Grand Summit Resort is the hub of Mount Snow

Mount Snow Grand Summit Resort is the only ski-in/ski-out hotel on the mountain.

When it comes to deciding where to stay during a ski vacation, the biggest question often is: Spend the money on ski-in/ski-out or stay a bit farther away and save some cash?

Like most answers, that depends. But for something more than an overnight, that answer leans toward yes. There’s nothing quite like not touching your car for a few days and having the amenities that go with staying on the mountain.

When the destination is Mount Snow, that means staying at the Mount Snow Grand Summit Resort & Conference Center, the only ski-in/ski-out hotel on the mountain. It stretches along the base of the mountain, filling in the gap between the main base lodge and Sundance Lodge.

It has all the amenities one is looking for when it comes to a hotel on the mountain, with two restaurants, an outdoor ski check, spa and complimentary valet.

“Guests will often say, it is so nice to either be in ski boots or slippers, and there doesn’t need to be any in between,” said hotel general manager Tracy Baker.

The property was fully booked for the two weeks leading up to and through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

There are 195 rooms ranging from studios with a Murphy bed to three-bedroom suites, with most having either a kitchenette or a full kitchen. Each of those rooms is privately owned. At some properties that might mean a hit or miss on decor based on the owner’s taste, but the homeowners’ association here has chosen to keep a standard look.

“Some (of the rooms) are a little newer than others in the aspect that maybe the furniture is newer or some of the amenities in the room are newer,” Baker said. “But for the most part, all of the rooms pretty much look the same as far as carpet and decor and colors.”

More extensive refurbishments have been discussed, but there is no set timeline, according to Baker, who started her role with the hotel over the summer.

The big draw is having Mount Snow’s 85 trails over 601 skiable acres mere steps away from your room. Of the 19 lifts, more than half are within walking distance of the hotel, with the Grand Summit Express quad being the closest.

There is an outdoor ski check, so guests aren’t lugging equipment through the property and rooms aren’t overtaken by skis that are drying off in a corner.

There are two restaurants on site. Harriman’s Pub & Kitchen is open every night from 5-10 p.m. with reservations recommended, particularly during weekends and holiday periods. It offers a sizable appetizer menu to go with burgers and flatbreads as well as main event entrees. It hosts trivia on Thursday nights.

The Grand Country Deli is the spot to fuel up before starting your ski day. Or grab a sandwich to take back to the room for an extended lunch break or to warm up during a cold day.

After a day on the hill, there is an outdoor heated pool that is open year-round as well as two hot tubs.

Naturespa is open until 6 p.m. for massages that can run from 60-90 minutes. It also books snowshoe tours and yoga classes.

When the snow has melted out, Mount Snow remains popular with lift-serviced mountain biking. Vail Resorts also owns Mount Snow Golf, a couple of miles south of the ski area, which makes the hotel a solid hub for a southern Vermont getaway during the summer or fall.

As a Vail Resorts property, Epic Pass holders get 20 percent off their stay through the Mountain Rewards program. Rates during the prime ski season run about $349 per night midweek to $532 per night during a weekend for Epic Pass holders for a hotel room (no kitchen space) with two queen beds or a studio (with a kitchenette) with a Murphy bed and a pull-out sofa.