Telluride Vacations - FAQ
Where is Telluride Alpine Lodging's office?
The Telluride Alpine Lodging office is located in the heart of Telluride at 324 W. Colorado Avenue (Main Street). This is where the majority of people staying in our nearly 400 Telluride vacation rentals throughout the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village will check in. The exceptions are;
- Mountainside Inn - check-in at 333 S. Davis Street in Telluride.
- Telluride Lodge - check-in at Telluride Lodge at 747 W. Pacific Avenue in Telluride.
- Aspen Street Inn - check-in at Aspen Street Inn at 330 W. Pacific Avenue in Telluride.
- River Club - check-in at River Club, located at 550 Depot Avenue in Telluride.
Will I need a car in Telluride and where is parking?
While you visit Telluride, Colorado, there is no real need for a car. There is a free shuttle service that tours town and also Mountain Village numerous times a day. There are also two shuttle services that you can call for reservations. These two services can arrange for a ride to or from the Telluride Airport or the surrounding airports. Please see Question #22 for a list of the shuttle services and their phone numbers.
If you do have a car with you, the guest services staff at Telluride Alpine Lodging will explain where you can park during your stay in Telluride. However, Telluride Alpine Lodging is not liable for any towing or ticketing expenses. Please remember that parking anywhere in Telluride and Mountain Village is limited, especially during the summer festivals and during winter season, and parking might not be guaranteed, but only on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What is Mountain Village?
Mountain Village is the beautiful ski village attached to the town of Telluride by a free Gondola. Mountain Village is where the Telluride Ski Resort actually begins. The majority of the 16 lifts, ski information and most of the 84 ski trails are in Mountain Village. Guests will enjoy lodging, restaurants, winter activities, evening entertainment, shopping, and incredible scenery in Mountain Village.
What type of lodging does Telluride Alpine Lodging offer?
Telluride Alpine Lodging manages nearly 400 properties in both the town of Telluride and Mountain Village, which gives you a great selection of Telluride accommodations. We offer everything from hotel rooms and B&B rooms to condos and private vacation homes.
Where should I stay?
Wherever you choose to stay in Telluride or Mountain Village, you will be close to everything. The free Gondola connecting the two towns makes it easy to visit both locations, and everything is walking distance. However, there are some differences between the two areas. Town of Telluride is a historic old mining town with a lot of history. The majority of the shops, restaurants, and bars are located along Main Street (Colorado Avenue) in the Town of Telluride, along with Town Park which is the site for all of the major summer festivals. Mountain Village is a newer European style ski village with the most convenient access to the ski slopes and also offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy.
How do I get to Mountain Village?
Guests can access Mountain Village from the town of Telluride by taking the 15 minute Gondola ride up and over the mountain. To get to Mountain Village by car, you must drive outside of town to Highway 145 South. Take this road up the mountain side, at the top you will find ski resort signs that you should follow toward the Mountain Village. This scenic drive is about 15 minutes as well.
Do I need to bring anything from home, like linens or kitchen supplies?
Each condo will be stocked with a wide range amenities for the comfort of our guests' stay. Upon arrival, guests will find that all accommodations will have linens, a fully stocked kitchen, towels, etc. If there is something that is missing or something that would make your stay more enjoyable, please call the Guest Services department at Telluride Alpine Lodging (970-728-3388).
What is the weather like?
The weather in Telluride is just about perfect all year long! In the winter, the temperatures average between 20 degrees and 50 degrees, depending on the month. Telluride is known for having fabulous weather for spring skiing! In the summer, enjoy temperatures in the 70's and 80's with very low humidity, making it perfect for our many summer festivals.
When is the Gondola open and how much is it to ride?
The Gondola is open daily from 7am to midnight, during the summer and winter seasons. The Gondola usually stays open a bit later at night during major summer festivals (such as Telluride Bluegrass, the Telluride Film Festival and Telluride Blues & Brews) and New Year's Eve. Please enjoy the Gondola whenever you would like for free. Pet and handicap cars are also available. The Gondola is closed during the spring and fall off seasons.
What is there to do if I'm not a skier?
If you are not a skier, there are many great Telluride activities for you to enjoy. Throughout Telluride, there are a number of day spas, nightly live shows, unique stores, fabulous restaurants, and many other winter activities. Other winter activities include snowmobiling, ice-skating, snow-shoeing, horseback rides, guided fishing and ice-climbing.
What are some activities for my kids?
There are many Telluride activities for children of all ages, inclluding many options during the winter months such as skiing/snowboarding and ice-skating, and there are also classes offered at the Ah Haa School for the Arts—call 970-728-3886 for an event list. During the summer there are also many things for the kids to do. There are kids' only activities at the Youth Link. The Telluride town park offers many options, such as use of the new skate park, swimming pool, and playground, kids' fishing pond, basketball courts, etc. There is also a children's festival called the Wild West Fest at the beginning of June.
