As adult ski bums, we tried out 4 Winter Park inns under $200/night in this season. Viking Lodge is our favorite and the least expensive. It is an old lodge and exactly what they advertise: a very basic room with private bath and a refrigerator. If you can enjoy an old fashioned ski lodge, this is a perfect place. (If you need glamour and upscale, this is not your place.) The room was very comfortable with lots of extra pillows. There is no breakfast (same as 2 of the other lodges we stayed at), but they have coffee, tea, a microwave and surprise amenities of free snacks and real dishes and silverware for guest use to prep their own breakfast. A great benefit of staying at Viking was the proximity to the ski bus—the pick up is just across from the hotel parking lot, and the drop off is just across the street. All of the shuttle bus lines stop there.
The management (husband and wife) were lovely and took care of our needs. There are a few things that would be nice additions, but not serious shortcomings; more on the level of adding a second towel rack in the bath.
For comparison, the other places we stayed are Gravity Haus (modern decor but not very clean), Valley-Hi (a second favorite for the old wooden hot tub and a barely-adequate breakfast), and the Winter Park Mountain Lodge (great location but a HORRIBLE, run down place that has major safety issues and a COLD hot tub).
If you want a comfortable stay for a reasonable price, we recommend the Viking Lodge.
