Why . . . yes we Cancun! - February 2015

Cancun, Mexico

One of the challenges we've faced after being married for so many years, is gift giving.  Everything we need, we have and anything we still want is too expensive. (Where is that Aston Martin that I've been dreaming of!?!)  A few years ago, we decided to give "adventures" to each other in lieu of Christmas gifts.  What started out as an overnight getaway, soon became a long weekend, which then evolved into a few days by way of airplane. This year, Gar's ski trip to Aspen was matched with a beach trip to Cancun. This was our third year in a row, staying at a different adults only, all-inclusive resort.  Cancun was the best choice for consistently great weather in the winter months of January and February.  It also has the largest selection of adult-only, all-inclusive resorts.

Part of the joys of being empty nesters is the freedom from the responsibility that comes with children.  We LOVED traveling the world with Ryan and Jenelle as they grew up.  There is nothing quite like seeing new things through the eyes of your kids.  Once they moved out and started their own lives, we realized there was now an option to be around ONLY adults!  Granted, some of these adults still act like children but we found a way to work around this issue!

This information is about our most recent stay with comparisons of the other two at the end.

Le Blanc Spa Resort 2015

http://www.leblancsparesort.com/

We traveled to this destination in February of 2015.  This resort is rated number one on TripAdvisor and it is obvious they work very hard to keep this ranking.  A survey encouraging us to "rate our stay" was delivered to our email within a few days of our return.  Upon completion, we were encouraged to add our comments to TripAdvisor.com. Service is really the key here.  Every employee we passed offered a big smile and a warm "Hola!"!

Most US cities now offer direct flights to Cancun.  The airport has a sort of carnival feel to it.  Bags come off the plane quickly onto the snake-like carousel but it is when going through customs, that the games begin. Each traveler must play the "Traffic Light Game," where a member from each family is required to press a button.  If you receive a green light, you continue out through the airport.  If you are unfortunate enough to receive a red light, (as we have on previous trips) you are required to get out of line so that some airport employee can paw through every part of your suitcase, looking for who knows what!  On this trip, we got the green light and were able to continue out to the shuttle area.  Be warned . . . the portion of the airport just prior to going outdoors is lined with booths.  The people in these booths will holler at you, asking you who your transportation company is, or do you need a taxi?  Simply look straight ahead and keep walking.  These companies are there to get you to look at the many time shares available for sale.  It is a hard sales pitch and unless you are interested, look straight ahead and keep walking!!  They can't direct you anywhere except to their sales presentation.

Once outside, there are taxis, shuttles and buses available to take you to your hotel.  We usually arrange a private shuttle through Pleasant Holidays but have found that we end up waiting a long time for them to pick us up. I would recommend a taxi as a much faster, cheaper alternative.

Most of the best hotels in Cancun are on the ocean side of the peninsula.  There are some on the lagoon side, but the beaches are prettier on the ocean side.  La Blanc is near the northern end of Cancun and in a great location if you are interested in wandering off the property.  Having done this with the kids when they were younger, we were looking for somewhere to stay put.

The Hotel

Le Blanc greets your arrival with a moist, warm washcloth and a cool glass of coconut milk.  Very refreshing after a day on the plane.  The bell captain handled our bags and we were taken to an agent and introduced.  This first desk is where they give you your room details and tell you about a $1500 resort credit.  There are limits on the resort credit and the amount is based on your length of stay. It can be used to upgrade wines (definitely necessary as the house wine is not so good), or to visit the spa or gift shop (with limits for each). The Free Resort Credit isn't so free.  Visitors must pay a 16% tax on the portion of the credit that is used.  The balance is given to you on a transferable card available for use within 12 months.  We only used the credit to upgrade bottles of wine and to enjoy a dinner on the beach.  The tax when we left was approximately $150.00.  

After you are given the details of your room, you are escorted to a second row of desks where you are encouraged (strongly) to visit their "new property." On this visit, it was a new Palace Hotel on the Mayan Riviera.  We insisted we were not interested and I think when they heard we had been to Cancun the previous three years, did not pressure us too hard.  Many people riding in the elevators with us complained about this sales pitch, made right after arrival. The only thing on most of their minds was getting to their room and settling in.

