The Estes Park Resort

I am writing this review from my bed in this hotel at 1:30 in the morning—my third night of largely sleepless tossing and turning. I figured, “Hey, why not use the time productively and get the attention of hotel ownership and management?” I am going to ignore the fact that the WiFi is so slow that I’ve had to use my phone as my access point throughout my stay. (Complaining got me nowhere.) I want to vent about one issue: the bedding. I want to speak directly to the people considering this hotel who care about the bed and bedding in their rooms, those planning on sleeping. (If you don’t, move on—nothing to see here.) The first thing I noted when I entered the room was that my Queen-sized bed had a two-foot-wide faux fur strip on top of the duvet cover near the foot of the bed. Is that supposed to convey luxury or something? It usually winds up on the floor and I’m sure that housekeeping isn’t cleaning them between guests—and how would they be cleaned anyway? I would love to know what hotel management thinks the messaging/purpose of these faux pelts might be other than collecting germs. I shoved that in a closet. But the real problem is the bedding: the duvet and pillows. For those of you unfamiliar with the term “duvet,”it’s a type of cover you sleep under. It is supposed to be a light, insulating bed cover which is used instead of a heavy blanket, and it is contained inside a washable cover. The operative word here is “light.” I would estimate that the duvet on my bed weighed around 35 pounds. Did you ever kick the covers off on a warm night? Well, you won’t kick these. It would take an NFL punter to do it. If you’re used to normal covers that you can turn under, as from your back to your side or vice-versa, forget about it. You’ll fight to move under this hotel’s version of a duvet; you’ll be pressed into the mattress. I know that some people who suffer from anxiety prefer the security of a weighted blanket. If that’s you, then good news(!): if you choose this hotel you won’t have to bring your own! That brings me to the pillows. I’m particular about pillows: I think they should offer some support for my head and neck—I’m crazy that way. I’ve stayed in many, many—way too many—hotels in my life. I’d have to say the pillows in this hotel were as cheap and formless as any that I can recall. They are just some stuffing in a bag—nothing you would ever use in your home. I should have taken the hint when I saw four pillows on my Queen-sized bed. What that supposed to convey luxury like the faux fur pelt on top of the duvet? Not when the pillows cost about two bucks each. I asked for a foam pillow and the manager said that he had a tempurpedic pillow but couldn’t lend it to me. (He actually said that.) It’s now 2:15 in the morning and my plan is to watch YouTube videos until I pass out with the duvet on the floor and my four pillows scattered about. Of course, I won’t be coming back. Here’s a piece of advice from a veteran: when possible, choose a hotel from a chain of at least medium quality because they have bedding standards that franchisees have to meet. It’s not a guarantee but you’ll improve your odds of a decent night’s sleep.

This place is beautiful. Our view on the lake from our balcony was magnificent. Room was perfect for a family of 4. The Colorado touches were excellent. Would absolutely return here.

Beautiful views! Meals were pricey but good

Max at the front desk was amazing

Lovely place to stay

Our stay at Estes Park Lodge was nothing short of incredible. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Maxamillion, whose hospitality was truly over the top and set the tone for a wonderful visit. We stayed on the lower garden level, and to our delight, were greeted by an elk right outside our room—an unforgettable start to our mountain getaway! The location is ideal, just minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park, which we visited three times during our stay. One of the standout experiences was the food. The on-site restaurant is a true gem. As a scratch kitchen, everything we had—from breakfast to lunch and dinner—was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every meal exceeded our expectations. We absolutely loved our stay and can’t wait to return. Highly recommend this lodge for anyone looking for comfort, great food, and easy access to RMNP.

Highly recommend! Staff was friendly and very knowledgeable of the area. Would stay there again!

Beautiful property. We stayed in their most economical room and it spacious, stylish, and fully appointed with all amenities needed. Had dinner in the restaurant onsite and it was amazing. Food, service, and views all 5 stars.

Lake view was great !

One of the nicest places we’ve stayed in the Estes area. Convenient, quiet, beautiful views, beautiful rooms.