Where to Stay

What is the difference between Telluride and Mountain Village?

Telluride and Mountain Village are sister communities connected by the Gondola. The town of Telluride is about 1,000 feet lower in altitude than the town of Mountain Village. Telluride was established as a mining town in1878. The town of Telluride has a historical district, condos, and hotels. Some are part of the original town and others have been built recently. Mountain Village did not start to grow until after the ski area opened in the 1970’s. It is a planned community and has a large brick plaza referred to as the Mountain Village Core. Most of the shops, restaurants, and hotels are located in the Core while most of Telluride’s large luxury homes are located outside of the Core. The Gondola travels to and from Gondola Plaza Area in Telluride at the end of Aspen Street and the Mountain Village Core. Both Mountain Village and Telluride are family friendly and have access to the ski area. Typically in the winter, Mountain Village is more desirable and more expensive. In the summer, Telluride is typically more desirable and more expensive. 

  

Is there a nightly minimum?

The Telluride Reservations Center has nightly minimums that are dictated by the individual lodging companies we are partnered with. Minimums vary from property to property, but typically there is a 2 night minimum on condos, a 5 night minimum over the holidays from December 23-January 4, and a 4 night minimum during summer festivals.

 

Can I rent a cabin?

When I think of a cabin, I think of a small wooden romantic one bedroom or studio space that is located in the middle of the woods and has a fireplace. The other image I that comes to mind is a large open wooden building with 3-4 bedrooms that is in a remote wooded location and is like summer camp for adults. If this is your idea of a cabin too, then the answer is no, Telluride does not have them. What Telluride does have is one bedroom condos and one bedroom homes located in either Telluride or Mountain Village. They can be romantic and cozy, and some can even sleep up to four adults and two kids. If you’re looking for something larger, Mountain Village has recently built large moderate to luxury 3-6 bedroom homes that have full kitchens, stunning views, and fireplaces. 

 

Where is the resort?

My favorite part of Telluride is that the resort is the entire town. The town of Mountain Village has more of a resort feel, but there isn’t a hotel or specific location that one has to go to in order to access ski terrain. There is a large building in the Mountain Village Core that houses most of TelSki’s offices (TelSki is the ski company that owns the mining rights to the Telluride ski area), but there is not a significant advantage to staying in the Mountain Village Core over the town of Telluride.

 

Can I stay in a nearby town?

There are some towns that are close to Telluride. We recommend staying at the Rico Hotel in Rico, the Blue Jay hotel in Placerville, or the Black Canyon Inn in Norwood. The main thing to keep in mind when choosing to stay in a nearby town is that you will be driving through the mountains to get to Telluride.