Hotels near Monument Valley
 

I have not made a reservation in a hotel for our road trip near Kayenta, Arizona. I would like to see what is offered around Monument Valley. Does anyone have a hotel suggestion for the latter part of May?

Check out Goulding's Lodge. John Wayne stayed there when he made many of his movies. City Slickers and others were also filmed here. The private balconies overlook the valley and the sunsets are spectacular. They have an indoor pool, restaurant, gift shoppe, small museum showcasing all the movies and tv shows filmed there. But you're there to see monument valley, and you can't get any closer. While the accommodations aren't luxurious, its still one of our favorite places to stay.

http://www.gouldings.com/english/index.htm

A google search will bring up lot of chain motels in the area, in addition to ellen's suggestion.

Gouldings is the original (the one John Ford and John Wayne stayed at while making films), about 5 miles from the valley drive, with a good restaurant and great views from many rooms. Have stayed here many times and it's fine. Sometimes hard to get a reservation since many tours book it by the bus-load.

The local Navajos have opened "The View" hotel a couple years ago, which is right at the rim of the valley drive ... http://www.monumentvalleyview.com/ ... haven't stayed there but the views are supposedly incredible and the reviews I've read were positive.

If these are filled or too expensive or whatever then you can stay in Kayenta, about 24 miles south. The Hampton Inn is the best one here, then either the Wetherill Best Western or the Holiday Inn (Hampton is much better, I've stayed at all three over the years).

To the north at Mexican Hat (about 22 miles from MV entrance) there are three or four non-chain motels that are OK, probably the best is the one right on the river (San Juan Inn). These are not as nice as MV or the Kayenta hotels but OK. If driving in from Utah (Moab, etc) this is a decent option, if the MV lodges are filled, which they often are.

We stayed at The View soon after it opened. We had an overpriced standard motel room with a great view of the valley. The restaurant served very ordinary food, but the prices were low.

Years ago we stayed at Gouldings and at the Holiday Inn in Kayenta. Of these three places, we preferred the motel in Kayenta where there is also now a Hampton Inn.

I've stayed to the east and the west and driven through MV, but next time I'm going to stay at Gouldings.

In any case, read this very interesting article before you go -
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/fe...t-valley200903

If you are coming to/from the Grand Canyon via Cameron, be sure to stop at the Cameron Trading Post -
http://www.camerontradingpost.com/

My sister spent hours there shopping (literally) and we had a good breakfast there too.

Their Navajo fry bread with honey was the best thing I ate on the entire trip (and the trip included Scottsdale and Sedona) :-)
http://www.camerontradingpost.com/menu2.html

eganders,

My best friend stayed just 1 night in Kayenta and said it was a horribly depressing place. They couldn't leave fast enough.

Meanwhile, I stayed at the Valley of the Gods B&B at the north edge of MV. Funky, interesting, good food and awesome views. Highly recommend, but make res far ahead.

<b>I stayed at the Valley of the Gods B&B at the north edge of MV</b>

This is probably an OK place to stay but it's about 8-10 miles northwest of Mexican Hat, so about 30 miles from the entrance to Monument Valley. If you stay here be sure to check out Goosenecks State Park (you'll pass the turn-off on the drive from Mexican Hat) and drive up the nearby Moki Dugway for great views.

"My best friend stayed just 1 night in Kayenta and said it was a horribly depressing place. They couldn't leave fast enough."

That's pretty much what we thought as we drove past the Hampton Inn. We were really glad we were staying elsewhere.

On this particular trip, we stayed at the Cameron Trading Post before and Chinle afterwards and neither were overly exciting. It just confirmed for me that, other than Gouldings, I have no interest in staying in Kayenta.

When we stayed at the Holiday Inn in Kayenta it was after a long day of driving. We were pleased with our quiet, comfortable room and to be in a place where there was absolutely nothing to do.

When we went down for dinner, we found that the restaurant was as much for the locals as for the tourists. We enjoyed the surprisingly good food, friendly service, and the diversity of our dining companions.

That was long ago, and I now remember fondly my night in Kayenta having forgotten most of many nights I have spent in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, etc.

We stayed @ Valley of the Gods B&B and that would be my choice as well.

If you don't mind a little scenic drive ~ you have the Desert Rose Inn in Bluff. http://www.desertroseinn.com/ It is about 40 miles away from Monument Valley...but the drive is worth it...over Comb Ridge past Valley of the Gods, Goosenecks, Muley Point, Moki Dugway. And the area around Bluff is so interesting in itself.
http://reddirtdawg.blogspot.com/

we stayed at Gloudings in one of the cabins in the campgrounds. If the hotel is sold out ask about the cabins. Half the price of a hotel room and a nice little self contained cabin with kitchnette. It was really nice to be right at Monument Valley.

When I was growing up, my parents and I stayed several times at Gouldings. I have wonderful memories of sitting out on the balcony of the room and watching the sunset across Monument Valley. I can't imagine that it has changed much and I can't imagine staying anywhere else in the Monument Valley area.

Watching the sun rise over the monuments from your balcony at Goulding's Lodge is more than reason enough to stay there!

@Howard, that's exactly why I plan to stay there :-)

Of all my travel experiences that one is definitely among the five most memorable....It's right up there with the first view of the Grand Canal when emerging from the stazzione in Venice and the first sighting of the Grand Canyon.

The group conclusion mirrors my own: there is no luxury accomodation in or near Monument Valley, but of course that isn't why you go there.

Visitors who enjoy a drink, with or without a meal, may find alcohol spottily available, if it is available at all.

Since alcohol is not sold on reservations, I would be interested to know if it is available at Gouldings. In Medicine Hat, all our hotel had was 3.2 beer (and margarine, no butter). Again, not really important unless your expectations are different. We were traveling with a fineschmecker who did a bit of grumbling at the local cuisine.

Hey Howard, if you haven't read the Vanity fair article about Goulding, check it out (see above).

Seeing (and lying underneath) Delicate Arch on an early spring trip was one of my "biggies". It was spring break, last week of March/early April, the trail had ice/snow on it and we were completely alone when we got there. My heart still stops when I think about it. Delicate Arch had been in all of my geology books and I couldn't believe I was actually THERE! This was circa 1979. For me it was "bigger" than the Grand Canyon. Although, seeing the Grand Canyon from the North Rim was amazing...it was more of what I imagined GCNP to be.