The first thing you notice when you walk into the Cambria Suites in Fort Collins is that the air smells as fresh inside as it does outside.
That’s because this is a 100 percent non-smoking property. And it doesn’t hurt that it also is fairly new.
What’s also fresh is the attitude of the staff – eager to please, helpful and genuinely friendly. From the front desk to housekeeping, it is obvious that they hire people who like people.
The rooms are refreshingly contemporary. I have nothing against traditional furnishings, and love historic hotels when they’re comfortable as well as charming. But this place looks and feels like an upscale London hotel room. Well, it’s a lot bigger than a London room (and 25 percent larger than the average American hotel room), but the minimalist, ultra-modern decor is very sophisticated and yet manages to feel warm at the same time.
A fold-out sofa in the small but nicely appointed sitting room allows for extra guests to stay in the same room – ideal for families. It also has a flat-screen TV. The sitting room segues into a roomy sleeping area with a king bed and its own TV. In the fairly spacious bathroom, you’ll find lovely soaps and such from Bath & Body Works.
This is the hotel for high-tech travelers who want to be hooked up, plugged in and well connected. All the latest techno-amenities are here. There’s also a terrific gym and a lobby where you actually might feel comfortable meeting with friends or clients.
We were there for just one night and had a breakfast appointment the next day, but we drooled over the hotel’s breakfast spread, which included a vegetable frittata, chicken-apple sausages, peppered bacon and much more ($9.50). You also can order off the menu (starting at $7).
Guests might find one thing odd about Cambria Suites. Right next to the parking lot is an old barn. Standing by itself, it seems out of place. But it’s not going anywhere. Foxes live in the barn and can be seen at dawn and dusk. Locals won’t hear of it being torn down, and hotel management seems to find it charming. After all, foxes need a place to stay, too.
If You Go
Cambria Suites
2921 Harmony Rd.
Fort Collins, Colo. 80528
970-267-9000; cambriasuites.com/hotel-fort_collins-colorado-CO214
Linda DuVal is a freelance writer who lives in Colorado Springs.