Discussion
In the park will be expensive and possibly booked up. I've stayed in Groveland before and it was easy and quick enough to get into the park. Stayed here...
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g32460-d...
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g32460-d...
Just got back from our US road trip yesterday. Spent a couple of nights and days at Yosemite but left the hotel booking to the last minute so there was very little availability.
First night stayed at the Comfort Inn in Oakhurst, second at Cedar Lodge in El Portal.
Cedar Lodge was more expensive, OK but pretty tired looking and only had internet in the lobby at a charge of about $9.00.
Comfort Inns are fairly basic but the room was nice, had free internet and breakfast. Oakhurst is on the more scenic route 41 "mountain road" into the park. If you drive in on route 41 be sure to take a small diversion to Mariposa Grove just after the park gates, it's a Redwood forest and worth spending an hour or so wandering through. Enjoy Yosemite it is an amazing place and one of the highlights of our trip.
First night stayed at the Comfort Inn in Oakhurst, second at Cedar Lodge in El Portal.
Cedar Lodge was more expensive, OK but pretty tired looking and only had internet in the lobby at a charge of about $9.00.
Comfort Inns are fairly basic but the room was nice, had free internet and breakfast. Oakhurst is on the more scenic route 41 "mountain road" into the park. If you drive in on route 41 be sure to take a small diversion to Mariposa Grove just after the park gates, it's a Redwood forest and worth spending an hour or so wandering through. Enjoy Yosemite it is an amazing place and one of the highlights of our trip.
buzzer said:
Just don't stay at the Tenaya lodge hotel.... Worst hotel of our stay in California....
Really, why? I'll grant you its not up to its star rating and cost as your paying a premium for the location but out of the places available around Yosemite it has to be one of the best options, most of the other options are fairly grotty motels that are 40mins further away in oakhurstViperDave said:
Really, why? I'll grant you its not up to its star rating and cost as your paying a premium for the location but out of the places available around Yosemite it has to be one of the best options, most of the other options are fairly grotty motels that are 40mins further away in oakhurst
Just my experience of three days stay there in April... Food was awful, and you are a captive audience as there is no where else to eat around... the staff in the restaurants were rude... it was the worst of all the hotels we stayed in California and the most expensive. Have a look on Trip Advisor, it gets very mixed reviews. I guess I have no experience of the others....We camped in September a few years ago. Put ANYTHING that smells in a bear box, the mess they make of hire cars is impressive.
Find out when Labour Day weekend is. It is the American equivalent of August Bank Holiday and it will be RAMMED. Also, the waterfalls might be a bit dry then.
If you have time, go up Half Dome. We hiked to the base of the stone done in the afternoon, and did the ascent first thing in the morning, with no one else around. It was amazing. You'll need a mobile bear box for that though.
I liked it there...
Find out when Labour Day weekend is. It is the American equivalent of August Bank Holiday and it will be RAMMED. Also, the waterfalls might be a bit dry then.
If you have time, go up Half Dome. We hiked to the base of the stone done in the afternoon, and did the ascent first thing in the morning, with no one else around. It was amazing. You'll need a mobile bear box for that though.
I liked it there...
We stayed in the static tents at the big camp site in the centre of the park. Basic but fun and I would recommend it for a night or two, but does get booked up early.
We hired a Shelby Hertz mustang for the trip, which made the trip for me. Great fun hustling it along the the mountain roads, and even had a bullet experience as we over took a new shape charger who decided he wanted to play and took off after us. We had a great 10 miles or so of brisk driving and parted with a wave and a snigger. I was giggling like a school kid for days afterwards.
We hired a Shelby Hertz mustang for the trip, which made the trip for me. Great fun hustling it along the the mountain roads, and even had a bullet experience as we over took a new shape charger who decided he wanted to play and took off after us. We had a great 10 miles or so of brisk driving and parted with a wave and a snigger. I was giggling like a school kid for days afterwards.
