9 hotels that will pamper yourpup
9 Colorado hotels where your dog will get treated like royalty
T here’s no feeling quite as gut-wrenching as saying goodbye to your dog as you head out on vacation.
Maybe it’s all in your head, but it sure seems like she just knows you’re about to have a bunch of fun and adventures without her. Once you arrive at your destination, you can’t really enjoy your vacation to the fullest because you feel a constant pang of guilt for leaving your pet behind. How’s she doing? Is she getting enough love at the boarding facility? Did the pet sitter remember to take her outside before bed? And what about treats?
In 2017, we spent a record $69.5 billion on our pets, according to the American Pet Products Association, so it should come as no surprise that hotels are also rolling out the red carpet for our furry friends. In Colorado, resorts are offering everything from doggy room service menus to livestreaming dog cameras to put pet owners’ minds at ease.
Planning your next trip? Here are nine Colorado destinations where your pup will be treated like royalty.
Viceroy Snowmass
The next time there’s an epic powder day, you won’t have to feel guilty because you’re leaving your beloved furchild behind. Viceroy Snowmass, which sits at the base of Aspen Snowmass, will totally pamper your pup on your next ski vacation, so go ahead and bring them along. When you first
“We created the doggie room service menu to help welcome dogs and make them feel special when they are away from home.” Kathleen Bates, general manager of Embassy Suites Boulder and Hilton Garden Inn Boulder
arrive, you’ll get a leash, a bandana, doggie bags and a tasty liver treat. Once you get up to your room, you’ll find doggie food and water bowls and a dog bed waiting for you, if you need them. You can also order treats through room service and the concierge will help you find a local dog walker for the days when you’re out shredding. The hotel can also arrange for grooming or any other needs your dog might have while you’re staying there.
The team at the Viceroy has seen Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Weimaraners, pugs, Shih Tzus, Bernese mountain dogs and nearly every breed in between. Pick a random day and you’re likely to find as many as 10 dogs staying at the hotel. Plus, several members of the hotel staff bring their dogs to work regularly, which “makes everybody’s day,” said Robert Purdy, general manager of Viceroy Snowmass. It’s a truly pet-friendly place to its core, he added.
“When a family arrives, we’re saying, ‘Hello Mr. and Mrs. Smith,’ but also we’re saying hi to the dog and calling it by name,” said Purdy. The hotel charges a $50 pet fee per stay and allows dogs under 100 pounds.
More info: Viceroy Snowmass, 130 Wood Road, Snowmass Village, 970-923-8000, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/ en/snowmass.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver
Maybe you’ve got friends coming into town, or maybe you’d just like to have a fun staycation at a boutique hotel in Denver. Either way, you can bring your entire family — including your pets — to Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver. The hotel is so petfriendly that it doesn’t even limit what type of animals you can bring — there have been rumors about a goat who once stayed there, says Chris Guse, the hotel’s general manager. But in all seriousness, the hotel welcomes dogs, cats, birds, pigs — you name it. “As long as your pet can make it through our doors and fit into a hotel room, they are welcome,” Guse said.
When you arrive, the hotel can provide you with a bed, food and water bowls, kitty litter, mats, poop bags — whatever you need (the staff has even run out to purchase items for furry guests in the past). They also offer special door hangers to let other guests and the housekeeping staff know that there’s a fluffy friend in your room. Pets are also invited to the hotel’s nightly wine reception.
There’s no fee for bringing pets, nor is there a limit on the number of pets you can bring or their size. If you need to run an errand and you don’t want to leave your pet in the room, the front desk staff is usually more than happy to pet-sit for you, Guse says. “We are welcoming you into our home and we want that to be a complete feeling, so that’s the approach we take with pets, too,” he said.
More info: Kimpton Hotel Monaco, 1717 Champa St., Denver, 303-296-1717, monacodenver.com.
Embassy Suites Boulder
Now this is luxury: Embassy Suites Boulder created a special doggie room service menu, just for pets passing through. Some of the options? For her entree, chicken and rice, steak and carrots or a “Burger Dawg,” which is a freshly grilled hamburger with carrot sticks. But let’s not skip dessert, shall we? You can also order a special peanut butter dessert treat to cap things off.
“Colorado is definitely a petfriendly destination; a lot of our guests bring their four-legged companions with them,” said Kathleen Bates, general manager of Embassy Suites Boulder and Hilton Garden Inn Boulder. “We created the doggie room service menu to help welcome dogs and make them feel special when they are away from home.”
