Nine Colorado Hotels Among Travel + Leisure's Best In The World (PHOTOS)

Nine Colorado Hotels rank among Travel + Leisure's top 500 hotels in the world for 2011, headed by the Sonnenalp Resort in Vail, which scored a 92.52 on a 100-point scale.

Only five states -- California, Florida, Hawaii, New York and Texas -- have more than nine hotels on the list. Two hotels, the Vail Cascade and the Ritz-Carlton in Denver are making their first appearance on the list.

PHOTOS:

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The Sonnenalp Resort, Vail 92.52

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Comments

[Rod-iron-girl]

10:17 AM on 12/17/2010

The Brown Palace isn't on the list? As one of those CO people that has never stayed at any of these places I guess I don't know if the Brown is really that great but I've heard it's amazing.

[deepthicket]

03:07 PM on 12/15/2010

Impressively glitzy I guess but there are about 3,000 camping spots in CO that are preferable to any of these obscenities.

[MichaelAKD]

02:11 PM on 12/15/2010

the ritz at bachelor gulch photo is awful but the hotel is incredible. after going up a small winding road you find yourself at a small hut with employees to send you the rest of the way up. once you arrive at the main building you drive into a circular courtyard which reminds one of a 17th century castle. the staff are there to greet you in force. the entire place is breathtaking and the views from the room out across the valley are jaw dropping. the only other location on this list that my family has stayed at is the broadmoor. i sent my mother and sister there for mother's day a couple of years ago and they did nothing but talk about how impressed they were about everything there. one nice thing though about even the little hole in the wall spots to stay in the high country here, well even the worst comes with breath taking scenery so you really can't go wrong no matter if you choose the ritz at bachelor gulch or the comfort inn at steamboat. nonetheless, though i haven't stayed at any of the others listed i have been at all the hotels listed and i have to say the ritz carlton at bachelor gulch is number one followed by the broadmoor and in third place the nell in aspen, imho. as to the ritz carlton denver aka athletic club at denver place, just got a face lift this past summer.

[robertso2020]

09:51 AM on 12/15/2010

Ritz Carlton Denver....Seriously? It is probably the worst Ritz Carlton in America. The residencies foreclosed. I think it's a spruced up Marriott Courtyards.

[DenverLofts]

04:16 PM on 12/17/2010

It is an Incredible Hotel, have you ever been in there...

[robertso2020]

05:07 PM on 12/17/2010

Plenty of times. I work four blocks away. It's a decent hotel but probably the worst Ritz Carlton in the US. I have stayed at plenty is this is by far the most pedestrian and by far the worst setting (nest to a Greyhound Station) It should not be on any top hotel list. Anybody who is well traveled would knot the Denver Ritz is sub-par by most luxury hotel standards. The new Denver Four Seasons should knock it off the list. now that's a beautiful hotel.

Vail Cascade is somewhat rundown as well...but at least it's in an amazing setting.

[SteveDenver]

05:05 AM on 12/15/2010

I think one of the nicest things about the Ritz Carlton Denver is that it's across the street from the Greyhound station…

Seriously, walking into that hotel is like leaving downtown: it's a different world, everyone is friendly, they spent a year gutting and rebuilding it and the results are stunning.

[legalaid]

01:31 AM on 12/15/2010

Hmmmm....I've lived in CO most of my life and have never stayed at any of those hotels. There is a nice Motel 6 along I-70, though....

[Ivyleaguequaker]

01:54 AM on 12/15/2010

It is interesting that most locals don't do the local hotspots. I used to live in Colorado and have returned for visits and have stayed at the Broadmoor in the Springs. But I'm on the verge of moving back this summer. I'm thrilled to get back home!!

[legalaid]

01:59 AM on 12/15/2010

I understand! I've traveled across a lot of the world and always come back to Colorado :o)

[homer winslow]

01:08 PM on 12/15/2010

A lot of the locals can't afford the high prices at these places. I was invited to the Broadmoor for Thanksgiving 7 years ago. We spent 2 nights in a fabulous room filled with antiques, ate at the Penrose Room and drank at the Golden Bee. I could not have afforded any of this but enjoyed it immensely.

[Jacobite1789]

11:07 PM on 12/14/2010

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!

[homer winslow]

01:13 PM on 12/15/2010

I don't know why they left the Stanley off this list. It is a historic hotel, well loved by those I know who have stayed there. I can't afford it but have eaten an extremely pricey brunch at the Steamers Cafe there.

[MichaelAKD]

02:14 PM on 12/15/2010

maybe because it is the standley hotel lol, seriously though we took the kids there to stay for halloween a several years ago and it is okay but nothing to write home about. we drive past it regularly and i believe they did have a really large renovation there back in 06 so it might be a little better now.

[Ivyleaguequaker]

02:53 PM on 12/15/2010

I've been there, too. Never saw that darn ghost that haunts the place!!