Anyone stay at the Broadmoor on points?

[mouseclick1]

We are heading out west this summer, including a stop in Colorado Springs. Family consists of me, DH and 2 teen boys. I currently have a reservation at Cheyenne Mountain resort, but am seriously thinking of splurging on a couple days at the Broadmoor using points instead.

I see there are 3 levels of rooms - a standard type view, a mountain or lake view, and a mountain / lake view with balcony. What kind of room did you get and were you happy with it?

My current reservation is only for 2 nights. If we go to the Broadmoor, will this be enough? I'm thinking we should make it 3 to really enjoy the place?

Finally, this is going to be a road trip type of vacation. You know, the classic pile the family in the van and see the west vacation. Meaning, we're not bringing along sport coats and dresses, or anything along those lines. Is there a dress code in the evening? If we all had a pair of khakis and a decent shirt, would we be OK?

 

[GDUL]

I currently have a reservation at Cheyenne Mountain resort, but am seriously thinking of splurging on a couple days at the Broadmoor using points instead

What a beautiful resort! I was there for a sales meeting a year ago this past August. I had a mountain view room but I would have been happy with whatever room I was assigned to! If you are spending a couple of days there, try to take the cog train up Pike's Peak. What an amazing and beautiful trip. Request a seat on the right side of the train .

 

[JoeH]

I think you will find the Broadmoor a magnificant resort, they have once again garnered the AAA 5Star rating. The mountain view is a really majestic view of the East slope of the Rockies, that jump up less than a mile from the hotel. Be aware, they are in the first stages of a major renovation of the entire resort complex and there is a bunch of construction around the perimiter. My recommendation would be to get a mountain/lake view; this would put you facing the inside of the hotel complex and hide most of the construction activity. You can get away with dockers and a shirt everywhere but the Charles Court, they have a jacket and tie dress code. But that leaves a number of alternatives for you to choose from.

Do plan on going up Pikes Peak on the Cog rail, it is a really fun trip, but don't forget to dress warm. It gets reallly cool when you break 14,000 feet

HTH, and if I can answer any more questions, drop a note.
Joe

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks to both of you for the info. I'm going to call MS on Monday and make the reservation. I think if I stay anywhere else, I'll be kicking myself for not staying at the Broadmoor! It's funny that you both suggested the cog rail trip; I already came across this on the internet and decided it was a must do for us! Glad to hear you both recommend it!

Thanks for the tip on the renovations. I remember reading something about this but thought all renovations were complete.

Now my only decision is whether or not to give up the extra points for a room with a balcony, or just stick with a window view. Either way I know I want a view of the lake or mountains.

I am very excited about our visit to Colorado. This will be our last stop after visiting the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and Jackson Hole. It will be nice to relax at a beautiful hotel before our long drive back to Michigan!

 

[GolfGeek]

I stayed at the Broadmoor last year with my wife and 12 y/o. This is a beautiful world class resort. There are rooms located on both sides of the lake and we had a room that overlooked the lake with the main hotel in the background. Guests tend to dress more casually during the day (levi's or shorts) but dress up during the evenings while eating or walking around the resort. If you like golf, the resort has two golf courses that are only open to hotel guests. There are also two swimming pools, one outdoor and one indoor. The resort had just completed a several million dollar renovation of the outdoor pool and surrounding area before our stay. It's a very nice area to hang around and relax. The indoor pool is also nice and is surrounded by glass that overlooks a portion of the lake. This pool has a snack bar and outside patio and is adjacent to the spa and golf pro shop.
I agree with the other people, I would not miss the train trip to the top of Pikes Peak. If you're looking to do something a little different, I think staying at this hotel would be a great experience for your family.

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks, Golfgeek!
I noticed this is your first post. Welcome to the DIS!

 

[goofy4dvc]

We spend 5-6 days every August at The Broadmoor. Not on points though. Annual convention for DH. And every year, 5-6 days is not enough for me.

The resort is old and elegant. Lots of details. Look up. Beautiful paintings and designs on ceilings. Great steaks at the Tavern. It has its own small movie theater. Go across the street behind the convention center to the Golden Bee. Old English type pub where they they have a piano player who plays songs and everyone sings along from a song book. Drink a "yard" or "half yard" of beer. Great fun.

Several of my favorites to do or see: cog railway to Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods (beautiful rock formations), drive up to the Will Rogers Shrine (you have to pay zoo admission, but zoo is good too). The Will Rogers Shrine has bells that chime from the side of the mountain every 15 minutes. From the lakeside of the Broadmoor you can see it lit up at night. Very beautiful. Also, ask concierge for map and directions to the STARR exhibit. Huge steel perpetual motion things that will amaze you, located just blocks from the resort.

