Re: Best lodging

i've never stayed in a motel / hotel any where in or near yosemite ( i always camp)... but i'd like to be able recommend a place or two to my friends and family. any experiences / recommendations from either entry of hwy 120 or hwy 140 ?

(i'm not about to recommend the highly over priced Ahwahnee Hotel!)

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2009 11:53AM by forrestranger.

I like the Best Western Yosemite View Lodge in Mariposa. It's not fancy and perhaps the styling is a bit outdated. However - they keep it well maintained and the price is very competitive; I guess they can afford to with such low vacancies during the peak season. The rooms are very large compared to other motels or even hotels around Yosemite. You might ask for a room in the back since the sound of cars on 140 can be an issue.

Service can be a bit casual, but I've never had a bad experience. I've been treated well, but you're not going to get service like a four star hotel. The various attendants (usually college aged kids) in the breakfast area might be a bit bored at times.

Some have recommended Yosemite Bug on 140. I think it's primarily a converted workers' camp.

how far of a drive is it from the valley?

Are there any "minimalist" youth Hostel type accomodations in the vicintiy of Yos?

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
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Frank Furter
Are there any "minimalist" youth Hostel type accomodations in the vicintiy of Yos?

Yeah. Yosemite Bug has dormitory-style accommodations in addition to their cabins.

http://www.yosemitebug.com/

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y_p_w

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Frank Furter
Are there any "minimalist" youth Hostel type accomodations in the vicintiy of Yos?

Yeah. Yosemite Bug has dormitory-style accommodations in addition to their cabins.

http://www.yosemitebug.com/

Those wall look very good for reflecting the snores.

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forrestranger
how far of a drive is it from the valley?

It's in Mariposa. Maybe about an hour or less depending on traffic.

If you're looking more upscale, then there are vacation home and condo rentals in Yosemite West right off of Wawona Road. I think those can be variable because it depends on the owner's maintenance and furnishings. They'll just have an agency rent it out. That will be much closer to the Valley.

My wife and I stayed at the Evergreen Lodge last year. very peaceful, relaxing and quiet. The restaurant is phenomenal, excellent food. The cabins are a bit dated but we liked it that way. They do have a bunch of new cabins which are opening this month. There is a nice little store there as well. It's about an hour from the valley floor and maybe 20 minutes from Hetch Hetchy.

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cornbread
My wife and I stayed at the Evergreen Lodge last year. very peaceful, relaxing and quiet. The restaurant is phenomenal, excellent food. The cabins are a bit dated but we liked it that way. They do have a bunch of new cabins which are opening this month. There is a nice little store there as well. It's about an hour from the valley floor and maybe 20 minutes from Hetch Hetchy.

I haven't stayed there, but it looks like a great place to stay. I have recommended this place to others.

IMO they have the best food in the area. Hands down.

I really liked the Apple Tree Inn. I think that was the name of the place I stayed at....

The place I stayed at was run by a younger couple. They had a small restaurant and maybe 10 rooms or so.

How important is price?

forrestranger,

The other nice motel in Mariposa that often gets overlooked is Miner's Inn on the north end of town. It's slightly less expensive than the Best Western and the folks there are very accomodating.

Jim

no more than say $155 a night.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2009 02:58PM by forrestranger.

Miner's Inn was around $100. in June; we got the AARP discount off of that.

Jim

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forrestranger
no more than say $155 a night.

You might be able to find a studio apartment in Yosemite West for less than that. Maybe even a townhouse or condo.

http://www.yosemitewestreservations.com/yoswestaccom.html
http://www.yosemitelodging.com/

They're not exactly accurate that they're inside the park, but the usual way is to enter through the park. I don't know if there are any paved roads to Yosemite West outside of YNP.

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forrestranger
no more than say $155 a night.

You don't say what season, but for that or less you can stay at Yosemite Lodge if it's not summer or holiday times. Nothing like waking up in the valley, no driving needed. Whether there's anything available is not always predictable though, even in winter.

At "my" end of the price scale, I've stayed at Mariposa Lodge in Mariposa, about an hour from parking in the valley, or Days Inn and Best Western in Oakhurst. I don't know the summer prices, I'm sure they're up significantly from the $60 or so when I stay in winter, but they're warm, clean, and comfortable (or were, the last time I stayed), and not a bad drive from the valley.

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Gary
Yosemite Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/yo

I have some experiences to share. They're listed here:

http://blog.cliffstonesblog.com/2009/03/31/yosemite-lodging--some-suggestions.aspx

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Cliff Stone

Visit my blog: http://www.cliffstonesblog.com