Best Colorado Springs Hotels

It just doesn’t get any better than this. The Broadmoor, a 744-room luxury resort hotel complex, is a five-diamond, five-star property. You won’t want to—or need to—leave once you check in. With a backdrop of Cheyenne Mountain and a lake of its own, the ornate 1918 hotel looks like a postcard of an imaginary wonderland. But it’s very real—and very expensive; we’re talking $300 a night and up. But you get the best service, the best food and endless amusements and diversions, from a world-class spa to 54 holes on some of the best golf courses in the West. There’s even a small movie theater. A dozen restaurants cater to your every culinary whim—from a confection and coffee shop to the state’s only five-diamond restaurant, the Penrose Room. Plush beds, sumptuous linens, elaborate bathrooms, thick carpets and robes make every guest feel like royalty. The European-style pool area, with an infinity pool overlooking the property’s own lake (with its own island) is a real treat, and it’s pretty cool to have the staff greet you by name everywhere you go.

For a knock-your-socks-off view of Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak, you can’t do any better than staying at the Garden of the Gods Club, perched on a ridge overlooking the scene. With this kind of view, who can play golf? But do. It’s a 27-hole championship course. This elegant club, private for many years, now allows non-members to stay and enjoy their upscale cuisine and elegant spa, so take advantage of this bit of indulgence while you’re in town. The food is excellent and the rooms are spacious—or book a golf cottage of your own.

This lovely landmark in Manitou Springs was the haute-est thing going when it was built in 1873. Over the years it deteriorated, and when a fire nearly gutted the place in 1982, it was boarded up. In the late 1990s an investor stepped in and saved the historic property, bringing it back to its original glory. Packed with charm and antiques, no two rooms are alike. (We especially enjoy the turret rooms.) It’s all part of the pleasure of staying in a place where the history is richer than the people who once stayed there—Henry Ford, various presidents, movie stars and J. Paul Getty, among others. A four-diamond restaurant, a well-stocked wine cellar and lushly landscaped grounds add to its ambience. In the evenings, grab a rocker and sit out on the front porch to enjoy the mountain air.

Colorado Springs’ city founder, William J. Palmer, built his stone castle in a small valley just north of Garden of the Gods. He named it Glen Eyrie for the eagles that nested there. Over the years, it has changed ownership several times, but is now owned by The Navigators, an international Christian organization. For some years, it was used as a Christian retreat and was not open to the public. In recent years, the group re-opened the castle and its grounds to the public with high tea, tours and overnight stays. If you want to stay in a real castle, this is it. If you want a really special treat, ask for the honeymoon suite on the fourth floor, notable for its views and privacy. Be aware, though, that the Christian influence is evident even to visitors who are not interested in that aspect of the property.

This 200-room full-service hotel is conveniently located for visitors to cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. It’s a great value, though it just barely meets the “budget” category of $100 per night. Renovated in 2009, it’s looking pretty spiffy, with a Colorado-style lobby with lots of wood and stone. A stay includes a full breakfast, with an omelet bar, waffles and a buffet. There’s a full bar and restaurant on site, and a 24-hour pool. The business center has been updated, too.