Pikes Peak Inn

We were in room 10, looking out over the creek, and the sound of the water was so peaceful. The Jacuzzi tub was spotless and felt like a treat. The room had thoughtful details and new, modern white and brass fixtures. A great staycation, definitely worth treating yourself to.

We rented an Airbnb room with a jet tub, though the other motel rooms may be laid out differently since they're all accessed from outside. For a budget stay, this was a cozy, clean and very minimalist setup, which suited our trip for the climb. There was a small fridge, microwave, coffee machine, bed, and TV. I used the jet tub to recover after my first attempt at the climb.

The room looked nice, but that was about it. We weren't given the room we'd paid for at first, and in the replacement room there was no hot water, internet, or TV. That made the Jacuzzi tub useless. The toilet wasn't bolted down, so it banged against the wall whenever you stood up. People were loudly partying above us, but management insisted nobody was up there. Either they were wrong or the place has a serious ghost problem. Then they tried to charge me $200 for smoking in the room, which we hadn't done. I locked my card to stop what I saw as a false charge. Stay somewhere else.

You can walk straight into historic, beautiful Manitou Springs from here, with its restaurants, shops, views, and even an arcade. It still feels like a small mountain town, with parks, a creek, free shuttles, and the Cog Railway nearby. The place sits in the foothills with a creek behind it, and the location is hard to beat. My room was great, the staff attentive, and it felt very safe with camera coverage. There's also a barbecue and patio area. No laundry facilities or other frills, but I highly recommend it. Thank you, Menchie!