• Home
  • About
    • The Expedition
    • The Non-Profit
    • The Reality-TV Show
    • The Race
  • Services
  • Travel
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Shop
  • Contact

Cassie De Pecol

  • Travel
  • Fitness
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Women
Hotels•Travel

Hotel Spotlight: St. Julien Hotel & Spa

August 24, 2018

Initially, my travels were going to take me to St. Julien Hotel & Spa June of 2018 for the Ironman race, a knee injury had me postpone to August of 2018. When I finally did visit, I was so excited to experience what “the most elegant hotel in Boulder” was all about! The first thing that struck me was that they had the option of valet or self park. I like to take my time and organize my car, come and go without having to call down to valet, etc., so I really appreciated the self-park option. Believe it or not, many hotels don’t even offer anything other than valet, which can feel rushed and stressful at times. With that said, the Bellmen were so helpful regardless at taking my luggage and road bike even, up to my room. I didn’t have to lift a finger, which was great especially when exhausted from the Ironman 70.3. 

My trip began almost immediately with an 80 minute, “Back in the Saddle” massage. I’ve had hundreds of massages in my day, so it comes without saying that I can be pretty picky about them in general. But I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful this massage was, and how attentive the masseuse was to my needs. She knew I had a 70.3 race the next morning,  and advised not to go too deep so as to feel groggy the next day. I heeded her advice, and enjoyed a wonderful stretch/relaxation massage.

I then headed to Jill’s Restaurant where I sat near the window and enjoyed taking it all in. I’d only driven through Boulder once, so it was really exciting to be able to just get an idea of what it was like was like as I enjoyed my pre-race dinner. There were two couples sitting across from me who were also racing the half Ironman the next morning. We had a great time chatting about it all. I started off with Jill’s Tots which was what my Waiter recommended, they were so incredibly delicious. Then I followed with a taste of the grilled artichoke, followed by the Market Special of duck. It was all really tasty and left me very satisfied for a long race the next day. I loved the ambiance of the restaurant, and the staff were really kind and helpful as well.

The rooms were wonderful with all the right amenities. I loved the minibar and the oxygen they had for purchase, which was definitely needed for my race! The little touches make all the difference for me when it comes to luxury. The balcony faced the courtyard and the mountains, which was just stunning at sunset and sunrise. The St. Julien is a wonderful place for weddings and parties, there was actually a Jewish wedding on the second night I stayed, which was cool to watch from my balcony. However, if you’re one to go to bed earlier than 10pm, then I’d advise a room on the opposite side so as to avoid the noise. There was a party in the courtyard with live band the night before my race. The good thing was that the staff at the hotel made sure that after 10pm, it was quiet time, but I needed to be up at 3am, and even with earplugs when I went to bed at 8:30, I didn’t end up falling asleep until it quieted down at 10ish. Other than that, I’m really glad that the hotel staff were kind enough to respect the wishes of the other guests for quiet time. And if you’re seeking a beautiful venue for weddings or parties, the St. Julien is a great location for that!

The overall rating that I gave the St. Julien Hotel & Spa was a 9/10.

What I loved: The staff were wonderful and helpful and you really can’t beat the location being in such close proximity to the mountains with sweeping views. The cuisine was eclectic and delicious… any restaurant that incorporates lobster and truffle oil into their menu is winner for me! The rooms were cozy and amenities were wonderful. The spa provided such a relaxing experience with lots of choices when it came to pampering oneself. Last but not least, I love their attention to detail when it came to their sustainability initiatives, which you can learn more about here, that’s very important to me.

What Set It Back: Any other weekend I would be having dinner at the restaurant and drinks until 10 or 11pm, but on this particular weekend, personally, what set it back was the loud noise outside my windows from the courtyard from the weddings and parties. I had 5 hours of sleep the night before my race due to this, and the Saturday of my race when all I wanted to do was conk out at 8pm, I had had hard time staying asleep because of the noise. For those who do go to bed early on the weekends or are noise sensitive, I’d recommend staying in a room opposite the courtyard on weekends, and when I go back, I’ll likely do the same. Again, just personal preference, and most people are up past 10 on the weekends anyways, so it wouldn’t matter :).

Overall: Highly recommended for the most luxurious stay in Boulder!

What makes a sustainable or regenerative hotel? A reverse osmosis water system, farm to table produce, supporting local dairy and meat farmers, engaging with local non-profit or community organization endeavors to address an issue within the country or community, energy efficient lighting, low pressure water systems, recycling, employing locals and offering fair and equal pay, replanting what was lost during the construction, use of biofuel (for boats), engaging guests in local cultural experiences and making them aware of environmental and cultural needs, LEED Certification, educating staff on importance of sustainability (turning off lights, observing for wasteful practices, etc.), reducing bathroom amenities waste (using bamboo toothbrushes instead, locally made/organic soap, shampoo and conditioner that help the environment), the list goes on.

0
0 Leave a Comment

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Posts

Getting Your Project Sponsored

Hotel Spotlight: Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

Hotel Spotlight: Renaissance Boulder Flatiron

Hotel Spotlight: The Little Nell

Primary Sidebar

Archives

  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • September 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • April 2015
  • May 2014

Categories

  • Beauty
  • Business
  • Cats
  • Eco Travel
  • Fashion
  • Fitness
  • Hotels
  • Humanitarian
  • Lifestyle
  • Make Up
  • Mental Health
  • Skin Care
  • Travel
  • Travel Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • Women

