Here is a thread I did last year that should help answer a lot of your questions:  http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_2/686810_Help-With-DIY-Non-resident-Idaho-Elk-and-Mule-Deer.html

Basically I decided to do a spur of the moment elk hunt in Idaho (actually 2 hunts).  I studied the ID Fish and Game maps as well as Google Earth, picked a spot and drove there.  On my way through Bosie I stopped at Cabela's to get a topo map of the unit I was going to be in.

The archery hunt I chose allowed me to harvest either a bull or a cow and was open for a month, including during the rut.

I like Idaho because you can get both elk and deer tags OTC.  I think CO might have OTC deer tags but if I'm not mistaken, they are whitetail only and I wanted to hunt mule deer.

In ID, you can buy either a general deer tag which allows you to hunt either mule deer or whitetail, or a whitetail only tag.  Not all units in the state have mule deer and some of the units are draw only.

Guided hunts don't interest me but that's a personal preference thing.  

The unit I was in was very mountainous with heavy timber, streams, and a lot of mountain lakes with trout.  One nice thing about ID is that you get a 3 day fishing license with your hunting license and there are plenty of rivers, streams, and lakes to try out along the way to your hunting spot.

I also chose to hunt in a wilderness area so it wouldn't be crowded out with vehicle hunters.  There were plenty of trails to use.  Most of the other people hunting there were doing so with horses.  

If you don't have friends going with you or you don't want to carry out an elk on foot, consider asking around in the nearest town for people with horses that you can hire out if you are successful.  If you are doing a public land hunt, there will probably already be plenty of people with horses in your area that might be willing to help you for a few bucks.

If you don't have access to horses and you hunt in a wilderness area like I did where you can't use a vehicle to get closer to your kill, I would strongly advise not trying to kill an elk more than 5 miles from the nearest trailhead/vehicle access.  Even that will be hell getting out by yourself on foot if you kill a big bull.

My hunt wasn't easy and I didn't fill my tag, but I had a great time camping out by myself for a couple of weeks.  If I had more time once I figured the elk out I think I would have tagged out.  I know of at least 3 monster bulls that came out of the area so even public land, OTC hunts have the possibility of landing a nice trophy.

I plan to go on another similar hunt as soon as I have the time and money.  Unfortunately, I don't think it will be this year.

FYI, an OTC ID elk hunt for a non-resident will run a little under $600 for the tag and license.  If you want to throw in a deer tag, that will cost you another $317 or so.  You can also buy OTC wolf tags and your deer and/or elk tags can be used to harvest a bear or mountain lion as long as you take the animals in the same unit and during the time period your tag is good for.  There were also tons of grouse where I was hunting, so that's another plus.

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We're hunting with this place Trophy Elk Outfitters Inc. in December for cow elk. It was $900 each + $466 tag. He said everyone usually gets their cow.

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So what is included in that cow elk hunt near Trinidad?  The website wasn't overly clear. Is lodging and food included?  Or are you booking some alternative place to stay?