Can I get cell phone reception?
Most cell phone companies have reception here in Telluride. Some, however, will be on roaming. Sprint carriers will not have very good reception. However, Verizon, AT&T and Alltel will have reception that does not place you on roaming.
Where are the grocery stores?
There are three grocery stores in Telluride and Mountain Village. Clark's Market is located at the beginning of the town of Telluride, across from the school, on W. Colorado Ave. The Village Market is located on S. Fir Street in Telluride, next to Baked in Telluride. In Mountain Village there is the Mountain Market. This market is conveniently located at the City Hall/Visitor's Center area - right next to the Gondola station, off of Mountain Village Blvd. near the visitor parking structure.
Where are the liquor stores?
There are three major liquor stores in Telluride and one in Mountain Village. In town, there is Telluride Liquors, located on E. Colorado Ave. next to the Coffee Cowboy vendor station. Telluride Bottle Works is on W. San Juan by Smuggler's Brew Pub. Pacific Street Liquor is on the west end of town on S. Townsend. Telluride Bottle Works and Pacific St. Liquor offer a large selection of both local and foreign wines and have a wine tasting once a week. The Mountain Village liquor store is conveniently located inside the Mountain Village Market by the gondola station and Town Hall.
Where can I find a qualified babysitter?
Telluride offers a babysitting service called Annie's Nannies (970-728-2991); please call for reservations. There is also a babysitting nursery offered by the Telluride Ski Resort (970-728-7531).
What is your favorite restaurant?
The town of Telluride offers a dining in Telluride guide that we provide at our front desk. This guide displays a variety of restaurants and bars located in town and Mountain Village. Telluride cuisine ranges from traditional French to authentic Mexican and everything in between—showcasing some truly world-class dining. Please also feel free to ask our local Guest Services Agents for their recommendations on dining!
What is the free box?
The free box began in the early 80s and has grown into, as its logo reads, "A Telluride Tradition." Wooden cubbies marked with category names-boys, girls, books, men, women, house wares, and others-sit stacked on N. Pine Street facilitating the exchange.
Some people that Free Box shop are real regulars, always stopping by to check on a potential treasure. Some are lucky Free Box shoppers who make a stop every so often and always score a treasure.
What is the elevation in town and on the mountain?
In the town of Telluride, the elevation is 8,750 feet. Mountain Village is at 9,545 feet. The San Sophia Gondola Station and Allred's Restaurant is at 10,535 feet. The highest elevation that you can ski from lift access is 12,255 feet which is up close to the Prospect Bowl. Since the addition of the hike-to-terrain at Palmyra Peak in 2008, you can ski almost 2,000 vertical feet from the top at 13,320 feet.
What do I need to do to adjust to the elevation?
First and foremost, everyone that is not adjusted to the elevation should drink lots of water and avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours. Take your time traveling to higher altitudes. Do not push yourself too hard. Remember that if you live closer to sea level, you are not used to the low oxygen level (the air pressure is 40% lower here!). Some of the first signs of high-altitude illness are similar to the flu; headache, lightheadedness, weakness, trouble sleeping and an upset stomach. If you start experiencing any of these symptoms we strongly recommend that you visit the Telluride Medical Center, as they have many tips on immediate remedies to altitude sickness.
What airports are nearby?
Telluride has a small airport right outside of town (TEX) with direct flights to Denver International Airport and Phoenix, AZ. There are also other airports around Telluride. Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) is 65 miles away and has many direct flights including Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Newark and Chicago. Cortez Municipal Airport is about 75 miles away, making it about a 90 minute ride. La Plata County Airport (DRO) is located in Durango, CO and is about 2-3 hours away and offers a regional airport. Grand Junction Airport (GJT) is about 3 hours away also. The Denver International Airport (DEN) is about 6-7 hours away.
What airlines fly into Telluride?
There are really only two airlines that fly into Telluride. Both of which are partners with another airline. Great Lakes Airlines co-share with United Airlines, America West is partnering with US Air.
Are there shuttle services available from the airport?
Yes, there are two shuttle services in the Telluride/ Mountain Village area. We recommend Mountain Limo.
Mountain Limo offers an exclusive discount to Telluride Alpine Lodging's guests. You can obtain this discount by either calling Mountain Limo at 970-728-9606 or by following this link to book: http://mountain-limo.com/reservations/telluride-lodging/
What spas do you recommend?
There are three Telluride spas that we would recommend for guests. The spa with the best reviews would be the Atmosphere Day Spa, located at the base of the Gondola in Telluride, inside the Camel's Garden hotel (728-0630). Next would be the Studio G which is at 226 W. Colorado (728-8700). And finally there is the Aromatherapy Spa on S. Pine Street (728-9515). In the Mountain Village, there are spas at the Peaks Resort (the Golden Door spa), and inside the Capella hotel and the Fairmont Franz Klammer Lodge hotel.
