Killington Grand Resort Hotel

The modern ski lodge exterior of this sprawling hotel immediately sets the tone for a visit here, and the main draw for many visitors is its proximity to Killington Ski Resort. The resort draws families and couples, as well as plenty of business travelers staying here for on-site conferences. The warm lobby has a dark green, leaf-patterned carpet and there are plenty of comfortable, modern chairs and leather loveseats arranged throughout, several of which sit next to a roaring fireplace. It’s a large, inviting space, and a large business center and the on-site convenience store and cafe are in the same area. This space underwent minor renovations in winter 2016, and added fresh furniture. The hotel has one on-site restaurant, Preston's, which has a lively bar and tons of tables, and was fully renovated in 2015. One of the most popular gathering places for guests is the outdoor fire pit, a stone-terraced area with lots of seating that is open year-round and is lively in the evening.

Nestled high in Vermont’s famous Green Mountains, the resort has direct ski bridge access to Killington Ski Resort during the winter. Okemo Mountain, another major ski resort, is about 30 minutes south of the hotel by car. The main draw in the area is outdoor adventure, though the town of Killington has plenty of cafes and restaurants, some of which are open only during the winter, and guests will need a car as the resort is fairly self-contained and the town is spread out. The Appalachian Trail cuts through the area, and can be accessed from River Road, a 12-minute drive from the resort. The trailhead for the gorgeous Thundering Falls hike is also in the same area and worth a day trip. Montpelier is an hour and 15 minutes north, and the closest major airport is in artsy Burlington, an hour and 45 minutes away.

There are many room sizes and configurations available here, but decor and design are identical across the board. All rooms are large, starting at 335 square feet (or 31 square meters). Simple, contemporary maple nightstands and dressers look smart against gray-green patterned carpets and taupe walls, while comfortable beds with duvets, green striped blankets, and navy bed skirts complete the look. These are modern rooms, without any pretensions to high design, and are a step above many of the dated rooms at mega-resorts throughout Vermont. Seating varies from room to room, and Standard Rooms have one plush armchair, while larger rooms have sofa beds and more space to spread out. All rooms have desks, safes, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, iPod dock alarm clocks, telephones, air-conditioning, coffeemakers with free coffee. A few details could be given more attention, like the unattractive bamboo shades over the balcony doors in some rooms, and walls are very thin, making noise from neighboring rooms an issue. Apartments, Studios, and the Penthouse all have full kitchens with dishwashers, and larger apartments have separate bedrooms and comfortable living and dining areas, though details like light blue or striped curtains look a bit outdated. The Penthouse also has its own private sauna, and many guest rooms also have their own fireplace and balcony. Bathrooms are spacious, with stylish gray tiles and tan wallpaper, granite vanities, contemporary raised sinks, toiletries, and bathtub/shower combos, though some could use a deep scrub as we saw dirty basins and grout when we visited.

It’s almost impossible to list all of the resort’s activities, though the main draw is Killington Ski Resort, which has six peaks and a 3000-foot vertical drop. The hotel has a direct ski bridge to the slopes in the winter and also offers snowmobile tours, fat bike rentals, sleigh rides, tubing, and ski lessons. In the summer there are ropes courses, disc golf, an alpine-style roller coaster, trampolines and bungee courses, hiking, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and plenty of other options. The outdoor fire pit is an especially popular feature for guests and is open year-round as well.The hotel also features a heated, 75-foot indoor-outdoor pool that stays open year-round and has a party vibe at peak times of the year. There is also a hot tub and a large fitness center with a great selection of weights and cardio equipment. The Killington Grand Spa offers a full menu of beauty and massage treatments in a tiled, if slightly suburban setting. There is an on-site game room and arcade for guests with kids that includes a pool table and air hockey, though the room could use a new carpet as the one there when we visited wasn’t in the best shape. There is also a coin-operated laundry room on-site.The main restaurant at the resort is Preston's, which serves dinner year-round, and lunch in the winter. The space was fully renovated in 2015. Breakfast is included with most bookings during the winter season. Grand Essentials doubles as a casual cafe and convenience store, with wine, beer, souvenirs, and snacks available for purchase.The hotel has 11 meeting and event spaces that can arranged in a variety of sizes and configurations and it is a popular destination for conferences. There is an on-site business center in the lobby and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. The hotel’s front desk is staffed 24 hours a day and can provide suggestions on sights throughout the area, and the hotel runs a free shuttle service to the slopes.