The owners of the Alpenhof lucked out when developers built the fancy-schmancy Village at Mammoth right across the street from their mom-and-pop motel. The place remains a simple, mid-budget motel, with basic comforts and a few niceties like attractive pine furniture. Rooms are dark and the foam pillows thin, but the damask bedspreads are pretty and the low-pile carpeting clean, and best of all you can walk to restaurants and shops. Downstairs there's a lively, fun pub; if you want quiet, request a room that's not above it. Petra's Bistro & Wine Bar, an excellent small-plates restaurant, adjoins the motel. Some rooms have fireplaces and kitchens. In winter the Village Gondola is across the street, a major plus for skiers. Pros: Convenient for skiers, good price. Cons: Could use an update, rooms above the pub can be noisy.
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