The Best Honeymoon Hotels in Colorado

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Sure, skiing in the Colorado Rockies is everything it’s cracked up to be and more, but we have it on good authority that a visit to the Western state is an enjoyable adventure year-round. As far as special occasion trips go, the Colorado honeymoon is so sweet, we almost don’t want to let the secret out. But when it comes to honeymoon hotels in Colorado, it’s high time to spread the word. Whether you and your love want to do it up in impossibly hip and incredibly chill Denver or spend your budget on amazing food that takes advantage of the seasons in the likes of Aspen, Colorado’s honeymoon resorts make a strong case for the ultimate postnuptial escape. Read on for trip-planning inspiration.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: The Little Nell
Best Boutique: Halcyon
Best Luxury: The Sebastian
Best City Views: The Rally Hotel
Best Budget: The Strater Hotel
Best Access to Nature: St Julien
Best Wellness: Dunton Hot Springs

Best Overall: The Little Nell

Why We Chose It

Situated at the base of Ajax, one of four ski areas in Aspen, this luxury boutique property is impeccable across the board.

Notable Amenities

Outdoor pool is heated year-round, expert concierge team, Lavazza espresso machine

Pros

Excellent food and drink
Location
Top-notch concierge

Cons

Not all rooms have balconies

This five-star property ideally situated at the base of Ajax and within close proximity of all that Aspen has to offer is anything but undiscovered. Still, its popularity among well-heeled travelers and even celebrities is deserved. It’s ski-in, ski-out access makes a winter honeymoon a no-brainer, particularly when you factor in the property’s myriad other attributes, like staff’s unpacking (and packing) services, turn-down service, and June Jacobs Bath & Beauty Products.

The Little Nell has just 92 rooms, all of them sumptuous and simply stunning, thanks, in part, to a 2017 redesign by New York-based luxury design firm Champalimaud Design. All rooms have gas log fireplaces and most have balconies, which practically beg for Champagne toasts and happily married selfies. The Champagne will cost extra, but the mini bars snacks are complimentary and refreshed once per day.

Best Boutique: Halcyon

Why We Chose It

When it comes to city lodging, there are a few boxes we want checked—prime location, rooms with ample amenities, and on-site dining —and this boutique gem has it all.

Notable Amenities

Bikes and skateboards available for rent, blackout curtains in guest rooms, free evening happy hour

Pros

Rooftop sun deck with pool
Nespresso coffee machines
Free WiFi

Cons

Some rooms are snug
Service can be hit or miss

Plush Matouk bathrobes, Jonathan Adler bath products, and Enseo smart TV programming make this boutique Denver property a frontrunner among Colorado’s best honeymoon hotels. (Sometimes, a lazy morning in the cozy confines of your hotel room is just what the honeymoon ordered.) Located in the city’s bustling Cherry Creek neighborhood means access to excellent restaurants, lively bars, and vibrant shopping, but the good news is that Halcyon has plenty on offer on site. Three restaurants—Local Jones, Elevated, and Quality Italian—all make a strong case for not leaving any hotel stone unturned.

Luxe pooltop cabanas provide a nice excuse to kick back and relax and perhaps indulge in a late morning Bloody Mary or pint of local beer (Colorado’s craft beer scene continues to crush the competition). Plus, come summer, special rooftop programming includes live music and workout classes, in case you and your honey want to work up a sweat as you take in the Rocky Mountain views.

Best Luxury: The Sebastian

Why We Chose It

This upscale property somehow manages to remain unpretentious and inviting, though most everything about it screams well-to-do, from the plush pillows to the unique artwork throughout.

Notable Amenities

Nespresso machines, larger rooms have washer/dryer, gracious, above and beyond staff

Pros

Premium linens
Cool art throughout
Capacious rooms

Cons

Attracts families
Location could be better

A good night’s sleep is like gold, especially when you want to fill your days with outdoor activities, whether that be skiing in winter or hiking in summer; this is Colorado, after all, and taking advantage of Vail’s outdoor playground is paramount. Fortunately, The Sebastian, a Timbers Resort, manages to be both stylish and functional. The beds are incredibly comfortable and made up with 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, and you and your new spouse can wrap yourselves up in impossibly soft robes while you wait for room service or enjoy the mountain views from your balcony.

The outdoor pool is open all four seasons and is worth a dip or two. And as far as resort spas go, Bloom Spa has a whole massage menu; the highly recommended CBD Recovery massage is soothing, serene, and run by well trained staff. In fact, all of the staff at The Sebastian go out of their way to make guests feel pampered and looked after. Honeymooners are sure to feel the warm embrace.

Best City Views: The Rally Hotel

Why We Chose It

Modern, yet with a twinge of that Colorado Western vibe, The Rally in Denver prides itself on its hospitality and ensuring guests get the most out of their stay in The Mile High City.

Notable Amenities

Rooftop pool and sun deck, lots of little freebies and/or discounts on food, drink, fitness, games available

Pros

Courtesy car transports guests within a 2-mile radius
Good location
Welcoming staff

Cons

Nightly “destination” fee
Limited seating options in rooms

The best urban hotels manage to keep guests interested in on-site activities and enticed with stellar food and beverage programs while also recognizing that guests want to explore the city beyond the confines of the property. The Rally excels here, as evidenced in its selection of cool curated local experiences, many of which come with discounts.

