La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denver Southwest Lakewood

Set in a suburb southwest of Denver next to Highway 285, this La Quinta property is simple, and nicely kept both inside and out. The five-story beige stucco building has an unusually pleasant entryway for a hotel of its caliber, with pretty flower gardens and a stone walkway leading to the lobby. In fact, the entire property is pleasantly landscaped with a mix of shrubbery and taller trees, trimmed lawns, rock gardens, stone pathways, and a gazebo with cushioned seating near the pool area. Inside, a color scheme of bright green, blue, and brown lends a cool '70s vibe to the lobby, where striped chairs are clustered around a tiled table topped with succulent plants. Hallways are warmly lit and have green-patterned carpeting and beige paint. Many guests are senior citizens looking for a quiet place to stay in the Denver area, but the property also draws younger tourists in town for concerts and events. 

Set in the suburbs just off Highway 285, this hotel is convenient to the action but not smack-dab in the center of it all. Downtown Denver, with its array of great restaurants and the Denver Art Museum, can be reached in about half an hour. Both the Pepsi Center and Red Rocks Amphitheater, popular venues for concerts and live entertainment, are about 20 minutes away. Denver International Airport is a 50-minute drive from the hotel. 

Guest rooms have a vaguely '70s style, with patterned carpeting and color-block bedskirts in shades of blue, turquoise, green, and gray. Black and white nature photography and a dark orange accent wall complete the eclectic look in each. All rooms are warmly lit, and have coffeemakers and flat-screen TVs with plug-and-play technology that links to portable electronic devices. The furniture is nothing fancy, but freshly painted white walls and doors help brighten the space. Bathrooms, too, are bright white, with black and white tile floors and shower/tub combos. Some rooms and suites have microwaves and mini-fridges. Rooms facing the highway can be noisy, so guests may want to request rooms facing away from the road.

The hotel's free daily breakfast includes a basic selection of cereal, fruit, and waffles -- breakfast is served in the lobby below a large skylight. The outdoor pool and hot tub area is simple and clean, with a few patio-style lounge chairs and a couple of tables and chairs with parasols. The adjacent gazebo offers additional space for guests to relax and take in the garden. The small Bright Side Market sells various snacks and beverages, and there's a business center in the lobby with a computer and printer facing a window. The tiny fitness center is carpeted and has a flat-screen TV and a few dated cardio and weight machines.