Hugged by a dramatic box canyon in the San Juan Mountains, tiny Telluride is often voted the best small town to visit in the USA. The Victorian buildings and distinguished clapboard storefronts now house galleries, sophisticated restaurants and chic boutiques, all in the shadow of postcard-perfect peaks. Whether you visit to ski or to enjoy alpine lakes and waterfalls in the summer, this town’s romantic resorts and lavish hotels will guarantee indulgent mountain memories.
Madeline Hotel and Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
Hotel
4.7/5 (650 Reviews)
Courtesy of Madeline Hotel and Residences / Expedia
Detail is everything at the luxurious Madeline Hotel. Yes, there’s tactile suede and leather furnishings, deep soaking tubs and ski-in, ski-out access from its prime location next to the ice rink in Mountain Village. But it’s the complimentary morning yoga lessons, children’s storytelling sessions, sociable s’mores nights around the fire, family-friendly film screenings and ski valets to prepare your gear for the next day that return visitors adore; dog lovers will also appreciate cuddles on tap from the hotel’s doe-eyed golden retriever, Ajax.
There’s no need to leave four-legged members of the family at home at Lumiere. Dogs are just as spoilt as their owners here with their own bed and bowl, natural dog treats, on-hand dog-sitter and map of dog-friendly hikes. These 18 boutique residences at the base of Lift 4 in Mountain Village are equally perfect when privacy matters. Designer furniture, hand-blown glass fixtures and Bluetooth sound bars come as standard, while private chefs, in-room ski fittings and private excursions with gourmet picnics can all be sorted swiftly.
When you just want to turn up and switch off, this hotel in the heart of Mountain Village takes care of all the legwork. Airport transfers and valet parking are complimentary, and a pre-arrival concierge will sort any excursions or grocery shopping required. Once you check in to the two- and three-bedroom residences, there’s a ski and golf valet on hand and even a complimentary cocktail hour. If more relaxation is in order, splurge on the spa’s Ashiatsu barefoot treatment, which is said to be the world’s deepest massage.
The Mountain Lodge does rustic-chic like no one else – think balconies overlooking mountain backdrops, cozy fireplaces and log-cabin decor, with hot tubs and iPod docks to bring the suites and condos bang up to date. Yet, the real draw here is dining in the View Bar & Grill every day. Gorge on sticky ribs and mac and cheese in front of the huge wood-burning fireplace and 30-foot (9m) windows that soar to the vaulted timber ceiling, framing a jaw-dropping view of the San Sophia ridge.
When sightseeing is as important as skiing, staying slap-bang in the heart of Telluride itself is a no-brainer. Hotel Columbia is right at the base of the gondola at the corner of South Aspen Street and West San Juan Avenue, with the best shopping, nightlife and restaurants right on the doorstep and Telluride’s regular festivals a stroll away. To explore properly, borrow one of the hotel’s cruiser bikes to fly across the valley floor, before returning for handmade sushi in the hotel’s award-winning restaurant.
History buffs will love the New Sheridan, the only historic Telluride hotel first opened just four years after the town itself was founded. Located on the main street of Colorado Avenue, the 26 stylish rooms have been refurbished by British designer Nina Campbell, but still proudly display pictures of gold miners from the hotel’s heyday. During the summer, head to the only rooftop bar in town for cocktails and 360-degree views, or hunker down in winter in the snug Historic Bar, Telluride’s oldest watering hole.
It’s all about the après-ski at Camel’s Garden Hotel on Gondola Plaza. Head back after chilly days on the slopes for complimentary wine and cheese, then retire to the 250-foot (76m) hot tub overlooking the San Juan Mountains. Afterwards, snuggle up by your own fireplace, book in for a massage at the AVEDA spa or warm up from the inside at the Oak restaurant, renowned for Southern barbecue and its very own smoking-hot sauce.
Groups and families can make themselves at home at this resort in Mountain Village. A collection of one- to four-bed condominiums, all have plenty of lounging space for cosy nights in. For more sociable sorts, the lodge itself is a great place to gather, with an outdoor year-round heated pool, hot tubs, sauna, ping-pong and games room stocked with family movies, games and a foosball table. Staff will even provide essential s’mores ingredients for nights around the lodge’s popular fire pit.
When you need more than crisp mountain air to restore wellness, the Peaks has it covered. Its swanky spa has a nutritionist, acupuncturist and personal trainer on hand, plus a heated indoor-to-outdoor pool, oxygen inhalation lounge and Roman hot tub. Active types can sample a vast array of fitness classes including private pilates and meditation lessons, or try daily tennis clinics on three courts or the cutting-edge Peloton bikes. Treatments come from revolutionary SkinCeuticals and all-natural Tata Harper for miracle-working facials without chemicals.
Though just two blocks from Main Street and 100 yards (90m) from Gondola Plaza, this distinctive wood-paneled hotel feels like a quiet escape from Telluride’s shops and restaurants. Guests can stroll to the town’s many festivals and bars, yet hit nearby hiking trails in minutes. Return to covered parking, free ski and bike storage, complimentary coffee and donuts in the lobby, and a long soak in the hot tub overlooking the San Miguel River.
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