My wife and I will be traveling to Denver and attending an event at the Pepsi Center, but I don't know enough about the city to make an informed hotel choice.
Is there a nice hotel/motel (clean, comfortable but reasonable price) within walking distance of the arena?
If not and we have to drive to the center anyway, what areas within a short drive should we look at for a room? Thanks

You can easily walk from the Pepsi Center into lower downtown Denver and Larimer Square. My favorite hotel for the price in that area is the Embassy Suites, a Hilton property, on that side of downtown. They usually include a nice cocktail hour and full breakfast buffet. It's a nice place. You could walk to the Pepsi Center in about 10- 15 minutes.

ncspartan,

What's your budget per night for a hotel? This will help in recommendations.

AL

As far as our budget, I guess the bottomline is that we don't expect to spend much time at the hotel so extras and amenities (pool, excercise room, etc.) aren't that important (though a breakfast in the morning is welcome) so there's not point in staying, say, at the Brown Palace or anything top of the line. That said, I'd pay a bit more to be close enough to the arena so that afterward we might walk downtown and stop at a restaurant or a bar before heading back for a night's rest, if such a thing is possible. I've never been to Denver so I lack knowledge of how things are laid out.
In general though, to answer your question, I guess I'm hoping for $90 to $120, but would go higher for the right set-up.

Maureen: Thanks for the suggestion. I checked on the Embassy and it would have been perfect (price right too) but they currently are saying they are 100 percent booked.

Maybe try their website or Expedia, Travelocity, etc. to see if anyone still has space at the Embassy Suites. Otherwise, there's a nice Westin on that side of downtown. And Executive Tower Suites, which is a bit dated, but inexpensive and nice enough. Further from the Pepsi Center is a Hyatt and Marriott. There's a free shuttle downtown on 16th Street, to take you close enough to walk to the Pepsi Center, so you can get by without a car.

Try the Magnolia or Hotel Monaco. I've never stayed at the Magnolia but my boss has and she's raved about it. Think it's less expensive than Hotel Monaco. If you don't feel like walking after your concert, people pulling carts on the back of bicyles will cycle you 'home' for a reasonable fee. That's kind of fun. There's also a Comfort Inn downtown that might fit the bill, but I've never stayed there.

ncspartan,

All good advice to which I would add you might wish to consider the Comfort Inn that's attached to The Brown Palace Hotel. It's a little bit farther to walk but, depending on when you're visiting, should be in your price range.

While certainly not as nice as the Embassy Suites, the Comfort Inn has other advantages. Since it's attached to The Brown (via a second floor walkway) you have easy access to all of The Brown's restaurants, bars, etc. You also get full use of their facilities (weight room, etc.) as well as access to the Brown's 24 hour room service. I don't know of another Comfort Inn in the country that offers so many amenities.

Just a thought.

AL

Keep in mind that if you stayed at the Comfort Inn across from the Brown Palace or anywhere off of the 16th Street mall you can hop on the bus that runs up and down 16th street. It will save you a little bit of walking to the pepsi center. It does stop running though late at night.

And the mall shuttle is free!

AL

The Oxford Hotel may be an option. Their website states that the hotel is only 5 blocks from the Pepsi Center. The Comfort Inn may be a little further out than you would like to be. The Hotel Monaco is also in a good location and their restaurant, Panzano, is terrific. Not a typical hotel restaurant.

ncspartan,

For some reason every time I read your original post my mind substituted "convention center" for "Pepsi Center". In that case, wtm003 is correct: The Comfort Inn may be a little farther than you wish to walk--but then again so is Hotel Monaco, Embassy Suites, etc. The Pepsi Center--while not far from downtown--isn't necessarily convenient to get to from much of downtown. With the exception of the west side.

It might be a little more than you wish to spend (again, depending when you're coming) however there is the Hotel Teatro on the west side. HT is a very nice hotel which actually would be within easy walking distance to the Pepsi Center (five - ten minutes--tops!). HT is also very close to Larimer Square (restaurants, shopping) which you would walk right by on your way to and from the center.

You stated you might spend a little more for "the right set up" and the Hotel Teatro is definitely it.

Check it out: www.hotelteatro.com

AL

I have no advice for a Denver hotel, but was wondering about your screen name. By chance, did you go to UNC Greensboro?

You might bid on a 4* hotel in downtown Denver on Priceine and get a deal. There are always taxis if you can't walk.

Can't speak for the Hotel Monaco in Denver, but I've stayed at the one in Chicago, and loved it. They also have a complimentary wine hour, so that's a plus, if you'll be around. I have also stayed at other hotels owned by the same chain (Kimpton Boutique Hotels), and have been very happy with all of them. And our bed at Hotel Monaco was awesome, didn't want to get up. This might be a little out of your price range for this trip. But where ever you stay, have a great time!

I would also bid on a 4* on Priceline. In addition to the free mall shuttle you can take the light rail from the Pepsi Center and get downtown in a couple of minutes. The downtown hotels are all close by.

Thank you all so much for the help. Great suggestions.

I checked them out and made reservations at the Oxford. Really boiled down to a balance betweeen price and location. It is more than my target price but quite a bit lower than I could get at the Monaco, Teatro and a few others suggested. Can still change if I've made a ghastly mistake but it looks nice on their website and seems in the heart of things.

I'll probably check periodically to see if Embassy opens up.

Note to ncgrrrl: my wife is a graduate of UNCG (twice!). I went to Michigan State, so we are both Spartans.

The Oxford is in a great location for your needs. Check out the Cruise Room bar while you're there--you'll feel as though you're on a 1950's era cruise ship. Totally cool. McCormick and Schmick's is also in the Oxford. If you like seafood, hit their happy hour--cheap cheap cheap seafood and pretty decent quality for 'inland.'

You've made a good choice--enjoy!

ncspartan,

If you like history, architecture and rooms with an "old world charm", you will love The Oxford Hotel. The location is perfect, the walk to the Pepsi Center should still only be about ten minutes, and the restaurant/bar choices in your area will fairly boggle the mind.

Believe it or not The Oxford is actually the oldest (operational) hotel in Denver. Many people believe The Brown Palace is the oldest hotel in Denver but it was actually built a year after The Oxford (1891 & 1892 respectively). That said, however, The Brown is actually the oldest hotel in Denver that has operated uninterrupted since it was built (The Oxford was closed for several years whereas The Brown has never been closed). But I digress.

Your choice is a good one, I wouldn't even think about changing it.

AL

The Oxford is a good choice, if more expensive hopefully worth it for the charm of an historic hotel. You will be near LoDo restaurants so will have an array of choices. We like The Chophouse, in an old railroad building. Or try Ted's (Turner) on Larimer for a bison burger. Too many restaurants, too little time! Hope you enjoy Denver.