Just became a Fororite. Reviewed the last 100 messages. Great site; great info.

Saw Sedona hotel info, but mostly more than I want to spend - $100 tops. Don't need fancy, but definitely need clean & safe.

LaQuinta Inn - is it clean, safe? Is it more than 5-10 minutes from Sedona dining, etc?

Any other recommendations that fit the bill?

Thanks, Julie

ooops - "fodorite"!

Julie: I stayed at Desert Pearl on Hwy 179 on the way into Sedona in the Village of Oak Creek for 4 nights the weekend before last. $59 for king or double queen; I stayed for $89 in a king 4 poster bed w/a gas fireplace, full size sofa, fridge w/fresh fruit in it, coffee maker, microwave. Really good value. Good reviews on tripadvisor and on here. I liked the Village of oak Creek, not a bad 5 mile drive into Sedona (where I went every day to hike) and away from the crowds and traffic. A nice community feel; the restaurants I went to there were filled w/locals. the Village is in the red rocks too (bell Rock is right there).

also had a ceiling fan over the bed, which I liked. The hotels in Village of Oak Creek border right on Hwy 179 (two lanes) but Desert Pearl had individual heat/air units in the rooms and when I turned my fan or heat on I coudl hear no noise outside at all. I think La Qunita is also on Hwy 179, right?

Have you thought about renting a timeshare? There are some great deals out there on rentals at www.vacationregister.com or www.sellmytimeshare.com just to name two. I'm going to Sedona Memorial Day week and I found a 1 bedroom timeshare at The Ridge on Sedona Golf Course for $500 for a week which I thought was a great price.

Good Luck!

Nancy

Julie: there is not much to do in the Sedona area at night, but check out the big screen theater in the outlet center in Village of Oak Creek. They have first run movies in afternoon and night (they show an Imax movie on Sedona during the day). Two wks ago they were showing Hotel Rwanda and Return to Neverland.
Also recommend the Marketplace Cafe located at the Outlet Center for dinner (live jazz piano on Wed, Thurs, Fri evenings, casual and good food) and Minami on Hwy 179 in the Village for great Japanese and sushi.

Thanks for your replies. emd, I found a Desert Quail Inn on 179, but no Desert Pearl? And yes, LaQuinta is on 179.

Also, anyone who wants to give me more dining info, would appreciate it. Thanks emd for your suggestion.

We like about anything from Mexican, Italian, home-cooking, to seafood. Love good buffets because then we can pick & choose & get a little bit of lots of things. Prefer low to mid price; only $25 meal we eat is our local seafood buffet which has hot crablegs - yum, yum!!

check out the Sky Ranch Lodge. We stayed there a few years ago in a room for 4, and it was less than $100 (maybe $85ish). It very peaceful, atop a hill, wiuth some great views.

oh geez-- yes it is Desert Quail! I confused the name w/Desert Pearl where I stayed in Utah on a hiking trip in October.
I'm discombobulated today, packing for a trip to Japan that I've been planning for months- sorry for the confusion.

I like Oaxaca for Mexican food (take a right at the "Y" intersection (it's really more of a "T" intersection of Rt 179 and 89A in Sedona. Oaxaca is on the left. Upstairs dining gives you some red rock views off over the Best Western. Good margaritas if you go for that, and pretty good inexpensive Mexican food. A fun place.
I don't think there are any buffets in Sedona. It isn't actually known for the greatest in food (what is great is very expensive) but it is generally good enough.