The Stanley Hotel

Overall, anticlimactic and overpriced. Cascades dinner was extortionate and less than superior. The hotel is beautiful, the beds are comfortable and the views amazing. We stayed two nights but were surprised there is no daily housekeeping to remove garbage, make bed etc. After hiking 7 miles, I looked forward to chilling in bed to watch TV channels I don't have at home, but was surprised to only have 2-3 channels dedicated to the hotel and its history and Estes Park. The staff seemed bored and wanting to be anywhere but there. We were celebrating our 30th anniversary and I'd advised the hotel several times, but there was no acknowledgement or interest. As we drove around we noticed a number of nice places along the river as you get closer to RMNP. If I get back, I'd book one of those. They've milked Stephen King's one night visit 50 years ago to death.

The historic Stanley Hotel was once a grand hotel. The ship has sailed. It’s in dire need of upgrades, maintenance, etc. The rooms are pricey and not worth it as they lack toiletries, the ability to adjust heat/air conditioner, shabby carpet, outside back staircase needs new joist hangers, windows need to be replaced, etc. The place is also very dirty. Just a tired place. If you like the color rust then you may like the place. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.

This hotel was a complete disappointment, beginning with rushed and surly check in which provided no information at all about the hotel amenities. The room -- billed as a "suite" (which to me suggests larger than average, with a seating area) -- was tiny, had a large portable A/C unit blocking access to the bed on one side, no water, no mini-fridge, shabby dilapidated furnishings, tiny (less than full height) closet, no robe, etc.. Our room was next to the one (very slow) antique elevator, which ran loudly until late in the evening. We were not provided the bottle of wine that was supposed to come with our reservation and when this was raised with the front desk the day after we checked in, we were told there was an error made but that providing the wine was not now possible. The restaurant was completely mediocre for dinner. The hotel is totally overrun with mobs of tourists doing ghost-related things, including on guest room floors. Honestly, the place should just cease being a hotel and commit fully to being the tourist attraction that it is.

I planned this trip for months and was so excited to stay in a hotel with such a great reputation. I paid the price but the reputation is not deserved. What a disaster. 2 night stay at almost $1,000 and just about everything about our stay was horrible. For the first time in my long life, I didn't leave a tip at the restaurant. The service was horrible and no one cared it you were given good service. It took me 15 minutes to get a glass of water. You read that right, a glass of water. (This was the Chicken place on site.). The two bartender (we sat at the bar) were incompetent. The women talked to her friend for 20 minutes and completely ignored us. The gentleman brought my friend a seltzer but nothing for me. It was like they were fighting over who should actually wait on us! We arrived at the hotel our first night before 4. Our room was ready but we would need to pay $25 if we wanted to get in early. Almost $1,000 and you want me to pay $25 to get in to a room you just admitted was ready???? We had to go get draino to get our bathroom sink to work. Broken radiators parts. Room was almost 80 when we got in and we were told there was a fan in the closet! Iron but no ironing board. You had to request towels or they won't bring you a new set. Said it was a "by request only hotel". No one told us that. This hotel is pretty on the outside but the nuts and bolts are all falling apart. This was supposed to be a romantic weekend and instead it did nothing but irritate and aggrevate.

We drove from Calif to meet our good friends from Oklahoma (they drove too) to do a yearly vacation. When we got to the Stanley there was a booking issue with our friends, they thought they had called the Stanley and booked a room but it was a third-party site(They said they were the Stanley). Well long story short, We got our room in the Lodge Part and our friends were in another hotel on the property but far way far from us, we had planned to be booked in same hotel. Lacy walked by us and asked if there is anything she can do to help, We told her the situation and she fixed it. A shout out to Josh who helped as well. Great Service and I thank her for making the stay at the Stanley worth the drive and making it easier on us... to visit. Thank you Lacy !