Denver Hotels......Need Advice!!!
 

I have managed to snag some good leisure rates for 2 Denver hotels: The Sheraton Denver West Hotel at $66, and the Renaissance Denver at $59.

I know nothing of Denver except the Broncos! I'll need you guys to help me. Generally, I would think that Renaissance is a more prestigious name and hotel chain. I have some Marriott points, but no status.

On the other hand, I am Starwood Gold and I have reserved a club floor room with key access only to that level. Also there will be evening cocktails and hors doeuvres and continental breakfast.

So does anyone have first-hand knowledge of either hotel? What should I do?


Mac

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Via con Dios!

I can't tell you anything about the Shearaton but the problem with the Renaissance is that it's way out of town--halfway to the airport (the airport is about 25 miles from downtown). I suggest that if you have any time at all on your hands that you look for a room downtown. There are a bunch of good hotels including a Marriott, Hyatt, and an Adams Mark (the largest downtown hotel). There is a LOT to do in Denver within walking distance (and free shuttle) from the downtown hotels.

What do you want to do in Denver? Both hotels will require a car since there is little to do in the vicinity of either one. The Reneissance (sp?) is closer to downtown, Cherry Creek, the zoo, Natural History Museum, Coors Field, etc. but not within walking distance. The other property you mention is closer to the mountains. I notice from Sheryl's priceline board that several people have bid for downtown Denver and stayed at the Hotel Monaco, a nice and very well located property, for the same or less than you will be paying. I'd give that a try.

I'll put another plug in for the Hotel Monaco. It's an older but very nice hotel one block away from the 16th Street Mall (pedistrian mall with shops, restaurants, people-watching). The Hyatt, the Marriott, Adams Mark and the Westin are all good also although with perhaps a little less "unique character". We use the Monaco for our visiting board members and they seem to like it.

You might want to check out the Loews Giorgio Hotel. We stayed there about a year ago - got a great weekend rate and it is an excellent hotel with a very good restaurant and superb room service.

My reason for visiting Denver is purely pleasure. It is a mini-vacation in September. I have a goal of visiting all 50 states. I have visited 40 out of 50 and amazingly enough Colorado is not one of them. I have also been to almost every major city in the US.....except Denver. So I'll accomplish those goals.

As to what I'll see, YOU TELL ME! I had planned on just showing up at the chamber of commerce and asking what I should do. I have only 2 firm plans a day trip to Cheyenne, WY (state #42) and then to four corners (New Mexico=#43, already been to AZ, & UT).

I'll have a vehicle, so I don't HAVE to be downtown (though it would be nice). I only picked these two hotels because I'm assured of a good experience and have frequent stay accounts in their programs.

I would go with one of the other hotels if I could get an equal or lesser rate. I think I wnat to stay away from priceline in this case becase it is not calcelable, refundable or changeable. And I can't be sure of the quality of the hotel ahead of time (my wife is VERY picky!).

After this trip, all that will be left is Idaho, Montana, North & South Dakota, and Oklahoma!

Thank you all for the input.


Mac



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Via con Dios!

So, do any of you think I can really get a downtown hotel for the price that I have gotten these? If so, how I can I do it?

Mac

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Via con Dios!

Going to Colorado Sept. 14-18, Visiting a friend/employee in Estes Park working for the YMCA Camp. Planning on staying in Denver Sunday night going to the US mint (hoping to sweep a couple floors LOL) I'm also interested in a good/cheep hotel in 16th street and mint area

The Sheraton Denver West has a nice club lounge, and it (at least used to be) is open on weekends.

Nice hotels downtown are pricey.

You might want to check out the Fout points Cherry creek. It's a really nice hotel.

macbravery,
I used to go to Denver every summer growing up to visit family in the area. The last time I was there (about 4 years ago) I was amazed of how much nicer it was. I used to think of it as a pretty dirty/industrial city, but with the revival of the downtown area it's much better now. The Cherry Creek section of town is very nice (upscale shopping etc) and has a great bookstore. The area around Coors field is very happening. My fondest memories from my youth there were going to Elich Gardens and Casa Bonita. I once saw Will Shatner (pre-Priceline days) in Deathtrap at the playhouse in Elich Gardens but the amusement park has moved to a new site and I have no idea what it's like now. Also, if Casa Bonita is still open, just go there for the scenery and not the food. I never stayed at any hotels around Denver but I have always wanted to stay at Brown Palace. By the way, isn't the Renaissance the old Stoufer's at Stapelton Airport. What is the area like now???

I've stayed at both and wouldn't recommend either (mostly based on location). As someone who travels to Denver on a weekly basis, my personal favorite is the Hotel Monaco (they sometimes have special rates that are quite reasonable). As a die hard Westin fan, the Monaco has simply won me over. It's a great property, nice downtown location and for awhile there the rooms even had a pet goldfish. My second choice would be the Westin Tabor Center. I've had 2 disasterous stays at the Adam's Mark. The Four Points that someone mentioned is a good value if you want a Cherry Creek Location. All good suggestions above for places to check out.

Don't know where you need to be, but the doubletree Lincoln Center (about 5500 LBJ Freeway) is excellent! About 25 minutes from airport.

I was at Elitch Gardens (now owned by the Six Flags conglomerate) last week and it was not that great. There were 3 good rollercoasters, and one was dead. There had been thunderstorms the day before, and the "minderaser" (the one where you hang with your feet free) was dead until 2 pm. We took off at 2 when the line for the minderaser was a mile long, and it hadn't even opened yet.
The wooden coaster was really good (probably close to worth the hour and a half wait) and the other metal coaster was OK (but broke down on two separate instances while we were in line).
All in all, a decrepit park with really long lines. I'd take Six Flags Gurnee (Chicago) or Arlington (Texas) over it any day.

Although I live in Denver I have stayed at the Sheraton West when I went to a conference there, rather than drive home every day. Despite being called the Denver West it is really in the suburb of Lakewood clear on the west side of everything (and a real long way from the airport.) I grew up in Lakewood within walking distance of the Sheraton and can tell you there is not much to do in Lakewood [hey, it's a suburb http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif] That being said, it's a pretty nice hotel. I stayed on the Concierge level last year and was very pleased. The view of the mountains is nice if you get a west facing room.