The Le Blanc has the unique feature of a personal butler.  Actually, it is a butler for the entire floor.  The butler will offer to unpack, run a bath, confirm transportation, pack or just about anything you request. Although this all-inclusive claims to include gratuities, we saw several people on the beach tipping the servers and it was acknowledged with great appreciation.  So, too, were the butlers.  Ours made a special effort to find out when we were leaving to come and bid us a safe trip home.  A perfect opportunity to tip for good service.

The Rooms

First room, partial ocean view.

We had two different rooms at the Le Blanc.  We had reserved a partial ocean view but at check in, we asked if an ocean view room was available.  It was but only after the first three nights.  It is much cheaper to upgrade when you are at the hotel than through the travel companies when booking.  For only $15 per night, we had a full ocean view when the room was available.  Of course, this required repacking but the luggage was moved for us while we were at the beach.  The ocean view overlooked the pool and most of the beach.  It wasn't that much better than the room we originally had that overlooked a lawn filled with iguanas and the ocean to the side.  Neither room at this hotel had a balcony that you could walk or sit on but the doors opened to let the ocean breeze fill the room.  The very top floor had balconies with chairs but they were all booked.

Upon arrival, we found a handwritten welcome note along with a bowl of fruit and champagne on ice.  Unfortunately, most of the fruit was moldy and the ice in in the champagne container had melted!  Oh well, it was the thought that counts.  This was the start of a phrase we ended up repeating many times over, "It's five-star indeed . . . for Mexico!"  

The bed was comfortable and large.  They even offer a pillow menu.  I chose a lavender scented pillow and Gar chose a firmer pillow. Neither were used.

The lavender pillow was a husk pillow and the firm pillow was solid foam. There is the option of aromatherapy for the room but the scent was so strong we never used it after the first night.  The mini bar is stocked with beer and soda as well as candy and snacks.  With an all-inclusive, room service with a better selection is just a phone call away.  

The toiletries in our room were all Bvlgari and the bathroom featured an in mirror television.  We aren't big TV watchers, so we probably didn't appreciate this feature as much as some.  The two sinks were outside the toilet and shower area and the shower featured two heads.  There were two closets in our first room, with plenty of shelves, a safe and two soft robes.  A complimentary Le Blanc beach bag was on the bed and made a great souvenir!

The second room, ocean view.

The Beach

The beach at Le Blanc is beautiful. The really white sand contrasting against the five shades of turquoise water is as beautiful as most Caribbean islands. As I said, this is an adult-only hotel so the ability to lie on the beach chairs and actually listen to the ocean waves is so relaxing.  It was also nice not having to get up at the crack of dawn to throw towels, sunscreen and books on our chairs to secure them for a more reasonable time in the morning. Chairs are available pretty much all the time in the winter months.  When you enter the beach, there is usually a staff person offering to put out your chairs and towels and to dig a hole for an umbrella.  Again, gratuities are included but everyone we observed was tipping them a few dollars. We did not bring many ones with us but found that the bar was able to convert our 20's into 5's and 1's on many occasions!  I would recommend having the hotel staff pull your chairs and small table as close to the water as possible.  If you don't, others will pull theirs right in front of you.  The only downside to the beach was the few occasions when people chose to smoke the cigars sold on the beach! Do they not know that not everyone appreciates the smell of a Cuban cigar!!

The Pool

The main pool is a very large, infinity pool with a swim up bar.  This is the type of pool where it looks like the edge falls into the ocean.  We actually spent very little time at any of the three pools except to rinse off and have one more Mango Tango before heading back to our room.  In the late afternoon, there was usually a rowdier crowd, especially in the Jacuzzi. Apparently a lot of companies have their annual sales conferences at this resort so there are quite a few sales people ready to party.  Add the all-inclusive drinks element to the mix and expect some noise in the later afternoon. 

They are a lot of chairs around the pool, with some even in the shallow edges of the pool.  They are rather close together and make for easy conversation with your neighbors.  With a pool at home, we tended to enjoy the quiet time on the beach instead.

Poolside Mango Tango's for two!

