The Colorado Lodging Guide - Accommodations

Big blue skies, wide open spaces, and majestic mountains - The Colorado Lodging Guide explores it all. Where you stay depends on what you want from your Colorado vacation. Camping suits those who want to get close to nature, while staying at an inn in a popular resort town suits others. You can find the highest-end accommodations in Colorado and have just about everything catered, or discover more out-of-the-way cabins and motels that offer access to various attractions. Colorado has become an expert at accommodating tourists of all types. With a little looking around, you'll find the lodging and vacation experience that meets your expectations and budget.

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Colorado Lodging Guide - Resort Towns

Staying at one of Colorado’s resort towns is commonly associated with ski vacations. Thankfully, these resort towns have various lodging choices available year-round. Local resort management companies can book lodging or use an online booking website. Resort town lodging often offers “deals” during off-seasons or between peak seasons. Staying in a resort town is perfect for those who want to experience the liveliness of mountain town life and access mountain attractions, outdoor activities, or events.

Types of Resort Town Accommodations

• Ski chalet rental - These can be ski-in, ski-out, or located within close proximity to the lifts. Best for large groups or families. They come complete with kitchens, living spaces, game rooms, hot tubs, and more, depending on the chalet.
• Bed & Breakfast Inns - most commonly located near or within resort communities. These small, personable Inns are often historical and well-appointed. In addition to being close to the ski slopes, they are usually around the corner from downtown districts and provide access to venues, restaurants, shopping, and more. Often, Inns include spa services, facilitate reservations, or help you find guided experiences.
• Condominium Rentals - Condominium complexes are found at ski resorts, and you can rent condos for several days or weeks. Ski area condominiums can range from older and dated in their appointments to economy-style construction or very high-end and fancy. Condos usually have kitchens, living space, and access to shared hot tubs or pool areas. High-end condos might have in-unit hot tubs or a common pool, hot tub, gym facilities, and access to other services. That could include spa services, concierge services, food services, and more. Renting a condominium is a good choice for groups and families.
• Brand Name and Local Motels - Almost all popular brand-name motels can be found near the ski slopes. The services they provide are typical of that brand. It’s not uncommon to find luxury brand-name motels slopeside of popular ski resorts.

Popular Colorado Destinations Lodging Guide

Colorado has popular destinations beyond ski resort towns. These include Estes Park, the Royal Gorge Region, Casinos, national monuments, National Forests, and public lands. With Colorado’s diverse topography, rich western history, and a wealth of public lands and parks, there is a lot to see and do. Depending on what you want to do, lodging options change when looking beyond a resort town.

• Campgrounds, RV parks, Cabins, and alternate accommodations - Common around water attractions such as whitewater rivers, mountain lakes, state parks, forest access, and BLM lands, is usually an assortment of campgrounds for both tent campers and RV travelers. Yurts, cabins, bunkhouses, RV parks, Airbnb, and similar lodging are also found in these areas; however, they are usually associated with a private business such as a guest ranch, natural hot springs, or rafting outfit. State parks often offer cabin rentals, RV, and tent campsites.
• Popular destinations such as the Royal Gorge region or towns like Silverthorne and Ouray have different attractions such as off-road touring, amusement parks, gambling, rafting, hiking, horseback riding, or even sailing. Accommodations in these locations vary widely, from remote mom-and-pop motels, quaint Inns, guest ranches, and luxury hotels to campgrounds and RV parks. Essentially, travelers choose from what’s available and what fits their budget.
• Colorado’s Luxury Hotels and Resorts - Many of Colorado’s luxury hotels grew out of the 1800s mining boom and the need to facilitate early business development and provide luxury experiences to Colorado’s early elite vacationers. Luxury hotels and resorts are found throughout Colorado and offer travelers many extraordinary experiences, including guided outdoor mountain adventures and extensive spa services. Colorado’s luxury hotels and resorts are for those who prefer red-carpet treatment.
• Destination Resorts and Guest Ranches - These out-of-the-way resorts are usually all-inclusive and have winter and summer activities. Horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and more popular summer activities to sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and more in the winter. Accommodations can range from private cabins to lodges, and onsite dining and spa service are commonly available.

RV Parks & Camping Colorado Lodging Guide

Colorado has 42 state parks that boast more than 4,000 campsites. Plus 830 RV Parks with campgrounds throughout the state. Most campgrounds and parks are more out of the way, often near National Parks, Forests, lakes or rivers, and public land access points. Touring Colorado by RV is an excellent way to see the state and visit more remote locations. Both tent and RV camping are affordable ways to vacation short- or long-term.

Colorado Cabin Lodging Guide

Vacationing in a Colorado cabin is popular for those who want to get away and relax in a laid-back, nature-infused environment. Private landowners and guest ranches offer cabin rentals, and state parks do too. Commercial natural hot springs often offer cabin rentals. Renting a cabin lets you stay in one place and experience the unique natural features around you. Cabins are lovely for couples or small groups who want unique, memorable experiences. Search for cabins here.

Use the Itinerary planning to add places to visit to your Colorado vacation.

Guest Ranch Lodging

Destination guest ranches, or dude ranches, date back to the mid-1800s and were among the first to facilitate tourism. Ranching was the original way of doing business in Colorado and facilitated various endeavors, including developing ski areas. Colorado’s established guest ranches are rich with history and offer traditional western experiences such as horseback riding, hunting, and barbecue dinners. However, these outfits also stay current and offer modern experiences such as mountain biking, sweat lodges, buggy rides, spa services, and event hosting. Staying at a guest ranch suits those who want to step back in time or enjoy modern amenities in a traditional western style. Guest ranches will accommodate individuals, couples, and large groups.

Airbnb

Airbnb's growing popularity is spreading across the state. In Colorado, Airbnb locations are as diverse as the geography and offer lodging in secluded or unique places not found at more conventional establishments. This is worth considering if you’re looking for something more off the beaten path.