Aspen Mountain opened Friday, but the town was fairly empty, and The Aspen Daily News reported that bookings are down from last year.

...Aspen is just 29 percent full, compared to 40 percent last year during the same period, according to a bookings report that represents 72 percent of the lodge units. The week of Dec. 7-13 is at 36 percent occupancy compared to last year's 41 percent. And the week of Dec. 20 is at 49 percent compared to 74 percent last year.

One great bargain is the Limelight, the modestly priced, family-run lodge, which has been closed the past two seasons for renovations. It reopened last week with introductory pricing over the weekend at $58 per night, symbolizing the year the Paas family began managing the hotel. Low rates (but not that low) continue until the week before Christmas. The Aspen Daily News reports:

The new 126-room hotel is offering rooms for $116 a night through Dec. 18 and is about half full this weekend, according to General Manager Brady Wyatt. "We'll always have affordable rooms," Wyatt said, although he added that the introductory rate may not be seen again soon.