Accommodations

Sleeping comfortably without breaking the bank isn’t always easy during ski season; in general, the closer you get to Rutland [1], the better value you get. Killington [2] teems with less-expensive motels tailor-built to keep rowdy skiers happy, as well as larger resorts close to the slopes that can run into the hundreds of dollars per night. As with most ski areas, prices drop considerably in the off-season.

Under $100

Perfunctory but utterly sufficient for a stay is the Rodeway Inn (138 N. Main St., Rutland, 802/775-2575, www.choicehotels.com [3], $50–80). The staff is extremely helpful, and rooms are small but clean. Best of all, it’s a quick hop to the slopes. Offering an outdoor pool, indoor hot tub, and mountain views, the Edelweiss Inn (119 Rte. 4, 802/775-5577, www.killington-lodge.com [4], $60–100) is close to both Killington and Pico Mountains, and offers an excellent price for its amenities.

$100–150

Several generations of Saint Bernards have greeted guests at the Summit Lodge (200 Summit Path, off Killington Rd., 800/635-6343, www.summitlodgevermont.com [5], $80–250), which is as famous for its canine companions as it is for its friendly staff. Even though the lodge is only a few minutes away from Killington Resort [6], its position at the top of a steep hill makes it feel secluded. Rooms are nothing fancy, but are quiet and clean, with friendly service. (There’s also a pool and reading room for extra relaxation.) One caveat—rates here vary dramatically throughout the season. The same room can be $80 in summer, $150 in foliage season, and $250 in the height of ski season. Study the website carefully to get the best deal.

$150–250

Once the home of a feed and grain merchant, the 1889 Inn at Rutland (70 N. Main St., Rutland, 802/773-0575, www.innatrutland.com [7], $120–230) is a time-warp into the opulence of the city’s Victorian era. Common rooms are filled with period details like parquet floors, tooled-leather wainscoting, and a grand oak staircase that takes guests to eight upstairs bedrooms with cable TV and whirlpool tubs. Hosts Leslie and Steven Brenner prepare a three-course breakfast every morning with treats like crème brûlée French toast and gingerbread blueberry pancakes; a wraparound front porch offers views of the Green Mountains [8] and the city below.

If you’re searching for a romantic spot seconds away from the base lodge, Inn of the Six Mountains (2617 Killington Rd., 802/422-4302, www.sixmountains.com [9], $159–239) is a good compromise. Still more convenient, the property offers ski lockers outside to keep all your gear perfectly safe.

$250 and Up

Eleven miles north of Killington [2], the Mountain Top Inn & Resort (195 Mountain Top Rd., Chittenden, 802/483-2311 or 800/445-2100, www.mountaintopinn.com [10], $160–580) sits in what was once the barn for a historic turnip farm. Since then, it has been renovated many times over as an inn (it played host to President Eisenhower in the 1950s). A year-round destination resort, Mountain Top offers everything from horseback riding and hiking trails to rustic-but-refined rooms with private balconies, vaulted ceilings, and fireplaces. Among the top amenities, however, has to be a meal in the inn’s Dining Room, which is dedicated to serving local ingredients and supporting local farms.