Arrival/Check-In: My arrival at Beaver Creek Resort was pretty spectacular — from Vail/Eagle Airport, I transferred via private helicopter to the resort. From the helipad at the bottom of the mountain, I was driven to the somewhat nondescript entrance of The Osprey in a luxe black SUV. The lobby is small, with the concierge desk to the right of the entrance, in front of an elevator, and the reception desk to the left. Steps immediately ahead take guests to the restaurant area and a sitting area with comfortable furniture and a fireplace. The boutique hotel features just three floors. I checked in quickly and was on my way to my second-floor superior room in just a few minutes. I was thankful for the speedy check-in, as I’d been awake since 3 a.m. EST to catch my early-morning flight to Colorado.

Guest Quarters: At first glance, I noticed the calming décor and spaciousness of my guestroom. I entered into a small vestibule, with closets to the immediate right and the bathroom to the left. Separated from the room by a partial wall, the bathroom had no door dividing it from the entryway/closet or entirely from the bedroom. The bathroom area was long, with a spacious vanity and two sinks. Shelves underneath held amenities and a coffeemaker. Across from the vanity were a toilet closet and stall shower. The open floor plan had much to do with the spacious feel of the room. The bedroom featured a king-sized bed flanked by two nightstands. Across from the bed, a long table doubled as an armoire and desk. While not a traditional workspace, it was quite functional, with more than enough space to spread out my work and plug in my electronics. The TV hung above, with the work area off to the right. Under the window, offering a great view of a chairlift and ski slope, sat a sofa and table, nestled next to the in-room fireplace, which I left on whenever I was in the room. I loved the complimentary in-room water bottles — glass ones that reminded me of old-fashioned milk bottles designed to be environmentally friendly and keep water colder longer.

Services/Amenities: After check-in, I ordered room service lunch. The recently revamped menu featured a lot of tempting options, but I opted for the mesquite turkey and melted Brie club. On another afternoon, I enjoyed the strawberry and avocado salad. The morning breakfast buffet offered the typical pastries, cereals and breads, as well as some hot items, including eggs and pancakes. The Osprey Lounge on-site restaurant is small and looks like an extension of the first-floor seating area, but it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Coffee and tea are complimentary in the morning; skiers enjoy hot chocolate and snacks in the afternoon.

Speaking of skiers and snowboarders, The Osprey’s biggest draw is its proximity to a chairlift — it’s the closest hotel to one in North America. After breakfast, snow bunnies can grab their equipment from the lobby-level storage closet and be on the slopes in minutes. The Osprey is also convenient to the rest of Beaver Creek Village, including shopping, dining, the ski school, additional lifts and slopes and ice skating.

The Experience: The quaint, intimate nature of The Osprey is perfect for the resort — evoking the charm and warmth of a traditional ski cabin or slopeside accommodation. Its nearby location cannot be beat, and the guestrooms are equally comfortable.

GT CHECKLIST

• Doorman/valet
• Less than 10 minutes for check-in
• Separate tub and shower
• Large vanity
• High-quality towels
• Powerful, unattached hair dryer
• High-quality bed linens
• Large, flat-screen television
• Large desk with convenient outlets
• Large, complimentary laptop safe
• Complimentary in-room WiFi
• Complimentary bottled water
• Stocked minibar
• Ample lighting
• In-room coffeemaker
• Iron and ironing board
• On-site restaurant
• 24-hour room service
• 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center
• Turn-down service

The Osprey at Beaver Creek, A RockResort

10 Elk Track Lane
Beaver Creek, CO 81620
tel 970 429 5042
ospreyatbeavercreek.rockresorts.com