Yosemite. Where to stay?

Hi

I wondered if anyone has stayed in or around Yosemite National Park and has any recommendations for good hotels?

I don't mind getting close to nature, but I'm not too keen on camping:D

Cheers

Amanda

Hi Amanda

There are a few options available around yosemite. We travelled last year (Apr 2005) and stayed at the yosemite view lodge. The lodge is around 3 to 4 miles outside the park gates in El Portal.

If you type in 'yosemite view lodge' into tripadvisor.com there are many reviews - The lodge is by no means luxurious, but on the other hand is very comfortable. There is an indoor pool and 3 or 4 outdoor hot tubs all overlooking the river - Great place to unwind after a day exploring the park (you could also hire bikes there and take them into the park)

We requested a river view room and for once this actually lived up to the promise. As you opened the door from our room onto our own private terrace there just 10 feet away was the roaring Merced river.

Each night you could kick back and just enjoy the view, every now and then a couple of raccoons would wander by and stop and stare at you....

As a summary:

Great location

Not luxurious, but certainly very comfortable

2 restaurants on site, but would recommend taking in your own food as well as each room has basic cooking facilities

Would we stay there again?.... Yes yes yes, but must have a river view room to really enjoy

Full address:
Yosemite View Lodge
11136 Highway 140
P.O. Box D,
El Portal,
California 95318,
United States

Have fun and enjoy Yosemite, it truly is beautiful

Originally posted by Jon B

There are a few options available around yosemite. We travelled last year (Apr 2005) and stayed at the yosemite view lodge. The lodge is around 3 to 4 miles outside the park gates in El Portal.
and enjoy Yosemite, it truly is beautiful

I fully endorse Jon B's recommendation both on the lodge and the request for a river room. We stayed there a few years ago and it was an excellent base for accessing the beauties of Yosemite. Our room also had a massive spa bath.

Paul

Thanks for the info guys. I thought it would be good to get some opinions before I went trawling the net. I will certainly check out the View Lodge, sounds nice.

BTW Jon, much respect for your support of a certain football team[:w]

Thanks for the info guys. I thought it would be good to get some opinions before I went trawling the net. I will certainly check out the View Lodge, sounds nice.

BTW Jon, much respect for your support of a certain football team[:w]

Originally posted by pjh

Originally posted by Jon B

There are a few options available around yosemite. We travelled last year (Apr 2005) and stayed at the yosemite view lodge. The lodge is around 3 to 4 miles outside the park gates in El Portal.
and enjoy Yosemite, it truly is beautiful

Our room also had a massive spa bath.

Paul

Paul.....Forgot to mention the spa bath in the room!..... wow took twenty minutes to fill the thing, it was HUGE

If you did want a more luxurious place the 'Ahwahnee' is in the Park - This though will set you back a lot more and from the recent reviews doesn't live up to it's promise.

Jon B

What time of year are you going and which direction are you coming in from?

Originally posted by MrsG

BTW Jon, much respect for your support of a certain football team[:w]

Thanks for that...... Up the Hammers [y]

Originally posted by MrsG
Thanks for the info guys. I thought it would be good to get some opinions before I went trawling the net. I will certainly check out the View Lodge, sounds nice.

BTW Jon, much respect for your support of a certain football team[:w]

Ooops![:I] Apologies for the double post, slip of the finger[:I]

Jon, we will be there at the end of August, driving from SFO.

[mitchja]

I can also recommend the Yosemite View Lodge [y]

As Jon & paul both mentioned I think all rooms come with a huge spa bath - great to relax in after a days walking.

I think all the rooms also have a small kitchen area and a well stocked store on site. Great for snacking and making pack-lunches for the many walks in Yosemite [y]

I booked my stay via V Hols - you can book just the hotel without flights etc.

Regards

Thanks James. Another feather in the cap of the Yosemite View Lodge:D

Originally posted by MrsG

Originally posted by MrsG
Thanks for the info guys. I thought it would be good to get some opinions before I went trawling the net. I will certainly check out the View Lodge, sounds nice.

BTW Jon, much respect for your support of a certain football team[:w]

Ooops![:I] Apologies for the double post, slip of the finger[:I]

Jon, we will be there at the end of August, driving from SFO.

It's around a four hour drive from SFO, if you come in from Modesto and reach Merced stop off and pick up some bottles of wine etc to enjoy during your stay..... August should be great in the park watch out for those bears [:0]

[mitchja]

I've just uploaded a pic of the view from one of the river view rooms in Yosemite View Lodge here

The hotel is on the V Hols web site here

Regards

Another thumbs up for Yosemite View Lodge [y]. We did a lot of research before visiting Yosemite and it was by far the best we could find for the cost and location. We requested and received a water view room which was much better than anticipated.

There was also an unexpected visitor, one afternoon we were about to go out and saw a lot of people mulling around the perimeter of the carpark, on closer inspection we saw a rather large Bear who was just strolling through the car park without a care in the world [:p], what more can you say other than excellent location [^]

Regards
Nevil

Whatever you do don't stop at the Yosemite Lodge by the Falls. We were booked there last year but on arrival the room was an absolute sesspit and the management didn't care. We ended up going to Curry Village (only room we could find) but that wasn't any better so we left Yosemite a day early for an extra day in San Fran.

Thanks AndyR.[y]
We did some research yesterday, and came across the 2 places you mentioned. Liked the look of the Curry Village (well, only the name really!) We still haven't decided on where to stay but the Yosemite View Lodge is certainly up there.

We will probably spend the first couple of days of our trip around the Monterey/Carmel area. We've already looked at a few places, but I'm opened to recommendations from any v-flyers out there:)

Originally posted by MrsG
Thanks AndyR.[y]
We did some research yesterday, and came across the 2 places you mentioned. Liked the look of the Curry Village (well, only the name really!) We still haven't decided on where to stay but the Yosemite View Lodge is certainly up there.

We will probably spend the first couple of days of our trip around the Monterey/Carmel area. We've already looked at a few places, but I'm opened to recommendations from any v-flyers out there:)

You may find the Yosemite View Lodge fairly full during August and bookings hard to come by, worth checking on availability before you set your heart on it. If they don't have any river view rooms available, then I would try inside the park.

Have a great time [y]

Jon B

Have a great time

When I was looking at Yosemite accomodation last year, some of the places were being booked up to a year in advance and were nigh on impossible to get into (especially if wanting a Saturday night)) within 3 months of the holiday.....

We still haven't booked anything yet! MrG is the king of late minute decisions[:(] Think we may have to take our chances. This could be a case of getting in the car at SFO and following our noses:D