Okay, I’m going to let you all in on my little secret…I’m in love with Colorado! There I said it. And Telluride in particular. I have been seduced by Telluride’s beauty and charm ~ the historic western town with its adorable boutique shops, art galleries, and trendy restaurants; I’ve been awestruck by the stunning mountain peaks, reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, that loom over the town boasting its flowing waterfalls and rainbow colored mountain-tops at sunset. A vision so striking that it can take your breath away.
This former mining town is now a well sought-after vacation destination, and while we all know this region to be a snow skier’s paradise, it offers some pretty spectacular summer adventures as well. So you can imagine that year-round this quaint town is quite active with visitors. This is something you may want to consider when deciding where to stay.
As my readers have come to know, I am always searching for that hidden gem ~ a luxury hotel that offers something distinctive and represents its region. In doing my research for my visit to Telluride, one hotel kept coming to the forefront ~ the Lumière Hotel.
The Lumière Hotel is an intimate 29-room luxury hotel and residences located in Mountain Village which sits approximately 800 feet in elevation above the town of Telluride. The two distinct towns are joined by a gondola system which provides a free and convenient form of transportation with generous daily operating hours from 7am to midnight.
In my opinion, there are some distinct advantages to staying in Mountain Village. Staying in Mountain Village allows you the convenience of parking your car for the duration of your stay while utilizing the gondola system to get to downtown; or should you want to explore the surrounding area, Mountain Village allows you the ease of coming and going without dealing with the issues of fighting the tourist traffic downtown, or trying to find a parking space. I made the mistake of driving directly into downtown Telluride before checking into Lumière and, due to some road work, I encountered some serious gridlock in the tiny town. So you can imagine my delight when I found out I could abandon my car until my departure.
The Property
The truth is that Mountain Village is a town unto itself. Located in the public plaza of the village you will find restaurants, shops, entertainment, even a liquor store and such services as financial firms and realtors. There are several accommodation options, such as condo residences and a couple hotels. And with a quick gondola hop over to the next station, you’ll find a market as well.
Lumière is conveniently located in the heart of Mountain Village steps away to the gondola, restaurants, bars, shops and the public plaza. Yet, this hotel has the distinction of being set just outside the public plaza, that can become quite congested during peak seasons. This position gives Lumière all the conveniences of being in the midst of Mountain Village and yet allows its guests an opportunity to step away from the crowds of the plaza when desired.
This luxury boutique hotel is all about providing personalized service, attention to detail and creating a welcoming environment. In 2016, the hotel was purchased by Clare Afman and Susie Schaefer-Russel, who had both been existing members of the executive management team at the hotel. Under their ownership, the hotel has received many accolades and has quickly become one of Telluride’s top luxury hotels.
I had the pleasure of meeting Clare and her husband, Bas Afman, Asst. General Mgr., who both exude a warm and friendly demeanor. In watching them interact with the guests, it is apparent that their main objective is to make sure each guest is taken care of and has an enjoyable experience, and this is a principle that is followed by all the staff.
I experienced this do whatever it takes attitude, when upon my check-out, Bas took on the role as my Valet in pulling out my car and loading my luggage. I found it refreshing that he was willing to assist me in that manner when apparently the regular Valet was not available. This type of conscientious service is what you can expect at Lumière.
Check-In
As I turned into the Mountain Village from the main road, I was in awe as I drove by some stately homes scattered along an expansive pasture with the gorgeous San Juan Mountains in the background. As I continued driving towards the core of the village, the expansive landscape began to condense into multi-story condos, residences, and hotels offering ski-in/ski-out accommodations and I eventually found myself at a roundabout in front of the Lumière Hotel.
I was immediately greeted by a friendly Valet who escorted me to the fourth floor where there is an intimate greeting area. A discrete desk tucked in a corner serves as the reception, as well as, the concierge desk. To me, it felt more like being a personal visitor than an ordinary hotel guest. The whole process was a simple and pleasant experience. Complimentary wi-fi and online access to The New York Times is available throughout your stay.
Guest Rooms
The Lumière Hotel consists of 11 hotel rooms and 18 residences ranging from 1-5 bedrooms which include 3 Penthouses (see descriptions here).
All the units are designed in the same mountain chic contemporary style with rich wood-beamed ceilings, warm fabrics, nice artwork and fun splashes of orange accents creating an upscale residential environment. The hotel rooms offer a King or Queen bed with a kitchen bar offering a coffee maker, microwave and mini Sub-Zero refrigerator, while the residences offer a full chef’s kitchen including a Wolf range, full-sized Sub-Zero refrigerator, washer/dryer and pantry. Many of the rooms can be connected to create larger living spaces for family or friends to stay together.
