Surf Hotel & Chateau

Style

Good tides

Setting

Rockies road

In the shadow of some academic alps (AKA the Collegiate Peaks), Surf Hotel & Chateau is a hotel of two halves, with a separate castle (sort of) that has more than a passing French flavour arranged around a courtyard. Colorado may be landlocked, but surf’s still up here in Buena Vista, because who says you need an ocean when there’s a river to ride instead? Almost every other adrenaline-junkie facilitator is also on offer at this great-outdoors playground in the Wild Wild West, notably white-water rafting on the rapids rushing by.

Facilities

Rooms

62, including 10 suites.

Checkout

11am. Earliest check-in, 4pm.

More Details

Rates don’t include breakfast, which isn’t available on the property, except for brunch on Sundays.

Also

Some of the rooms at Surf Hotel & Chateau are ADA-approved for guests with mobility issues, but the Chateau side doesn’t have an elevator.

Free Internet Access

On-Site Restaurant

At the Hotel

Free WiFi throughout. In rooms: air-conditioning, fridge, kettle and Nespresso coffee machine, TV and Gilchrist & Soames bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

The rooms in the Chateau have more of a French flair, starting with the doors and the steeply pitched roofs. For prime views of the peaks, choose a room on the river-facing side – many of these share a veranda, with perfectly positioned patio furniture to sit on for good views and friendly chats. Some Riverfront Kings have outdoor rocking-chairs, too. For a fancy bath tub, book the Nola Suite or Honeymoon Suite in the Surf Hotel half, both of which have a claw-foot one.

Packing Tips

Adventuring attire and things that you don’t mind getting wet.

Children

Kids are welcome at Surf Hotel & Chateau and there are rooms with bunk beds and double queens for families. Cots for children aged two and under can be added to any room free of charge.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Peak perfection in table form awaits out on the patio, or book the private dining room.

Dress Code

Fresh off the mountain.

Hotel Restaurant

The Wesley & Rose lobby bar next to the lobby serves all-American dinners to set you up for a day in the great outdoors/help you recover from one. The menu spans salads (kale Caesar, green goddess), soups (roasted tomato and, naturally, French onion) small plates (parmesan truffle fries, shrimp and polenta, lamb pops) and sandwiches, heartier mains such as lasagne with meatballs or fennel sausage, bison short ribs with sweet potato purée and pappardelle with elk bolognese, and pizzas in case that doesn’t sound sating enough.

Hotel Bar

The drinks list at Wesley & Rose has all of the classic cocktails covered, but with a Colorado twist: even-smokier Old Fashioneds and a signature mountain-town spritz to further refresh you after your high-altitude adventures.

Last Orders

Wesley & Rose opens daily for dinner, from 4pm to 9pm (10pm in summer). Brunch on Sundays is served from 9am to 2pm.

Planes

The nearest international airport is in Denver. There’s also an airport in Colorado Springs, just under two hours away by car.

Automobiles

Most of the activities in Buena Vista take place on another mode of transport (various rafts and boards), but you’ll need a car for seeing more of the Colorado countryside and Rocky mountains. There’s a small parking lot at the hotel and lots of free on-street parking nearby.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

There may be no ocean but that doesn’t mean you can’t surf at Surf Hotel & Chateau in the cute Colorado town of Buena Vista, since the Arkansas River has three primary waves for you to catch. Adventurous activity-seekers can also do just about everything else: white-water rafting, kayaking, mountain-biking, snowshoeing, hiking… In small-town Buena Vista itself, there’s architecture to admire, a distillery and brewery, and boutiques to browse, all with a backdrop of the mighty Rocky Mountains.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .