Big Horn Lodge

I usually try to give a place the benefit of the doubt when things go wrong, but I can't do that here. One star feels generous. There are several red flags, and I’d steer clear until there are clear signs things have improved. There are much better choices in town.

Nic, the manager, was attentive and helped with everything we needed. Our room was comfortable and clean, and the location was great. We enjoyed our stay and will definitely return.

Convenience is the main reason I’d stay here again. It’s well placed for Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake, and its holiday activities. I stayed four years ago under the previous owners, so I already knew the location worked well. I’m not a fan of the do-it-yourself check-in and check-out, and I could never get anyone to answer the phone when I called to book or ask questions before arriving. I requested a ground-floor room almost a week ahead, but when I arrived around 4:30, housekeeping hadn’t cleaned it. Fortunately, someone was actually in the office. She was polite and explained that housekeeping had gone home, that she’d need about 30 minutes to prepare the room, or that I could take a ready second-floor room. After a long day, I just wanted to get into a room, so I chose the one that was ready. The lobby felt cold and unwelcoming. The room was clean and adequate, though nothing special. I’d come back for the convenient location, not for the amenities or personable service.

My husband and I had booked one room, and my sister's family had another. They arrived a few hours before us and found nobody in the lobby. The rooms looked like they were being renovated. We called for over an hour and texted, but got no answer either way. We even pulled over in Winter Park for an hour trying to find another hotel. We had left when we did to avoid the coming blizzard, but the delays meant we got caught in it. Everywhere was sold out, and now we're sleeping in a Safeway parking lot. It’s been more than five hours without a response. The hotel took both payments over a week ago and confirmed the rooms. This is absolute bullshit. We’ll go there tomorrow, and my husband will find someone to talk to. We will get our money back one way or another.