The Restaurants

BlancInternational

We chose to eat here the first night as it did not require reservations and served Mexican food.  With big glass windows overlooking the pool, the ambiance is very relaxing.  This is also the restaurant where the breakfast and lunch buffets are served and is a bit less formal than the other three restaurants.  The selection is varied, as suggested by the name, and we were able to start our vacation with some delicious a la carte Mexican food and steaks!  Men are requested to wear pants in most of the restaurants at this resort but we did see some shorts and t shirts here.

BlancItalia

This is the Italian restaurant at the resort.  We went down to dinner at 7:45 p.m. and were told there would be a 15 minute wait.  We opted to wait on the chairs by the desk and were seated within 5 minutes?  Again, it is requested that men wear long pants and most women were wearing sun dresses.  The tables are set with white linens and glass stemware.  The menu is varied with many Italian pastas and meats to choose from.  I had the most amazing zucchini and avocado slices with lime vinaigrette salad dressing!   The service here was a bit slower than the International restaurant but that lent itself to the feel of authentic Italian dining! That didn't bother us as all!  What did bother us was when Gar poured the balsamic vinegar and the lid came off, spilling all over the tablecloth and floor, no one came to clean up!  In fact, when the waiter saw it, he commented that the "lid came off again?"  A bit embarrassing but it didn't ruin an otherwise tasty dinner!

BlancOriental

This was probably our least favorite of the four.  The menu is again a la carte and made up of Thai, Japanese and Chinese selections.  There is sushi as well as entrees with an Asian flair.  The food was okay but the service was really below par. We ordered a bottle of wine that took 30 minutes to deliver.  When the server opened it, he broke the cork into the bottle and the manager told him to get another, which took an additional 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, the food was being delivered and we had nothing to drink with it!  I would've probably skipped this restaurant and gone to one of the others twice!

Lumiere

This was our favorite restaurant!  Not only was the service so professional, friendly and attentive, but fun, too!  When Gar ordered one of the menu items using his very limited French, our server began a conversation in French!  He recommended different favorites of his such as the foie gras and the snails. (We declined the snails!) and encouraged us to order two entrees as "they are quite small!"  The feel was authentically French and the number of tables were small. We noticed only two tables in the whole restaurant that seated four, the rest were for parties of two.  The recommended souffle for dessert, served with Italian gelato on the side, was incredible!  Again, we were encouraged to each order our own as they were on the smaller side!

Seaside Dinner on the Beach

If Lumiere was our favorite restaurant, this was definitely our favorite meal! We were able to use our resort credit to have Dinner on the Beach and it was such a perfect way to spend our final night in Cancun.  Only the 9:30 seating was available when we reserved it 4 days earlier so plan accordingly.  We arrived promptly at 9:30 p.m. and were met with a candlelit walkway and a chilled pink beverage!  The server led us to one of the cabanas that was set with beautiful linens and tiny candles!  Facing the ocean and hearing the waves with soft music playing in the background, it was truly a romantic evening.  The menu was Surf and Turf -- lobster and steak -- and was delicious.  We enjoyed salads before the main course and desserts afterwards.  We were never rushed and never heard the other couples that were a few cabanas apart.  Definitely recommend this type of dining!

Lunch on the beach

The beach was so inviting, we found it impossible to tear ourselves away to go inside to the lunch buffet.  Instead, the servers on the beach will bring a menu of items available to eat on the beach.  We LOVED the shrimp tacos and the cheeseburgers on the beach have never tasted so good.  The only problem was our drinks were finished before the food arrived.  We simply went back to the beach bar and got our own drinks, discovering in the process that the drinks made at the bar in front of the guests are actually stronger than the ones the servers bring to you.  Again, gratuities are greatly appreciated and if done early in the day and frequently, seem to make a big difference in the service you receive! Our server, Chris, took very good care of us, making sure we had water, food, drinks, etc.  When we shared with her that we would be flying home later that day, she brought two shots of tequila along with our regular drink order to celebrate! Only in Mexico and only at an adult-only, all-inclusive.

