Yosemite:Alwahnee, worth it?
 

I can get 1 night at Alwahnee...but am really having trouble with that price! $432....with taxes, etc. Is it really WORTH IT??? 2 adults, 2kids (15&11). Want to get a quick view of Yosemite. Would it be just as nice of an experience if we stay in ElPortal or Oakhurst & drive in & enjoy what sounds like a beautiful drive?
Plan is we will drive to Yosemite from Carmel area & then from Yosemite, up to San Fran. Any thoughts?

I eat there and stay elsewhere. I'd check other places in the park: http://www.yosemitepark.com/

This is tough one. The first trip to Yosemite we couldn't get in to the Ahwahnee, so we stayed just outside the park. We ended up cancelling out dinner reservations at the Ahwahnee because there was no way we wanted to do that drive at night -- especially after drinking.

There is no doubt the Ahwahnee is the nicest place to stay in the entire area, but is it really a $432 room or hotel? I'd say NO. It's quaint, it's nice, but standard rooms are quite small and the baths are nothing special. If you paid that and got a room like this in a major city you'd scream bloody murder! So you are paying for the privilege of staying there. That said, it's up to you to decide if you think that privilege is worth it or not.

By the way, also while the dining room is one of the most spectacular rooms in the US, again dining there is all about the privilege of doing so. Do not expect overwhelmingly good food or service. We ate rather late one night, and our entire meal was obliterated by the constant clanging of several workers resetting all the tables for breakfast from metal rolling carts. The sound was deafening and horrible and lasted during the entire meal.

Now it seems I've made the place out to be horrible. It isn't. It's really a great place to stay. If I were going to Yosemite again, I WOULD splurge to stay there (and know that I'd reserve an earlier time for dinner).

I liked having brunch there. ITA with Neo, you are paying for the setting. Food is good not great in my experience.

I have never stayed at the Ahwahnee (can't afford it). But, like many others, I take my time skulking around the lobby every time I visit, taking in the lovely fireplace, gift shop crammed with pricey housewares, and two less-crowded rooms of climbing artifacts and photographs (my favorite). So if you do decide to be a guest, be prepared for many non-guests clogging up the beautiful common areas.
I agree with trippinkpj about the food. My husband and I splurged on dinner at the Ahwahnee for our anniversary. While service was lovely (40-something waiter told us he had worked his way up to dinner server over 12 yrs, typical for the Ahwahnee), food was delicious but not spectacular.

If you want a special food splurge in Yosemite, the restaurant at Yosemite Falls for lunch is nicer- call in advance to be seated with a view of the Falls.

We visited Yosemite twice and always stayed in Mariposa.It's close by and a wonderful drive to the park.Paul

Thank you all. I think you have all confirmed what I was thinking. It would have to absolutely knock my socks off for that price and after all, we are there to see a National Park and the beautiful outdoors.

We stayed at Yosemite Lodge and would stay there again. The view's are awesome, it's reasonable in price and the rooms are modest but very clean. We ate one night (early before sunset) at the Alwahnee and would also do that again. The dining room view is magnificent, I can't remember what I ate but I'll always remember the view.

The Yosemite Lodge dining room also has a good view of Yosemite Falls. Make reservations for a window seat.

Doesn't the Ahwahnee have a nice bar with an equally nice view? I sort of do the same, skulk around and enjoy the lobby but have hesitated to stay there. I usually wind up at the tent cabins.

We have enjoyed our stays many times at the Tenaya Lodge(Fish Camp) with our kids (13,11). The day can be spent in the park, see the major sights and have a nice lunch at Awahnee. The Tenaya is a very comfortable, well maintained hotel with two great swiming pools (indoor and outdoor) The hotel is located close to the Mariposa grove entrance. It is about 40 minutes to the valley floor, but many nice views along the way.

Hope it's o.k. if I hijacked this thread a bit and ask those who have eaten at Yosemite Lodge and Ahwahnee how far in advance I would need to make dinner reservations for August? We are staying 3 nights at Yosemite Lodge (4 of us). Stayed at the Ahwahnee and loved it at age 13 myself but couldn't stomach the price there now! I'm sure it was pricey then but I doubt comparable.

We can't get into Yosemite Lodge. Current availability shows Wawona Hotel, (what is it like to not have a bathroom? is it common showers down the hall?) Tenaya looks nice...it is really difficult to make a choice not having been there..the more I read, the more confused I am becoming!
Curry Village(tents or cabins)...is this the place people keep saying are discusting? I am so confused and I feel like I need to choose something or everything will be booked. We are looking at 3rd wk of July!!! Help!!

With only one day, I would say do anything to stay in the Park with kids. We have stayed in most of the accomodations over the last 40 years, including tent camping, with Yosemite Lodge being just fine, if you want to avoid the price of the Ahwahnee. One trick is to book anything in the park, then phone each week or so and ask if any cancellations to be upgraded. We have moved up from Curry tent village to the Lodge in a matter of weeks, by doing that.

When you mentioned that you're talking about the third week of July (of this year I presume?) you eliminated the Ahwahnee anyway. The only way you could get that place other than by booking a year ahead, would be to befriend an older person and hope he dies and wills you his reservation!

