We're thinking of staying at Sky Ranch in Sedona in October. Has anyone stayed there? I read that many people head to the airport for sunrise/ sunset views. Therefore, can I assume that we'll have good views and also open night sky for star gazing?

Other places we're considering are Apple Orchard Inn, Junipine Condos, Cozy Cactus, Dream Maker and Sycamore Springs Guest House. Any comments on those?

We've stayed at several locations in Sedona but have been to Sky Ranchg Lodge twice. Initially I was a bit startled as to how "tired" the rooms seemed. But it was clean and very comfortable and had a very relaxed atmosphere. Both times we had a Rim View room. I must say that this place is all about location! You'll be up on the mesa. The view is astounding! It's wonderful to spend the evening on the back porch gazing at that amazing view and all those stars. And it is inspiring to wake up in the morning with those fabulous red colorful cliffs greeting you. Even if you don't have a view room, you can have the same view by walking a few steps. There's nothing else like it.

there are 2 distinct camps on Sky Ranch..love or hate and I'm in the hate.
We've had friends stay and they couldn't believe the rustic meant dilapated.
For the price, there are a myriad of hotel options with great views and beds that you won't get a back ache.
The views are incredible but at night, you can't see a darn thing and we always hike the Airport vortex.
Bang for the buck is the BW Inn of Sedona for around $100 and that is a gorgeous room with tons of red rock views with free breakfast and shuttle service.
Hyatt Pinion is around $139 and its a new one bedroom condo in the heart of town.
Enchantment resort is lovely and nestled in the hills and they had some killer deals on expedia.com for around $250
Sky Ranch runs about $150+ and its very dusty, old and run down.
Have not stayed at any of the above motels you have mentioned.

We have stayed there twice and would definitely stay again. It is certainly not fancy. But it is very clean and the beds were quite comfortable. It was nice having a refrigerator and a microwave, and the view from our "view" room was fantastic. A great place for morning coffee or evening drinks before heading to dinner.

Sky Ranch Lodge is definitely NOT dusty or run down. And rates run from around $180 to $90 for a garden room.

RJ..
We go to Sedona a couple of times a year for the last 20+ years and the Lodge has been on our radar for sometime, so maybe next time, we will stay there.
They have room rates at their luxury resort for as low as $189 with full breakfast..heard only great things!

We take our plane into Sedona airport and for the life of me, I don't get Sky Ranch and since our friends had to ask to be moved since the level of dust was so horrific from the road.
What's the point of staying in a $90 room with no view?
I don't know how you travel Mike and if Sky Ranch works for you, great, but for the amount of money, which is double anywhere else and you get gorgeous views from the BW..all for $100!
All the places have fridge, and use of microwave is at the breakfast bar that is open 24 hours.
Like I stated in a previous post that either you love or hate.

As you said, people either love Sky Ranch or hate it. I love the location, away from the hustle and bustle of uptown and west Sedona. But I really don't get the comment about dust, since Sky Ranch is on a paved road. Yes, the pavement does end just past Sky Ranch closer to the airport, but I haven't seen a lot of dust.

In any case, there certainly are a lot of people who DO enjoy Sky Ranch. And, if you haven't stayed there, why pass along second or third hand "recommendations". For all we know, your friends had another ax to grind.

As I said, I have stayed there and would stay there again.

My friends have no 'ax to grind'.
Comments like that are uncalled for.

I've had several friends stay there and everytime we fly in, I always go and walk around to see what am I missing?

Have you stayed anywhere else in Sedona?

I talk to the maids, the help and the people who stay and its a mix bunch of wish I didn't stay here to, I love it.

If you love it great, but its not like I've never been in the rooms, had drinks with my friends in their room.

I have no ax to grind either, I just don't get this place for the money!

Yes, I have stayed at other places in Sedona. In fact, we own a timeshare at Los Abrigados Resort and have stayed there several times.

