If you are traveling more than 60 miles from Denver International Airport (DIA) to a resort or city destination then you may want to consider reserving a Denver airport shuttle or limousine. An alternative would be a taxi, but in many cases cost and comfort wise you will be better off with a shuttle or limo service for longer journeys – depending upon how many are traveling in your party and whether they can share the expense.

For example, according to an internet taxi fare finder site, the metered fare from DIA to Aspen, Colorado, a trip of 183 miles which takes around 4 hours, is $605.77, not including a 15% tip. The benefit of taking a taxi of course is the convenience. You won’t need to make reservations in advance unless you want to, and if your flight arrives late or is delayed you don’t need to worry about whether your ride is waiting for you when you are ready to leave the airport.

As an alternative (assuming you don’t want to rent a car and drive yourself), reserve a shuttle to make the trip. This especially makes sense where you have only 1 – 4 people making the trip. The charge for a shuttle transporting you from DIA to Aspen will run around $105 – $125 per person depending upon the service you choose. The trade-off here is that although shuttle services run at regularly scheduled times, you will be sharing it with up to 20 other passengers and will need to plan your schedule around their pick up times.

For larger groups, you might consider booking a limo if you really want to arrive in style. A luxury SUV with driver from DIA to Aspen will probably set you back somewhere in the neighborhood of around $750 – $900 including tip – each way. If you have 6 or more people in your party though, this may be the way to go if you are splitting the expense. With a limo you not only get to ride in style, you can also request beverage service for an additional fee. A big benefit of taking a limo is that it is your personal transportation. It will pick you up at your designated time and you won’t be sharing the experience with strangers.

During busy seasons the further in advance you can book your shuttle or limo travel the better. There are limited seats on these excursions and they will be filled first come first served. At the time you make your reservation you should know the date, flight number and time of arrival for your flight. If your plans change be sure to let the transportation company know as far in advance as possible. There may be a reservation fee which is non-refundable if you fail to notify them of changes in a timely fashion. In the case of a shuttle, there is little they can do to accommodate you if your flight is delayed and you miss their scheduled departure time unless you have reserved the entire shuttle for the trip. A limousine is a little more flexible in that they can absorb reasonable delays and still pick you up when you arrive in many cases.