St Julien Hotel & Spa — Hotel in Boulder

I visited the Spa area after a hiking day. I booked a massage in advance. Is was a very friendly, welcoming atmosphere with smalltalk and the staff represented health, beauty and being professional. So I was very excited for a relaxing event after my 5h hike. At the end it wasn’t that at all and I could have spend my money way better. It s 5 star price and max. 2 to 3 star service!!

The staff was super friendly at all times and tried, but didn’t succeed to provide a 4 or 5 Star experience.

Unfortunately there where a lot of important things missing and the facility was in bad condition at some parts to make it to a four or five star experience: when I arrived it was super crowded and I had to wait more than 10min to check in, than I had to wait another 5min to get access to the Spa area and a tour through the facilites. Waiting is no problem at all, but I arrived 25min earlier. It was super stressful to shower and go to the bathroom in 5min before the massage and be on time for the massage I booked. I came 2min later. The masseuse didn’t say anything for being late. Still I was super stressed and didn’t feel comfortable. The massage wasn’t in the system, instead the most expensive massage which is available was booked for me (mistake or purpuse? in chase I don’t show up, I still pay the full price, very irritating! I have to add when I booked the massage the lady told my twice about the booking cancellation, it was already a bit irritating) on top of that my booking was with a wrong name. So when I went to the lounge to get my treatment, the masseuse was very confused and had to organize it all new. She really tried to make it all good and was very professional, but a stressful atmosphere was already created. When I layed down, I realized I was super thirsty and I didn’t bring my Hairband. So I asked the masseuse for it. This stressful atmosphere is avoidable!!! Tell people to come 30min early if everyone has booked at the same time or book it differently or have more stuff. At the end the real massage time was shorter than the 25min I booked and I didn’t get the effect of a massage at all! The massage was way to soft on the shoulder. Even I said it should be stronger. I thought she just started to relax me, because it was so slow, when she said it is finished, I was very surprised! Very disappointing! There is a lounge outside to lay down and get some fresh air outside. The outside doors got looked 2h before spa closing, so I couldn’t get in anymore until a staff member opened the door from inside. The traffic was super loud, so I used my earplugs. I used the steaming room, there was no shower hose, so I sit on a towel to keep it hygienic. When I came out, there were no refreshing towels left only an empty bucket with roses and ice-for the rest of the day!!! Also to baskets for used towels where over full and the hand towels where empty for hours. The showers are great, doors for privacy, full set of cosmetics even a Eucalyptus Spray. When I wanted to use it, it was already empty. So I changed the shower, there, it was available but it was broken. Also the shower head and hose in the shower for people with special needs was broken. As a guest you shower in the available shower. So as a guest you change showers. It would be great that the set up of the cosmetic in all showers are in the same order, it supports a relaxing atmosphere.

The glasses at the water station were for a very long time not available, so I went to the lounge to get some water from the tea station. The snacks are only sugary and salty, no fresh fruit and healthy snacks.

All in all it could have been a great experience easily, but at the end it wasn’t. It wasn’t a four star experience which was its 95$ worth. Really not! For that money I expect a better standard and a relaxing experience at all times!

I contacted the guest service via email. They didn’t...

This is a beautiful hotel with an excellent location, easy parking, and superb customer service. We've stayed here a few times this year will keep coming back. As noted, the location couldn't be better - close enough to the flatirons to offer a superior view while also being only a block from the Pearl Street mall and all that if offers. Also, Lolita's is practically right around the corner, so if you need a late night snack, you can get one.

There are several businesses contained within this place - Jill's (a restaurant), T-Zero (a bar), and the spa - all are excellent. We've attended each of these components both independent from hotel stays and as a component of one and rarely have been disappointed.

I say rarely because yes, mistakes have occasionally been made. However, St. Julien and it's associated businesses know how to make things right and this is key. If they make an error and you are respectful and courteous, they will own it. In my opinion, this is a hallmark of a quality establishment.

What else does this place offer?

The gym is nice for a hotel gym - bigger than normal and with a reasonable free weight selection to compliment the cardio machines.

The pool and hot tub are beautiful, well-maintained, and relaxing. You can order food to be delivered poolside and there is also an attached outdoor seating area. Do take note that if you go outside to this area via the doors from the pool, you must bring your key with you as you will get locked out otherwise. Also, as of the time of this review, the wall clock in the pool area seems to have issues. I'm not sure if I'd trust it.

