Aspen Anniversary Hotel & Restaurant

Question

My husband and I are trying to decide between hotels/restaurants for our upcoming anniversary. We have been to the Colorado Rockies many times, but this will be our first time in Aspen and we're coming primarily to see the Maroon Bells area.

We have a lot of credit card points we are trying to utilize for this trip, and the following 4 options are all part of a special collection of properties that include free breakfast, a $100 credit, early check-in, late check-out, and possible room upgrades. With the inclusions and the value we get for our points, they are all a relatively good deal, but there is a fairly substantial spread in the amount of points required.

They all seem to have at least some of the things we would want to prioritize - a great view, pool/hot tub, close proximity to shopping/seeing the town, and onsite restaurants. Since breakfast is already included and we have the $100 credit to spend, we would want somewhere that we would enjoy the onsite restaurant for dinner. From looking at menus, the Little Nell seems to have the restaurant we would likely enjoy most (Element 47), but I'm curious if anyone can speak to the other hotel's restaurants (also, it looks like reservations are available for that Tuesday night but the website states they serve dinner just Wednesday-Saturday).

The options are The Little Nell, Limelight Hotel Aspen, Mollie Aspen, and Limelight Hotel Snowmass. I do understand the last option is not in Aspen proper, but it seems like there's a provided shuttle between the two. The Little Nell is roughly 2x the points of Limelight Aspen and Mollie, and those two are roughly 2x the points of the Limelight Snowmass.

Since the Limelight Snowmass is such a good value, if we don't stay there the night of our anniversary, we would consider staying the next night if there's enough to do in the area to justify what would end up being 3 nights in the area. Our trip is at the very end of September. We would arrive on a Monday night and have a camping reservation at Silver Queen Campground. We also have an after 5pm permit for the Maroon Lakes Scenic Area. We'll probably arrive late afternoon, check out the lake/take photos/watch sunset, have an early night, and then on Tuesday we want to go back to the Lake to watch sunrise and then will probably have a good chunk of the day available before the hotel is ready. We have not driven through Independence Pass before so we will likely do that at some point, but also want to have time to enjoy the amenities and dinner wherever we do stay.

From there we pretty much have the rest of the week to spend in Colorado before heading back to Arizona, but we do want to leave time for the Million Dollar Highway, Telluride, and possibly Gateway Canyons resort. We'd like to prioritize beautiful scenery, Fall foliage, sunrise/sunset photography, easy hikes, hot springs, good food, and Fall/Harvest themed festivals/markets/etc.

We'll be starting our trip from the Tucson area, spending a few days in the Santa Fe area, then coming up to the Aspen area before spending about a week in Colorado before heading back into Northern Arizona for a few days. Any recommendations for our time in Colorado before, during, or after Aspen would be very welcome!

Answer

For your Aspen anniversary trip, your plan and priorities make sense, and it’s great that you’re factoring in both points value and onsite experiences. Since your focus includes the Maroon Bells, beautiful scenery, fall foliage, and a memorable anniversary dinner, each hotel has its strengths depending on what you prioritize most.

Hotel and restaurant options:

The Little Nell: This is Aspen’s only five-star, ski-in/ski-out property, and its restaurant, Element 47, is widely regarded as one of the best in Aspen. For an anniversary, it offers an elegant dining experience, extensive wine list, and impeccable service. The views of Aspen Mountain and proximity to town for shopping and walking make it convenient. The downside is the points cost, which is roughly double the other properties.
Limelight Hotel Aspen: A modern, casual boutique property in Aspen with good amenities and a rooftop pool. The onsite restaurant serves dinner Wednesday-Saturday, so if your anniversary dinner falls on a Tuesday, it may not be available. Limelight provides excellent value for points and is walkable to town. The atmosphere is more relaxed compared to The Little Nell.
Mollie Aspen: A smaller, boutique property with a focus on comfort and aesthetics. The restaurant offers casual dining, though reviews suggest it is not as highly rated for a special occasion dinner compared to Element 47. Great for ease of access and style, but less “wow factor” for an anniversary dinner.
Limelight Hotel Snowmass: Located outside Aspen proper, but with a complimentary shuttle to Aspen and nearby Snowmass Village activities. It offers good value, casual and contemporary amenities, and access to hiking and photography opportunities. Dining options onsite are simpler, so if a special dinner is a priority, this might not fulfill that fully for your anniversary night. However, for subsequent nights, it’s a good way to explore a quieter area.

Given your itinerary:

Arrive Monday: Camping at Silver Queen and visiting Maroon Lakes. Consider that your first night will be more rustic and scenic-focused, so a luxurious hotel is less critical.
Tuesday: Sunrise at Maroon Lakes, then check-in at your hotel. If you want a true anniversary celebration dinner, The Little Nell is the standout choice here. Limelight Aspen is a good alternative if you prefer a modern, casual vibe, but verify dinner availability on a Tuesday.
For extra nights: Limelight Snowmass could be a great value for September 23–24, allowing you to explore less crowded trails, photograph fall foliage, and enjoy easy hikes with minimal driving. Shuttle access allows flexibility to visit Aspen for meals or shopping.

Other Colorado suggestions for the remainder of your trip:

Independence Pass: Scenic drive with breathtaking views, ideal for photography and easy short hikes.
Million Dollar Highway (Durango to Silverton): Stunning autumn foliage, dramatic canyons, and historic towns. Stops for photo ops and short walks are plentiful.
Telluride: Charming mountain town, easy hikes to waterfalls, gondola access, and fall festivals if timed right.
Hot Springs: Glenwood Springs or Strawberry Park Hot Springs near Steamboat are great for soaking after active days.
Gateway Canyons Resort: Consider this if you want a combination of scenic beauty, hiking, and educational experiences about the canyons’ geology and history.

Overall strategy: Use The Little Nell or Limelight Aspen for your anniversary night for the best dinner experience, then Limelight Snowmass for value and additional nights focused on exploration, photography, and relaxation. This approach balances luxury, convenience, and scenic adventure while maximizing points value.