Mountain Lodge at Telluride

We recently stayed four nights at Mountain Lodge Telluride. There is a lot to like about this property, but unfortunately, the valet situation and several other service issues significantly affected our stay. CONS AVOID THE VALET!!! My vehicle was moved several times during our short four-night stay despite my specifically requesting that it not be driven, and we received conflicting information from staff about the hotel's valet policies. 9/24, noon: I accepted a valet parking spot next to the main entrance. Valet “N” told me that my 2026 Honda Passport SUV could remain there for the duration of our four-day stay. I specifically told him that I did not want anyone driving the vehicle, and he confirmed this. 9/24, approximately 2:00 p.m.: After returning from lunch, I discovered that my vehicle had been moved to another parking space. 9/24, approximately 4:30 p.m.: I then discovered that my vehicle had been moved yet again, this time to a location unknown to me. I spoke with valet “A,” who explained that they had to move it. I was then told that my brand new $56,000 vehicle was not considered “high-end” enough to remain parked near the main entrance because of company policy. Valet “A” subsequently told me he would keep the vehicle in the front parking spot for the remainder of our stay. I thanked him and gave him a $40 cash tip. 9/25, morning: My SUV had once again been moved to an unknown location. Management also told me that unless a vehicle is valued at approximately $76,000 or more, it is considered non-luxury and cannot remain parked near the main entrance, which I was told is a policy established by the GM. Even more concerning, an employee told me that valet staff may occasionally use a guest's vehicle to drive between the Lodge and the Market Station garage, with which the Lodge partners, rather than walk over while retrieving another guest's valeted vehicle. If accurate, I find that completely unacceptable. If I ever stay here again, I will absolutely avoid the valet and park my own vehicle at the public Market Station gondola garage. Restaurant and bar closed for private event During one night of our stay, the entire restaurant and bar were closed for a private event—a wedding rehearsal dinner. This was not disclosed when we booked our stay. When I questioned upper management, I was told that the closure resulted from a last-minute decision due to an emergency. However, two staff members separately told me that events of this type normally require a minimum of five months to reserve. At the very least, the explanations we received were inconsistent. Poor sound insulation between rooms Our junior suite had a locked interior connecting door to the adjoining room. Unfortunately, the door provided very little sound insulation, and we could easily hear our neighbors. Refrigerator maintenance problem The refrigerator in our suite was running at or above 40°F and displayed a “Vacuum Condenser” warning. I notified the front desk, and staff took notes. The following day, maintenance left a note stating that the fan had been checked. Unfortunately, that did not correct the problem. I subsequently emailed the manager but never received a reply. Maintenance did call me the next day to ask about the refrigerator temperature, and I explained that it was still too warm for me to safely store our food. I ultimately threw away a large, newly purchased salad from the restaurant. I also looked at the condenser and found it heavily covered with dust and lint—approximately 50% obstructed. It appeared to be badly overdue for cleaning. See photo. Other issues At breakfast on 9/25, they were out of orange juice. Not a major issue by itself, but surprising for a property at this level. My to-go burger order was also incorrect; I initially received someone else's order. Staff corrected the mistake promptly, but although I had specifically ordered my burger well-done, the replacement was medium-rare. PROS There were several things we genuinely enjoyed. The restaurant and bar staff were very friendly and professional, and the food was creative and delicious. The Village Omelet at breakfast was outstanding. The Lodge itself is stunning, and our junior suite was large, beautiful, and exceeded our expectations. It was located just a short walk down the driveway from the main lodge. The location is also excellent. Finally, Santiago in valet deserves special recognition. He was a total professional and stood out as an excellent employee. BOTTOM LINE Mountain Lodge Telluride is a beautiful property with excellent food, an impressive setting, and some very good employees. Unfortunately, the repeated movement of my vehicle after I had specifically requested that it not be driven, along with conflicting explanations about valet policies, overshadowed much of the experience. For a property at this level, I expect clear and consistent policies, accurate communication from staff, and respect for a guest's instructions concerning their vehicle. If we return, I would consider staying here again because of the property, location, rooms, and restaurant—but I would absolutely avoid the valet and park at Market Station myself.

It was our first trip to Telluride and since it was during the Covid pandemic we were nervous about traveling. For this reason, I spent a lot of time on the phone with the lodge reservation agents asking questions. I studied the Mountain Lodge Telluride website and I remember asking if the rooms looked like the photos on the website. I was assured the rooms had been updated and that my request for a Mountain View could be accommodated. We booked a one bedroom junior suite. There were just the two of us plus our dog. The check in process is strange because there is no contact with a person and while that is safe for everyone, it does not allow for questions to be answered. Our room was a huge disappointment. There was a view of the mountains if you stood on one end of the (very small) balcony and leaned over. The king bed mattress was just o.k. The bathroom was a joke! You could not step into the toilet/shower area without turning sideways before you could close the door. The bathtub was stained with old fixtures. The bed linens and towels were fine, nothing special. The living room furniture was fine but the rug was stained and dirty. The kitchen was fine, older cabinets but everything was fairly clean except the countertops. The rooms were dated and tired looking. During this time the lodge was not supposed to rent out all the rooms but by the time we checked out the state guidelines had changed and all the rooms next to us and above us were rented. The walls are paper thin. I could hear the couple next door talking and coughing. Parking is a joke. We had to pay extra every night for “valet” parking, yet there was no one to park our car and finding a parking spot was a daily adventure. We were at the lodge before they had reopened the swimming pool or restaurant and I think it was unusually chaotic. I complained to the front desk about the condition of our room and they sent out a cleaning crew to clean and they did a good job. The head of housekeeping was very professional and did his best to improve a bad situation. My overall criticism is that the rooms need updating, soundproofing and a thorough cleaning. The owners who own the condos need to pony up and update their condos. We paid a lot of money to stay in a place where there was no daily cleaning (because of Covid), no amenities at all, a lousy parking situation and no Mountain View besides being promised we would have one. The head of housekeeping was responsive and nice, the concierge was helpful but not on site, and there was no offer to move us to a more acceptable room. I got the feeling they were out of their comfort zone trying to deal with Covid. I understand and we were accommodating, up to a point. We liked staying on the mountain and using the gondola to go to town. We loved the town of Telluride and we will return but we will not stay at the lodge again.

Mountain Lodge is one of our favorite places to stay and eat in Telluride Colorado! They have made many improvements and the restaurant is really over the top wonderful! Very tasty meals and the service is impeccable! Much improved from the last couple of years. It’s very convenient right next to the gondola. No need to drive your car town.

Beautiful property and good location and friendly staff - BUT the upkeep was awful. No stopper in the bath, had to put coffee maker on the floor, big stain on rug, picture on the wall was severely water damaged, screen on one the windows was damaged, and on and on.

We had an exceptional stay at Mountain Lodge. Our 1 bedroom suite with kitchen was very comfortable. The bathroom shower was exceptional and the bed was great. We enjoyed the adjacent living room. The lodge is very quiet; we never heard another guest during our stay. The lodge is a short walk to the gondolas into Telluride and there are many nearby walking trails. The bell staff was superb and took exceptional care of us during our entire stay.