My boyfriend and I visit Salida on a regular basis (he has a Monarch Mountain season pass) and have stayed with the Aspen Leaf on two occasions - once in February of 2007 and the second time in November of 2007.

In February we got a great corner room with two double beds, these cute built-ins, and a nice bathroom. It wasn't anything luxurious, but it was comfortable and fit our needs. Even though it was a smoking room, it wasn't overly "smoky" smelling. And, since it was on the back of the building, it was very quiet. We also loved the fact that there was a microwave and fridge in the room.

In November we got a smoking room in the opposite building with a King-sized bed. The bed was uncomfortable, the pillows flat as pancakes, and the room smelled very strongly. And there only appeared to be 4 other occupied rooms the night we were there, and the rooms on either side of us were occupied. At a hotel with so many rooms, you would think that the front desk might separate guests a little more if possible.

Aspen Leaf is not the best hotel in town, but it's not the worst. I just think there are better values out there.

I get up to Salida once or twice a year, and stayed at this motel two or three times. It was clean, neat, quiet (although that depends on which room you have; it's on a fairly busy road), and the maintenance was good.

However, the last time I stayed there I requested a no-smoking room, but when I opened the door I was hit in the face with a blast cigarette smell. I went back to the office and told them about it. The owner (?) apologized and said that someone had not honored the non-smoking sign. She said that she'd take care of it, and she ran an air purifier in the room for the rest of the afternoon. This helped some, but the smell had permeated the bedspread, curtains, rug, etc., which she didn't (or couldn't) change, so when I came back that evening the room still smelled of smoke. She didn't offer to give me a different room -- although they had vacancies when I checked in -- and by the time I got back they were full. I didn't want to go out searching for another room in the dark, so I decided to tough it out. But the smell penetrated my suitcase and everything in it, so when I got home my clothes, shoes, etc. still reeked of smoke and I had to launder or air out everything.

I realize that the management couldn't prevent someone from smoking in a non-smoking room. However, when I request a smoke-free room, that's what I expect, and I feel that they should have given me a different room instead of making a half-baked effort to deodorize the smoky one. I haven't stayed at the Aspen Leaf Lodge since.

I'm a single woman traveling alone. I've stayed at this hotel three times since 2002. Each time I receive exactly what is promised: helpful owners, comfortable accommodations, reasonable pricing, and a feeling of safety. (The hotel has demonstrated that it doesn't allow problem customers to stay very long. ) I will be visiting Salida at Christmas, 2006, and intend to stay at the Aspen Leaf! What better endorsement! Thank you. Nancy McGuffee, Tulsa, OK

We have stopped often at the Aspen Leaf Lodge over the past ten years. The rooms are always clean and warm. It is a great place to stop for a skiing holiday at Monarch Pass. The hot tub is always welcoming after a hard day on the slopes. The management has always been polite and responsive to any requests we have had. For a beautiful mountain town this is the best place to stay.