Many posts here describe Signal Mountain Lodge, Colter Bay Cabins and Old Faithful Inn as "rustic". Does this mean old furnishings and lumpy beds? I'm looking for comfort but I can't afford Jenny Lake and my price range is $100 per night for 2 adults. I'm scared of some descriptions as they sound like the Addams Family's country cabin! Any reassurance please?

I have stayed in Colter Bay cabins. I found them to be clean, comfortable, warm and convenient. Since we left before sunup and came back after sun down I didn't need much more in a place to stay. The furnishing were not new however. For the area you're probably not going to find luxury for $100 per night. In fact, I've heard that for what they charge for Jenny lake, they aren't anything special either. I would stay at Colter Bay again anytime.

Siobhan,
I agree with Kath...We've stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay. They're different in character and ambiance, but not in quality. I would not hesitate to stay at Colter bay again.
Have a ball!

That price may be hard to get. You might want to try the cabins at Cowboy Village (Togwotee, not Jackson Hole). It's been a few years since I stayed there, but I found it to be rustic in atmosphere and yet clean and updated. A fellow Fodorite recommended this place a few years back and I was extrememly pleased. In fact, I loved it there.

Thanks for the replies. I know we aren't going to get luxury at $100 per night. (I dream!)But at the end of a day's hiking with weary feet, it's nice to look forward to a comfortable bed, warm room and clean bathroom to soak in the bath. We aren't being precious but with these points in mind, which would you recommend?
I am 99% convinced about Old Faithful Snow lodge @$140 per night in August for our first 4 days in Yellowstone, but not sure about Grand Teton (3 nights).

I don't know if all the units are alike, but we stayed at Colter Bay last year. It was motel-like (several attached units in a row) with wood siding--reminded me of many state park cabins. The room and furnishing were clean, but basic. Wooden chair, small wooden desk, beds, lamp, etc. The bed was comfortable. Heat blows from a unit mounted on the wall. No frills, no extras. The bathroom had a shower, no tub.

As the earlier poster said, we got up at dawn to be out to look for wildlife, eat breakfast, go hiking, take photographs, then return for a shower (and nap, if needed), then take care of chores (laundry, check e-mail, grocery shop), out to dinner, then driving and walking looking for wildlife at dusk. We'd come in after dark, lay out any damp clothes before the heat, review books and maps, and go to bed. I don't think we spent more than 2 waking hours in the room each day.

The original part of Old Faithful Inn is very old. The room was spartan--bed, chair, bedside table, sink, and an antique piece to use for glasses, towels, etc. The lights are the origials, so not very bright. The window was small. It was cold or hot. The bed was comfortable. The showers and toilets were shared down the hall.

Other parts of the Inn are newer additions with modern motel rooms. Still, they don't invest much in decorating so you won't find the most luxurious pillows, towels, carpeting, furniture, etc. Snow Lodge is modern.

Thanks Kay2, Kath, gc and jaci! We are probably going to be doing the same dawn to dusk expeditions and only in the accomodation in the evenings. So I'm feeling better about our choices.

Regarding dining, what do people eat on the trail? I would presume they bring a little rucksack with water, fruit and a sandwich for the day... but are there places to buy provisions? (or will I have to live on chips and dips that we got in Wallmart for a week?)
Also are the restaurants in Snow Lodge, Signal Mtn and Colter Bay good? Are there any that you particulary recommend? (for the food, atmosphere, views...) I also heard about chuckwagons that sound fun but can't find any info about them.
(Excuse me if this sounds naive, but I have no experience of N. American parks and don't know the etiquette)

And lastly, do we need to take towels and bedsheets/blankets with us?
Many thanks!

Stayed at Clter Bay cabins last summer. It was my wife's favorite place on our 2 month trip.

Stayed in Old Faithful Lodge Cabins. Basic but fine - only about $55 for the one with bath.

Both had all the services that you expect at a normal motel.

Need to try to book ASAP.

siobahn,
There are small grocery/general stores in the parks. In GTNP, I recall one right near the cafeteria at Colter Bay. You can certainly buy cheaper outside the park, but these stores have your activities in mind. You can get all the trail food you need, and the prices are reasonable.

Regarding dining, Colter Bay has a central cafeteria which, frankly, is great! If you go, you need to promise to get the meat loaf recipe! I do not recall if they accomodate vegetarian/vegan/kosher diets, you can probably find out that off the web site, but the food is excellent.

One night, you need to do the touristy thing. Take the cowboy dinner trail ride from Jackson Lake Lodge. It's a couple of hours out through the flood plain to a campsite where you eat beans, hot dogs, sing cowboy songs, and have a delightfully tacky evening.

Siobahn, you should book without delay. When I called early last December for mid June, many places were booked already. We did get Signal Mt., Old Faithful Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs cabins. But even if you have to make arrangements outside the parks, I'm told cancellations occur, so keep checking the park lodgings for openings.

