Trip Report | Girls' Trip to Denver
Overview
This spring, I was lucky enough to spend a long weekend in Denver with some of my best girlfriends (although we were missing a special few who couldn’t make it). I’ve only been to Denver in the spring or summer, but the weather has always been incredibly beautiful. Clear blue skies, warm sun, no humidity - basically my dream!
If you haven’t been, I would explain Denver as the best mix of urban sophistication and laid-back outdoorsy vibes. It has shopping, culture, and an arts scene, it’s a foodie’s paradise and there’s a local brewery everywhere you turn, plus it offers incredible scenery (being at the foot of the Rocky Mountains) and adventurous activities like hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and the like. I feel like it has something for everyone!
Accommodations
My dear friend Nikki lives in Denver and hosted us for the weekend at her beautiful home. However, if I had to book hotel accommodations, there are a variety of Hyatt options to choose from:
Thompson Denver (20,000 points/night for standard room of either 1 king or 2 queens) is a category 5 Hyatt located in LoDo (Lower Downtown) or the Union Station neighborhood. I just love a Thompson hotel. This one is a cross between urban cool and mountain retreat and it looks nothing short of amazing. I would opt for this hotel in a heartbeat for a couples trip or a girls trip, but I’d probably choose something else if I were booking this for family travel. It doesn’t look super kid-friendly in my opinion.
Grand Hyatt Denver (15,000 points/night for standard room of either 1 king or 2 queens) is a category 4 Hyatt located in the heart of downtown Denver in the Central Business District. It’s close to Coors Arena and Ball Field, the theater district, and the 16th Street Mall for shopping and dining. The Grand Hyatt also has an indoor pool. This plus its close proximity to sites could make it very attractive if you’re traveling with kids.
Hyatt Place Denver/Downtown (12,000 points/night for standard room of either 1 king + sofa bed or 2 queens + sofa bed) is a category 3 Hyatt, also located in the heart of downtown Denver. I love Hyatt Place for family trips because our family of 5 can easily fit in one room and they offer free breakfast which is super convenient with kiddos. It’s not the most luxurious option, but Hyatt Places are usually clean, modern and just perfect for families. This particular Hyatt Place has an indoor pool too.
Hyatt House Denver/Downtown (12,000 points/night) is adjacent to Hyatt Place. It’s also a category 3. Hyatt House and Hyatt Place are similar in that they’re a strong option for families and offer a free breakfast. Hyatt House is also available for extended stays and have a more apartment-type feel. This one also offers an indoor pool.
Dining & Activities
We ate, drank, and shopped our way through Denver! This trip, we focused on relaxing and catching up - just what our souls needed. We spent a day meandering around Cherry Creek, in and out of its fabulous shops and boutiques. We walked around my friend’s neighborhood which is within walking distance of restaurants and coffee shops, and we basked in the sun.
One of the highlights was our dinner at Alma Fonda Fina located in the LoHi (Lower Highlands) neighborhood. It serves contemporary Mexican small plates and when I tell you the food was mind-blowing, I’m not kidding. You could taste the love that was put into these dishes. Our server brought out plate after plate - guacamole, roasted sweet potatoes, tacos, fresh fish, on and on. If you find yourself in Denver, definitely grab a reservation!
We also visited Golden Hour for some post-dinner cocktails. A soft, feminine, glam spot perfect for a girls’ night out.
Dinner at Alma Fonda Fina
Drinks at Golden Hour
Tips for Next Time
If I bring Mark and the kids along next time, there are a plethora of family-friendly places to visit: the Denver Zoo, the Museum of Nature & Science, the Children’s Museum, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Aquarium! Not to mention outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or visiting City Park for a picnic and a fun day of outdoor play. It also might be cool to check out a Nuggets game since we don’t have a professional basketball team in Pittsburgh. And breweries are always a win - a drink for mom and dad, and some yard games in the sunshine for the kids!
Conclusion
Denver is a great town, and it’s even better when you have a lifelong friend who lives there! It’s a hub for both Southwest and United (plus it’s a massive airport in general), making it super easy to fly in and out of. If you haven’t visited before, you should definitely put it on your list.
Points & Miles Breakdown
Accommodations - Free for me this trip!
Flights - Paid 24,782 Southwest points for one nonstop roundtrip ticket from Pittsburgh to Denver. Also paid a total of $11.20 in taxes and fees. Had I paid in cash, my ticket would have cost $582.97.
To earn Southwest points, Mark and I either apply for Southwest cards or we transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points from Chase to top off our Southwest accounts.
If you are interested in learning more about racking up points and miles, let me know! I’d love to help strategize credit card welcome bonuses with you and I’m happy to answer any questions.
