Lodging (Area Code 970)

In Telluride you can stay down in the historic town or in the Mountain Village. We start with some of our favorite spots in town. Lodging in the mountain village is listed afterwards. Both Telluride Resort Reservations (866-287-5016) and Telluride Central Reservations (800-525-3455) are good places to start if you're not sure where you want to stay. Make sure to ask about lodging packages and specials. The resort's website also carries lodging deals.

Franklin Manor (800-537-4781; 728-3001; $$$–$$$$) could say its middle name is romance. Named for artist Richard Franklin, the manor showcases his neo-classical works in a gallery and all five uniquely decorated bedrooms.

The San Sophia Inn & Condominiums (800-537-4781; 728-3001; $$$–$$$$; above) is near the gondola and the Oak Street lift. This cozy inn is considered one of Telluride's best, with exceptional service. A luxury spot to stay is The Hotel Columbia (800-201-9505; 728-0660; $$$–$$$$) right at the Telluride base of the gondola. The hotel was built to look historic, but with the addition of space and amenities of modern hotel rooms, such as fireplaces, big beds, a rooftop hot tub and luxurious bathrooms. The hotel has an office for guests' use equipped with fax, copier and computer.

Ice House Lodge & Condominiums (800-544-3436; 728-6300; $$$$), a block from the gondola, has custom furniture, antique Navajo rugs and 6-foot tubs. Adjacent condos have full kitchens and two or three bedrooms. Amenities include a continental breakfast, apres-ski goodies, outdoor heated pool, hot tub and steam room. In stark contrast to the town's prevalent Victorian theme, Camel's Garden Resort Hotel & Condominiums (888-772-2635; 728-9300; $$$$), in the gondola plaza, is a contemporary structure. The ski-in/ski-out luxury property achieves understated elegance with handcrafted furniture, Italian marble bathrooms, oversized tubs and fireplaces. Views from the outdoor 25-foot hot tub are spectacular. A day spa is on the lobby level (see Other Activities).

The elegant and intimate Hotel Telluride (866-468-3504; 369-1188; $$$–$$$$), on the western edge of town, opened in September 2001. Prepare to be pampered here, from the feather bed and down comforter for a peaceful night's sleep to the granite countertops and Italian tile in the bathrooms. A spa is on the premises (see Other Activities) as well as a bistro.

A member of the National Trust for Historic Hotels of America, the New Sheridan Hotel & Suites (800-200-1891; 728-4351; $$–$$$$; left) was lovingly restored for its 100th birthday in 1995. Rich dark colors, period Victorian furniture and black-and-white pictures from Telluride's past make a visit here feel historic. Breakfast, an open pantry with snacks and drinks and free Internet access are included in the price. The restaurant and bar are very good (see Dining).

Bear Creek Inn (800-338-7064; 728-6681; $$–$$$$), in a brick building on Colorado Avenue, has 10 rooms with private bath and TV, roof deck, sauna and steam room. Continental breakfast is included.

The Victorian Inn (800-611-9893; 728-6601; $$–$$$$), one block from the gondola, recently remodeled 14 of its 32 rooms, some with kitchenettes. While clearly Victorian, the decor is understated. Amenities include a complimentary continental breakfast, outdoor hot tub and sauna.

If you like seclusion, the family-owned Skyline Ranch (888-754-1126; 728-3757; $$; right) is 8 miles outside of Telluride. Choose between no-smoking lodge rooms and individual cabins. Chefs are culinary school grads, so the meals are outstanding. Hot full breakfast and apres-ski munchies are included in the price. Even if you don't stay here, come one night for a sleigh ride

and dinner. It's a tradition. Transportation into Tellurideis provided.

