The three of us made a trip to Durango last week. We made reservations in June with the Durango Downtown Inn for three rooms for two nights. The total cost was over $900 paid in advance, similar to payments for tours, concerts and sports events.
When we arrived after a six-hour drive, we were met with a sign on their door saying “Durango Downtown Inn, no vacancy. ... Closed under new management,” with a phone number. We were never notified of this closure in advance.
We talked to the host of Applebee's next door who said that two nights previously, the hotel kicked out all the guests and locked the front door. We called the number for three days, but no one answered. We called the Durango Chamber of Commerce and the police. They said they couldn't help us. We are disputing the charge by Durango Downtown Inn on our credit card.
We made reservations at another hotel at $475 each. All told, our lodging costs for three rooms and two nights was $2,769. We decided we wouldn't return to Durango in the future.
However, the next day we met with Durango local Lindsey, a friend of ours. She was determined to show us the good side of Durango. We went downtown to the Bookcase and Barber, Strater Hotel and Derailed Pour House. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. We’ll probably come back, bad experience and all, thanks to Lindsey, who is Durango's greatest ambassador!
Susan McDonnell, Monica Cordova and LuAnn Waida
Lakewood
