Know AAA

Colorado's new diamonds

Nearly 60,000 properties are inspected and rated annually by AAA across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Of those, 103 hotels and 59 restaurants hold the highest rating—the AAA Five Diamond Award.

©Jason Dewey/The Little Nell

Colorado has three Five Diamond lodgings—The Little Nell in Aspen, The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek and The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs—and one Five Diamond restaurant, The Penrose Room in Colorado Springs.

Joining the ranks of Four Diamond properties this year are the Ritz-Carlton in Denver and Frasca restaurant in Boulder. To become AAA Approved and Diamond rated, hotels and restaurants undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA's full-time professional evaluators. Five Diamond establishments complete a more extensive review that includes a series of inspections and final committee review.

For more information on AAA Diamond ratings, visit www.AAA.com/diamonds. Following are Colorado's 2009 Four Diamond lodgings and restaurants.

Lodging

Aspen: Hotel Jerome; St. Regis Resort
Beaver Creek: Beaver Creek Lodge; Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa
Broomfield: Omni Interlocken Resort; Renaissance Boulder Suites Hotel at Flatiron
Colorado Springs: Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs; Cheyenne Mountain Resort; Old Town GuestHouse Deckers: Lost Valley Ranch
Denver: Brown Palace Hotel & Spa; Grand Hyatt Denver; Hotel Monaco Denver; Hotel Teatro; Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center; JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek; The Ritz-Carlton Denver; The Westin Tabor Center Denver
Durango: Apple Orchard Inn; General Palmer Hotel
Edwards: The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera
Englewood: The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center
Glendale: Loews Denver Hotel
Keystone: Keystone Lodge & Spa
Manitou Springs: The Cliff House at Pikes Peak
Telluride: Fairmont Heritage Place Franz Klammer Lodge
Vail: The Lodge at Vail RockResort; Vail Cascade Resort & Spa; Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa
Westminster: The Westin Westminster

Restaurants

Aspen: Montagna; Syzygy
Beaver Creek: Grouse Mountain Grill; Mirabelle at Beaver Creek
Boulder: Frasca; The Flagstaff House Restaurant
Colorado Springs: Charles Court; Summit
Denver: Palace Arms; Restaurant Kevin Taylor
Durango: Chez Grand-mere
Keystone: Alpenglow Stube; Keystone Ranch Restaurant
Manitou Springs: The Cliff House Restaurant
Ouray: Tundra Restaurant
Vail: Ludwig's Restaurant; Restaurant Kelly Liken; The Left Bank; The Wildflower