All the condos below are managed by ResortQuest Telluride, (877) 826-8043. The Riverside Condos ($$$–$$$$) are perhaps the nicest in town and near the base of the gondola. Manitou Riverhouse ($$$$) is just as close to the lifts, but be ready for lots of stairs if you rent here. Around the Coonskin Base check into Viking Lodge ($$$–$$$$), Etta Place ($$$–$$$$) and Cimarron Lodge ($$$$), where you can almost literally fall out of bed and onto the lifts.

In the Mountain Village
Everything in the Mountain Village is either new or recently built and luxury is a given.

Smartly showcasing its Southwestern flair, The Peaks

Resort & Golden Door Spa (800-789-2220; 728-6800; $$$$;

right) pampers with spacious rooms, down bedding, terrycloth robes and slippers, glass-enclosed showers, freestanding oversized tubs and marble double-sink vanities. The ski-in/ski-out resort hotel has an efficient ski-valet service and an on-property rental shop. It has one of the largest full-service spas in the country and guests have daily spa access (see Other Activities). Children 16 and younger stay free in their parents' room. Pets are permitted, and the spa has programs just for them.

The highly praised Inn at Lost Creek (888-601-5678; 728-5678; $$$$) is a beautifully rustic, yet classic, slopeside lodge with 32 uniquely decorated rooms that include fireplaces, jetted tubs and steam showers, plus two roof-top hot tubs, topnotch guest service and the 9545 restaurant (see Dining). The great room, crafted of native stone and weathered timber, is warmly inviting. Choose from studios to two-bedroom suites.

Good for families, The Mountain Lodge at Telluride (866-368-6867; $$$-$$$$) has slopeside condos and lodge rooms, as well as a large log-and-stone cabin with awesome views that sleeps 8-14 (the lodge rooms only sleep two). Furnished in an upscale Western motif, the condominiums and cabin have gas fireplaces. Kids like the outdoor heated pool and hot tub, and The Lodge caters to families with unique packages, such as the Wrangler package for winter 2006/07: four nights for a family of four includes a two-hour horseback ride, evening sleigh ride, and cowboy steak dinner for everyone, plus lift tickets for two days. Rates start at $768 per person based on quadruple occupancy. Also in 2006/07, The Mountain Lodge at Telluride has partnered with the non-profit organization One Warm Coat to provide warm coats to those in need. Donate a "gently used" coat upon check-in and receive five percent off the entire reservation. Donate a maximum of four jackets and receive 20 percent off.

Aspen Ridge Townhomes (888-707-4717; $$$$) feature three-bedroom units with saunas, steam showers, hot tubs and fireplaces. Bear Creek Lodge (866-538-7731; $$$$) looks like a high-alpine chalet crossed with a rustic mountain lodge with its peaked roofs mimicking the mountain peaks around it. Deluxe rooms and one- to four-bedroom condos come with impressive views. Each unit has a jetted tub, washer and dryer, and a gourmet kitchen. Plus there are two outdoor hot tubs and a heated pool, a fitness center and an indoor hot tub, steam room and sauna. The January Special makes the entire month attractively priced.

Mountain Village has many condos, some of which start at $200 per night (double that for the ones closest to the lifts) and top out around $800. Call ResortQuest Telluride (877-826-8043) for more information.

Regional Lodging Program
Telluride has a Regional Lodging Program with seven neighboring towns. If you stay in one of these spots, you can get discount lift tickets throughout the season, saving up to 41 percent. The towns, their distance from Telluride and the number to call are: Cortez/Dolores/Rico/Mancos, four towns 25-70 miles away, (800) 253-1616; Montrose, 65 miles, (800) 348-3495; Ouray, 47 miles, (800) 228-1876; and Ridgway, 37 miles, (800) 754-3103. Durango, which is nearer to Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, also is part of this program, (800) 228-1876. Durango is 125 miles from Telluride and just 25 miles from Durango Mountain Resort. If you want to do both resorts on one trip, it might be worth a call to this program.

Accommodations Legend: (double room) $$$$–$200+; $$$–$141–$200; $$–$81–$140; $–$80 and less.