The rooms are comfortable and well-furnished. Streaming services are offered which is wonderful. I have had some issues with volume control being problematic when watching streamers, so keep that in mind. A couple of other quirks are that the in-room coffee machines can be a little tricky to operate - I sometimes have to gently jiggle the water tank to get it to flow - so contact the front desk if you have issues. Also, note that the in room fridges are mini bars, so they are full. i.e. there will be no room for your leftovers.

There is a very affordable parking garage below the hotel and an elevator that connects right to it. Couldn't be easier. Valet parking is available if you choose.

So what about the associated businesses?

T-Zero is staffed by skilled bartenders and the liquor selection is quite good. The Pearl is my favorite in-house specialty drink.

Jill's is a quality restaurant. If you order room service, this is where it will come from. However, the restaurant itself is lovely, so I recommend a trip down. The hotel even has a small garden that produces seasonally appropriate fresh ingredients for Jill's which really is a step above. We like this place enough that we brought my family there to eat when they visited and they had a great time.

The spa is superb, both in quality of services and amenities. The estheticians are skilled and the atmosphere is entirely pleasant. If you book an appointment, you get access to the spa for the entirety of that day. That means locker rooms, changing rooms, separate rest rooms, steam room, sauna, showers, and the lounge (complete with light snacks, tea, and seasonal fruit infused waters). You also get access to the pool, hot tub, and gym. It's fire, honestly. Just be sure to book in advance as it's a popular place and bookings fill up.

You will spend more to come here, but the quality is evident and it's worth it, in my opinion. Staying here is a treat for us on special occasions. We live nearby enough that it's kind of the ultimate stay cation. We do treat the spa as a day spa and visit there more often (you can become a spa member which gives you a discount on services - we did that).

Honestly, this place is just worth it....

UNFORTUNATELY, I just had a second negative encounter with a front desk employee named Lauren. Lauren has been rude, unfriendly and completely inadequate at meeting my very basic customer needs/requests. The first incident was via a telephone call I initiated from Denver International looking for assistance with public transportation. Lauren did not no answer to my question and refused to ask a manager for help. I was left to fend for myself RUDELY! I AM A NEW YORKER AND FULLY BELIEVE IN USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR BOTH ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS . It is my opinion, that a 5 star hotel in Boulder, CO should have up to date information on the public transportation system from Denver International Airport. ESPECIALLY, because of Co-vid 19. The transportation happens to be free and has been operational although obviously with a limited schedule. Any front desk, valet, concierge or manager at the St. Julien Hotel should have an INDEX card at their desk with explicit instructions on how to get from the airport to the hotel. Negative encounter number 2. I booked an additional night at the St. Julien this morning via Hotel.com. I packed my things in my suitcase and left them ready to be moved if it was going to be necessary for the hotel to move me to new room. I went down to the pool to have my coffee and take a swim. I then approached the front desk to inform them that I had booked another night. I told the woman at the front desk named Lauren, that I was happy to stay in my room if that made things easier for the hotel, but the room type available on Hotel.com was not the same, it was actually a more expensive room. I didn't care which room I went to, I had my things packed and was ready to go if they needed me to move. I simply wanted a new key and was willing to do whatever was easiest for the hotel.

In the same rude tone of voice that I experienced while on the phone with Lauren at the airport. Lauren said to me in an absolutely obnoxious tone of voice, I needed to "get my credit card to swipe for new room." The new room was already paid in full. I had done the exact same thing 2 days prior because I had decided to extend my stay. In fact, the young man, who grew up in Boulder, who was working at the front desk, bent over backwards to make things easy for me. Lauren totally disregarded my attempts to be helpful and make it easier for the hotel. ( I have been staying at this hotel since June 13th, it is June 23rd, I have spent at least $4,000 in the past 10 days at the St. Julien, and quite frankly I don't care if I had had a discounted rate and only spent one night for $50 at the St. Julien, I and no other guest deserves that kind of rudeness and unwillingness to be helpful by an employee at the hotel. SO, I go up to my room to get my credit card for Lauren, come downstairs, thankfully another person is at the front desk. I approach the front desk to give my credit card and get new key. The woman politely checks me into room, she says "Oh, you are Mrs. M." Yes, here are your keys. Please call the valet when you are ready to have your things moved. I tell her my things are already ready to be moved. Please just have valet move my things to new room. I go up to my old room to double check I have everything. There is a knock at the door. It is the "other" woman at the front desk who checked me in. I let her in and start to thank her for moving my things, and she looks at me and tells me. "Ya know, the hotel is really busy right now." As if I was putting her out somehow. I just walked back down to the pool to write this review. I think some customer service training is needed for some of your employees. Every other employee has been magnificently friendly and helpful, while practicing safe co-vid...