Activities

As I mentioned before, we had been to Cancun on two other occasions with our kids.  It was on these trips that we made the trek to Chichen Itza, saw the iguanas at Tulum, snorkeled the underground caves of Xcaret, drove around Cozumel, boated out to Isla Mujeres (where we swam with the dolphins) and walked around downtown Cancun.  We parasailed, road wave runners and snorkeled. We experienced the variety of dining in town, as well as the disaster of bad Spring Break timing!  Now that we are empty nesters, our activities were geared more to relaxing and maybe walking off a few of the umbrella drinks we were enjoying.  The Le Blanc is located on a great strip of beach, perfect for walking in either direction.  If you walk south, you can visit the Beach Palace Resort, a sister property, and refill your drink for the walk back and if you walk north, you can go to the tip of Cancun and see the jetty. Oh, and there is also golf nearby and many tours on which to spend your money!  

Comparison All-Inclusive, Adult Only Resorts

Sun Palace 2014

This hotel check-in is very similar to the check-in at Live Aqua and Le Blanc. Hearing a sales pitch after a long plane ride is the LAST thing anyone wants to do but they are insistent on doing so.  This hotel was very similar to the Live Aqua but less expensive than it's sister hotel, Le Blanc.  

Upon arrival, we were given the option of upgrading to a suite, which we did. Although the ocean view was not as nice as the Live Aqua, (you had to go to the end of the patio and look around the corner to see the ocean) it was great to have a full dining room, living room, bedroom and bathroom.  The food was excellent, and because it shares the same owner as Le Blanc, was similar in many ways.  We also enjoyed dinner on the beach, on two separate nights. Long pants for men were required at most of the restaurants. We loved having our own private concierge a bit more than the butler.  She was helpful in arranging for the dinners on the beach.  This hotel is located at the start of the hotel strip of Cancun and is not as close to the down town area but a shorter drive from the airport. 

Live Aqua Cancun All-Inclusive 2013

We stayed at this beautiful resort in January 2013. Having had many experiences with all-inclusive, we did not expect the quality to be so exceptional. The hotel is located near the top end of Cancun, across the street from a large shopping center. We found everything we needed for our 5 days so we didn't venture off the property.

Our arrival was in the late afternoon and we were anxious to get to our room and unpack and unwind. The check-in process was excruciatingly slow. Information about the restaurants, rooms, activities, etc were shared with us by the front desk receptionist. Unfortunately we were told there were no king rooms available until the next day and that we would have to stay in a queen room and move our stuff the next day. We said we would look at the room before deciding whether to move or not.

After receiving our room keys, we were directed to a concierge who sat us down on the couch and explained everything exactly again. The exception was an offer to attend a “breakfast” where by attending we would receive monetary compensation that could be used for restaurant upgrades. We soon realized that it was a time-share push. It was not a strong pressure presentation but we were really tired and ready to relax after a full day of travel. 

The room was quite large with a full ocean front view. The closet was quite large and the bathroom had plenty of room to move about in. Each room has an electric aromatherapy pot along with a menu that allows you to choose the type of aroma we would prefer (tranquil, relaxing, sensual, etc) and a coffee maker, as well as a safe. There is also a slightly stocked bar-type fridge with chips, sodas and beer. Other than the two beds, we were happy with the room. Another great aspect was the free in-room dining. We loved having the doors wide open to listen to the surf while we enjoyed our eggs and pancakes. We tried the buffet the first morning but liked the in-room dining better!

The next day we moved to the king room, which was actually much nicer. There was a window out of the bathroom into the room that allowed for a view of the ocean from the shower. This window had wooden blinds that could be closed for privacy. The toiletries were nice smelling, similar to a spa and plentiful.

There are 5 dine in restaurants and two require advance reservation. Of these two, one offers steak and lobster and there is an additional fee to dine there. We enjoyed the ones that came with the resort cost so we did not try the steak and lobster restaurant. Our favorites were mb and the Hidden Garden (which required reservations). The house wine served was Chilean but they offer additional other bottles for an additional cost. We did notice that the mixed drinks served by the pool and beach seemed a bit watered down and on the small size. This wasn’t a problem as the service was quite attentive and came around often.

The beach was beautiful and the beach loungers were very clean. People go out and “stake their claim” for pool side and beach lounge chairs very early so I would recommend bringing a couple magazines down before breakfast. They give you towel cards to use for checking out towels but collection and return of these cards is inconsistent. We experienced no problems with the towels except you could only have one large one, each.

