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.

<b>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.</b>

No alcohol at Gouldings or in Kayenta (both on the Navajo Reservation), but Mexican Hat (22 miles north of Monument Valley) is just across the San Juan river, which is the northern border of the Navajo Reservation, and alcohol is legal and served freely here (though it's in Utah and Utah has its own funny drinking laws due to the Mormon influence).

You would have to be pretty hard up for a drink to want to stay in Mexican Hat rather than at Gouldings though ...

Note for the ladies - some of these tiny towns right in the 4 Corners area are SO tiny that you really need to come completely prepared. Or drive 50-60 miles for what you need. Amazing, but true from personal experience.

Bill - when have you last visited Utah? Things are improving all the time!

No more "private clubs" - anyone of legal age can walk in and get a drink any time (during open hours). They do tend to frown on people helping themselves when the place is closed
:-).

Liquor stores are bigger, better and easier to find!

Restaurants have the wine list right on the table now, you don't have to ask for it.

Here in Park City we just gained a nationally recognized, award winning Whiskey distillery (to go with our 3 brew pubs).

Plus, my nearest liquor store just expanded its hours to 10am - 10pm. A huge improvement in convenience.

Salute!

<b>Bill - when have you last visited Utah?</b>

Visit often, just don't have occasion drink while I'm there except maybe a beer with lunch at Moab. Sorry if I'm not up-to-date on all the new, improved liquor laws.

<b>Things are improving all the time! No more "private clubs" - anyone of legal age can walk in and get a drink any time (during open hours).</b>

No more 3.2 beer? No more 'private club' nonsense? Welcome to the 20th century :)

'Ackislander on Feb 20, 10 at 5:34am
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.'

At $490.00 per nite per room - the "View Hotel" in Monument Valley sure fits into my definition of luxury acommodation.

<b>At $490.00 per nite per room - the "View Hotel" in Monument Valley sure fits into my definition of luxury acommodation.</b>

Wow, that's really over-priced! (I just checked the View for late May and it was $240 w/ tax for a double, so not sure where the $490 comes from though).

In the olden days when I went to MV often Gouldings was under $90 in the off-off season and $150-180 in peak season, though it was usually full in peak season, which is when I'd try other places.

eganders says they are going in late May ... I just checked for grins and Gouldings was full the three dates I checked for (no surprise, it's the best deal unless their rates are now sky high too). View had rooms starting at $240.

I also checked the Hampton Inn at Kayenta and their rates for late May started at $79 + tax, with a free hot breakfast included. This is why I mentioned Kayenta as an option earlier. Many people would rather drive an extra 25 minutes and pay about 1/3 as much for the room.

Someone posted above <b>"My best friend stayed just 1 night in Kayenta and said it was a horribly depressing place. They couldn't leave fast enough"</b> ... this was surprising to me. All the on-rez Navajo towns (Chinle, Tuba City, Cameron, Kayenta, etc) seem a bit poverty-stricken to most outsiders so I guess you could consider them "horribly depressing", but the people I've met were all friendly (except for a couple of aggressive drunks in Chinle).

About the only tourist amenities in Kayenta are the Navajo Code Talker display at the Burger King, and the well-stocked Basha's supermarket (Basha's is a big Arizona chain). Other than these it's just a quiet place to get a hotel room or a meal, nothing more. Maybe these nutters were expecting Sedona North or Scottsdale Lite. They don't sound like experienced travelers to me.

"Maybe these nutters were expecting Sedona North or Scottsdale Lite. They don't sound like experienced travelers to me."

I've been traveling the area since the 70s and I'm neither a "nutter" or an inexperienced traveler.

Just one with a different opinion. ;)

Forgot to include earlier that we not only stayed at Valley of the Gods B&B one night, but also stayed in a cabin at the campground in MV. This was the only thing available. I think it was about $40 a night and it did have a nice sunrise view. There was even a "secret arch" a short 10 minute hike at the back of the campground. It was actually a fairly large arch. The cabin was pretty sad, but we did sleep well. One other option is to sleep in a Hogan. And, I might as well throw my opinion in- MV, along with the petrified forest are two of my least favorite places I have visited in UT/AZ. Certainly worth doing, just not my favs.

Was at 'The View" last fall for lunch and a lookey-see. It was crawling---no, make that swarming- with tourists in every nook and cranny, big tour buses kicking up dust. Guess it's the novelty of the new plunked down in an ancient place...

Bill H - yes, the "heathens" are trying our best to make progress! Come visit the "Independant Republic of Park City", life is different here.

Hi Starrs! :)
Can you tell me more about the cameron trading post - did you also stay there on your last trip? We've been a few times for lunch or shopping - we too loved the frye bread! - but haven't stayed there. The last time we stopped, i intentionally looked for the 'beautiful, secluded gardens' as written on their site, and thought they were anything but!
That was over two years ago however, so how is the place these days? We may have to stay there. The gardens aren't a deal breaker LOL but it did make me wonder what the rooms are like. Any other thoughts about the place? Or from anyone else who might have stayed there lately? Thanks!

Hi ellen! Good to see you here! :-)
The rooms at the Cameron Trading Post were basic rooms, nothing fancy. I chose it because I learned the hard way that it's virtually impossible to get my sister on the road in the timely fashion. The last time we were out there together, the kids were small and we didn't get out of GCNP until after 3pm. We went through Monument Valley in the dark. THIS time we were leaving the North Rim - and sure enough, she spent hours at the gift shop at the Jacob Lake Inn. We rolled into Cameron Trading Post after dark...well, after the registration desk had closed. So, the gardens were only peeked at when we got there.

The next morning we had one of the best breakfast at the trip...and then spent a few more hours in the trading post. She was SERIOUSLY shopping for Navajo rugs. So, it's not a "destination location" per se, but a good place to stay before heading into Monument Valley - and a great place to get some fry bread ;-)

Thanks, starrs. They really do have a nice gift shoppe. Did your sister buy a rug? The only other place we saw anything near the quality of navajo rugs was at the Hubbell Trading Post in the middle of nowhere, AZ.
And i know all about getting on the road in a timely fashion. Or not. LOL Which is one reason i'm looking at this place between destinations :)

Yeah, we went to Hubbell too. We made a special trip there :-) It was weird, the first time I was there it was very dry. That trip it was raining and I really got to see what a wash is all about. I stopped on the bridge to take a picture - but a ranger was there to keep me from doing it. Amazing the power of that water.

She gathered all sorts of info and narrowed down what she wanted and ordered it - a version of a tree of life rug. She even knew where on the road to the North Rim the weaver lives. She's a diligent researcher. :-) She bought me a small rug to hang and it cost a fortune. It's the thought that counts, right? It's in my closet right now.

The Hubbell Trading post does a great auction once or twice a year. I hope to get there one day.

If you go, read the Vanity Fair article I linked earlier. I WILL stay at Gouldings on the next trip.

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