I stayed in a one-bedroom residence (#60) on the sixth floor that had a large deck and incredible views of the San Juan Mountains during the day and golden sunsets each evening. The 1000 sq. ft. unit has a cozy living area with a sofa sleeper, a dining room, extra half-bath, full kitchen and spacious master bedroom and bathroom with a steam shower and soaking tub. It was an incredibly comfortable and enjoyable setting. After being on a road-trip for many days, I also appreciated the fact that the unit had a washer and dryer so I could refresh my clothes. I can see how this set-up would be extremely convenient for families staying for a week or more at a time.
I had the opportunity to tour the property with Clare and was able to visit the 5-bedroom Penthouse Suite. As I entered the Penthouse, my first view was of the expansive domed window-wall showcasing a stunning panoramic view. The large, open concept living room, dining room and kitchen is an open invitation for a group gathering. As I was wandering around the suite, I kept thinking about how extraordinary it would be to share this space with family and friends for a fun vacation or holiday. I was also impressed by the fact that Clare mentioned they try to incorporate items from local artisans in an effort to support their community.
Dining
Breakfast:
Included with your stay is a generous European-Style Continental breakfast served in the bar of the hotel restaurant, Bijou. A nice display of pastries and fruit are left out for self-service and there is the option of ordering additional hot items. As an added treat, I really enjoyed sitting in the courtyard each morning chatting with the other guests and I can imagine that it must be extremely cozy in the winter months to sit inside by a roaring fire.
Dinner:
Bijou Restaurant & Lounge, located on the lobby level of the fourth floor, offers an intimate dining experience. Find a quiet table or comfortable spot on one of the comfy sofas indoors by the fire, or head outside to the patio to enjoy the seasonal menu focused on local, sustainable and organic ingredients. The friendly and inviting atmosphere of Bijou is a perfect place cap off your day. Happy Hour menu from 5.00-6.00pm. Dinner seating from 5.30pm–9.00pm
The great news is that you have limitless dining choices (see here) because you can walk to the center of the village or take the gondola into town. A few specific suggestions that come to mind are Allred’s {located at the top of gondola} for fine dining, Tomboy Tavern {located in the village} casual dining and Brown Dog Pizza {located downtown} casual dining, but there is so much more available.
Amenities
Albeit on a smaller scale, this quaint hotel offers all the amenities as its larger hotel counterparts.
Spa/Fitness/Pool:
Massages/Yoga/Pilates in the privacy of your luxury suite.
Fitness Center offers: spin bike, treadmill, elliptical and stair master along with some free weighs, medicine balls and yoga mats.
Hot tub, warm plunge and cold splash pools and sauna.
Skiing:
Conveniently located with ski-in/ski-out access to the base of Lower Boomerang trail next to lift four at Telluride Ski Resort, Lumière has partnered together with Black Tie Ski Rentals to create a seamless ski valet and equipment rental experience for your luxury ski vacation.
Alternate Activities:
Winter activities are only a small part of what Telluride has to offer. The Concierge is happy to suggest and make arrangements for many other activities throughout your stay such as hiking, biking, fly-fishing, ATV rides, jeep tours and so much more.
Since my visit was during the summer months, a jeep tour to the top of Imogene Pass which goes through the ghost town of Tomboy was suggested to me….and what a wild ride it was! But the payoff was the stunning view from 14,000 feet high.
Pet Friendly:
I have to say that I think Telluride is the pet friendliest town I have ever been in and Lumière is happy to accommodate your well-behaved pup. They will welcome your dog by providing him/her with a dog bed and bowl along with all-natural dog treats. And for no other reason than her stunning good looks, here’s Bella that I met in the village.
Summary
To use the term “good things come in small packages” fits perfectly when describing the Lumière Hotel. This quaint hotel offers huge benefits from its luxury accommodations, excellent service and friendly staff to its rich amenities and great location.
I guess the same can be said about the small town of Telluride, offering exceptional winter and summer sports, fun festivals, great restaurants, fine art galleries, shops and more. Together, the combination of these two entities offers an unforgettable experience and lasting lifelong memories.
The Lumière is perfect for a fun adventure getaway, family or friends gathering, or spending the holidays in the comfort of sheer luxury. I can only speak for myself, but I could get used to this small-town mountain lifestyle.
Sounds like a fantastic place to stay.
It really is a great place in such a good location and I loved Telluride! Hope all is well with you Maralee.