Sophisticated travelers know that when it comes to a great hotel, experience goes hand-in-hand with top-of-the-line accommodations and superior customer service. Here we bring you the inside track on some of our favorite Colorado resorts.
By Ellen Gray
Beaver Run
If you’re looking for a getaway that is sheer fun, you need look no further than the fabulous Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. More than a hotel, this is a resort that is always bustling with activity, yet the setting is serene and the scenery stunning.
Whether you’re staying at this mountain paradise for fun or for business, you’re going to find it all – proximity to scenic hiking, great skiing and winter sports; swimming, tennis and pampering at the spa – in short, anything you can dream, you will find at Beaver Run. And the best part is, 
all the fantastic amenities are located under one roof, so getting around is never an issue!
Travelers who have stayed at the resort come back time and again because this is truly a one-of-a-kind getaway that has it all – the world-class Breckenridge ski area on one side of the property and the charming town of Breckenridge on the other. And that’s what we love … location, location, location!
The historic town of Breckenridge is actually a genuine old mining town, and its personality shines through at every turn. From unique bars and restaurants to local shops, this is one fun town that is a local’s favorite.
But back to Beaver Run. The resort is nestled at the bottom of Peak 9 at the base of the Beaver Run Super Chair, and access to top-notch skiing, hiking and biking is steps away. The Base 9 Bar off the lobby is sheer fun, with pool tables, darts, TVs and a popular craft beer program. The rooms are open and contemporary with a mountain flair, and the feel is vastly different from a hotel. Because this is operated as a condo/hotel, each room is a bit unique and accommodations run the gamut from a single standard room to a studio with efficiency kitchen to spacious four-bedroom condos.
The spa is full-service with all the bells and whistles, and there are pools, tennis, hot tubs and even an arcade and indoor mini-golf on property. Truly anall-around experience for both business and pleasure travelers!
Beaverrun.com
Hotel Boulderado
For decades, the Hotel Boulderado has held a special place in the hearts of Coloradoans, whether they came to know it as a student at the University of Colorado, a transplant to the eclectic city, or a local who grew up in the presence of this well-known icon. Easily recognizable for its distinctive Victorian architecture, this historic hotel recently underwent a substantial renovation that artfully melds past and present.
Opened in 1909, the Hotel Boulderado has played host to an impressive array of personalities, including conservationist Enos Mills, actors Ethel Barrymore and Douglas Fairbanks, lawyer Clarence Darrow, poet Robert Frost, and Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan. Today the hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a City of Boulder landmark.
The distinctive building has lost none of its charm, and today represents a unique combination of Old-World dignity beautifully intermingled with contemporary sophistication and amenities. The result is a one-of-a-kind experience, where past and present conjure up memories of the good old days, and adventures that are yet to come.
The hotel’s elegant Victorian-inspired rooms boast large windows, with stunning views of downtown Boulder, the foothills and the majestic Boulder Flatirons. The newly updated rooms feature a color palette of warm greys, crisp linen whites, rich blues and luxurious camel, complemented by nickel and brass and a touch of leather. Custom millwork handcrafted by local craftsmen adorns the bathroom vanities, and locally sourced artwork hangs in tandem with some of the hotel’s original historical pieces.
Of particular note is the Presidential Suite, an elegantly appointed large corner suite that boasts living and dining area, premium linens, plush robes, elegant bath and (a personal favorite), gourmet chocolates. All this plus knockout views of the city and the mountains!
Business travelers will appreciate the newly renovated meeting and event spaces, which were redesigned and updated to offer a more upscale and inviting environment. Wood-paneled wainscot and traditional moldings were added to the 3,000-square-foot ballroom, and new touches were put into place in the executive boardroom.
Foodies will love the hotel’s three great dining options, which include Spruce Farm & Fish Restaurant, Corner Bar Restaurant and License 1 Bar. All three are run by Concept Restaurants, Inc., one of Colorado’s most-respected and established restaurant groups.
Just steps from the fun and fabulous Pearl Street Mall, the “place to be in Boulder,” the Hotel Boulderado is minutes away from great shopping, dining, hiking and sightseeing. This is a jewel that has stood the test of time.
Boulderado.com
Hotel Columbia
The Hotel Columbia may be one of Telluride’s best-kept secrets. Located just 17 steps from the Gondola, which is the free transportation system between the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village, this utterly charming boutique hotel is as unique as it is irresistible. For guests who don’t want to take the Gondola, the hotel is located just two blocks from Main Street and complimentary cruisers are always available.
Each room is original in décor, design and configuration, and it’s rare for a guest to depart without planning a return stay! Standard rooms and suites may include King beds with pillow-top mattresses and goose down comforters, travertine bathrooms with walk-in showers, fireplaces, balconies, kitchenettes and always a great view. If you’re really in the mood to splurge, consider taking a penthouse suite, replete with a beautiful fireplace in an oversized living room, full kitchen and dining area, spacious baths with travertine-tiled floors, heated towel racks, and oversized glass and travertine shower with rain showerheads. Each of the penthouse’s three rooms has a private bath; two of the rooms have gas fireplaces.
Staff are all local to the area and highly passionate about the property. In fact, their first priority is to ensure guests have a memorable experience at both the hotel and in the town of Telluride. Prior to their arrival, guests receive a vacation planner which enables the concierge to customize a unique experience, including activities, welcome amenities and dinner reservations. The intimate size of the hotel enables staff to go well beyond the services of a larger hotel or resort, and to treat each guest as family.
Each morning, guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary European hot breakfast in the COSMOpolitan dining room, which as hailed as “the best breakfast buffet in town.” In-room dining is always an option, and wine aficionados will love the private wine vault, which exudes old-world ambience and is perfect for special occasions.
Columbiatelluride.com
Garden of the Gods Club and Resort
In the thriving city of Colorado Springs, a luxury golf resort beckons visitors who come as much for the setting as for the incredible amenities. Garden of the Gods Club and Resort sits high atop a mesa, and guests never tire of the incredible views of snow-capped Pikes Peak and the natural red rock formation of the Garden of the Gods National Landmark. It’s nature at its finest, and its truly something to behold.
After it opened in 1951, the Garden of the Gods Club became an exclusive retreat for Hollywood’s elite and a host of public figures, including Robert Mitchum, Claudette Colbert, Gene Autry, John Wayne and Walt Disney. Golf was added in 1961, and the resort soon became a home to a variety of tournaments.
The resort’s 69 guest rooms and suites all offer up spectacular views, and golfers will love playing on the 27-hole Kissing Camels Golf Course. There’s also workout facilities, tennis courts, a rec center with swimming pool, toddler pool, children’s splash park and playground, and a beautiful infinity adult pool.
Every guest room includes a private balcony or patio, large powder rooms and closets, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, plasma TVs and high-speed Internet. The majority of the rooms were recently renovated, and were redesigned with beautifully appointed furnishings and updated technology. The historic South Patio King and Double rooms were kept intact, and offer stunning views of the South Patio lawn. The North Club and South Club King and Queen rooms feature a fireplace, flat-screen TV, and oversized dressing area and walk-in closets, while the Master Suites feature wet bar, spacious sitting area,
large powder rooms with double vanities, oversized tubs and separate shower.
Feel like hitting the links? The championship Kissing Camels golf course, designed by J. Press Maxwell and Mark Rathert, features bunkered greens, towering pines and lush mountain landscaping. The 50-year-old course spans more than 7,000 yards per 18 holes and is open only to private members and guests staying at the resort.
Gardenofthegodsclub.com