Being empty nesters we really enjoyed appreciated the adult-only aspect of this property. Will definitely return for our next visit to Cancun.

Room Tip: Since all rooms have a balcony, we really enjoyed the full ocean front room. Request a room away from the elevators.

Swooshing in Aspen, Colorado - February 2015

Aspen, Colorado
At some point in every empty nester's life, the thrill of an adult getaway encounters a hiccup or two.  If one is lucky, a delayed flight, a missed connection or a lost bag is probably as inconvenient as it gets.  Sometimes, everything seems to happen all on the same trip!  This would be the case in our weekend ski trip to Aspen!

The Christmas after Gar and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, we realized that we didn't really want anything material for gifts.  I got this great idea that we could each set up a weekend away for the other, doing something they would really love.  This has since evolved into a ski trip for Gar and a beach trip for me!

So this Christmas, I did my research for a variety of ski resorts.  Previous trips had included Mammoth (CA), Whistler(BC), Park City (UT) Vail (CO), and Lake Tahoe (NV). Since we are not fond of repeating locations, I decided to try Aspen, Colorado, mostly for the assurance that there would be snow, despite the serious drought in most of the southwest!

On the day of our departure, we decided with such an early flight we would grab something to eat at the airport.  Gary went to put the glass coffee pot back in the Mr Coffee coffee maker and misjudged the counter.  A simple bump of the pot on our granite counter caused an explosion of glass throughout the entire kitchen!  Clean up took more than a few minutes that we had to spare.  We quickly loaded our luggage, hopped in the car and sped to the local airport with plenty of time to spare . . . until Gar realized he had left his phone at home in the charger!

Since Gar is a skier and I am not, this is one tool we NEED to be able to meet up during our getaway.  So halfway there, we turned around and returned home to retrieve this important part of 21st century life!

When we finally arrived at the counter for United Airlines, we had 44 minutes to spare!  Apparently not enough time for the good folks at TSA who have a very strict baggage cutoff time of 45 minutes prior to flight!  NO EXCEPTIONS!  There was no amount of pleading, begging, bribing, etc that would change the gate agent's mind.  We simply had to simmer in our anger while she rebooked both our departing and connecting flight!  So, now instead of arriving in Aspen at 1:30 PM, we would get in at 4:30 PM.  Not really a big deal but frustrating non the less!

We cleared security, grabbed our Starbucks and Egg McMuffin and waited the extra hour and forty-five minutes.  The flight to San Francisco was uneventful. When we arrived, we looked at the information screen to find the gate for our connecting flight.  This was when we noticed that our original connecting flight, the one that would put us into Aspen at 1:30 PM had been delayed.  We decided to see if there was a chance of being switched back to our original flight. 

Sure enough, the gate agent was very accommodating and mentioned something about it was delayed due to weather.  This didn't really faze us as all Gar could think about was the possibility of fresh snow for skiing!

We finally boarded an hour later and started getting excited for our getaway.  I had already made dinner reservations for 6:30 and we would land in plenty of time to settle in, unpack, relax and maybe walk around the town.  You know that expression, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch"?  I should've remembered this one!

About 30 minutes prior to our landing the Captain comes on and explains that the weather hasn't really cleared up too much in Aspen and there might be a possibility that we will be diverted to Denver.  He assured us he would keep us informed.  Fifteen minutes later, he announces that "a small window of opportunity" has appeared and they will be trying to land in Aspen.  Everyuone breaks into spontaneous applause. We soon feel the plane descending and everyone is stowing there bags.  Suddenly, we are ascending!?!?  Five minutes later the Captain comes on the PA to explain that yes, we did have a window but an executive jet snuck in ahead of us and took our only shot!  Since there was not enough fuel to circle around and try again, he would be taking us to Denver. A four hour drive from Aspen!  So not happy!

Upon arrival at the Denver airport, we were herded into a Customer Service waiting area.  The agent finally informed us that they were trying to arrange bus service tonight but if not tonight, first thing in the morning!!  We also received a call from the Wild Fig Restaurant confirming our dinner reservations for that night.  We explained what happened and she said she was sorry to hear but call when we arrived and we might be able to still have dinner there.

