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Colorado

Colorado

WELCOME TO OUR COLORADO TRAVEL GUIDE

Colorado is the perfect example of a true Western American culture. Soaring mountains, scenic little towns and epic adventures await travelers looking for a down-to-earth experience in the mountains. It’s true what they say: the sky is truly bluer in Colorado.

Apart from the endless outdoor adventures year-round, Colorado is home to one of the most luxurious small towns in America: Aspen.

Things to See and Do in Colorado

Visit the Rocky Mountain National Park
Ski or board on one of Colorado's 26 resorts
Hike Maroon Bells near Aspen/Snowmass
Take a whitewater rafting trip down one of Colorado's epic rivers
Check out one of the many western rodeo's for a true wild-west experience
Splurge on one of the dozens of ski-in-ski-out resorts in Colorado's ski resorts.
St. Regis Property

``Aspen luxury hotels”

View of St. Regis Aspen

“St. Regis Aspen”

What to know

The Colorado Ski Resorts have some of the best luxury hotel options in the country. Here are some of our favorite properties in the top destinations:

 

Aspen:

  • St. Regis Aspen
  • The Little Nell
  • The Jerome

Vail/ Beaver Creek:

  • Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
  • Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch
  • Beaver Creek Lodge, An Autograph Collection

Denver:

  • Four Seasons Denver
  • The Ritz-Carlton Denver
  • The Brown Hotel

Breckenridge:

  • The Lodge at Breckenridge
  • Marriott’s Mountain Valley Lodge at Breckenridge
  • Hyatt Residence Club Breckenridge- Main Street Station

If you’re traveling to a ski resort destination, chances are you won’t be renting a car. Instead, it may be easier to book a transfer from the airport to your hotel. In fact, some properties in resort towns like the St. Regis Aspen provide complimentary airport transfers. EPIC (Vail Resorts) owned resorts provide a reasonably priced transfer option from Denver to its mountains, like Vail and Beaver Creek.

 

If you’re planning to explore more of Colorado and flying into Denver, rent a 4-wheel drive car to maximize your ability to experience the beauty of Colorado.

Resort towns are typically known for their incredible cuisine at higher prices and the ski resorts of Colorado are no different. In Aspen, for example, travelers can find fresh fish flown in daily or classic Italian that makes you feel like you’re in Rome.  As with any resort town, be sure to book your table in advance during peak season.

 

Similarly, Denver’s food scene has become diverse, down-to-earth and world-renowned in recent years. From craft beers to cuisine from every corner of the globe, travelers will have no problem finding a delicious restaurant or bar. Check out Eater’s guide if you’re headed to Denver.

While Denver is known for its hipster vibe, the resort towns are known for their high end shopping. Travelers won’t find a Gap store in Aspen – that much is certain. If you’re looking to spend, you’ll feel right at home. If you’re looking for high-end luxury goods, you’ll find them all at the ski resort towns.

Colorado is known for its laidback, friendly vibe and you will most certainly encounter endless happy-go-lucky mountain “ski bums” and laidback service. Of course, the higher end resorts and restaurants, you will find an elevated level of customer service.

st. regis aspen king room

Articles to read

Hotel Review: St. Regis Aspen

Ah…the St. Regis…the absolute pinnacle of Aspen luxury experiences. A little known fact is that Max is actually born and raised in Aspen and we’ve visited his heaven of a hometown a few times over the years.

Typical costs

As with most major cities and ski resorts, everything will cost money: transportation, lodging, meals, etc. When booking hotels, the majority of the rates do not include breakfast.

Dining in both major cities like Denver and ski resorts like Vail will be “city-prices”, or an average of $20-40 for a dinner entree.

Typical food & beverage costs range depending on how high-end the hotel brand is, but we typically budget $300 per day for food & alcohol. Ski passes at a Vail Resort-owned destination can be purchased at a discount in advance of your trip (which we highly recommend doing).

When to Travel
Colorado Seasons

Winters are mild with an average daily high temperature of 45 degrees and days reaching 60 degrees are common. High season at resort towns ranges from December-March, where prices will skyrocket.

Travel Tips

1
Book in advance During peak seasons, prices for hotels can skyrocket. The best way to secure a good rate is book as early as possible.
2
Buy your ski passes in advance Vail Resorts offers exceptional pre-booking rates up to 50% - be sure to check it out before you arrive.
3
Consider shoulder-season Consider visiting destinations like Aspen in spring and fall for lower rates and stunning flora and fauna
4
Flying in winter? have a backup plan It's often very difficult to fly into the smaller airports during snowstorms and we've been stranded many times. Be sure to consider backup plans.

Luxury Hotel Reviews

Check out some of our favorite Colorado hotels and what we like and don’t like about each of them. 

How to plan your trip

Colorado is a big state with a lot to see. Depending on the season you travel, our recommendation is to pick a resort town and stick with it if you’re planning a shorter trip. If you plan on a longer trip (1+ week) and are flying into Denver, we recommend renting a car to travel to different towns and experiences around the area.

 

Some “not to miss” activities for summer:

  • Whitewater rafting
  • Hiking
  • Rock climbing
  • Horse back riding
  • Rodeo

Some “not to miss” activities for winter:

  • Skiing/snowboarding
  • Snowmobiling
  • Snowshoeing
  • Smores by a firepit 😉

Gallery of Colorado

St. Regis Property
St. Regis Aspen Room
Decor at St Regis Aspen
Decor at St Regis Aspen
View of St. Regis Aspen
St Regis Aspen Dining

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