Join Our Newsletter

Find me on IG @cassiedepecol
I want to see things that I've never seen Quietly I want to see things that I've never seen
Quietly happy and live by the sea 🐠Lips by @theyouthqueen
Necklace by @gorjana
Shawl by @planta_life
There’s something so remarkable about the desert There’s something so remarkable about the desert. I’ve always been so captivated and inspired by it, so much so that I don’t think I could live more than a couple hours drive or flight away. One of the perks of living in Southern California is that I find myself traveling to Joshua Tree, CA and Carefree, AZ at least once or twice a year just to feel that special quiet, freeing, and rejuvenating effect that the desert offers. And @mrkishmere is also a huge fan!🌵That said, you guys have seen my posts the past couple years of my travels and stay at an incredible wellness resort in Carefree, Arizona called CIVANA. So when they reached out to me to be their Ambassador, I jumped right on it and haven’t looked back. 🏜🌙So… not only does this mean more trips to my favorite Carefree, AZ resort, but hopefully more trips for you, too! Next time you book, be sure to use the code “AMBCASSIE” for 20% off CIVANA’s best available rate! 👏🏼With everything I’ve been going through lately, I might just book myself a trip out there next week if I can. Some of my favorite things at @civanaresort are the following:- Spa King Room (always what I book when I go there)
- Revive to Thrive Massage
- Pure Radiance Facial
- Any of the hiking trails nearby (morning hikes are my jam as you guys know)
- Desert Bathing
- Rise and Ride
- Paddle Boarding
And their humanBEING workshop… among so many others! Their gym and pools are also epic. My advice is to leave your phone on “Do Not Disturb” whilst there to get the full experience 😌.Let me know if you book and maybe I’ll do a meet up there sometime this year? If you guys would be down for a meet up and maybe little book signing, let me know 🤍Much love to you guys and be well 💛#civanapartner
Just poppin’ in to say hi 👋🏼!Things have Just poppin’ in to say hi 👋🏼!Things have been pretty tough lately; mentally and physically. There’s sooo much I want to say, and I wish I could speak freely about so many things right now, but I also know that there’s a time and place to do so. In the meantime, I’m doing a lot of thinking, reflecting, writing, listening to a ton of podcasts, and doing a lot of inner work.Something that’s helped me navigate life’s trials and tribulations is looking at my life as though I live within my own “Hero’s Journey” story. I don’t think the Expedition was “The Ordeal”, I think that was just my “Call to Adventure”, and now, l’m still in the “Belly of the Whale” 🐳. It makes life easier to comprehend when I have a storyline to follow. Also, everyone is a hero and is on their own journey.Short or long, however you think of it, in my opinion, we have the perfect amount of time to do with life what we want if we commit ourselves. There are millions of small moments that make it. Millions of cells that make you. And thus, millions of opportunities to work within your capability to turn things around or veer of course (in a good way).If you’re like me right now and stuck in a rut, know that time will heal, and things will be okay. These trials and tribulations only make life more interesting; gives it that extra spice.I’m utilizing this time to divert a little bit, to continue to lead the life I want to live based on what I’ve lived up until this very moment. To do a little adjusting and unearth that inner creative and that fire that got me through to where I am today. If life stayed the same, I’d be so bored. I love these changes and I love a good challenge. Hard as they are in the moment, they provide so much learning and growth 🌱
#ad First trip out of the US this year and it was #ad First trip out of the US this year and it was to one of my favorite countries, Mexico! 🇲🇽
James and I had traveled to a destination we’d never been to before, and though we had a few hiccups along the way (held up at immigration due to a drone issue, lack of COVID tests upon departure, and pretty bad sunburns), we had a fantastic trip. Being hosted at the Viceroy Los Cabos was honestly such a treat 🍹.
In addition to our regular travel insurance, we decided to add CAP Tripside Assistance, which goes beyond travel insurance as a travel protection program to give us that extra padding should something go wrong. Many of my friends travel in/out of Mexico with their drones no problem, but technically (I didn’t know this), it’s illegal to do so, and it’s a new rule, which made things more complicated and confusing. So while the drone immigration issue was scary at the time, I felt at ease knowing that I was covered. Actually, CAP would have helped when I was wrongfully detained in Grenada because immigration thought my vitamins were cocaine 🙈.
I’m so excited to be working with CAP. After traveling every country in the world with insurance, having those extra medical and security travel assistance benefits in 140 countries gives me peace of mind. Feel free to check out their IG, @travelwithcap, to learn more!  #captravelassistance #viceroyloscabos #partnership
So, I’ve never really educated myself on Astrolo So, I’ve never really educated myself on Astrology, just the basics like my sign, Cancer. But recently I’ve been finding it more interesting to learn about.
I punched in my numbers on a few online calculators and got the following for my sun, moon and rising. Do any of you guys know what this means? 🫣☀️ Cancer 🌙 Pisces ⬆️ Sagittarius
When I was in my early twenties (before the expedi When I was in my early twenties (before the expedition), I traveled around the world leading eco tours at boutique hotels. From roaming the beaches with guests seek and release baby sea turtles in Juluchuca, Mexico, to immersing guests in the incredible Achuar indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon, to working with local non profit organizations to provide educational supplies to local schools through guest immersion 📚.My passion for responsible tourism continued through Expedition 196, to today. So when I had the opportunity to work with @loscabostourism and @cabo_adventures l, I jumped on it!They hosted James and I for a special camel riding treat on the beach, and educated us on their eco initiatives, which Cabo Adventures is so excited about (and we were, too!). By providing philanthropic grants to save wildlife, to partnering with local organizations to benefit school children, and taking us through the process of their efforts in plastic reduction through their plastic recycling plant, I couldn’t help but be so inspired to have partnered with a do-good, feel-good tour company 🐫🫶🏼.Wearing @revolve#giftedexperience 🤍
I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. 🌊Nothing else.- Nikos KazantzakisWearing @revolve 👒
Theme by SheShoppes

Copyright © 2022 EXPEDITION 196, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. | PRIVACY POLICY