I stayed at a luxury hotel in a Colorado ski town and saw why some guests choose to live there year-round

The Viceroy is one of Snowmass' most luxurious properties, tucked in the ski town's base village.

It's comprised of two separate buildings: the Pinnacle and the Cirque.

The Pinnacle, the Viceroy's first building, opened in 2009 with 163 rooms. In 2024, the Cirque opened, adding 42 rooms to the property.

Layouts between the two buildings range from a studio to a four-bedroom suite.

"Every single unit here is owned by an individual person, but in this building, 90% of those people put them back into the Viceroy rental program," Andy Gunion, a managing partner at East West Partners, the company that developed the Cirque, said. "Most people that are staying there as a guest have no idea that they're staying in someone's condo."

Each condo's design and amenities are identical, and owners can opt to list their spaces as hotel rooms managed by the Viceroy, where the profits are split.

When initially listed for sale, many of these condos sold for millions of dollars. The recently opened Cirque sold out in days, with properties ranging between $2.5 million and $11.75 million.

Katie de Besche, Viceroy's director of sales, told me on a recent visit that about 10 people live at the Viceroy year-round, and another 8 to 15 owners stay for longer stretches of time.

"They love it," de Besche said. "There's a couple that comes down and has a meeting and cup of coffee at the end of the bar every morning. They enjoy the social aspect of it."

Both residents and hotel guests have access to the same amenities, although some — like the pool and restaurant — close during shoulder seasons.

While only a few live there full-time, others own condos for various reasons. For some, owning and renting out the unit is a way to make passive income since the revenue from guest stays is split between the owner and the hotel.

Other units, like the penthouses, sit empty as the owners wait to flip it for a profit, de Besche said.

And others own properties for convenience.

"We manage it, we rent it out, and they don't have to do anything," de Besche said. "They come and enjoy it when they want."

De Besche said her parents are a great example. They've owned a condo in the Pinnacle building for 10 years. They keep it in the rental pool and can access the condo whenever they visit Snowmass.

The cost of rooms for hotel guests can vary. During my stay in early January, the one-bedroom suite cost $2,250 a night. Business Insider received a media rate for the two-night stay.

The Viceroy's entry-level prices start at around $1,100 during the winter, but larger suites can reach $3,500 a night.

My suite in the Cirque building was a two-bedroom residence with a lock-off, meaning the second connecting room was rented separately during my stay.

These two-bedroom residences, when sold, had an average sale price of $2.96 million.

For two nights, I imagined what it would be like to not only vacation in a luxury hotel but also live in one.

De Besche said that staying in the Cirque over the Pinnacle would give me a bit more space and a more residential feel.

"This could be in a high-rise in Denver," de Besche said. "You feel like it's more of a home, but with direct access to the amenities."

She was right. Stepping inside my suite felt less like stepping inside a hotel and more like stepping inside an apartment.

There was a kitchen with a gas stove, full-sized fridge, dishwasher, and oven. Inside a closet, I discovered a washer and dryer. In the living room, a long sectional sat facing a gas fireplace.

Overall, the entire suite felt modern, clean, and crisp with neutral colors.

The bed was comfy, and later, as I fell asleep, I couldn't help wonder and dream about who owned the condo.

There were no signs of the owner — no family pictures on the wall or clothes tucked in the closet. Instead, ski and Colorado-inspired art filled the walls.

Like the kitchen, living room, and bedroom, the bathroom was large.

A two-sink vanity stretched along one wall, and a large rainfall shower sat in the corner of the room.

"We don't allow the homeowners to do much in the way of personalization," de Besche said. "So, from a guest experience, you feel like you're staying in a hotel."

She explained that homeowners have storage carts for their belongings when they're not on the property. When they arrive, the hotel staff drops off their items.

Since the two buildings were constructed in different years, their designs vary slightly.

However, many rooms across both buildings connect to neighboring rooms and suites. De Besche said this makes it ideal for families and large groups traveling together.

From a shuttle service to a gym, the property is filled with luxury amenities, most of which are located in the Pinnacle building.

The Viceroy is Snowmass' only ski-in, ski-out luxury resort.

A ski lift was a three-minute walk from my room. De Besche explained that the slopes by the property are where some ski lessons and classes are conducted, making it ideal for families and children learning the winter sport.

Meanwhile, the lift near the resort connects advanced skiers to the rest of the mountain.

Also near the lift is one of the property's two restaurants. While The Nest will be renovated this spring, this winter, it's a casual slopeside restaurant serving items like burgers, Caesar salads, and hummus.

Everything guests need to ski is also on-site. Hotel guests and residents can buy lift tickets, rent gear, shop for ski accessories, and store their personal gear at the property.

It wouldn't be a luxury hotel without a gym and spa.

The Viceroy's gym has large windows looking out onto the ski slopes, and its spa has a relaxation room, six treatment rooms, a yoga room, and a store.

At the Viceroy's entrance, guests can find a reception desk and concierge. Beyond that, there's plenty of seating and a lounge.

Throughout the day, the lounge is a café selling pastries, fruits, and other snacks. At night, it's a bar with cocktails and light bites.

The restaurant was recently renovated, and each day, it welcomes guests for breakfast and dinner.

Toro's menu is filled with chef Richard Sandoval's Latin-inspired cuisine.

"It's unexpected. You wouldn't think you're sitting in Snowmass in an environment like this," de Besche said.

Later that evening, I cozied up at one of Toro's tables for dinner. I dined on miso chipotle halibut, hamachi sashimi, and an opera cake for dessert.

Each dish balanced familiar flavors with surprising elements. For me, the sashimi stood out with its refreshing yuzu sauce.

After finishing my meal, I thought back to de Besche's comment and agreed. For a few hours, I was transported out of a snowy ski town to a warm seaside destination.

The property has a large pool, outdoor bar, and three spa pools.

De Besche explained that the spa plunge pools are a little cooler than a traditional hot tub, so guests can spend longer soaking in the water.

The pools were an ideal place to relax after skiing, and I imagined the area coming to life on warmer ski days.

Between large living spaces, luxurious amenities, and slopeside access, it wouldn't be hard to get on board with living in a luxury hotel.

I could skip Doordash and order room service to my condo, and housekeeping would be a call away.

As I packed my bags after a short stay, I left the Viceroy envying the few condo owners who live on-site year-round.