The Aurora Inn & Cottages

Kim, the innkeeper, does a phenomenal job keeping the rooms, cottages, and shared areas clean. The snack, tea, and coffee area is well stocked, and the sauna is a huge bonus for us, especially after a freezing hike. The pool was closed during the cold months, though I'm sure it's as nice as the rest of the place. Kim works hard to make guests feel welcome, comfortable, and satisfied. My fiancé and I have stayed twice in different rooms and loved both visits. The whole place is cozy and charming. We can't wait to come back, and would recommend it to solo travelers, couples, families, and friends.

The room was clean, the beds and pillows were comfortable, and the area was quiet. I came mainly for the sauna. It took about 15 minutes to heat up when it was -1° outside, and it was nice once warm. But even with both push lights on, it was very dark inside, and dark outdoors too. I wish I could have seen better without using my flashlight. Great place.

The ski slopes are about two minutes down the road, and the sauna is a lovely extra. The innkeepers are wonderful, and the whole place is quiet, relaxing, and beautifully designed. A dream getaway! The good reviews here still don't do the experience justice.

There was no cell service, which makes sense in the mountains, but the internet in my room was out while I was there to work, not ski. I couldn't reach the number to report it. The next morning I showed that my messages hadn't been delivered all evening. They replied that they could only do so much, that no outage had been reported, and that they would have texted guests if they'd known. They hoped I understood. I didn't. It's unsettling that there's no cell service or clear safety plan if something goes wrong while no one is on site, especially if the power also goes out. The same canned-sounding response to reviews, thanking people and hoping they'll return, doesn't show much accountability. I also spoke with two other couples who said they'd had trouble on arrival and problems with their fireplaces, with nobody available to help. At $143 a night plus a $35 pet fee, I found this overpriced for what you get. The basics like water, wifi, cleanliness, and parking should be covered at that price. A boutique inn should feel cozy, but this felt dressed up without much care for what happens in winter, like a way to cash in on skiers. Despite what they say, there were no innkeepers or staff on site. There was no front desk, just contactless check-in and a code to enter the main building. I hoped to hike the trailhead behind the property into Bear Notch, but that trail network is for private cross-country skiing and you can't hike there on foot during winter. You'll need to go down the street instead, which is a good way to support Bear Notch directly as a small business. They take cash only, and Susie the pup is a doll.