Denver trip for three days-hotel help!
 

Hi everyone,

I am traveling to Denver in March 2004 from a Sunday through Wednesday. I'll be flying in Sunday and family will pick me up that day. We will have a 31 year old woman, a 50 year old woman and a 12 year old girl in the group. I am not sure where to stay.

This is what we think we might do: Go downtown for a day, go to Cherry Creek area for a day to shop and visit Zoo, etc. Maybe go to Boulder, but I'm not sure if we'll have time.

I have booked a room at the Renaissance Stapleton and have read okay reviews. I am also looking at bidding on Priceline for either the Tech area or the Cherry Creek area. I would prefer a nice family hotel (i.e, willing to spend a little and would want a pool/fitness center)

On Wednesday I'll need to be at the airport by 9:00 and I need to get there by shuttle. Where should I stay that's centrally located and easy to downtown and shopping?

My greatest concerns are that the hotel is nice (upper 3 star of 4 star), probably has a pool and fitness center, would probably have a shuttle to the airport, and would probably have a shuttle to the downtown area.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

I can help you with everything but the airport shuttle problem. When we are flying out of DIA we always stay at one of the hotels by the airport. They're strictly for convenience sake and I wouldn't recommend them for a 'fun' stay, though. We've stayed at the Renaissance Stapleton several times when we've been in Denver for my daughter's dance competitions (that was the 'team' hotel)--it's very nice and I'd absolutely stay there again. That said, it's not in a tourist friendly area--the hotels along that particular strip are adjacent to the old Stapleton International airport. You are, however, close to both downtown and Cherry Creek and not that far from DIA.

I would stay away from the Tech Center--it's not close to downtown or Cherry Creek and you'll have to wade through a mess of construction and drive time traffic hell to get to either one. Loews Hotel is near Cherry Creek and is VERY nice--but it doesn't have a pool onsite. I believe they give you passes to a nearby fitness center, however. I would recommend staying downtown--I'm sure there are hotels with shuttle service to DIA and you'd be close to Cherry Creek, shopping and great restaurants downtown.

The Westin has a great indoor/outdoor rooftop pool and is very family-friendly. Ditto Embassy Suites and the Marriott City Center for being nice hotels with pools. I remember E.S. having an outdoor pool--not sure if they also have an indoor one.

After re-reading your post, it seems like either the downtown Marriott or the Westin would have what you want (again, not sure about the airport shuttles)--I'm rambling here! Let me know if you have other questions--we live 3 hours from Denver and it seems like we stay there every month or so for business and/or pleasure.

For the things that you want to do, I would stay downtown or in Cherry Creek. Don't stay in the Tech Center, the area and hotels aren't bad at all but there is major construction on the highway which would be your fastest way to get downtown. It's also out of the way, it doesn't sound like there is anything out that way that you would be visiting anyways. There is a Loews near Cherry Creek, Marriott four points and lots of options downtown.

It seems you are not going to have a car. I would recommend bidding on Priceline or Hotwire for one because Denver is spread out for the sights you are talking about and you don't say how you are going to get from place to place. But I will address your questions as asked. I would stay downtown--if you bid on PL you may not be assured of a fitness center in the hotel you get. The Stapleton hotels are very reasonable now but out of the loop since the airport has moved. The hotels at the Tech Center are also very reasonable and many have efficiencies. The construction has actually helped the traffic situation on I25 already (just returned from visit to son who lives near Tech Center). For airport transfer you can reserve a shuttle from anywhere in the city to pick you up if you need that. Allow PLENTY of time to go through Denver's security checks--I think it is the most thorough in the country. It is also a busy one.
Shopping in downtown Denver is fun--LoDo (for "Lower Downtown) and 16thSt. Mall. Denver's zoo and Natural History Museum are great. Also the aquarium--Ocean Journey is much fun. There is also a butterfly pavilion in Westminster--sort of on the way to Boulder on the outskirts of Denver. Denver's Museum of ARt is also very good--many Native American exhibits.

Thanks so much for your thoughtful replies, everyone. I think I will look into the Cherry Creek area. One reason I am not sure about bidding on Priceline for the downtown areas is that I happen to know they include one or two bad hotels in the mix, so my luck I'd get one of those (I read biddingfortravel.com to discover that).

Has anyone stayed at, or know about, the Holiday Inn Select at Cherry Creek? Also, is this a bad place to stay if I want a fairly efficient shuttle ride to the Airport on Wednesday morning?

By the way, my family will have a car. And I've been to Denver before several times, but I've always stayed south of Denver. I'm excited to see it again.

Thanks!

I've never stayed at this H.I. but know where it's located. Be aware that it's not in the tony Cherry Creek area, even though it advertises differently. The hotel's on busy busy Colorado Blvd.--definitely not an upscale part of Denver. You are, however, CLOSE to Cherry Creek and downtown, if that's what's important. Just make sure that you get a room on the west side of the hotel, away from the traffic noise of Colorado Blvd. Unless you're using H.I. points, I'd look into Loews. I know they sometimes have weekend rates under $100 and it's a much nicer hotel located near the H.I. select (though a block off of Colorado Blvd., which makes all the difference). It really depends on what you're looking for in a hotel--if it's just a place to sleep, go with H.I. Select.

Oops, just noticed that you'll be there during the week, not the weekend. Loews will run $150 a night during the week.

That's great advice, thank you. Yes, after reading the Holiday Inn website you'd think it was a great hotel right in the Cherry Creek area!

I will try to bid at Priceline, I think, for the Loews. I think it's the only four star hotel in the area that Priceline uses, so I can give it a try and see if I can get it for $75 or so.

Thanks.

When bidding on PL keep your *'s high--4*--and you should get a good hotel.