Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Ascutney Mountain Resort

My family and I just returned from this resort and had a great time. We had arrived on Dec.26 and after 2 days of rain the snow conditions were still good. They have added many snowmaking and grooming improvements in the last year and my daughter and I had a great time skiing. The skiing at this resort is very good for young families and different levels of experience. There was no more than 15 people at the chair lifts so we got lots of skiing in. For anyone needing a larger mountain, Killington was only 50 minutes away. As for the resort itself, we stayed in a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, double lock out in the Hanover building. That building is managed by the Holiday Inn Club but is called Snowdance Vacation Club. It looks the same as the other buildings but didn't get the granite counter tops and S/S appliances but did get some paint and furnishings. We thought that it was very clean and roomy. Each bedroom had its own television and one in the living room. Our unit had 2 king size beds, 2 twin size and a pull out sofa. Mattresses were older but we still got a good night sleep. The furniture and appliances were a little older but did the job well. Some small items could use some attention. This building is due for new kitchens and bathrooms like the other buildings. The unit had a wood burning fireplace but we didn't need it. The building is half way down one of the beginner slopes so you can ski from the door. The also had a ski locker room if you didn't want to bring the ski's up and down the stairs. The main building is the only one that has an elevator, so we had to walk the stairs. No big deal. The building was full but quiet. If we hadn't had both lock outs to ourselves I can imagine some noise between rooms because the doors aren't doubled and sound proofed. The laundry room was down the hall and had newer machines at no cost. Internet was only available in the main building for a nominal fee. Cell phone service was hit or miss around the resort. Don't count on it. The pool and fitness center is a few buildings away, so it was a short drive because it was cold out. The large indoor pool was warm and they had alot of exercise machines and weights. They also had racquetball courts. Every night there was a movie playing at the main building and there was a games room with pool tables and video games. The food at the two restaurants in the main building was very good and the atmosphere is relaxed. The staff was friendly and accommodating. We would recommend this resort to anyone and plan on going back next winter. Vermont was beautiful this time of year and the small towns around this resort were charming. Worth the 12 hour drive.

We stayed in a 1 BR for a few days in February, to take our 3 and 4 year olds skiing for the first time. The unit was a bit old/dingy, but it was clean and spacious. The rooms can use refreshing, but the resort was really fun for families with small kids.

There is snow tubing available, bonfires and fireworks at night, and usually some sort of family entertainment (music, magicians, movies, etc) every evening.

The staff was generally friendly, some appeared to be foreign guest workers (I think they were from Chile and Peru). The ski mountain was nice, and had lots of programs and instructions for kids. We were there during the Feb school break, and it wasn't crowded at all.

We are NYC food snobs, but we really enjoyed the Tavern food. It looks like a place where they just serve burgers, but we were pleasantly surprised by the variety, creativity and presentation of the dishes. Fairly decent wine list, too.

They have made alot of improvements when I went to the owner's meeting in Sept. Improved lobby in the hotel with granite counters and new floors. They also have invested alot of money in roofing and the walkways as well as the stone walls around the buildings. The place has a real New England feel to it now.

DELUX RESORT

3 Stars may be a little generous for the condition of this resort at this time. It may be a lovely place for the skiing community in the winter but in summer it is lacking on various fronts.

We visited for forth of July week.The fire works lasted longer and were nicer than most I've seen. I must say that the unit (a two bedroom) was laid out very nicely but lacked some important elements. Air Conditioning and a comfortable mattress. When we complained we were told that they are in the process of renovating. The bed was so bad we had to find a Wal Mart and buy a foam pad just to be comfortable.

The resort has an indoor & outdoor pool both very cold and a small hot tub inside the building known as the sports & fitness center. It also houses a gym, weight and workout room. They also rent bicycles and you can get a massage for a fee. The masseuse is very good. What they don't have are any childrens activities and we all know how bored kids get if they are not kept busy. Oh and did I mention the pools close at 7:45 on weekends and 8:15 on weekdays?

The resturant was nice and had good food and good entertainment on Thursdays and Sundays. There were coin op game rooms in the hotel and a coin - op laundry but the dryers didn't dry the clothes.

The area is nice and it is close to alot that Vermont and New Hampshire have to offer but you have to be willing to explore on your own because there isn't much in the way of direction other than a phamplet you're handed when you walk in.