BTW, if you can get a room at the Best Western Inn of Sedona for $100, in October, please do let us know how you do it. Because the lowest I have found is $179 (AAA rate). That would be about double Sky Ranch's lowest rate.

Annyway, in response to the OP's original questions:

1. Yes, I have stayed there, and love the views.
2. Yes, it is a great place for stargazing because it is away from most of the lights, particularly if you head up closer to the airport.

Mike-- I was going to ask the same question about how ksucat can get a rate of $100 for Best Western. $179 was the lowest I found, too, for October. What's your secret code cat?

I think it's important to note that Sky Ranch has very basic motel rooms. but the people that like staying there go for the location/views. It's just as well that not everyone likes it; that way it won't be all booked up.

The rate was on expedia a couple of weeks ago.
I do see that the Kokopelli is $63 on expedia which is a decent hotel.
I stayed at the BW Inn of Sedona in late Oct. of last year for $99 and in Feb. for $109, so rates do fluctuate almost on a daily basis.
In the last couple of weeks, hotel rates have been all over the board.

We are in the process of procuring a estate homesite at Seven Canyons in Sedona, so we've been more in the last 6 months and have gotten great rates through expedia.com
Tom Weiskopf did a fab job on the golf course.
Talk about killer stargazing!
Enchantment resort is another favorite of ours and they had a casita special of $250 a night which is a killer deal!

Best to you Clousie!

Thanks for the conflicting comments. I guess I'm also still conflicted in my head as to where to stay. I like the idea of being up out of the town. A basic room is okay as long as it's clean, especially the bathroom. Any comments on cleanliness?

Perhaps I should start a more general thread to get comments on the other properties. A couple look kind of funky, but maybe that would be fun, too.

Sounds like no one has comments about the other properties, and I haven't stayed at any of them.

My wife is VERY picky about cleanliness in hotel rooms, bathrooms, in particular. And she was quite satisfied with Sky Ranch Lodge.

LOL
when are you going in October?
What's your budget?
Did you see that the Kokopelli inn is $63 a night?
There are many funky motels in Sedona/Cottonwood that are pricey when there are so many wonderful deals are to be had in Sedona..October too.
I've never heard of any of the places you mentioned but maybe they are not members of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.
Here is a list of hotel/motels.

www.visitsedona.com/listings/164

That's what I needed to hear, Mike

You said you also have a timeshare at Los Abrigados, and I checked that out, too. I guess if we wanted to hear the whole speel about time shares, it could be a good value. However, the reviews on Trip Advisor aren't so good. Do you prefer Sky Ranch over LA?

What a riot..being a part time travel writer around the world, I laugh at how you won't listen to me but you'll listen to someone who has a timeshare with bad reviews on TA!

Has anyone stayed at the Sedona Summit or the Ridge of Sedona Golf?

FYI, the condos at Los Abrigados have been upgraded in a major way over the past few years. Our 2 BR we stayed at last October had been completely redone the year before.

I'm not sure what you mean by "bad reviews, ksucat. I guess only getting 3 1/2 stars out of 5 consists of "bad reviews"? Or only 9 of the last 10 reviews that gave it 4 or 5 stars? Let's face it, EVERY hotel / timeshare / B&B gets some bad reviews.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...a.html#REVIEWS

I was suppose to know you're a part time travel writer, ksucat??????????

ksucat: "being a part time travel writer around the world, I laugh at how you won't listen to me but you'll listen to someone who has a timeshare with bad reviews on TA!"

WOW!!! That just really blows me away. A travel writer who has passed judgement without having actually stayed at the places he is dissing!!! ksucat, I don't doubt you can give great insight into places you have experienced, whether it be hotels, B&Bs, or restaurants. But to give a blind "review" based on a "friend's" experience or based on "bad" reviews by 10% or so of people who posted on another website seems to me to be NOT what travel writing is about. That will certainly make me take reviews by "travel writers" with a big grain of salt.

I certainly don't want to get into anything with you, but the OP really DID ask for opinions from people who had actually STAYED at Sky Ranch.