Alpine Hospitality at its Best

Travel: Head up to the Wasatch Mountains of Park City, Utah and you'll find Stein Eriksen Lodge - one of the most luxurious and prestigious mid-mountain Deer Valley resorts with the credentials to prove it!

Having earned Mobile Travel Guide's Five-Star Award for the second straight year - the first and only Utah property to achieve this distinction - the Stein Eriksen Lodge is also among an elite list of just 44 hotels, inns and resorts throughout North America to earn this award. It's also one of only 32 properties in North America to hold this award alongside an AAA Five Diamond rating.

The property's Giltretind Restaurant and The Spa have also both received Four-Star ratings. Indeed, the restaurant is one of only two Utah establishments to achieve this rating, with the spa the only in Utah having earned such prestigious recognition.

The lodge is designed to reflect the Norwegian heritage of its namesake, Stein Eriksen, an Olympic Gold Medalist. It lends itself to the look of a rustic lodge but with so many details in the architecture, design, and feel of the resort that clearly make it an elite ski and relaxation destination. For over a quarter of a decade, Stein Eriksen Lodge has focused on developing a staff that is dedicated to the highest caliber of service, and it shows.

This year-round luxury ski-in/ski out resort features 180 rooms, including 68 suites, as well as meeting facilities, recreational activities, a full-service concierge, ski valets, twice daily maid service, rental shops, and shopping.

Every room is unique in how it is arranged and designed as well as features a number of comforts and amenities that make it feel just like home, including private jetted tubs, down pillows, plush robes, Molton Brown bath amenities, and luxurious linens. Deluxe and luxury bedrooms offer one King or two Queen-size beds, window seats and/or balconies, satellite cable television, VCR/DVD player, multi-line telephones with voice mail, separate shower, tea and coffee maker, CD/radio alarm clock, in-room safe, refrigerator, humidifier, hair dryer and high-speed and wireless Internet access.

Some of the deluxe and luxury rooms also include hot tubs, decks and fireplaces. The deluxe rooms measure 375 square feet while the luxury rooms span 700 square feet. Both sleep two to four people.

The suites feature European kitchens, spacious living rooms with stone fireplaces, a dining area, and separate bedrooms (from 1 to 5, depending on the suite). The suites measure 1,200 to 4,900 square feet and sleep 2 to 18 people. Many have hot tubs and balconies. The Grand suites offer easy access to the concierge, restaurant and shops as well as all offer balconies with gorgeous views of the scenery. These suites span 800 to 3,000 square feet and sleep 2 to 14 people.

To accompany the premium accommodations, dining at its finest is served up at the resort's restaurant and lounge. Giltretind Restaurant offers regional American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekly brunch offerings set against an elegant slope side setting. Online reservations are available. Besides the romantic dinners or hearty breakfasts, the après ski crowd can be found at the Troll Hallen Lounge, which features light lunch fare, appetizers, and dinners along with a wide selection of European beers and unique cocktails. The selection at the lounge can be enjoyed next to the fire on a winter's day or on the deck during the summer season.

Executive Pastry Chef Raymond Lammers also creates sinfully delightful house-made chocolates that are available at the lodge. Beyond the fine food, the resort has four sommeliers who can conduct a personalized wine seminar in its 10,000-bottle wine cellar. An assortment of dining possibilities is available to you at Stein Eriksen Lodge. Of course, food cannot be forgotten even during a wine tasting. A cheese course or canapé tasting can be arranged as a pairing with the wines.

Guest services abound at this exceptional resort. Complimentary daily newspapers, 24-hour room service and in-room dining, a full-service concierge desk that caters to every whim, luxury private transfers, same-day laundry and dry cleaning service, a full-service ski locker room, secure parking in heated underground garage, room deliveries, babysitting service, and baggage storage.

For those that cannot escape the rigors of business, the resort also has a business center with all the bells and whistles, such as copy, fax, and computer services; audio/visual services, equipment rental and setup, notary public, and package shipping and express mail service. Business meetings and events are also given that extra special touch. Groups can be accommodated up to 440 people with three executive boardrooms, the 1,600 square foot Flagstaff room, and a 4,000 square foot Olympic Ballroom with six breakouts. Each meeting and event area is equipped with high-speed wireless Internet and state-of-the-art audio/visual resources. The resort also has destination, secretarial and security services as well as event planners and catering on staff for events and weddings.

When business can be put aside, there are a range of activities that will provide hours of entertainment and relaxation. The ski locker room provides warm ski boots and assistance from ski valets that guide guests to the Sterling Express lift and see them off with a warm beverage or glass of water. The resort offers many summertime delights as well, such as golf, hiking, fly-fishing, horseback riding, alpine coaster rides, mountain biking, and hot-air balloon rides. Nearby, Park City provides culture in the form of the Sundance Film Festival, Kimball Arts Festival, Park City Wine & Food Classic, Celebrity Ski Festival and performances by the Utah Symphony at a nearby outdoor amphitheater.

When the skiing is done or for those who want something a bit more down-to-earth than hitting the slopes, the award-winning spa at the Stein Eriksen Lodge can be pampered from head to toe in an intimate and sensual European setting. Health and wellness services include healing wraps and therapeutic deep tissue massages to facials, body treatments, nail artistry, and other services designed to revitalize your body, mind and spirit. Treatments for men and women can be reserved on an a la carte or package basis. The Spa also carries several lines of skin care products that provide relief and refreshment from the high altitude and dry climate.

Also on-site at the lodge is a top-of-the line fitness center, including an outdoor heated pool and tub, fitness equipment, yoga, aerobics, Pilates, and relaxation lounge. The Spa also has private lockers, sauna, whirlpool, steam room, showers, personal care amenities, and waters, teas and tonics. * For the avid shopper, three on-site shops provide high-ends sports apparel, equipment, and rental equipment as well as the latest alpine apparel or men, women and children and gifts, sundries, and branded lodge items.

Winter rates are offered at value, regular and peak pricing (season time periods are broken down on the resort website) with deluxe bedrooms starting at $510 per night on the value level and going up to $2,255 per night for grand suites during the peak winter season. Winter rates require a four-night minimum stay on weekends. Summer daily rates start at $185 per night for the deluxe bedroom and go up to $585 per night for the grand suites. These rates are all "starting at" rates, so they can be priced higher at the discretion of the resort or by the type of room with amenities that is selected. Rates do include a complimentary buffet breakfast but do not factor in 10.45% state and local taxes.