Boulder Creek Quality Inn

I approached the task of finding a dog-friendly hotel in Boulder with a light heart — Boulder has a reputation for being dog-friendly, so I thought I’d be spoilt for choices. I was wrong. I looked through the (short) list of options, picked the one that looked most appealing, and crossed my fingers. I should mention that we paid our own way at the hotel we ended up in — I’ll always let you know when something I’m reviewing has been paid for by someone else.

I’m pleased to report that the Boulder Creek Quality Inn was a good choice. It has many motel qualities (two floors, outside access to the rooms, parking in the lot below), but it’s a gussied-up motel (attractive furnishings, and eco-conscious). The front desk is friendly — in fact, the staff had to be peeled off Chloe with promises of future visits — and our room, though small, was equipped with a serious TV, a microwave and a small fridge. The guest room pictures on the web site are accurate. We were in a second floor room, and our neighbors were quiet, so we didn’t have problems with noise.

The hotel has a sensible policy about leaving your dog in your room: They ask that you only leave her for short periods of time, and they take your cell phone number to call in case her barking disturbs other guests.

There is an indoor pool and a fitness room, neither of which I investigated. The complimentary breakfast had its high points (Froot Loops, make-your-own waffles) and its low points (egg discs for breakfast sandwiches), but it was there, and it was perfectly serviceable.

The most visible dog-friendly feature is a small enclosed area, lined in gravel, just off the parking lot — available for late-night pit stops if you’re uncomfortable about walking off the property (not that you would be — the hotel is on a busy street, close to the local high school and a couple of colleges). I’m not a fan of gravel-lined enclosures, so we walked along Arapahoe Avenue for a block, crossed the street, and wandered through a really pleasant neighborhood.

Later in the day, we learned that the hotel is only a block or so from the Boulder Creek Path, a paved trail that runs alongside Boulder Creek, and through downtown Boulder, for about seven miles altogether. It’s a great walk. The hotel is also within five (driving) minutes of every store you could wish for, including a Petco and a Whole Pets.

Staying here isn’t a luxury experience, but you can’t beat the location and value. The pet fee is $15 per day, and the wi-fi is free, hallelujah. We’ll certainly return if our travels bring us back to Boulder.