We are two couples that will be touring the Southwest this Spring on our motorcycles.
We have booked two nights at L'Auberge de Sedona. Have any of you stayed there? If so what are your thoughts? Any other recommendations? We need to stay somewhere within walking distance of restaurants etc., because we park the bikes in the evening and walk. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have visited a friend who stayed at L'Auberge (I stay at Junipine further up in Oak Creek Canyon.) L'Auberge is very nice, cabins and rooms by the creek, but you are sort of "down" on the creek and have no red rock views there. However, it is very close to the "Y" of Sedona so you are very centrally located for walking to eat at several places and walking to shops (although they are the most crowded and visited shops and dining, and there are some that are a bit further that you might want to drive to.) I have also dined at L'Auberge, tres chic and excellent.
WHat kind of experience are you looking for- if you want red rock views, L'Auberge is not the place. If you want counrty french coziness, it is good for that and it is on the part of the creek that goes through town, but there are other places that are very different. Do you have an idea of what you want re view, atmosphere, smaller hotel instead of a big one, etc?

Part of L'Auberge is a standard hotel (the Orchards) with red rock views, and part is comprised of the creekside cabins.
Which are you staying in?

Thank you emd for your feedback. Actually, we would love to stay somewhere that has a great southwestern feel, that is within walking distance to restaurants for dinner.
To Traveleis, we will be staying at the L'Auberge de Sedona lodge.
Do either of you have any restaurant recommendations for breakfast and dinner?
Thanks for your help!

Chico, this is a test- I have written an email to you w/alternative lodging choices tht fit your criteria, and dining but I've tried to post it twice and it isn't showing up- so am testing before i do it again

EMD:

Please keep trying - I would love to hear your recommendations. Thanks!

OK, let's try this today and see if it works. Chico, considering you want to park and walk at night, I think you have two options: #1 is to stay in the "uptown" area where L'Auberge is (this area is a right turn on HWY 89a at the "Y" junction). That area has shopping and dining to walk up and down 89a in walking distance. Since you may want red rock views and a more southwest feel, there are a few other hotel options for #1. First let me say that L'Auberge is wonderful, romantic, gorgeous cabins and furnishings while being comfortable, and expensive. You may want to just stay there. But you can check out he following for #1: a.) Los Abrigados Lodge (www.ilxresorts.com). This is NOT the same hotel as Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, although it is owned by same co. (I have listed the resort as an option under #2). The LA Lodge gives you rooms w/a private patio or terrace w/incredible red rock views. If you walked out of the long private drive that L'Auberge is on, the Lodge woudl be about a half block down on the right on 89a. The big difference is the view. L'Auberge is tucked away, their drive takes you down to the creek and that is why there are no red rock views at L'Auberge. At the L.A. Lodge it is all about the red rock views- even the pool and hot tub look out over the rocks. L.A. Lodge has kitchenettes, fireplaces, whirlpools tubs. DIning in Uptown area includes Oaxaca- causual Mexican, good margaritas, we always eat there once each trip; Cowboy Club and Silver Saddle room- Cowboy club is casual, more family oriented, and Silver Saddle is finer dining (I like Silver Saddle)- steaks, game (and some exotic stuff like rattlesnake but I only vouch for the regular steak!), seafood; L'Aubetge has Orchards for casual dining, but it isn't great, ok for breakfast; Canyon Breeze had good views, breakfast is good, lunch, dinner; and of course L'Auberge is highly rated for dinner, great French dining, but it is upscale, very expensive, and an all night affair, servers wear tuxes.
b) another lodging option uptown is is Arroyo Roble hotel and resort creekside villas. This is run by Best Western, but don't discount it yet. The hotel rooms over look the red rocks. Thr king deluxe rooms have wet bars and fireplaces. The whole place was completely redone in 1999 or so. Also, they ahve really nice huge creekside resort villas- these are like a townhome, they are so big w/private balcony. Also have indoor/outdoor heated pool, spa, exercise room, racquet courts, lighted tennis. Eating is at Joey's Pizza (good pizza), but they also have very good breakfast there. This place is not your typical Best Western. Site is www.bestwesternsedona.com.
Option #2 is to stay near Tlaquepaque, a large Spanish colonial style arts and crafts and dining village on Hwy 179. This is where the other Los Abrigados property is (the LA resort and Spa). It is all suite and on Oak Creek, several dining places in the hotle and also good dining at the Tlaq. village next door. I have eaten there and had red rock views while dining, but you'd need to ask about red rock views in their suites as i have not been in them. Also, a full service spa that I have been to. You can see the dining/shopping options at www.tlaq.com Rene's is the premier one. Steaks and Sticks at LA Ressort is pretty good steaks, chops, seafood and after dinner they have billiards available. I haven't been to Joey's Bistro there but a friend of mine likes it (Italian).I think you may also be able to walk to one of my favorite restaurants in Sedona from there, Shugrue's- wonderful red rock views and food. It is a bit down Hwy 179, across Oak creek bridge. I LOVE Shugrue's- eat on the patio outside.
One other thing: The Hyatt just opened their new Pinon Point resort- do a search here for it as someone stayed there at thanksgiving and posted on it under Sedona. I think it is right at the "Y" so you could hopefully walk to the uptown area from there also. I do not know this resort personally as I have not been to Sedona since they opened.
Personaly, I would probably stay in uptown area but check out the other options besides L'auberge there for the views, etc.
man, now I wish i was going back there this spring. I am lucky enough to have a friend who lets me use her creekside place at Junipine, but I'm not going back til next fall. Decided to hike at Zion and Bryce this spring but will miss the great dining and shopping, etc. at end of a day's hike that you get in Seodna.

