I just got back from an amazing stay at Alta, and booking at Rustler's Lodge was just as important to the experience as the snow. Not only does it manage to pull off a cozy feel, but the service is top-notch, both from the hotel (concierge, housekeeping) and the restaurant waitstaff. I was particularly impressed by the quality (and quantity!) of the meals provided, much better than I've ever experienced from an on-mountain establishment. I've tried to travel around and sample different mountains over the years instead of sticking to just one, but I think I may have to go back to Alta sooner rather than later thanks to my experience at Rustler's Lodge.

If you are looking for a very comfortable and convenient place to spend a few days or a week skiing, this place has it all. Very nice rooms -- not luxurious as you'd expect at a Four Seasons or Rosewood, but very nicely thought out with lots of nice touches: plenty of storage, comfortable bed, spacious, and they even provide a humidifier to help with the dry air at altitude. Service is extraordinary; the staff is extremely accommodating and will go above and beyond to handle just about any request you might make. The location is perfect for skiing, with a chairlift taking you back to the door at the end of the day, and the ski shop in the lodge is very well equipped, not basic as you might expect in a satellite branch. The people who work at the Rustler love Alta, and love being there, and it shows in the service and their enthusiasm.

The only caveat I would offer, and it is minor, is that at peak periods (during holiday week) they are stretched pretty thin handling a full house of guests. Service in the restaurant can be slow at times, and it can get difficult to make dinner reservations so you get the times you want. Most nights, though, the service and the food was very good; this is really a very minor nit in an otherwise extraordinary experience.

Overall the Rustler is one of my favorite places for a ski trip anywhere, and I've stayed at great places in most of the major Western ski resorts in the US, and resorts in Europe.