edares

Will be visiting Glacier Park in early June, 2005 (2nd, 3rd & 4th). If Going to the Sun Road is not yet open, should we consider staying on the east or west side of the park. Will be coming from Yellowstone and returning to Bozeman for flight home.

If we stay on the east side of the park, any recommendations on where we should stay outside of the park?

thanks,

hugglynn

If you stay on the East Side, would recommend trying to get a room, now, if possible, at St. Mary's Lodge. We were just in the area, and the other state lodges on the East Side--Many Glacier and Glacier Park Lodge are horrific rip offs for what you pay for. St. Mary Lodge is new, and although we didn't stay there (even with begging, couldn't get a room), but stopped by to visit and have breakfast, it is my understanding it has the most "updated" creature comforts. After you get through the lobby at GPL, the rooms are a tremendous downer. We didn't actually stay at Many Glacier, but also stopped in, walked through the lobby, hallways, exterior and found it to be deplorable and felt even more sorry for those unloading to stay. Horrible smells in the hallways and tremendously outdated, dilapidated and unclean.

bob_brown

If the Sun road is not open, and there is a good chance it will not be that early in June, I would stay on the east side. However, I would go to Waterton for good motels.
That is over the line in Canada, but a neat place to stay.

I agree on that dump of a hotel at Many Glacier. All of the accommodations in the park on that side fail to impress me.

hugglynn

I'll second Waterton as a great little town, although it is a fair, but not overly far drive from the East entrance to Going to the Sun Road. Additionally, you can find great accomodations in town as opposed to the "supposedly" upscale Prince of Wales. We stopped by there on our way to GNP on Sunday to drop $26.00/pp (CA) on their afternoon tea, but once I got a look at the place, the lobby where the tea was going to be held, the public restrooms and guest rooms, I informed my husband this was no longer a priority and we dined al fresco instead at a Waterton restaurant before leaving. Another outdated and overrated "lodge"!

kimp

If you decide to stay at St. Mary's Lodge do NOT stay in the cabins. We stayed there a couple of years ago and the employees have lodging right beside the cabins. They are up till all hours of the night partying. Also there was a bar within a block that had live bands that could be heard in the cabins.

imccallusa

Try staying in a tipi on the Blackfoot reservation. That is where my son and I will be staying at the end of June 2005.

ronkala

imcallusa,
that sounds interesting, how do I get information about rates, reservations etc?

ronkala

ttt

zinfanatic

Kimp- What part of the St. Mary's Lodge did you stay in? I just booked a room in the West wing- or lodge. The reservation agent tried to tell me that they don't book those rooms- or at the main lodge now because "they are in the basement". After I pressed her she went off the line and said she could book me a room in the west Lodge. She tried to get me to book an expensive room in the Great Bear Lodge, but I persisited and booked the West Lodge. The more expensive room was more than I needed. Will this be satisfactory? Zinfanatic