I am booking a terrace room at El Tovar. Is this a bad choice? Is the "terrace" the basement??
Thanks.

If it is one of the rooms we had on our honeymoon - book it book it book it. I would then confirm with the front desk that it is on second or third floor, overlooking the canyon with a sizable terrace to enjoy the views while drinking your morning coffee and dining at sunset from room service!!!

Here's my 2c on Grand Canyon hotels. Since I am basically on the rim all day (or in the canyon if hiking down even partway), and I am not the hang-out-in-the-room type, the view from my room is far less important to me.

Regardless of the room you are just steps from the rim, literally.

For early morning I like to get my coffee to go, and take a stroll along the path to soak in different views.

For evening I like to take the shuttle bus to different overlooks for better views.

If the condors are soaring as they are wont to do they may not be right in front of your hotel, so the terrace doesn't matter.

After sunset it's pitch black in the canyon anyway - nothing to see.

Yes, the terrace rooms are the "semi-basement" rooms. Why would you care? It's the Grand Canyon that people come to see, not the spectacular rooms.

We had a terrace room at El Tovar in late March a few years ago - we rose early, I ran downstairs to get a cup of coffee and brought it back up in time for sunrise. Spectacular. Almost worth the money.

I guess you can have the same experience as J62 experiences, but it did feel luxurious to have that view from your own room.

It was chilly but clear in March - a bit warmer and it would have been perfect . ..

I just checked on the name of the type of room we had - I think I was mistaken - we had what's called a view suite, not a 'terrace room' - sorry for the confusion.

Just to clarify---the "terrace" rooms at El Tovar are small rooms below grade. The window is at ground level. These rooms are less expensive, and they suggest they are a bit small for two.

The honeymoon room to which gyppielou refers is a suite---a lovely room with an outside terrace or balcony. These are the most expensive rooms at El Tovar.

Just want to say thanks to each of you for your replys!

another good option is Angel Lodge cabin with a rim view. i believe there is 4 cabins that have fireplaces that offer the best views close to the rim. perhaut ps even better than El Tovar. I agree that you are close enough to just walk, but stepping right out your room is great.

*Bright Angel Lodge Cabins

Stayed at Tovar three times ... once we had a room on the ground floor between the lobby and the exit facing the Canyon and there was a never-ending stream of people walking by at all hours talking etc.

Try to get a room off the first floor It will be much quieter.

Thanks Bill. We followed your suggestion.