We then got on the phone trying to secure a car rental.  After numerous calls with prices ranging from $87 to $199 for one night, we popped on the shuttle to Budget and loaded up our Dodge Avenger with only our carry on luggage and began the four hour drive to Aspen.  

Being from Southern California, neither one of us has much experience driving in snow or ice at night.  Needless to say, this drive was one of the longest, scariest, most nerve racking rides I've ever taken!  There was no time to enjoy the beautiful scenery when your eyes are glued to the car ahead and the snowplows ahead of them!

We finally arrived safely at the Aspen airport at 8:30 PM.  We looked through the many suitcases that were in a secured area and the only thing of ours was Gar's skis.  Not helping.  We got in line and spent forty-five minutes waiting to file a claim for our missed luggage.  Apparently Aspen Airport is notorious for closing the runways at the slightest inclination.  Could've really appreciated this information PRIOR to making all of our travel plans!

The agent assured us the bags would be delivered to our hotel "soon" despite not knowing where they were exactly!  We called the hotel shuttle who then came to pick us up and delivered us to paradise-The Limelight Hotel!!

Where To Stay:

THE LIMELIGHT HOTEL
http://www.limelighthotel.com/

From the moment of our reservation inquiry until our safe return home, the staff at the Limelight Hotel were OUTSTANDING!  They were able to take a horrible start to any vacation and completely erase it from our minds!  That's a big deal! The front desk staff was so welcoming and friendly, despite my cranky pants mood, and did everything to assure us that the lost luggage would be brought up to our room the moment it arrived.  Fortunately, at 1 AM our phone rang and soon someone was at our door with all four pieces!  I swear I heard angels sing! 

The King bed and entry

Our Superior King room (#437) was large and spacious.  There were so many pluses to this room.  The bed was so comfortable and the pillows were perfect (I have an issue finding good pillows, so that is saying a lot!).  Another great thing is all the storage space.  Full size closet, racks and shelves for snow gear, shelves in the bathroom for toiletries and lots of drawers.  There is also a kitchenette with dishes, cups, glasses and silverware for four.  Each room has a Keurig coffee maker with a variety of Green Mountain Coffee and creams and sugars. Our room had a closed in fireplace with a two hour timer that added such warmth to the room.  The best thing about the bathroom is its actually split in two.  The main bathroom has a huge tub, two sinks and a walk in shower with all Kohler fixtures.  There is a separate toilet and sink that makes it very easy for two people to get ready in the morning!

The fireplace, sitting area and balcony

The two sinks and large tub

Walk in shower and shelving

Separate toilet and sink

Kitchenette

Ski storage

Another great perk to staying at the Limelight is that it is less expensive than many of the glitzy hotels in this very pricey resort town.  Included in your room fees is a "resort fee" but this covers the shuttle service that they provide around town. They drove my husband to Snowmass ski resort and me to the golf course to try cross-country skiing.  It is recommended to set up arrangements in advance so that they can be sure to have one of the drivers available. 

Also included in your room fee is a wonderful breakfast spread each morning. In addition to coffee, steel-cut oatmeal, breads, bagels, muffins, juices, yogurts, fruits and a pancake maker, they rotate a different hot dish each morning. During our stay we had scrambled eggs and bacon on two of the mornings and French Toast Casserole the other day! Along with a good selection of morning papers, its a great way to start the day!

I also was able to use the fitness center while Gar went skiing.  They had two elliptical machines, two treadmills, two bikes and a variety of free weights, large balls and a machine. Water and towels are provided and there are fans for when it gets warm. The front desk even arranged to have our room serviced while I was in the gym!

The hotel is centrally located, within walking distance to most restaurants and the service is probably one of the top five hotels we've EVER stayed in!  I can't recommend it highly enough!