The Oxford Club Spa and Salon for example, is 10 percent off services for Rally guests, and a visit to Mile High Spirits before 10 p.m. will get you and your honey 50 percent off your bar tab.

The guest rooms carry on the theme of promoting the city in which they reside with in-room mini-bar with local grab-and-go delights available for purchase and a book bundle from Tattered Cover Book Store. Hip furnishings, unique art, and splashy carpeting lend the 182 guest rooms character, while views of the city invite you to come out and play.

Best Budget: The Strater Hotel

Why We Chose It

This landmark hotel in Durango, Colorado, is bursting at the seams with history, and er, ghosts, according to some guests. A stay here is a rare occasion to go back in time alongside modern-day creature comforts.

Notable Amenities

Sound machines, comfy beds, special requests (mini fridge, rose petals, ahem) can be accommodated if arranged in advance.

Pros

Old, historic building
Fun, upbeat saloon
Walkable location

Cons

Street-facing rooms can be noisy
No in-room coffee maker in standard rooms

Walking into the lobby of this 88-room hotel, you may feel like you’re stepping foot inside a history museum, and well, that’s because technically you are. The Strater Hotel calls itself a living history museum, and even guests not staying overnight are invited to come check out the impressive shadow boxes that tell stories of the Old West and mining times.

But overnight guests have the added bonus of staying in a room with gorgeous old Victorian walnut furnishings and window treatments that look like they came straight off the set of "Westworld." Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper does wonders for tying the decor together in the darling rooms. No stay at The Strater Hotel is complete without a visit to the Saloon though. This is where you can really imagine life way back when—a whimsical escape for honeymooners who have a nose for history. Of course, downtown Durango is also ripe for exploration, and The Strater Hotel’s location makes it easy to check out the sights.

Best Access to Nature: St Julien

Why We Chose It

Crunchy Boulder is no longer under-the-radar, but St Julien was a true pioneer when it opened its doors in 2005. Its debut is significant: The 201-room property was the first high-end hotel and spa to open in downtown Boulder in nearly 100 years.

Notable Amenities

Great spa, Canyon Mint bathroom products, live music

Pros

Fully-stocked minibar
Complimentary shuttle service
Luxury Italian linens

Cons

Rooms can be on the small side

A stay at St. Julien is perfectly pleasing, but for many, the real draw is everything just outside the four walls. Access the Flatirons, an iconic mountain with five peaks, from here, but do make sure to save time for aimless meandering in downtown Boulder. Its art galleries, gourmet food shops, and stay-awhile cafes retain plenty of charm despite the city’s growth spurt in recent years.

Still, the rooms, decked out in natural colors fostering a sense of peace and tranquility, feature generously-sized bathrooms with slate floors and granite counters. And a mini-bar stocked with local, artisanal products provide excellent respite after a day of adventure or where-did-the-time-go people watching at Pearl Street Mall. The on-site spa also beckons, and honeymooners can sip on champagne while they wait for their couples massage to begin.

Best Wellness: Dunton Hot Springs

Why We Chose It

Tucked away in the San Juan Mountains, Dunton Hot Springs Resort has all of the appeal of a natural oasis promising to edify and energize guests.

Notable Amenities

Access to indoor and outdoor mineral hot springs pools, yoga studio and climbing wall, free WiFi

Pros

All-inclusive
Well-appointed cabins
Dedicated staff

Cons

Tends to attract a lot of families
Rustic lodging lacks luxury feel

The biggest draw of Dunton Hot Springs Resort is spelled out in its name: Hot springs hold court here, and the property offers five distinct ways to experience the bicarbonate water, which is said to help improve circulation. Magnesium in the springs reportedly converts blood sugar to energy which in turn results in healthy skin. Honeymooners may not really need an extra glow, but nonetheless, partaking in the restored 19th century bathhouse or in the pool just outside makes for a particularly relaxing stay. There is an incredible number of stars in this stretch of sky, which is why a nighttime soak is our favorite.

Back at the cabin—rustic-elegant in design and decor—you can marvel at the work that went into these restored log cabins. But don’t get too comfortable, for the Saloon and Dance Hall are where the real party starts.

Final Verdict

Given its world-class ski regions attracting affluent South Americans and Europeans in addition to those from the U.S., it’s no wonder that Colorado has its pulse on the luxury travel market. Indeed, we love The Little Nell and the Sebastian for their embodiment of all things luxe and luscious, but it’s the former that gets our seal of approval as the best option overall for a romantic Colorado honeymoon. Still, there are plenty of other lodgings throughout the state—and there is much to be explored beyond the Aspens and Vails of this Western destination. Sublime experiences range from the ultimate city vacation with a room at The Rally or Halycon to an exquisite rural getaway at Dunton Hot Springs Resort. Whatever it is you and your spouse are after—history, nature, non-stop activity, or couples massages—and no matter what budget you’re working with, there’s a honeymoon hotel here for you.

Methodology

We evaluated dozens of hotels and resorts throughout the expansive state of Colorado, identifying properties with sound value, noteworthy amenities, and on-site offerings including dining and fitness. We assessed location, service, and the comfort of the guest rooms themselves. No pro or con was left unturned in the compilation of this list of Colorado’s best honeymoon hotels.