West - Weekend proposal trip in February to Aspen or Beaver Creek

Hi all,

I'm trying to plan a short 2-3 night trip from LAX to Aspen or Vail for me and my girlfriend to relax and snowboard a little. I will also propose to her on this trip. Neither one of us have ever been to this area. Could you please help with some questions?

1. Which area is more romantic, Aspen or Beaver Creek? I heard Aspen is a quaint old mining town.
2. I'm trying to stay on points at either St. Regis Aspen, or Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, which is better? I am Diamond at Hyatt and Gold at SPG. I know Hyatt has the ski lift right at the hotel, St. Regis does not? I hear St. Regis has renovations going on.

Right now it seems that Aspen might be the better town, while Hyatt Beaver Creek the better hotel? HELP? Also any romantic restaurants?

Thank you!!

While both areas are lovely, I recommend Aspen and St. Regis for something like this. Be sure to tell the hotel what you are planning and they may upgrade you or help you with setting up for the proposal. They just finished renovating so the hotel is new.

Romantic restaurant options include Cloud Nine on Aspen Highlands, Pinions, The Caribou Club and Pine Creek Cookhouse. You could hire a horse drawn carriage to take you from the hotel to the restaurant. Good luck!!!

I don't think you could go wrong with either location.

If you do Beaver Creek, I would take a look at Beano's Cabin.

http://www.beanoscabinbeavercreek.com/beanos/

Splendido is also very very nice.

http://www.splendidobeavercreek.com/

I'm a big fan of Beaver Creek. It's a little more affordable (in my experience), and a little quieter. The snow in both places has stunk it up this year--we need a good dumping or two this month or a February trip to ski may be underwhelming. The scenery up there is great year-round, though.

Thank you all for the tips. I am worried about a trip to CO this year given the low amount of snow. I will let everyone know what I end up deciding.

I would say Aspen as there is a lot more variety of things to do and see there. Yes, the St Regis does not have a ski-lift just outside the hotel. If you do go to the St Regis and have enough SPG points, I recommend upgrading to the club floor. When we stayed there, they had 5 separate food servings - breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snacks, and evening desserts. It was the best I'd ever experienced. BTW, Bill Clinton was just down the hall from us when we stayed there.