When you book the hotel’s pet retreat package, you’ll get food and water bowls, homemade dog biscuits and a $10 credit for the pet menu. The hotel charges a $100 pet fee and pets must weigh less than 50 pounds.
More info: Embassy Suites Boulder, 2601 Canyon Blvd., Boulder, 303-443-2600, embassysuites3.hilton.com.
The Curtis Hotel
Your dog will actually feel like a celebrity at The Curtis Hotel in Denver — complete with paparazzi! When you check in, the front desk will ask your dog to strike a pose and snap a Polaroid, which they’ll pin to a special K-9 Club sandwich board in the lobby. People love checking out all the glamour shots of the fluffy guests staying there.
The hotel also offers a special Shaggy & Scooby Doo package, created specifically for guests with pets. The packages start at $169 per night and include a waived pet fee and treats for both the humans and the dogs in the party. If you don’t book this package, the hotel charges a $25-per-day cleaning fee ($50 maximum per stay).
More info: The Curtis, 1405 Curtis St., Denver, 303-571-0300, thecurtis.com.
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa
Not only does the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa love having furry guests stay the night, the hotel also makes a point of giving back to its fourlegged friends whenever possible. The hotel, which works closely with the Eagle Valley Humane Society, hosted a dogfriendly 5K (“Fur K”) race and adoption event last June and hopes to repeat the event again this summer. Maya, the hotel’s restaurant, also donates a portion of its proceeds to the animal shelter for one month through its “You Dine, We Donate” initiative.
Pups who stay at the hotel get complimentary dog beds and dog bowls in their rooms. Plus, they have direct access to the Eagle Valley Trail, which is perfect for long walks and lots of sniffing. There are also “endless treats” available at the front desk, says Kristen Pryor, the resort’s general manager. The hotel charges $50 per night for one dog, or $75 per night for two.
More info: Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, 126 Riverfront Lane, Avon, 970-790-6000, bit.ly/2tcr2xv.
The Crawford Hotel
The Crawford Hotel at Denver Union Station has gone hightech: it offers a Furbo dog camera for guests to use during their stay, so that if they have to leave their dog in the room while they go out, they can see, talk to and even toss treats their way. They also provide all four-legged guests with a dog bed, dog treats, a chew treat, dog waste bags and food and water bowls.
On top of that, they give guests special “green spaces” cards so they know exactly where to go when their pet needs to do his business. The hotel charges a $50-per-night pet fee and only allows dogs up to 60 pounds.
More info: The Crawford Hotel, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, 720-460-3700, thecrawford hotel.com.
Thestanley
You know The Stanley for being Stephen King’s inspiration for “The Shining.” But this boutique hotel in Estes Park doesn’t get spooked by dogs — in fact, it welcomes them with open arms.
When you arrive at this historic spot, which first opened in 1909, your pup will be greeted with homemade peanut butter and banana dog biscuits. You’ll also get a comfy dog bed and food and water bowls for your room. For a $75 fee per stay, the hotel allows dogs under 50 pounds.
More info: The Stanley, 333 Wonderview Ave., Estes Park, 970-577-4000, stanleyhotel.com.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa
If you’re looking for a more active staycation with your pup, consider a trip to Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash. You can choose from several dog-friendly cabins, where you’ll find a dog bed and homemade cookie waiting for you. There are also a number of dogfriendly trails here for crosscountry skiing (called skijoring), plus the resort’s nordic center has skijoring rigs available for rent.
Devil’s Thumb also hosts events such as “Skijoring and Dog Spa,” where you can combine a skijoring excursion with a day of pampering for your dog. The resort charges a $50-pernight fee for dogs.
More info: Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort and Spa, 3530 County Road 83, Tabernash, 970-726-7000, devilsthumb ranch.com.
Therubyofcrestedbutte
There are just six guest rooms at The Ruby of Crested Butte, a luxury bed-and-breakfast not far from Elk Avenue, the main drag in Crested Butte. In fact, it’s so cozy that the owners ask all guests to take off their shoes when their indoors. It’s not surprising that dogs are welcome in this B&B, which feels more like staying at a comfortable private mountain home than a hotel.
Even better? The Ruby collects a $10-per-night pet fee, which it turns around and donates to animal shelters in need, so you can feel extra good about staying here with your pup.
More info: The Ruby of Crested Butte, 624 Gothic Ave., Crested Butte, 970-349-1338, therubyofcrestedbutte.com.