Where to Eat:

The Wild Fig
http://thewildfig.com/

The Wild Fig

This quaint little restaurant right around the corner from the Limelight Hotel ended up being our favorite restaurant in Aspen.  It is tiny inside and reservations are definitely recommended but the coziness only adds to its charm. We felt so at home here that it was difficult not to return every night of our stay . . . and we wish we had!  We originally had reservations at 6:30 but due to our plane being diverted, we didn't get into town until almost 9:00 PM. We called and they told us to "come on over".  So we did! The very kind young lady at the coat check took our coats with a smile and we were greeted warmly by I think the manager or owner?  She made us feel so welcome and asked about our flight.  She quickly filled our martini order and let us relax after our hectic travel day. Our server, Tori was attentive and fun and helped us to choose some delicious items from the menu.  The homemade parppadelle with porcine mushrooms served with braised short ribs was exceptional and Gar loved that night's special of tenderloins served over risotto.  We shared the chocolate decadence and because I had finished my glass of red wine, I had no more to go with the chocolate. Tori offered me "a splash more!"  We loved dining at the end of the night when the staff was so relaxed and they were in no rush to get us out.  I promise you will not be disappointed with this great little find!

Campo de Fiori
http://www.campodefiori.net/index.html
We decided to go to this restaurant based on a co-worker friend of Gar's.  He owns a time-share in Aspen and said this restaurant was one of his favorites. Maybe that made our expectations too high or perhaps it was because it was Super Bowl Sunday but we were very surprised to see only one other table filled when we arrived at 7:00 PM on a Saturday.  Apparently it was because of the Super Bowl because by 8:00 the place was quite full.  They have fine tasting, typical Italian food.  We enjoyed the large portions and the good selection of Italian wines, especially by the glass.  I don't think the food compares to the actual Italian food we've enjoyed in Italy but if you're craving Italian, this will fill the need. Service was good, although most of the staff were in the bar watching the game on someone's iPad.  It is located within walking distance to the Limelight Hotel so it was nice not having to walk too far in the chilly air.  I'm not sure I would go back, however. 

Creperie Du Village
http://www.lacreperieduvillage.com/

Our choice to dine here came about because of their high rating on TripAdvisor.com. That and because it looked so charming from the street.  Also, until last month Foie Gras was banned in California, and we thought this the perfect opportunity to get our fix!  We had 6:30 reservations and the place was already packed. The restaurant, like most in Aspen is very small.  Seating is very close and does not allow for much privacy but that's okay.  The fun and special attention more than makes up for it. 

The downstairs entrance

 After settling in with a Kir Royale and the delicious home-made foie gras served with small toasts, we decided to share the Fondue Beef Bourguinonne. This is a platter of diced sirloin, potatoes and vegetables that we speared on a fondue fork and simmered in a fondue pot at our table.  It is different and delicious but my husband did not enjoy having to "cook his own food!"  The three sauces that accompanied it had to be refilled and the pot had to be reheated during our meal but were both done quickly. 

Midnight in Paris crepe

For dessert, we tried the "Midnight in Paris" crepe.  It was a creme brulee crepe with crispy caramel sauce! Heavenly! Our only complaint was that the management did not make the loud children that came and sat at the table right next to us, return to the table with their parents.  Put kind of a damper on our experience but more the parent's fault than the restaurants.  I would definitely return to this very authentic French bistro and so would Gar . . .  if he could choose one of the other "pre-cooked" selections on the menu!

Ajax Tavern
https://www.thelittlenell.com/dining/ajax-tavern

The basis for choosing this place for lunch on our last day was easy. Location, location, location!  Right at the bottom of the hill, next to the Silver Queen gondola, this restaurant is a big apres ski place.  We were told they had the best cheeseburgers in Aspen, quite possibly the state of Colorado and that is not too far from the truth.  Although they reminded me a bit of Five Guys burgers, it was the truffle fries that really knocked them up to a hew level!  With a good assortment of beers and wines, we could understand why the attraction after a long day of skiing or boarding! Service was a bit slow but that made it all the more attractive.  So fun to people watch the slopes!  There are patio heaters that kept us plenty warm on this chilly day and there is indoor dining that looks like it might be really nice for dinner.  Would definitely go back just for those fries!

Double cheeseburger and truffle fries

What to do:

The main draw to Aspen is the incredible ski resorts.  Although I did not ski, Gar reported that even with no new snow for the month of January, the slopes were well-covered, nicely groomed and well worth the cost.  You can buy one lift ticket (this is Aspen, so be warned it is expensive!) and it is good for all the resorts in the area.  Gar liked Snowmass the best as there are a variety of skill levels that he could try.  He usually snow boards but this time brought his skis. He said some of the resorts have only black diamond runs so plan accordingly!  

