The 9 Best Places to Stay on Your Next Ski Trip According to Yelp

This article originally appeared on Ski Mag

Yelp just released its Top 100 Places to Stay in the U.S. for 2023, and the list is jam-packed with all different types of accommodations from coast to coast. But everyone knows that aside from serving up lengthy lists of everything from the best donuts to the top car mechanics, Yelp’s reviews always offer a chuckle or two.

In a quest to find some of the highest-reviewed places to stay in close proximity to skiing, we scoured the list and picked out nine lodgings from the list with nearby access to skiing and paired them with our favorite quirky review.

9 Yelp-Approved Places to Stay in Ski Country

Bavarian Lodge, Leavenworth, Wash.

• Yelp Ranking: 41

• Proximity to Skiing: 1.5 miles to Leavenworth Ski Hill

The Bavarian-themed lodge is a 54-room hotel with an old-timey German feel inside and out. Located in the middle of downtown Leavenworth, Wa. The hotel also boasts two outdoor hot tubs, and an outdoor heated pool, all of which are open year-round, plus included breakfast, and every room has a guaranteed view of either the mountains or village.

With all of the amenities plus some European charm, it’s hard to see why anyone would want anything more. However, according to one Yelp reviewer, the only complaint from the user's wife was the lack of a head-to-toe mirror (but there were no complaints about the makeup mirror lighting in the bathroom).

Read John H.‘s review of Bavarian Lodge on Yelp

Good Medicine Lodge, Whitefish, Mont.

• Yelp Ranking: 92

• Proximity to Skiing: 5.8 miles to Whitefish Mountain Resort

Whitefish continues to rise in popularity as a ski destination, but the Good Medicine Lodge has been putting a roof over skiers’ heads for the last several decades. Since its opening in 1978, the hotel has been a staple B&B in the community. And it’s not just for skiing: Visitors to Glacier National Park have enjoyed staying at the Good Medicine Lodge, which is less than 30 minutes from the park’s west entrance.

In addition to the lodge's proximity to the outdoors, the spot is also family-owned and eco-conscious, practicing composting and edible gardening. Good Medicine Lodge has six rooms and three suites, and all rooms include free breakfast.

There is also a hot tub, perfect for soothing sore skiing or hiking muscles. Unfortunately, one Yelp reviewer noted that it was too slippery for his liking.

Read Miguel R.‘s review of Good Medicine Lodge on Yelp

Limelight Hotel, Ketchum, Idaho

• Yelp Ranking: 40

• Proximity to Skiing: 2.3 miles to Sun Valley Resort

Limelight hotels have been gaining traction in iconic ski towns since the first one opened in Aspen in 2008. The brand has boots on the ground in Snowmass, Denver, and now Ketchum, Idaho. The Ketchum location boasts 99 rooms and 14 residences in the heart of downtown with very close proximity to Sun Valley. In addition to a sleek and trendy experience, the hotel gives guests access to fat bikes, a delicious included breakfast, and an open-style lounge with firepits.

There is also a full-service restaurant, which often features live music and shuffleboard. One Yelp reviewer suggested that perhaps the two shouldn't be mixed. Read Andrea R.‘s review of Limelight Hotel on Yelp

Sage Lodge, Pray, Mont.

• Yelp Ranking: 73

• Proximity to Skiing: 53 miles to Bridger Bowl Ski Area

Nestled along the Yellowstone River 35 minutes from Yellowstone National Park, Sage Lodge offers plenty of on-site activities so guests can immerse themselves in the Montana experience. Sage Lodge offers guests access to a private pond for fishing, gear rentals, 1,200 acres of private trails, outdoor hot tubs, and fire pits (guests should note there is a $53 per room, per night amenity fee).

In addition to having all of the amenities, a stellar location, and plenty of on-site dining options for on-premise dining, the Sage Lodge is also a great place "to escape from the fear the media is spreading around," according to one Yelp reviewer, who also spoke highly of the friendly front-desk staff.

Read Eduardo F.‘s review of Sage Lodge on Yelp

The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo.

• Yelp Ranking: 83

• Proximity to Skiing: Breckenridge: 107 miles

While not a traditional ski property, The Broadmoor is one of the world’s most iconic hotels and is within a couple of hours of the slopes. This place is a veritable compound. Forgot your toothbrush, or pretty much anything else? They've got you covered at one of their 19 on-premise retail shops, there's also a movie theatre, five tennis courts (three dedicated to pickleball) 17 restaurants, cafes, or lounges, two golf courses, seasonal water slides, a beauty salon, and 92 meeting rooms, just to name a few amenities.