Chico: OliveOyl is the fodorite who stayed at Hyatt Pinon Point over thansgiving. She posted on it again this a.m. in response to another question. Others posted this a.m. on the Hilton and Raddison Poco Diablo, but I think those are too far down Hwy 179 (the raod coming into Sedona) for you to walk to additional dining and shopping at night like you want to do- but if you are willing to stay and dine at the hotel, those might tbe additional options.

EMD

Wow! What can I say. Thank you so much for all the great information. You have know idea how very helpful you have been. Yours is the information I have been looking for, that I have not been able to find in all my research. Have you been in the Lodge at L'Auberge de Sedona. We are staying in the Lodge and not in one of the cottages. Is the property itself pretty and is it on the creek. I appreciate the information about the restaurants - the one at the lodge, does sound a little to formal.
I will check out the lodging information you gave me. We enjoy restaurants that have great food and service, but are not overly formal.
Again, thank you so much for your help.

I have not been in the lodge at L'Auberge. But I have a picture of it here in my hand, it looks to be two story stone bldg., and in the picture there seem to be rooms on one side of it that would have red rock view- I see a big red rock beyond the lodge in the pic. I'd call and ask about the views and see if you can reserve rooms w/the view. Maybe someone who has stayed in the lodge can shed more light- if you post on "Sedona L'Auberge Lodge" maybe you'll get lucky on that.
You are going to have a great time driving up through Oak Creek Canyon on the bikes!

We stayed at L'Auberge Lodge for a night in September last year. Absolutely loved it (see my trip report "Two Londoners...". Very peaceful, and so beautiful being down by the river hearing the ducks quacking - like a little oasis in the desert. Don't worry, you'll see plenty of red rock in the Southwest - it's nice to have a view of something a little different. We loved the restaurant. Sure, it's upscale, but not scarily so. And how often do you get to eat on a riverbank? And anyway, there are dozens of other restaurants just moments away.

Have a great time!

Caroline.

We stayed at Enchantment and made use of the Mii Amo Spa last April. It was wonderful. The Sunday brunch there was absolutely amazing. The views were incredible. I loved being able to hike the canyon with direct access from the property. The spa itself is very, very serene. You could feel yourself relaxing as soon as you entered.

Many thanks to you EMD and Caroline. You were both an immense help!
Caroline, I read your report - what fun -great sense of humor. I am checking to see of the L'Auberge has red rock view rooms. If so, I think we will stay there. I have reservations for the dining room one night and the second night Oaxaca sounds great.

Do either of you know anything about the hikes they have there that are combined with yoga? Sounds interesting.

We will be riding from Northern California, via Las Vegas, Grand Canyon to Sedona, then to Zion and Bryce for several days, then on to through Nevada and ending up at Lake Tahoe before returning home. It definitely will be an adventure on the motorcycles.

Again, thank you for your help. I printed out all the information you sent and will take it with me.