Aspen Club and Spa
http://www.aspenclub.com/spa-services.html

So what is a spouse supposed to do when she no longer desires to feign interest in standing on two pieces of narrow wood, going madly out of control on frozen rain? Hit the spa, of course.  The hotel staff recommended the spa services at the St. Regis but they were already completely booked. She then suggested the Aspen Club and Spa.  Although I was incorrectly told it was a 15 minute walk, it was a nice nonetheless at 25 minutes.  I was shown to the ladies locker room and told of all the amenities that I could use with my purchase of a spa service.  I would have liked to have used the hot tub, the sauna or the fitness facilities but did not bring any clothing to do so.  I changed into my robe and waited in a quiet are for my esthetician.  She asked what I was hoping to obtain from this custom facial and since she couldn't make me look 20 years younger, I told her to try to make me FEEL 20 years younger!  She created a facial for my skin type in the mountain climate.  It included cleansing, exfoliation, a mask, toner and hydration.  It also included a wonderful neck, face and shoulder massage.  The cost was about a third of the St. Regis and a really good value!  And I DID feel 20 years younger!

XC Ski Centers - Cross Country Skiing
http://www.aspennordic.com/

Because Gar uses every opportunity on ski trips to hit the slope, this gives me time to explore other things to do.  On this trip, I decided that I was gonna give cross country skiing a shot.  The hotel recommended this vendor as the tracks are on a relatively flat golf course and they offer lessons.  What a great use for a golf course when it's buried under 2 feet of snow!  After a quick shuttle ride to the XC Ski Center, I was signed in and fitted with boots, skis and poles! Although I had signed up for a group lesson, I was the only one venturing to learn on this particular Monday!  My instructor Keith was perfect! He explained the various ways to propel, stop and climb hills  (??!!).  Yes, there are some small hills on golf courses and they are not that easy to get up!  


After my 50-minute lesson, I was left to my own devices.  I actually found cross country skiing quite enjoyable but also quite the workout!  Lots of cardio and muscle building.  There are two tracks in most areas. This allows you to ski side by side with another skier or to perhaps move out of the way of more experienced skiers! (Although I did learn etiquette states the more experienced skier should be the one to step aside!)  

The whole loop is about 2 1/2 miles but at times it felt much longer! Especially after climbing those "small hills" I mentioned.  There are several maps placed around the course so you know exactly where you are at all times and the surrounding views are spectacular! I did find the altitude took a bit of getting used to and it might be easier to try at a lower elevation!  



One last recommendation.  Definitely bring a bottle of water and dress on the lighter side.  I found the long underwear, turtleneck and ski jacket to be WAY too hot!  Ski gloves are a bit too warm, as well, but the liners alone were perfect!



Snow Shoeing 

Our hotel, the Limelight, had complimentary snow shoes available for any guests of the hotel.  On our last morning, we were able to secure a late check out and grabbed the opportunity to try something new . . . together!  Gar used his snow boarding boots and poles and I rented some snow board boots and poles at a special hotel rate from Four Mountain Sports (http://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-vacation/equipment-rentals). 

I guess I've watched too many cartoons in my life as I was totally expecting to see the wicker snow shoes that have been in so many tv shows and movies! Nope, they are now smaller and made of metal with Velcro straps and claws.  Probably easier than those wicker ones anyway! Or so I thought.  Again, remember the altitude is your biggest challenge.  Gar had been on the mountain top for two days and did not find breathing to be a problem.  I, on the other hand, was certain I was going into cardiac arrest every 30 steps!  Fortunately I was encouraged to push on by his reminder that he couldn't possibly carry me back from where we were!



The actual walking in snow shoes is fairly easy, it's again the hills up (down is not a problem!)  We were encouraged to stay on the plowed Snow Cat trails but ventured off into the freshly fallen snow for part of our trek.  So fun walking on top of the snow.  One does not sink too deep while wearing these snow shoes.  The views and the solitude made this an amazing adventure!

The only negative that I had with this experience was the rental boots. They did not fit as well as one's own boots and I was left with two huge blisters to remind me of our snow shoe excursion.  Thicker socks may have helped and I will remember this for future snow shoe adventures!