The Little Nell

服務設施有些舊

I had a reservation booked for the week of September at the Little Knell and was really looking forward to visiting. I am currently about one month and two weeks into recovery from a heart ablation procedure. During a recent follow-up exam, my cardiologist discovered another related issue that requires immediate surgical intervention. As a result, I will not be able to travel to Colorado or stay at the Little Knell as planned. I called the hotel and spoke with a customer service representative, who informed me that I would not be eligible for a refund for my cancellation request, as there is no fixed cancellation policy. According to the representative, cancellations are only possible if requested 30 to 90 days prior to the reservation date. It was certainly not my intention to require another heart procedure—much less for it to be scheduled during the exact week I was meant to enjoy Aspen and my stay at the Little Knell. However, given the circumstances, I would prefer to prioritize my health. You only get one heart—best to keep it functioning as well as possible. I provided medical documentation to the hotel to verify that my cancellation request was due to a legitimate medical emergency—something entirely out of my control. Despite this, the hotel representative informed me that I had passed the cancellation window and therefore would not receive any refund. The total cost of my reservation was $3,700. I am incredibly disappointed that hotel management refuses to recognize a verified medical emergency (supported by documentation) as valid grounds for cancellation and refund. If you’re planning to book a stay at the Little Knell, please be aware that any unexpected emergencies or life events—no matter how serious—may not be considered acceptable reasons for cancellation unless they occur at least 30 to 90 days in advance. Additionally, if you search for the hotel’s policies, there is no clear cancellation policy listed. As of September 10, 2025, I am providing a screenshot of their “Policies” page, which still does not show any cancellation policy.

We stayed at The Little Nell for a few nights at the end of ski season. As first-time visitors to Aspen, we chose the hotel for its ski-in-ski-out access and five-star reputation. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations. On the day we checked in, my husband and I (both Asian) stopped by Element 47, the hotel’s lobby restaurant/bar, for light drinks and snacks. When we approached the host stand, the Hispanic male host with facial hair told us he was prioritizing “house guests.” Confused, I asked if he meant hotel guests. He confirmed, and I clarified that we were indeed staying at The Little Nell. The fact that he assumed otherwise without asking made us feel uncomfortable and singled out. Given the hotel’s predominantly white clientele, it felt like an assumption rooted in how we looked. No guest should ever be made to feel out of place based on their appearance. Beyond that unfortunate encounter, the overall service lacked the warmth and attentiveness one would expect at this price point. Front desk staff were polite but cold. On the third day of our stay, the hotel conducted loud rooftop maintenance to remove ice, but failed to notify guests. My husband had injured himself snowboarding and needed to rest that afternoon, but the noise was unbearable. There was no advance warning - no written note, no verbal mention, nothing. Had we known, I would have found him a quieter place to recover. But still, at over $1,000 a night, you’d expect to comfortably enjoy your room at any hour. When we shared our feedback on the issues above with the manager on duty the day we checked out, his response was, “How do you want to be compensated?” That lack of accountability was disappointing and not at all in line with what we expected from a luxury resort. Overall, The Little Nell felt overrated and underwhelming. Staff training, especially around cultural awareness and guest care, needs serious improvement. Next time we visit Aspen, we’ll be staying at Hotel Jerome instead.