DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge {US-CO}
Only staying one night but purchased a Mountain View room (wife traveling with me for a change). I did not realize that the hotel does not face the ski hill and the mountain is one on the other side of the valley (doesn't almost every room have that view).
The room also has a long corridor (6x12) before you get to the sliders, so you can't see any mountain from within the room.
And finally, the main view we have is of the front entrance with its light and noise.
I talked to the front desk but they won't do anything. Seems their "make it right" is just more marketing BS.
Don't pay extra for the non-existent mountain view.
I'm looking to use my $250 Aspire credit. This hotel and the Doubletree in Vail are the two places I'm looking at. Family of six (all kids under 8), probably stay just one night.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge
550 Village Road Breckenridge, CO US 80424
Avoid, Avoid, Avoid (0 Photo)
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge
Check In
Check in was ok, but this was the first inkling that this wasn't going to be a great stay--the front desk clerk informed me that there is no AC in the hotel, instead, our room would have 2 fans. Hmm. Seems like this would be prominently displayed on the hotel webpage. But, temps were in the low 70s; so this shouldn't be a problem. Booked 2 queens with a sofabed and balcony. Was not offered an upgrade (you can get the same room with 2 kings).
Room
Room was dingy and dirty, although a good size. The issue was a lack of lighting. One floor lamp near the sofabed, one lamp (single lightbulb) between the 2 queens, and 2 overhead lights above the sink/fridge, one of which was burned out. Carpet was very dirty and wallpaper was torn.
Tub drain was clogged. This is something that housekeeping should have known about, but clearly didn't care (a theme among the staff). Maintenance didn't fix until the following morning. There also were only 2 bath towels, even though I had 4 people listed on the reservation.
Only 1 fan in the room, and the cord wasn't long enough to put in front of the screen door to pull in the cool mountain air (we were on the 6th floor). If it had been 10 degrees hotter outside, the room would have been unbearable.
Not part of the room, but the pool is closed due to "COVID". Bull. They've walled it off and are using it store furniture. There are 3 small hot tubs outside. You do have access to an outside pool in the neighborhood, which is about 2 blocks away. I pointed out to the front desk that they really should remove the pictures of the pool off their website.
Dining
Dining was not good. As a Diamond, I got $30/day credit, which was not enough for me and my wife to eat breakfast at the bistro. Forget about eating in the dining room with your credit. I will say one of the baristas at the bistro was incredibly nice.
One late afternoon, we went to the bar to take advantage of the $5 Breckenridge Brews advertised for $5 from 4-6. Bartender had no idea what I was talking about. I told him to read the big sign outside the restauarant. He came back and said he didn't know what that was. I went to the front desk--they had no clue; so we left.
Location
Breckenridge is very nice, and the hotel is a short walk to downtown, and there is a free shuttle that passes the hotel, with the stops within easy walking distance.
Overall
Really disappointing experience. It was so bad, that I actually complained to Hilton, which I never do. I was offered 10,000 points, but the point of my complaint was not the points, I wanted someone to know how bad this hotel is. It is absolutely the worst Doubletree I've ever stayed in. I wish we had looked at other options because we could have rented a 2 bedroom townhome for less than we paid for our hotel room.
The management clearly doesn't care and hasn't trained their employees at all. I'd avoid this hotel.
Wrote a verbose email and sent it late Saturday night to many people; hotel manager, assistant manager, director of rooms, Vail Resorts CEO, Breckenridge COO. Received a reply an hour later from Vail Resorts Hospitality COO, who had the email forwarded by and discussed it with Vail Resorts CEO. Just spoke with him for 45 minutes (while I’m at Hyatt Place Park City).
He agreed that my original request was reasonable and that the hotel’s response was terrible. Long story short, he’s going to ensure the hotel refunds 3 nights.
But, most importantly (as was mentioned to me a few times while I was at the hotel) immediately after ski season the hotel will commence a significant renovation. The hotel staff told me it would be rebranded as a Conrad, the Hospitality COO told me it would be rebranded as a Curio by Hilton. Nothing they can do about the convoluted floor layout and multiple elevators (it’s built on the side of a hill).
Stay last week was otherwise similar to other recent reviews: great location (for skiing Breck), dated property in need of refurbishment, worker bee staff excellent, no bedbugs or mold (as was recently reported in some reviews). Excellent Diamond breakfast benefit; full breakfast buffet including omelet station.
Last edited by Dr Jabadski; Mar 12, 2023 at 5:21 pm Reason: typo correction
Notice on their website:
Hotel Renovations / Amenities Closed
Renovation construction has begun. Services are limited to lodging accommodations and a limited complimentary continental breakfast. Thank you for your patience as we transform into a CURIO property!thanks
Epic Pass sales end in the late fall, if you know by then you’ll be skiing an applicable resort for 4-5 or more days during the upcoming ski season it’s probably cost effective to buy an Epic Pass.
4-5 years ago I was fortunate in finding a ticket office manager at Breckenridge to sell me a Military Epic Pass (during it’s first season) in February after skiing Park City a few weeks earlier and paying for a daily Military discounted (~50%) lift ticket for 4 days which the Breck agent managed to credit toward my Epic Pass purchase resulting in a credit to my credit card of ~$100. That was after a bunch of unproductive emails to Vail and Epic Pass after skiing Park City (where I learned of the new Military Epic Pass). Needless to say I was VERY pleasantly surprised and VERY appreciative. Point is, it was possible to buy an Epic Pass a few years ago when they were “no longer available” although I believe that was a very rare exception.
Without an Epic Pass, the most reliable way to buy less expensive ticket(s) is online advance purchase. Those with a non-Military Epic Pass will have “Ski With a Friend (SWAF)” passes and “Buddy” passes available which might be less expensive than advance purchase tickets. Years ago those who live near Breck and Colorado residents could get some sort of local or state discount.
2 days ago I booked 5 night award at DT Breck for next week (1/22-1/27), I’ll try to remember to ask about lift ticket purchases at the front desk and report back here. Unfortunately recent TripAdvisor reviews are not encouraging. When I called a few days ago, I was told lobby and restaurant renovations were finished a few weeks ago, pool and fitness center and hot tubs still closed, rooms not yet renovated, current rates are reflective of incomplete renovations toward rebranding as a Curio. (I saw ~ $260/night compared to ~$400-500/night last ski season.) Might just test my theory that ski resort lodging is just a bed and a shower (and maybe breakfast) .
DT Breck last year was managed by or affiliated with Vail Resorts (so they might have some way to buy less expensive tickets). Last year I wrote an email to several Vail Resorts managers regarding an infuriating 5 night experience at DT Breck for which I had redeemed 280K HH points. I received a reply from a Vail Resorts Director of Hospitality, ended up speaking with him a week or 2 later while I was at Park City and he subsequently directed the hotel to compensate me with a HH Service Recovery Bonus of 280K HH points.
(This post from a year ago addresses this same question and also has interesting information regarding Vail Resorts long standing generosity to Military personnel and why for the 10th anniversary of the Epic Pass they started offering a Military Epic Pass.)
New lobby and restaurant and two bars, one in the lobby and one in the restaurant, look very nice. Rooms are unchanged from the past few years. Unfortunately the management team remains completely unresponsive and uncaring. All sorts of signs and warnings from front desk agents about not wearing ski boots in the lobby. Management attitude makes this hotel an unappealing embarrassment. Very pleased to be using some Hilton Honors points and not my hard earned $$$.