Departures

American Express Platinum

"My husband and I travel the world, and we always use Departures as a guide. Therefore, we want to share with fellow readers a delightful place that we return to every year, as it has become something of a second home to us. We spend Christmas and New Years at The Residence, a luxurious boutique hotel in Aspen. Located in the center of town only two blocks from aspen Mountain, this hotel is small and charming. Each Suite is individually decorated. The Residence is, without a doubt, one of the jewels of the Rocky Mountain."

Bon Appetit

Food & Travel News

With its posh restaurants, premier skiing and lavish shops, the resort town of Aspen is a prime destination for luxury seekers-and an excellent location for the intimate Residence Hotel. Composed of only seven Suites, the hotel provides a lovely setting to display owner Terry Butler's collection of eclectic furnishings and European antiques. Each room has its own special themed dŽcor: The French studio features oil painting and a canopy bed; the exotic Raj Suite has a zebra rug and a crystal chandelier that is reminiscent of colonial India. But the attention to detail goes beyond the fixtures. In the suites etc.

Travel and Leisure

Inn of the Month

In a resort town known for extravagance, it's fitting that this inn seems designed to prove that too much is never enough. The Residence Hotel may lie discreetly in the heart of Aspen-just a block-and-a-half from Ajax Mountain-but its quiet exterior belies the flamboyance within. Once a brothel catering to turn-of-the-century miners, the building was turned into a seven-suite hotel by Aspen decorator Terry Butler. She uses it to showcase a collection gathered from around the world: Thai weavings, 18th-century French furniture, African carvings, first-edition books, and miles of floral brocade. All suites have down duvets and mountain views; six have full kitchens, and the inn can arrange a chef to cook for you. Butler has been known to invite guest to accompany her to parties, but don't stay out too late - a silver service breakfast is delivered to your room at 8 A.M. sharp.

Trump Style

Silver City

For a true Aspen experience, however, the best place to stay is The Residence. Despite its size-just seven suites elaborately decorated with antiques, handmade bedding, and Chagall serigraphs- The Residence manages to deliver everything a full-scale hotel does, and more. Room service? The staff will call in a chef to prepare a meal in your suite.

Owner and longtime Aspen resident Terry Butler will practically serve as your personal guide, selecting the best performances at the Wheeler Opera House, booking your tickets, and introducing you to everyone you need to know along the way. This level of attention makes the high-season rates, which start at $599 a night, a bit more palatable.

Departures

Aspen Find

As an Aspen visitor for more than 20 years, I thought that I knew everything about the place. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a new hotel, The Residence, which is surely the best-kept secret in Aspen. It is tucked away on the second floor of the turn-of-the-century Aspen Block Building and is a real gem. The hotel has only seven suites, each uniquely decorated, and my room was so carefully thought out I was reluctant to leave it. All in all, I've never felt more pampered in a hotel. Beyond the extras you expect in a luxury hotel, there was a personal flavor I didn't expect. Most guests learn about the hotel from friends...

Chicago Tribune

Special to the Tribune

Aspen, Colo.: The Residence

In the heart of Aspen, you'll find two small, upscale properties set on the upper floors of different Victorian brick buildings. The Residence and the Brand Building are both high-end but very different in ambience.

Despite the extravagance of antiques and paintings, you feel comfortable parking your feet on the coffee tables in the seven rooms and suites at The Residence. Each suite is different, but all are lavishly decorated. Some have hand-painted sinks, some have fabric-covered walls, and some have European artwork on the walls and Persian rugs. This luxury hotel is the creation of Terry Butler, a long-time Aspenite whose presence turns the formal decor into informal. Amenities include concierge service and access to some of the town's toniest athletic and social clubs.