Tälta Lodge, A Bluebird by Lark

The property was gorgeous, but there were dog messes left by owners in front of our patio and around the fire pit, and trash was scattered there too. Our throw blanket had ominous brown stains. The ceilings sounded like they might break with every step from the room above, and music from the Apres lounge went past the advertised 8 PM end time, making it hard to relax after skiing. Our Riverside King room was right beside the lounge and was the first room down the stairs from the lobby. We’d booked a Deluxe Riverside King Room with patio access for three nights. It was smaller than every other king room with river views despite costing the same, and was tight for two people with winter clothes and luggage. There was no counter space. When we got back from dinner Saturday, the hotel lot had no parking, and the front desk offered no solution when we asked where to park. It looked nicer during booking than in person. At over $400 a night, I wish we’d had a room bigger than one that barely fit a king bed at an angle.

It’s alright, but I wouldn’t strongly recommend it or call it a bad choice. The location is great, the staff are nice, and I liked having coffee and hot chocolate in the lobby. The price is reasonable if you don’t want to drive to Burlington. The hot tub is too tiny, and the bathroom is small, with barely enough vanity space for skincare products. The furniture arrangement is weird, there isn’t enough light, and there’s no table. I get that no carpet can make sense in snowy weather, but it felt odd. Next time I’m in Stowe, I’ll try other nearby places first.

The location is the one saving grace, since it’s fairly close to the ski resort. But the mountain may run out of parking by 7:45 AM, even on a Monday, so being five minutes away still means getting up very early to find a spot. Otherwise, you can hike uphill in your gear from the lodge and wait by the road for the shuttle, which may take 30 minutes to come around. Miss it, and it’s another half-hour wait. The service staff were nice, but no one was at the check-in desk until 4:30, which was frustrating when check-in itself is already relatively late at 4 PM. The marketing looks fantastic, but the place in person falls far short of the pictures. The room was bare bones: no dressers or flat surfaces to put things, not even in the bathroom, so we had to live out of suitcases on the floor. There was room for furniture, but the company that designed it seems never to have stayed in a real hotel room. The hot tub was cold, the pool frigid and murky looking, and the shower only gave lukewarm water even on its highest setting. Overall, very disappointing for the price.

There’s no restaurant on site, but plenty of good food options nearby. We loved staying at Talta, close to Stowe Resort, with a cozy lounge where I spent most evenings reading by the fireplace before dinner. After skiing, we used the sauna and outdoor hot tub every day. My favorite part was having the hot tub to myself and admiring the beautiful view. The staff were so nice, especially Ella, who welcomed us with a warm smile and made us feel at home throughout the stay, accommodating our different requests.