<p>I will be in Denver in mid-May for a several day event at their Convention Center and would like suggestions on hotels within walking distance (preferably within say a 5 block radius or so). Prefer non-smoking hotels and will only be able to have a non-smoking room (highly allergic). Thanks for your suggestions! </p>
<p>Will also be going to National Jewish for a day or two, probably after the convention or perhaps before–not sure if I’ll stay at the same hotel or move to Hampton Cherry Creek, where we’ve stayed for prior visits.</p>
<p>I just stayed at the Sheraton which was about 4 blocks. Pretty standard. I know people who were at the Marriott and heard no complaints. There was one that was right across the street and very convenient. Name escapes me but I’m sure you can find out. Suggest you stay towards north of convention center towards Larimer St. Most of the restaurants are in that direction.</p>
<p>Weather in May will be glorious so walking a few blocks should actually be a treat.</p>
<p>Hampton in Cherry Creek will probably be cheaper, room rate and parking wise, but if that’s not a major consideration, I’d stay downtown. I would actually prefer the trip down Colfax rather than dealing with traffic down by Colorado and Alameda. I always hated that messy intersection. Also restaurants and shops downtown would be walking distance rather than having to get in the car to go eat which you would have to do from Hampton.</p>
<p>Thanks–have never attended a convention in Denver before, only went to & from NJewish, so stayed at the Hampton in Cherry Creek. This trip, large majority of the time will be at the Denver Convention Center. They do have a lot of nice restaurants that we have not had a chance to explore–will try to get H to come with me so we can check some of them out together. I really do like Denver; we have several friends there as well that we will try to look up.</p>
<p>Fortunately, since much of this trip is for business, most of lodging and all of plane will be subsidized. Staying at a location convenient to the convention center is a priority for me, especially if I come with H, so we will spend some time together so I don’t live at the convention.</p>
<p>I stayed at The Curtis when I attended the ALA MidWinter Convention 3 years ago. It had just finished major renovations. Rooms were on the small side, but it’s less than 2 blocks or so from the convention center. Other colleagues stayed at the Sheraton and Marriott–the Marriott was bit of long walk. </p>
<p>16th St Mall is an easy walk from any of Convention Center hotels. And if you’re flying in, SkyRide will take pretty close to the Convention Center for $6.</p>
<p>Driving in downtown Denver is awful. When I was last up there in August, tons of roadwork was underway and traffic was simply miserable.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the SkyRide tip! The Curtis is about $300/night for the time I’ll be there, but maybe they will have a lower convention rate. Thanks for the recommendation for there & IHS for the Sheraton. Sounds like there are quite a few plaes to consider.</p>
<p>There is a continuous shuttle on the 16th St Mall (pedestrians and buses only). That might help stretch your range (some walking, some bus). </p>
<p>There are many restaurants in Larimer Square and on the 16th St Mall. The historic Molly Brown Hotel is pricey. And the restaurants are pricey too (we’ve done it for just happy hour). But a walk through the lobby is free. We recommend it to all Denver toursist. </p>
<p>If possible, try to stop by at one of the restaurants for happy hour.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good tip about happy hour–do they have inexpensive edibles if we’re not much into drinking at happy hour as well? The rates are surprisingly similar at most of the hotels (convention rates), so can anyone recommend a top 4 hotels if prices were all similar? There are about 20 hotels on their list and investigating all of them looks daunting. Even the Brown Hotel is not all that differently priced from the Marriott and other offerings.</p>
<p>No, the public rates for the Molly Brown Hotel ARE high, but there are pretty good convention rates that I believe I could get. Is it a really nice hotel or does it feel “dated,” and stuffy? Just curious. We stayed at the Willard Hotel in DC because I got an amazing Hotwire rate once. It was a very old hotel but well-maintained so you didn’t feel it was dated and stuffy.</p>
<p>Thanks for any other comments & suggestions about hotel options.</p>
<p>I think you mean the Brown Palace? (The Molly Brown House is a museum operated by the Denver Historical Society.) It is a very nice hotel with a lot of history, and a lovely staff. The bar is a truly spectacular place that feels very special, and they have some lovely restaurants. If they had a good rate it would definitely be my choice of where to stay!</p>
<p>OK, thanks for the correction. Will see about trying to stay there–other suggestions in case they’re full or I’m misinterpreting the rate? I think it would be good to have at least 5 options to investigate & offer to the travel agent booking our rooms at the convention.</p>
<p>I’ve been in both the Embassy Suites and the Crowne Plaza close to the convention center, and they’re both fine. Nice to be very close if you’re likely to be popping back and forth to the convention center; less important if you’re only making the trip once a day. </p>
<p>May is typically lovely weather (could be cold at night) so that wouldn’t influence me.</p>
<p>Yes, I believe we have been there in May & loved the weather there too (tho it can be pretty unpredictible). We may hop back & forth to the convention center, especially if H comes with me (we’re still deciding). Thanks for these additional suggestions.</p>
<p>If you don’t end up staying there, do try to at least “pass thru”. Whenever we have guests visiting with us and touring 16th St Mall we make it a point to detour a bit to get a look at the impressive lobby. They don’t seem to mind.</p>
<p>I hope to someday get there for brunch for a special ocassion.</p>
<p>If convenience and distance to the convention center is your priority, the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center (not the Grand Hyatt, also located downtown) is the closest hotel to the convention center. Less expensive is the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Downtown and it’s almost as close. For something different, four blocks away is the Hotel Teatro, a small boutique hotel that people love. For your time at National Jewish, you might want to check out Loews. It’s only a few blocks from the Hampton Inn. They are both nice. Loews has a free shuttle to NJH, Cherry Creek shopping or even to downtown. Try to get a room on the west side for a view of the mountains.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips–will give it some thought. I think we’ll try to stay at the same hotel the entire time we’re in Denver and would prefer that it be close to the Convention Center. I guess we could catch the bus or a taxi to get to NJH for a visit & appointment IF the doc is available.</p>
<p>Thanks–appreciate your help. We may not need to have a rental car or perhaps just have it for a few days this trip instead of the entire time of our stay. We have never caught public transit there & they didn’t have light rail when we were last there in 2004.</p>
<p>OK, H says that he wants a hotel that has free internet, all things being equal. Have narrowed the list to the following:
Magnolia Hotel
Residence Inn (free internet in public areas)
Hotel Teatro
Marriott Denver Downtown
Oxford Hotel
Comfort Inn Downtown</p>
<p>Feedback about these hotels, please? I’ve been reading Trip Advisor and am getting a bit confused by the conflicting reviews about some of them–VERY highly rated by some and rather poorly rated by others. Residence Inn seems to have the most consistently high ratings.</p>
<p>I’ve already posted my bias, but I still like the Hotel Teatro. AAA ratings give Hotel Teatro 4 Diamonds and all the others on your list 3 Diamonds. I don’t know for certain if the internet access is free in the rooms, but the AAA site does say wifi comes with the room rate. But if you do decide to have a rental car, Hotel Teatro’s parking is expensive. Light Rail in Denver is great, but you can’t get from downtown to NJH on it. The Oxford Hotel is neat, too, but it’s not very convenient to the convention center. It’s in the LoDo district.</p>
I really do like Denver; we have several friends there as well that we will try to look up.</p>