Boulder, ColoradoDowntown
Basecamp Boulder
Adventure-themed motor inn
Downtown Boulder, Colorado
Renovated
2016
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Wellness SocialOutside the door
The house
Basecamp HotelsAdventure-themed motor inn
A 1970s roadside motel remade for hikers and cyclists, operating more like a communal mountain clubhouse than a standard hotel.
What it’s good at
Notable
Outdoorsy retro interiors display whimsical hand-drawn trail maps and camping lantern lighting.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
it’s a hotel that’s aesthetically pleasing and also practical, stylish even as it delivers the goods.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The Boulder Creek trail runs just outside, and Pearl Street Mall is a short stroll away.
The rooms
Gear coolers double as ottomans beside bicycle handlebar mounts, and pour-over kettles wait for an early morning start.
The hot tub and sauna
The indoor hot tub sits under cedar paneling and a skylight, with a dry sauna right next door.
The bouldering wall
A plywood bouldering wall lines the Rec Room, where roll-up garage doors open for casual yoga sessions.
Bar
The Lounge
Bright yellow barstools line the wooden counter, where morning coffee and local beers pour beneath hanging camp mugs.
How it began
The 1975 motor lodge spent four decades as a Quality Inn before founder Christian Strobel reimagined it for visiting athletes.
Boulder
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.