The hotel also has a wide range of accommodations, from your typical hotel room all the way to brownstones (Carrie Bradshaw who?). Is there anything not taken care of at such an expansive super-resort? For one Yelp reviewer, the answer was no, as he pointed out in his short, albeit sweet review that the bathrooms were even stocked with plenty of cotton balls and Q-tips. You really can have it all.

Read Parker B.‘s review of The Broadmoor on Yelp

Spoke and Vine Motel, Palisade, Colo.

• Yelp Ranking: 35

• Proximity to Skiing: 27.9 miles to Powderhorn Mountain Resort

The Spoke and Vine aim to elevate the traditional motel experience, and with complimentary breakfast delivered to your room daily, hypoallergenic bedding, and locally sourced coffee and tea in the lobby, the four-year-old property is making good on that promise.

The rooms are also much different than the Motel 8 of yesteryear--guests can book a single king or queen room with options all the way up to a one-bedroom apartment. The motel is also kid- and pet-friendly.

While most Yelp reviewers seemed to love the Spoke and Vine and gave it high praise, one reviewer who rated the place with all five stars was hesitant to give it six, noting that the lack of a pool or hot tub removed the extra (nonexistent) star.

Read Elena S.‘s review of Spoke and Vine Motel on Yelp

Tahoe House Hotel, Virginia City, Nev.

• Yelp Ranking: 79

• Proximity to Skiing: 26.6 miles to Mt. Rose

(Photo: Courtesy of the Tahoe House Hotel)

The Tahoe House Hotel is a historic inn offering 15 rooms in the heart of Virginia City. The hotel has been standing since the 1850s, but fear not, has been renovated since, most recently in 2020.

While the hotel doesn't outright make any claims of hauntings, they do mention online that the "rooms and halls are still alive with the sound of yesteryear." Guests can choose a room based on its story. In "Clair's Room," guests may hear the sounds of dance girls singing and walking.

There may be plenty of history surrounding the Tahoe House Hotel, but there is one other part of the hotel that seems to be getting most of the attention from Yelp Reviewers: the bathroom soap. One reviewer shared that she took the local soap home, while another pointed out the locally-made soap was the highlight of the stay.

Read Donna B.‘s review of Tahoe House Hotel on Yelp

Convict Lake Resort, Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

• Yelp Ranking: 15

• Proximity to Skiing: 13.5 miles to Mammoth Mountain

Situated right on a lake in a year-round hotspot for skiing, fishing, and hiking, Convict Lake Resort is the perfect place to stay for an outdoorsy getaway. There are no rooms here, just cabins that can accommodate anywhere from a studio to a house sleeping up to 34.

If you were wondering about the moniker, you are not alone. The "convict" part of the lodge gets its name from a group of inmates who escaped from a Carson City prison in 1871, Just like the escaped inmates, current guests agree that Convict Lake should be kept secret, with one Yelp reviewer giving the lodge four stars instead of five to discourage future bookings: "I really don’t want to say anything nice about the cabins, because I’m worried we’re gonna have a hard time making reservations next time."

Read Ron M.‘s review of Convict Lake Resort on Yelp

Chesterfield Inn, West Chesterfield, N.H.

• Yelp Ranking: 24

• Proximity to Skiing: 5.9 miles to Brattleboro Ski Hill

The Chesterfield Inn is a quaint place to stay right along the New Hampshire-Vermont border. The Inn offers guests a choice of rooms all with a cozy Colonial feel. Guests can request to stay in the main inn, the cottage, or the Johanna Wetherby room, which offers four pet-friendly, king-sized rooms all with private entrances. There is also an on-premise restaurant that has received high marks from Yelp reviewers.

All of that is fine and good, but seems that the real draw at the Chesterfield is the friendly resident cat. Yoda is a bit of a celebrity among Yelp reviewers. One reviewer mentioned that he favors rooms 10, 12, 14, and 20, and can tell when you're "not a cat person" while another mentioned that even her partner who disliked cats had a soft spot for Yoda.

Read Rachel B.‘s review of Chesterfield Inn on Yelp

Old Santa Fe Inn, Santa Fe, N.M.

• Yelp Ranking: 26

• Proximity to Skiing: 16 miles to Ski Santa Fe

Originally serving as a motor lodge in the 1930s, the Santa Fe Inn was converted to offices in the 1990s and then turned back to its hospitality roots in 2001. Despite the changes, the inn has stayed true to its New Mexican roots and is designed in the traditional Southwestern Pueblo style. The property is also pet-friendly and serves up daily free breakfast.

Guests sure do feel welcome at the Old Santa Fe, even treating the place like a home away from home. According to one Yelp reviewer, the best part of the room was the carefully thought-out design that let him watch TV while lounging in the bathtub.

Read Roger P.‘s review of Old Santa Fe Inn on Yelp

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.