Tyrolean Lodge — Hotel in Aspen

RAW SEWAGE, NO REFUND

Upon returning to our room after dinner, we noticed a slightly bad smell. We had figured it was a faint dumpster smell and dealt with it. We took showers, but after getting out noticed the incredibly strong smell of RAW HUMAN SEWAGE pouring into our room from the sink in the small kitchen area. The little kitchen area in these rooms backs up to the bathroom and, after reading through the other reviews, there are apparently major plumbing issues. I called the after hours number:

Manager: Yeah? Me: Hi, there is a terrible human sewage smell pouring into our room from the sink, is there another room we can be moved to? Manager: (annoyed and not at all surprised) No, we’re sold out, if you talk the the person at the front desk in the morning he’ll hook you up. Me: So we’re just supposed to sleep in this poop room? Manager: (laughs) Unless you have a better idea… Me: Oh thanks, what’s your name? Manager: Tells me his name and hangs up on me.

So now we start packing up, trying to hold our breath, frazzled that we are wet and having to leave in the night. Then the manager calls back and says that he found us a room to stay in, if I wanted it, at another hotel and that I needed to come to the office in 5 minutes to pick up the new reservation info. So now I get to stand there with my soaking wet toddler and watch him pout and sigh because this is interrupting HIS night. I never received a word of apology or an ounce of friendliness or professionalism, just extremely casual annoyance. So now we leave to head to another hotel down the street. It was in much worse shape physically (old carpets, stained walls, etc.) but it was clean and the staff were really nice.

The next morning I called to see if we would receive any of our payment refunded, since we were forced to move in the middle of the night and it was a poor, traumatic experience altogether. The older gentleman working the front desk in the morning was professional and pleasant, and said he would need to ask the owner but would get back to me. Later that day I received an email that they had decided, after speaking with the front desk manager, that since I had “declined to leave and receive a refund the night before” and because “they had paid” for our room at the other hotel, they wouldn’t be giving me any refund for our trouble. At no point whatsoever had I been offered or declined a refund the night before, this was an outright lie.

When you would rather stick it to a family whose evening/vacation was ruined rather than refund $50 (of their $175 rate) and offer to buy them breakfast, your karma is going to take a turn. I hope all these refunds you are withholding from people are worth the reviews you are getting. We have stayed in 5 other hotels in Aspen (Mountain Chalet Aspen, Hotel Aspen, Molly Gibson Lodge, The Limelight and Aspen Mountain Lodge) over the past decade of living in a neighboring town and this was our only bad experience....

Widely known as the best lodging bargain in Aspen, the Tyrolean Lodge is the answer when the question is, “how can we afford to go to Aspen?” With rooms less than half the price of their next budget-friendly competitor, and no junk fees to boot, this unassuming small lodge was the perfect solution to my winter holiday needs.||||Of course, affordability is far less a plus when a lodging has obvious flaws: poor location, unkempt rooms, noisy guests, etc. Fortunately none of these issues were in evidence here. Located on the main drag just a few blocks away from the downtown core, the lodge, built in the style of a classic ski lodge of yesteryear, boasted simple but spotlessly clean rooms, quiet environs, and excellent nearby public transportation putting the area’s four ski resorts within easy reach.||||The lodge rooms are adequately sized and if you can score one of the top floor rooms, you may have a partial view of the nearest ski area, Aspen Mountain or “Ajax.” The rooms feature two queen beds and a single bed in the entryway making for an ideal sleeping setup for families. As a solo traveler I would have preferred a comfortable chair over two extra beds but not that big a deal. The rooms also come equipped with large cable TVs, remodeled bathrooms and a surprisingly capable mini-kitchen with fridge, microwave and an induction range. ||||The front desk staff were welcoming, exceedingly pleasant and provided a wealth of local knowledge which enhanced my skiing experience considerably. Although the lodge lacks a large common area, the small lobby offers up excellent coffee, teas and an assortment of granola-bar-ish snack treats.||||Be aware the lodge has no outside ski storage and no elevator - you’ll need to schlep your gear upstairs if you’re on an upper floor. However, the rooms have ample ski storage right inside the front door as well as handy coat racks for sports clothing. ||||Pro tip: Visit the nearby City Market for supplies, pre-made meals and room snacks at a fraction of the price of eating out - but a meal or two downtown is worth...

NOT SAFE FOR WOMEN. Older Male Owner of the hotel personally comes into the room without notification while women are changing into ski clothes early in the morning. If you value your daughter or wife's safety - do NOT book a room here.

Also had a bad leak in the room that caused the staff to be in my room from 10p-12a then again 8a-11a. I received no call from the front desk to inform me the owner needed in my room at 8a while I was changing. However I did receive a phone call from the front desk to remind me I still needed to be out of the room by 11a even though I hadn't had a private moment in my room all morning.

Cherry on top - I was still charged the entire bill with no discount offered. When discount was requested I was told No because "it's peak ski season so we can't afford to lose the money and you booked thru Expedia so there's nothing we can do for you." I enjoyed my ski trip to Aspen but next time would put out more money for a safer stay at one of the many other hotels in Aspen with better...