So what is this Cortina Inn?

As a temporarily transplanted Southerner living in the Great White North, I was a little unsure where to book my first skiing adventure this winter. For my wife's birthday, we decided to venture to VT and "put our ski legs on..."
"Where to go?" we asked ourselves. After discussing our options with my classmates and friends, it became clear that Killington offered the largest number and widest variety of slopes in the New England area, so the next question became, "where to stay?" A little research led me to consider the Cortina Inn. We booked a long weekend and waited...then the weekend finally came.

Service and Accommodations

Upon arriving at the Cortina Inn after a 5-hour snow filled trek from Connecticut, my wife and I were pleased to be greeted by a VERY friendly desk clerk. He checked us in quickly and gave us some coupons for free drinks. I was impressed right off the bat with the cozy atmosphere of the lobby, which included two large fireplaces and multiple couches and chairs for enjoying the atmosphere. The inn includes two restaurants, both of which had good food, although the upstairs one was a bit pricey. I was particularly impressed with the atmosphere in the restaurants themselves... we were seated in large high-back chairs that helped create the feeling of a private dining experience. The service at the restaurants was good, but probably could be a little more attentive when it came to menial tasks such as refilling drinks. The breakfast buffet, which to our surprise was free, was particularly pleasant. They had just about every breakfast item you could want, including EXCELLENT pancakes and syrup as well as an omelet chef that really knew his eggs. We stayed in a "Queen Deluxe" room and it was, well, your average hotel room. The bed was a little firm and the TV wasn't brand new, but we were only there to do two things... sleep and, uh, brush our teeth (what were you thinking?) The room was acceptable, but not as nice as I would expect for almost $200/night.

Other Odds and Ends

From their web site, I expected the inn to be pretty much next door to the Killington base. It was very close (2mi) to Pico base, but was a little farther from Killington (7-8mi I would guess). A shuttle is available (30min intervals), but be sure to pick up a free ticket at the front desk (or bring $1/person). I was a little surprised that we had to pay the fee to return, but what's a dollar? There is also a nice indoor pool/spa and a weight room, but I did not get to explore them very much. Maybe next time!

The Bottom Line

Our vacation at the Cortina Inn was very good and we will almost definitely return. The best part of staying there was that we didn't have to leave at night to enjoy a relaxing dinner and a few drinks after hitting the slopes. I would like to see the rooms improved just a bit and the waiters and waitresses just a little more attentive, but otherwise it is top notch. Highly recommended!


Recommended: Yes