My first hotel stay since early March and post COVID-19 quarantine was Ouray Chalet Inn in Ouray, Colorado, which has been nicknamed the “Switzerland of America” since the late 1800s. I met some friends from Texas who had road tripped for a week in Ouray and Telluride.

Here’s why I decided to stay there:  affordable, 1960s motel-like with outside entry to all rooms, location in the heart of downtown, and it’s a family-owned-and-operated motel. 

The gal checking me in put me in a room on the second floor and close to the office. As a female solo traveler, that location is important for safety. I really appreciated that thoughtfulness. Plus, I really enjoyed chatting with her and the gals in the office when I checked out the next morning.

My room had two queen beds. It was spacious and very clean. My two favorite things in the room – the bathroom swing doors and the grab and go breakfast. The swing doors kind of reminded me of saloon doors in a nod to Ouray’s Old West mining days. I also really liked that the sink and vanity area was totally separate from the bathtub/shower and toilet. The breakfast of coffee or tea, oatmeal and bars is perfect fuel for a day of adventure. I did ask if they started that because of Coronavirus, but they’ve provided breakfast like that for awhile, catering to the adventurers and sightseers I guess. The room also had a refrigerator and microwave. Traveling with a small cooler, I was happy to have a small refrigerator to put my drinks and perishable snacks in overnight.

• 

• 

• 

I had a great night’s sleep. It was quiet with only the chirping of birds to wrestle me from my slumber early the next morning. If you heading to Ouray, I highly recommend staying at Ouray Chalet Inn.

Author Jennifer Broome spends a lot of nights in hotels since she’s traveled extensively across Colorado and the Southwest, visited all 50 states and over 35 countries.