It's rough going these days in Aspen and Vail for those hoping to visit on a shoestring.

Travelers to the two upscale ski resorts will find more of the remaining budget lodges being torn down to make way for cushier digs. For some, the building renaissance is long overdue. For others, the changes could hasten the demise of a diversified tourist economy.

"Aspen has always had a wide variety of lodging rooms," said Chris Bendon, community development director for the city of Aspen. "It's not what people expect (of Aspen), but it's something that has traditionally contributed to our success."

The overall number of hotel rooms in Aspen has fallen over the years as more spacious accommodations and homes have replaced traditional chalets and lodges. But the declines have been most dramatic in the economy category.

"Pillow counts," an industry measure of hotel-room availability, had dropped to 435 in the budget segment by 2005, down from 1,767 a decade earlier, according to a lodging report posted on Aspen's Web site.

"Over the last 10 years, we've definitely lost beds in in the lower-priced category," acknowledged Debbie Braun, president of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association.

Aspen mainstays such as the Snowflake Inn and Limelight Lodge have been razed, and the Boomerang Lodge is among those slated for redevelopment.

But for those in the business of keeping hotel rooms booked, the upgrades have done more to draw business than to keep it away.

The Christmas Inn was recently replaced by the far more luxurious Annabelle, an amenity-filled inn that has far higher occupancy rates than its predecessor did, according to Bill Tomcich, president of Stay AspenSnowmass, the central reservations agency.

"It's really what our guests have come to demand," Tomcich said. "The days of the 30-year-old basic hotel room with the stand-up shower and 12-inch TV set are numbered."

Even so, Aspen officials have been making attempts to stem the rapid disappearance of affordable overnight rooms - and the larger number of tourists they can accommodate - by offering developers incentives to build lodges with smaller rooms.

In the past, regulations governing on-site parking and employee housing have encouraged builders to develop large, ultra-posh condos catering to just a few owners and renters. Pricey digs such as the Dancing Bear and the Chart House boast square footage as big as most houses.

But along with imposing an ongoing moratorium on new construction, the city has loosened certain requirements for those willing to build short-term lodging with lots of rooms in a range of sizes.

In return, properties can be built higher, and owners need to supply far fewer affordable housing units for employees.

"It's a recognized community trade-off because it's a big goal to house as many employees as possible here," Bendon said.

In Vail, finding bargain lodging poses similar challenges for visitors.

The Roost Lodge - perhaps the best-known spot for economy-minded travelers - soon will be knocked down and replaced by a Marriott Residence Inn and condominiums.

The 35-year-old motel, located at the western end of town along Interstate 70's northern frontage road, has been a magnet for students and construction workers for decades.

Even its new owner stayed there during his college days when he came to town to ski.

"It's falling down, unfortunately - it's worn out its life,' said Kevin Deighan, principal of Vail-based Timberline Commercial Real Estate, which bought the Roost to upgrade the site. "You can't duplicate a dive hotel."

In decline

The number of moderately priced lodges in Aspen has fallen by half in the past decade. Among those being torn down or revamped into condos:

Roost Lodge

• Boomerang Lodge

• Snowflake Inn

• Limelight Lodge

Where to look

Some of the last refuges for more budget-minded travelers:

• Tyrolean Lodge

• Snow Queen Lodge

• St. Moritz

• Mountain House

A group of small lodge owners have created "Gems of Aspen," www.gems ofaspen.com

kelleyj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5068

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