Best Hotel Bets

A handsome downtown establishment, the Hotel Boulderado, 2115 13th St., Boulder (tel. 800/433-4344 or 303/442-4344), has been skillfully renovated and restored. It retains its original Otis elevator, lovely leaded-glass ceiling, and spectacular cherrywood staircase, which caused quite a stir when the hotel opened in 1909.

Designed by New York City architects in the Italian Renaissance style, The Broadmoor, Lake Circle, at Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs (tel. 800/634-7711 or 719/634-7711), opened in 1918. Colorado's most elegant and best-preserved hotel of the era, it's filled with objets d'art from around the world, including Oriental art from the Ming and Tsin dynasties and a huge carved wooden bar from an 1800s British pub.

The Alps, 38619 Boulder Canyon Dr., Boulder (tel. 800/414-2577 or 303/444-5445), nestles among trees on a hillside outside of town. You won't find a TV in your room; but you will have a cozy fireplace, and there might be a whirlpool tub for two or a private porch.

The Two Sisters Inn, 10 Otoe Place, Manitou Springs, outside Colorado Springs (tel. 800/2SISINN or 719/685-9684), offers a cozy honeymoon cottage complete with fresh flowers, a big feather bed, a gas log fireplace, and lots of privacy. What more could you ask for?

The first guests at The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs; see address and telephone above) when it opened in 1918 were millionaire John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and his party. When surrounded by priceless 17th-century art, it's easy to imagine yourself mingling with the wealthy, reading the financial news, and sipping a cognac by the hotel's elegant marble staircase.

Also in Boulder, the Colorado Chautauqua, 900 Baseline Rd. (tel. 303/442-3282), isn't exactly a hotel, but its lodge rooms and cottages are midpriced, and it's a National Historic Landmark to boot.

Spread across numerous buildings near the University of Colorado campus, Boulder International Hostel, 1107 12th St. (tel. 888/442-0522 or 303/442-0522), is well kept, reputable, and perfect for those traveling on a budget.

Taking good care of its guests is a point of pride for The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs; see address and telephone above): It offers 24-hour room service, a concierge, in-room massage, valet laundry, a shuttle bus between buildings, and a multitude of recreational activities, as well as almost anything else you might ask for.

At Old Town GuestHouse, 115 S. 26th St., Colorado Springs (tel. 888/375-4210 or 719/632-9194), each room is delightfully decorated around a theme, ranging from Saharan to Victorian. This B&B also has just enough in the way of modern convenience.

The JW Marriott, 150 Clayton Lane, Denver (tel. 800/327-0064 or 303/316-2700), the standout hotel in the tony Cherry Creek shopping district, looks out over the treed Denver Country Club and the creek itself.

At the Hotel Monaco, 1717 Champa St., Denver (tel. 800/397-5380 or 303/296-1717), kids get a kick out of the colorful decor, the complimentary goldfish, and the "Director of Pet Relations," a Jack Russell terrier named Lily Sopris.

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Denver, Boulder & Colorado Springs, 9th Edition Author: Eric Peterson Pub Date: January 23, 2007 Price: $16.99				Related Titles: Arizona For Dummies, 4th Edition Colorado & the Rockies For Dummies, 2nd Edition Frommer's American Southwest, 3rd Edition