Thank you so much gc, sluggo and everyone else. I think it tilts our choice towards Colter Bay cabins. And we're looking forward to the great meatloaf. Will post the recipe if they give it to me! Would it also be suitable for a romantic dinner (candlelight and bottle of wine) or should I just wait till I get out of the parks for that style of thing?

The cowboy dinner trail ride sounds very entertaining and a new experience for us. Is it an actual horse ride? Do I book it through Jackson Lake Lodge and does it matter if I'm staying elsewhere? I suppose I would be ok if I left the reservation until we actually got there?

Jackson has the cowboy trail ride but Roosevelt Lodge in Yellowstone also has one. At Roosevelt you can either ride horseback (more expensive) or take a stagecoach ride out to the cookout. It is a full steak dinner there. You can find out about it at www.nps.gov/parks.html


Here are some details copied from the website on the Roosevelt Lodge one:

Old West Cookout

Enjoy a delicious evening steak cookout dinner via horse-drawn wagon or horseback from Roosevelt Lodge. Reservations required.
Wagon
Adult $32.00
Child (5-11) $20.00
Horseback (one hour)
Adult $43.00
Child (8-11) $33.00
Horseback (two hour)
Adult $53.00
Child (8-11) $43.00


Sounds like fun. We are considering doing this also. I don't know the details about the Jackson one but remember seeing it on the web somewhere as well.

Also just a note as everyone else has been saying --- BOOK NOW for EVERYTHING out there. Not sure what time of year you are going - but summer is very busy and many things are already full.

siobahn,
There are small grocery/general stores in the parks. In GTNP, I recall one right near the cafeteria at Colter Bay. You can certainly buy cheaper outside the park, but these stores have your activities in mind. You can get all the trail food you need, and the prices are reasonable.

Regarding dining, Colter Bay has a central cafeteria which, frankly, is great! If you go, you need to promise to get the meat loaf recipe! I do not recall if they accomodate vegetarian/vegan/kosher diets, you can probably find out that off the web site, but the food is excellent.

One night, you need to do the touristy thing. Take the cowboy dinner trail ride from Jackson Lake Lodge. It's a couple of hours out through the flood plain to a campsite where you eat beans, hot dogs, sing cowboy songs, and have a delightfully tacky evening.

Sorry about the double post. I would assume you could do a nice dinner at Jackson or Jenny Lake Lodge. Something tells me there's a very nice dining room at the Old Faithful Lodge.

Another thing...be sure to find out the schedule and attend the ranger programs. Highly educational regarding the geography, geology and anthropology of the region.

One of the main complaints you'll find on this board and the one at yellowstone-natl-park.com (a great site with links to photos of the accommodations, the parks, local businesses, etc.) is the food in the restaurants in the parks--tends to be expensive while poor quality. If you do a search for my post when I returned last summer you'll see my experience with paper wrapper in my sandwich at Yellowstone Lake Hotel restaurant, etc.

The posters are right about reservations if you are going during the peak summer months. We were there in June and the trail rides etc. were all booked for 1-2 days in advance. Rooms were available here and there based on cancellations.

All the places you are considering will provide your bed and bath linens, probably a bar of soap, maybe not any other amenities.

Last year was our first trip and I notice my husband and I are constantly referring to what we saw, what we didn't have time for, etc. I think we'll be planning a return trip real soon. We thought the Grand Teton area and the Canyon are some the prettiest places we have been in the mountains. And nothing in the US can compare with the wildlife except Alaska. The bison, elk, bears, wolves, coyotes, pronghorn, eagles, cranes, badgers, etc. were amazing to observe from a distance.

Old Faithful Snow Lodge isn't rustic at all. it is only a few years old and is upscale.

Syy, cowboy trail at Roosevelt also sounds great. I think we will book for a night- who knows- maybe even on horseback...

Kay2, I couldn't find your trip report on the Yellowstone site (most of the trip reports were great but seemed very flora/fauna focussed and weren't really dealing with the nitty gritty details) but it's a great resource for people's opinions. And the photos are breathtaking. Thanks.

The food vs value issue does seem to fire people up on the boards. I'd rather spend more on good quality food and ambience or not much for basic fayre, than medium prices for mediocre.

It's probably being naive again, but I was sort of thinking it would be nice to have natural local fresh produce (fish, meat)to kind of go back-to-basics. I'd like to feel that I was supporting the local community too (like what gc said about the stores catering better to our needs in the park)

Thanks for all the posts. I had difficulty before even imagining the type of holiday it would be, but it's all starting to come together in my mind.

Moral of story: he who hesitates is lost. You are all right!

The old faithful snow lodge is full on the dates we wanted. It was available only the other night.

I had set my heart on it, it sounded lovely--- oh well...

We have now changed our flights and doing the trip the opposite way round so get accomodation for the snow lodge.
Can't wait!