The Cody Luxury Hotel, photo courtesy of The Cody's website and used with permission.

Typically, I write for the Uptake Vacations Blog. It is there that I’ve been regaling our readership with the tales, trials, and tribulations associated with an epic 3000 (well, 3026 when it was all said and done) mile road trip my husband and I took a few weeks ago.

When the opportunity arose to write about a truly awesome experience I had in one of the hotels we stayed in during our vacation, the kind editors at UpTake allowed me to cut loose wreak havoc tell you about it here, in the Hotels Blog.

My friends, if you are ever in Cody, Wyoming, please be sure to stay at The Cody. We were treated to a truly unparalleled experience that I will try to adequately describe for you, here.

First, the stats. The Cody is a green-friendly, luxury hotel that opened about a year ago. The 75-suite establishment offers amenities of the highest order – each room includes flat-screen televisions with DVD players, refrigerators, high-speed wireless internet access (free!), and beautiful western-themed decorations and furnishings. The free continental breakfast is more like a buffet, offering pastries, cereals, breads, fruit, coffee, juices, teas, and milk – served in a beautifully appointed dining room. Complimentary refreshments are also served every evening. An indoor pool and hot tub is available for use year-round, and spa services are also offered. The hotel is located just 45 minutes from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and a mere five minutes from all of the entertainment, dining, and shopping that downtown Cody has to offer. The arena of the famous Cody Nite Rodeo is located just a few hundred yards up the road.

When I first walked into the lobby to check in, I was truly impressed with the atmosphere. The decor was chosen with care and reflects the western roots of the area. Local artwork was tastefully displayed, multiple sitting areas were scattered around for a quick rest or impromptu business meeting, and the overall impression I had was of a truly restful, elegant gathering area.

The staff was incredibly polite, efficient, and portrayed a real interest in ensuring our stay was a memorable one. Bags in hand, we followed the directions to our room. I was behind my husband, struggling with a bag, when he opened the door to our Jacuzzi King Suite. His slightly awed, “Oh, wow,” got me to hustle in behind him. I was greeted by this view (literally, I told my husband, “Freeze!” while I dug out the camera):

I can tell you right now that photos are not going to do this place justice. Standing at the door, what you see here is a writing desk to the right, where I set up my laptop. A fireplace (working!) with a buffalo head above it. A sitting area in front of the HUGE flat-screen television. To the left is a wet bar with a refrigerator and microwave. Directly across is the door to our balcony, and to the left of that is the king-sized bed that we literally had to climb into, and then sank into, each night.

The shot above was taken while standing in front of the fireplace. You can see the full bed, with the jacuzzi tub next to it (we took advantage of that both nights we were there). To the left of the jacuzzi is the entrance to the separate bathroom with full tub and shower (and even a bathroom scale, which I assure you, I avoided), outside of which (not pictured) is the dual-sink vanity and full-sized closet.

The shot above was taken while standing in front of the jacuzzi. It further demonstrates the size of the room, and the unique “Annie Oakley” themed decor.

Another example of the decor: the shot above is of a chair made of buffalo hide, and features an Annie Oakley scene imprinted upon it. Touches like this exist throughout the rooms and common areas of The Cody. I spent a good half-hour just wandering around our room and appreciating the furniture, the wall hangings, and the attention to detail in which The Cody excels.

Rates during the peak season range from $209 to $219 per night, and drop off to between $99 to $109 during the non-peak season. The hotel can also arrange package deals for some of the popular local attractions. AAA and other discounts can be applied, so be sure to call the hotel directly to get the best rate.

Suffice to say, we were actually sad to leave our hotel room when our stay in Cody was at an end. How often can a travelling person say that, truly?