I also stayed in one of the static tents (at Camp Curry) when I went . The tents were spacious enough, have a hard floor and solid wood frame and it was rather pleasant to stay in. I went around October/ November and it was quite chilly in the evenings, and the tents have no heating, but it was fine in a good sleeping bag. The communal bathroom blocks were decent and never overcrowded either.
If you don't mind being a bit out-doorsy, I'd recommend it
I want to go back at some point in Spring to see the 'Frazzle Ice'. Looks really interesting.
If you don't mind being a bit out-doorsy, I'd recommend it
I want to go back at some point in Spring to see the 'Frazzle Ice'. Looks really interesting.buzzer said:
Just my experience of three days stay there in April... Food was awful, and you are a captive audience as there is no where else to eat around... the staff in the restaurants were rude... it was the worst of all the hotels we stayed in California and the most expensive. Have a look on Trip Advisor, it gets very mixed reviews. I guess I have no experience of the others....
I can see where your coming from and with the price the expectation is high, we only stayed one night and ate in the pizza place which was a bit of a disappointment, Pizza was ok but it was really just a takeaway joint with a few tables and run by teenagers. Breakfast was not a bad spread but yes the staff were maybe not as friendly as some places. and yes it is expensive for what you get, but then there isn't much/any competition and a grotty motel in oakhurst will still set you back $100. We have also stayed in Tripadvisors no1 hotel in oakhurst (6 months prior) and whilst the staff were friendly it was a grotty motel 2* at best, the restaurants in oakhurst arent much better either. The nearest decent hotel/motel is probably in fresno but you would be mad to do the extra drive.Is Tenaia everything it makes itself out to be? - no, is it still the best option?- probably
Try the Yosemite bug - google it.
Its a YHA place so good value, secluded, very friendly and well run.
In fairness Yosemite is such an awesome place you wont be in any accomodation very much between sunrise and sunset and when you are its got a nice bar / restaraunt with the occasional live band etc.
Its a YHA place so good value, secluded, very friendly and well run.
In fairness Yosemite is such an awesome place you wont be in any accomodation very much between sunrise and sunset and when you are its got a nice bar / restaraunt with the occasional live band etc.
We stayed in Yosemite the end of Septemebr into October of last year. In the valley proper accomadation is limited you have one hotel the Ahwahnee, which is mega bucks. You have the two static campsite House Keeping Camp and Curry Village, plus a few self camp sites. We stayed at the House keeping camp which is the only one which lets you have a fire which is pretty good to have, they have a grill and I used it to cook food and siiting round the campfire roasting marshmellows with a few tinnies was awesome! We didn't book that far ahead so there could still be spaces now, avoid the weekends if you can the rates are higher and the yanks role in with there complete home set ups!
We almost booked in at the Wawona lodge, glad we didn't as this was a fair drive out of the valley we realised when going to see the giant sequioa trees. IMO it depends what you want from your visit, you could drive through look at things and say wow and move on, or you could get amongst it and if so I'd recommend you stay in one of the above. There was something of a heatwave last September/October but a storm moved in whilst in Yosemite which wreaked havoc on our travel plans for getting to our next destination, the bonus though was that Yosemite falls which was dry on our arival became a torrent the next day. Whatever you do take a drive over the Tiago pass,there's a free bus running around the park which is rather handy for getting around.
We almost booked in at the Wawona lodge, glad we didn't as this was a fair drive out of the valley we realised when going to see the giant sequioa trees. IMO it depends what you want from your visit, you could drive through look at things and say wow and move on, or you could get amongst it and if so I'd recommend you stay in one of the above. There was something of a heatwave last September/October but a storm moved in whilst in Yosemite which wreaked havoc on our travel plans for getting to our next destination, the bonus though was that Yosemite falls which was dry on our arival became a torrent the next day. Whatever you do take a drive over the Tiago pass,there's a free bus running around the park which is rather handy for getting around.
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