I stayed here five nights and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was looking for someplace with character, and got it in spades--along with a nice room that had a full kitchen in a petite room with a big window. Although the hotel was almost full a couple of nights, there was very little noise. The breakfast menu was great, and Crystal always has divine baked goods and fruit available. (Weekend visitors should consider staying for tea.) I knew the decor would be flowery ("A Victorian B&B"), but found it more cozy than cloying. Photos and books everywhere lend another homey touch.

I'd heard from a former resident that Colfax was dicey in spots, and the other reviewer seemed to think so too, but it didn't bother me in the least. It certainly was convenient: it leads right into downtown and is also easy to find if you're driving from the airport. I loved walking around the neighborhood looking at beautiful houses. If you walk some distance on Colfax you might run into a few shady characters, but they're remarkably polite.

There's a trendy diner just down the block that has terrific neon, but our favorite was Mama's Cafe in the ugly former IHOP building a block or two across from the hotel: yummy food, great prices, and a charming hostess. A couple of Mexican restaurants are within 10 minutes' walk, too. We went to one on Colfax, going away from downtown (I forget the name) and liked it very much. Check out one of the many Ethiopian restaurants on Colfax going east.

The locked patio is another nice feature; I read and dozed there on a sunny afternoon. The only drawback to our experience was a mere folding door on the bathroom...not ideal even with a close companion.

The lovely Crystal is a hostess par excelence, and I hope somebody makes a movie or sitcom about her and this unique b&b!

My dogs and I stayed at the Holiday Chalet for four nights. The primary reason I chose it was that dogs were welcomed.

It’s located on the corner of Colfax & High Streets. Colfax is a very busy street in downtown Denver. Buildings surrounding the Holiday Chalet on Colfax included liquor stores, fast food restaurants, diners, and lounges. On High Street, there were residences and some businesses. I felt comfortable walking my dogs on High Street, even when one of them had to go out at 1:00 a.m.

Parking was never a problem, and I always managed to find a space less than ½ block from the B&B. They do have a garage space that’s $5 per day when it’s available.

We were in room 4. The bedroom area included a double bed, nightstand, two chairs, and a little table. The room had its own little kitchen with a refrigerator, coffee maker, and oven. It also had a small sunroom. All rooms at the Holiday Chalet have a private bath. Mine was a reasonable size. The water pressure in the shower was fantastic.

Furnishings were a mixture of antiques and modern. None of the bathroom/kitchen fixtures were original. My guess is that the heating system IS original. Denver experienced record low temperatures the weekend I was there, but my room was never cold. There’s a window air conditioner for summertime.

The room was prettily decorated, and the bed was very comfortable. I occasionally heard noise from the hallway and other rooms. But, I never heard traffic noise. (Room 4 faces the B&B’s garden & High Street. Would think that rooms facing Colfax might have some street noise.)

Breakfast is served starting at 7:30 each morning. Unfortunately, I had to leave the B&B before 7:30. But, on the first morning Crystal (the innkeeper) got up early and fixed a very nice breakfast for another guest and me. There were always homemade baked goods in the breakfast room. There were also English muffins and cereal available for guests who were unable to come during regular breakfast hours.

I really enjoyed my experience at the Holiday Chalet. The B&B is lovely, and Crystal was very welcoming. Staying on Colfax may not be for everyone! But, the location was convenient for me, especially since it’s just two blocks from Cheesman Park.