But be sure you schedule time to just enjoy the resort. I like to take a book and read while looking at the lake and mountains. The most tranquil feeling in the world. Second only to the view from the spa balcony. The BEST place to indulge yourself with a spa treatment or two. You can spend hours in the spa with just paying for one treatment. Relaxation rooms with fireplaces, aromatherapy oils, balcony overlooking the mountains and golf course.

The staff members are the most friendly of anyplace I've ever stayed. Even better than WDW. From the bellman who greets you at the front door to the landscape people who are watering the hanging pots, they will greet with with a "good morning" and a smile.

As you can tell, I absolutely love the place. The only complaint I have is that the rooms with two beds come with two full-size beds, which are difficult to sleep in when you are used to king-size. The room with one bed has a king-size bed.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by goofy4dvc
Several of my favorites to do or see: cog railway to Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods (beautiful rock formations), drive up to the Will Rogers Shrine (you have to pay zoo admission, but zoo is good too). The Will Rogers Shrine has bells that chime from the side of the mountain every 15 minutes. .

We did all those things you mentioned when we were there, just wanted to add a trip to Seven Falls, that was really pretty as well... Especially if you get a chance to go at night when they have the laser lights.

Oh all this talk makes me want to go back.

 

[JoeH]

We'd love to have you come on back! We're getting snow here right now, but that, IMHO, makes the resort really look terrific! Seven Falls is indeed a great place to visit, and I would recommend a half-day trip to the Royal Gorge - highest suspension bridge in the world.
Just have fun while you are here, that's what vacations are for
Joe

 

[mouseclick1]

The Golden Bee sounds like fun! Would 14 and 15 year old boys be allowed in, or is it adult only?

 

[goofy4dvc]

I've never seen kids in the Golden Bee. It's a very small place and it's much more fun at night. Send the kids to the movie theater. One of the evenings I went there, an employee was throwing yellow bees on your shirt. They were the appliqued type that have adhesive on one side. She never missed anyone.

 

[mouseclick1]

Another question for anyone who might know! I have looked on the Broadmoor website, and can't find any information about a theater. Is it actually part of the resort, or just nearby? Does it show regular, first-run movies?

I went ahead and booked a 3-day stay. Called it in yesterday, and DVC called me today to confirm it. Now I can't wait!

 

[goofy4dvc]

Yes, the movie theater is just off the lobby. It is fairly small. It plays movies that are not exactly new but not old either. The ones that were playing when we were there were probably between first-run and release on DVD. There is a charge which I think was about $5 per person. Of course, you can also watch movies in the room from the pay-per-view.

 

[Mary Ellen]

About the coat - some of the Broadmoor's restaurants do REQUIRE a coat/tie. They have them on hand and you WILL wear them - even over a sweater.

Our favorite of the restaurants is the Tavern, the Garden Room part. No coat required there. No view there either, but in the Garden Room you feel as if you are in a conservatory. The rest of the Tavern has more of a (upscale) pub feel with classy wood paneled walls.

The Penrose Room restaurant does have lovely views, but that is where we watched men squeeze into the provided coats (DH was properly attired in his own coat & tie). It is also one of the few Colorado restaurants that AAA has rated 5.

None of the restaurants at the Broadmoor can be considered 'inexpensive'.

We also like the Cheyenne Mtn. Resort. I don't think you'd go wrong being there either. It has more of a modern mountain lodge feel to it. Both are very nice, but are very different. If we go to a Sunday brunch, this is our preference over the Broadmoor.

Other attractions we take visitors to are the Air Force Academy (#1 attraction in Colorado) and the Olympic Training Center.

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks again for all the help! We will definitely be eating at the more casual restaurants on this trip since we won't be bringing along dress clothes. We really do enjoy dressing up, it's just not going to be that kind of trip for us. I was a little worried about the hotel evening dress code. I know at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, you shouldn't even be seen after 6:00 if you are not properly dressed. Not just in the restaurants, but anywhere in the hotel. With the Broadmoor being a 5 star resort, I was afraid it might have the same type of dress code. Sounds like we will be OK in resort casual clothes if we stay away from the nicer restaurants.

 

[goofy4dvc]

Jackets or ties are not needed at the Tavern. Very good food with a more relaxed atmospher. Slacks and golf shirt for men. I've even seen some men wearing khaki shorts.