They live for a good time.

Ok, I’ve said enough. I think you get my drift. You must go to Kemo Sabe when you’re here. You must. And Aspen Luxury Concierge can help you plan the experience of a lifetime. 

For more information on how to set up your private shopping experience, contact us today! 

Whether you’re bringing a group for a conference, a retreat or treating them to a well-deserved weekend away from the grind, a travel concierge can make the planning process a lot easier for you. Here’s how:

1. Single Point of Contact: Every time you call a hotel, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll speak to a different person, right? It’s the same with a restaurant or really anywhere with multiple employees. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but what if you had ONE person you talked to about everything? From the accommodations to the restaurant reservations to the activities, a concierge handles all the details. (The great ones take the time to truly get to know your vision before you even arrive so the experience is fully customized for your group. And that’s what you get with Diamante, by the way.)
2. The Ultimate Time Saver: Unless you’re the designated travel agent for your company, you most likely have more responsibilities on a regular basis than planning a corporate retreat. Think of the time you’d save if you didn’t have to do all the online searches for where to stay, call all the restaurants, research what there is to do…that’s a job within itself. A concierge makes it as simple as it can be because we do all that for you!
3. Area-Experts and Insiders: On top of saving you time and energy, concierges know everything there is to know about where you’re headed. They know the hottest restaurants, the local hot spots, and the best-kept secrets. In essence, they make you look good. And with their preferred partners, you can have premier access to experiences and opportunities you definitely couldn’t have found through a Google search.
4. One-Stop-Shop: With contacts and relationships, a concierge can negotiate large group bookings on your behalf. That alone can be a huge headache when you’re dealing with room blocks. Just trust us.
5. Team On The Ground: Say you’re in charge of booking this trip for your team, but you don’t actually get to go. You’re booking for your boss and his/her colleagues, and you really need to go smoothly for everyone. If you’re not coming, you cannot make sure that happens. And you cannot be everywhere at once. A concierge has a team on the ground so that whether or not you are here, everything is taken care of. Fulfillment and trouble-shooting are a concierge’s bread and butter, so you can rest assured that your group will get the experience they envisioned. And if you get to come along, you can enjoy the experience, too! Win-win.

Next time you need to book a trip for your company, consider a concierge-like Aspen Luxury Concierge. You have enough to do as it is!