Hi All,
Well, we are back. Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse, hiking, mountain biking, all fantastic and many thanks to all of you for the recommendations. They were all right on. Utahtea, you rock! Once again, we couldn't have made our vacation special without all of you and your advice and wisdom. Stayed at Dreamkeeper Inn first 2 nights. The hosts, Dave and Kim, the accomodations, the room, peacefulness, tranquiility, cleanliness, care the owners took in our stay, surrounding grounds, pool area, and gourmet breakfasts were better than ever. We enjoyed this place as much Desert Pearl Inn (Zion) last year. Highly rec'd and will be back. Great value! Then, we stayed at Red Cliffs. The place is dirty and I mean, dirty. Great views - that is the only plus. It is too FAR from everything, but you must take the drive down 128 while you are there. It is GORGEOUS. We hated the room, dark, dingy, dusty, living and dead bugs, hair in bathroom, gross toilet, dirt on towels. I was shocked for a place highly regarded and at $165 per night. Let's put it this way, we have never not left a tip in a room before departing - until YESTERDAY! We weren't going to leave one cent to housekeeping. Don't stay here. The food at their restuarant was also awful. The place is no "resort" as advertised. They have a pool and restaurant. Big deal! It is more like a bad hotel.

As for hiking on the trip- the hikes were incredible. we did ALL of them at arches, except tower arch.didn't get to it. sand sunes arch was really fun, different and shaded. and, very short! great for kids. we rode on the Bar M loop. they say this is for families and is flat. i disagree. it was moderate and at times very hard. not for kids. rented bikes at chili pepper bike shop. the staff is fantastic. wanted to go rafting, but opted not since i am expecting. Ate at Miguel's for Mexican. OK, not great. Ate at Moab Brewery. Good food, inexpensive and fine for what it was - casual and easy. Never made it to Desert Bistro or Center Cafe but really wanted to. Just too tired.. Loved Arches Bookstore and Cafe on Main St.
Next trip is Yellowstone and I will need your help once again. Will ask questions later.

Hi Zacky,

I'm glad you had a good time in Moab and that you loved the Dreamkeeper. It's been a favorite of mine for many years and I go down at least once a year. Some good friends just returned from their first visit and had all good things to say about the new owners. Sounds like they are keeping up the standards of the inn.

Curious, when your room at Red Cliffs was so dirty, did you complain to the management? If so, what was their reaction? If you got a room that had dirty towels, it sounds like housekeeping hadn't even been in there! I would not have stayed at all unless they gave me a different, clean room.

Thanks for the report!

We have a reservation at the Red Stone Inn in Moab. I hope that's not related to the Red Cliffs. Can you tell me if it's a different place. The names are so familiar. Now I think maybe I could change to the Dreamkeeper. We're going in October.

stayed at red stone many years ago and it was fine, just an average non chain motel. no complaints.

Husband and I were in Moab in August last year. We stayed at The Gonzo Inn right in town. Liked it alot ... the pool area was very inviting (temps were very high). We drove to the Red Cliffs one early evening and I was REALLY, REALLY glad we did NOT stay there. As you say Zacky, it is a long drive in and out and I didn't like the look of the place at all. Your description of your stay actually doesn't surprise me after having seen the place ... it just had that "look" of a place that was banking on its "location" as opposed to its actual amenities and service. Too bad that you had to stay even one night in a bad room.

If you go back to Moab again I highly recommend The Gonzo Inn. We also ate at the Moab Brewery and found it to be quite acceptable, e.g. casual but decent food. Had drinks and appies one night at the Slickrock and it was quite pleasant.

We took a 4 hour jet boat ride on the Colorado with Canyonlands by Night. It certainly wasn't "river rafting" but it was really pleasant (again the weather was stinking hot and being on the water was great). Was great seeing all the rock formations from a water vantage point.

I want to go back to Utah again soon.

Hi McKim,

Yes, the Red Rock is a different place. Very basic, non-fancy motel right in town on Main Street. I've stayed there 1 time and it was fine. Nice staff.

I'm wondering if anyone knows where the previous owners went? We stayed there a couple of summer ago and loved the inn. The gentleman owner was very kind to us as we were waiting to hear information about our son's health and were very distressed. I believe they were originally from Colorado.

Zacky,
So glad you posted this – we are going in Sept, and we’ll stay at the Dremkeeper Inn. I contemplated the Red Cliffs for a while, but too much $$$ and way too far…It seems that it was a good decision – I think I need to thank Dayle for this.

The Dreamkeeper was converted to a B&B by a couple from Park City. I won't mention names. He is a contractor and she a yoga instructor. When they owned the inn, they had a wonderful organic veggie and flower garden in the far part of the yard and a little Budda here and there.

Then the second owners bought it, again no names. However, they still live in Moab and we stay in touch. They were exceedingly kind to me when my car was rear-ended and totaled on the Potash Rd. Had to spend my stay at the inn with no car (not that I was in any condition to hike or drive) and lots of rest until a friend could drive down and rescue me.

Note: There are NO rental cars anywhere near Moab and NO taxis. Local cop gave me a ride home from the hospital.....

Enjoy the Dreamkeeper, but book early. There are only 6 rooms and many, many return guests. (Maybe I should learn to keep my mouth shut.)

Glad you had a nice time, thanks for the intel on Red Cliffs! We went horseback riding there and it was great, but had no desire to stay there for all the reasons listed above -- too far from everything, way too expensive, looked like it catered to large groups, and yes, looked like one of those old hotels with the huge lobby and great location, but small and shabby rooms. Sounds like it was the case.

BTW, we always laugh at the hiking descriptions in Utah. We figure the Utahans (?) must be some very hardy people, as they tend to rate the hiking trails as much easier than they actually are, lol. Found it to be true at both Arches and Zion.

as i said, i didn't feel the hiking was harder than posted, but the biking sure was! glad my info was helpful to folks. i have friends who stayed at Gonzo and liked it ,too, but the dreamkeeper is just special and fantastic. period! have fun and safe travels to all.