Yes, I am talking about 2006. The Alwahnee is actually available for the one night I was looking at. If we stay elsewhere (cheaper), we may stay 2 nights.

Tinamidon, don't worry. You will find a place. Go to http://www.yosemitefun.com/lodging.htm
Great site maintained by another Yosemite nut- info on pricing and comparisons of various hotels in and around the park. They even have a page on there devoted to Curry Village with pictures and details about how it is- you can make the call if it is too disgusting for you. Click on Curry Village- while you're at it, click on Housekeeping Camp, too.

FWIW, I've stayed at Cedar Lodge (120 entrance) 2x in El Portal- clean and affordable. Check out tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews. Also stayed in a heated tent cabin in Curry Village in January- didn't like leaving the cabin at midnight to use the restroom but the climate control in the cabin was surprisingly effective (not so much an issue in summer). Didn't enjoy those common bathrooms but I'll bet the Wawona ones are considerably nicer (never stayed there). Also stayed at Oakhurst Lodge- very basic but clean (disclaimer: no bedbugs for us in contrast to what someone on tripadvisor saw). Very basic con'l breakfast- bagels, coffe, no toaster.

All else fails, the little chain and mom-and-pop hotels on the approach routes to the park will have availability if you book now or very soon.

Isn't Cedar Lodge where Carol Sund, her daughter and a student from Argentina were murdered about 5 or 6 years ago?? Would never stay there, no matter how nice.

MY

Yes, that is the place. I posted on another post (maybe 2 weeks ago) about it, cause it would creep me out too.
Someone else posted this link on another, but I've not stayed at this one: www.yosemitebug.com.
It looks cute and affordable.

Dear trippin:

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way. I've been tempted in the past to post about Cedar Lodge when it's name has come up. That was a sad deal. You never know what creeps lurk around the corner.

MY

I would also recommend the Evergreen Lodge. You can check it out at www.evergreenlodge.com

I think that the Sunday brunch--all you can eat--at the Ahwahnee is a better value than the dinner, although the price has gone up considerably.

Michelle and trippin: I just booked the Cedar Lodge. I do remember that incident, although I didn't even think about it until I read your comments. I don't fully understand why you think the Cedar Lodge is the only place you might find creepy people? And I'm not sure that it's a good reason not to go there now.

Michelle Y that's a crazy statement. Carey Stayner is on death row for those crimes. Poor Cedar Lodge has to live with the rep.

Sorry everyone. I'm not saying there are still creeps there. Weirdos can be anywhere. I know Carey Stayner is in jail. But it would be creepy to stay there considering what happened.

MY

I wouldn't let the history of the Cedar Lodge deter me from staying there anymore than I would let old murders in the Santa Cruz mountains deter me from hiking there. Things happen. People have been killing each other all over this planet as long as it has been inhabited by people.

I have a group of five friends who go to Yosemite at different times. 3 out of 5 won't stay there. The other two don't care. If Michelle and I aren't comfortable with that, we need to go with our own feelings. Each person can make up their own mind.

LOL

Laugh all you want, but I wouldn't stay at the Cedar Lodge either. It is unfortunate that the CL has to live with that reputation, but it is just one of those incidents that is so creepy I prefer not to stay there. I agree that things happen and for the most part I don't let them bother me, but this is one of the few instances where I would make other arrangements.

Just humorous that you feel this is an appropriate thread to discuss your fears.

I simply do not agree. I would pay the $400 plus and stay at the Awhanee. It is historical, it is central, you won't be driving back and forth, it is beautiful. Your kids will remember it.

It is only one night. I don't choose this kind of experiance by how many tourists or what the beds are like. You can do that with the Oakhurst and El Portal motels.

Any thread that has the Cedar Lodge in it, will have different opinions. We are all entitled to our opinions, Suzie. :-)

You are certainly entitled to you opinions, but I'm not so sure that you're entitled to try to influence others' decisions because of your fears. You may feel uncomfortablestaying there, but it's not an evil, bad, risky place and I think it's pretty bad that you try to do this. It's one thing passing on information about dirty bedspreads, bad service or whatever, but this is quite different and I think you are out of line.

Barbara very well said. I deleted my post before posting it. Though it said essentially the same thing, it wasn't phrased quite as succinctly.

Has something been removed here? Which post are you referring to Barbara? At first I thought you meant trippinkpj's post, but since it even ends with "If Michelle and I aren't comfortable with that, we need to go with our own feelings. Each person can make up their own mind."
So it can't be that post you're referring to with your "You are certainly entitled to you opinions, but I'm not so sure that you're entitled to try to influence others' decisions because of your fears."

What am I missing here. Who's "out of line"?

Neopolitan, further back, trippinkpj mentions posting on another thread a couple of weeks ago:

"I posted on another post (maybe 2 weeks ago) about it, cause it would creep me out too."

I just don't think they need to be taking it upon themselves to recount the unfortunate history of the hotel. It has nothing to do with the owners or the way they run their business and I don't think it's very fair.

I thank Neo for the support.
I'm not trying to influence others, merely stating an opinion about my own feelings. I feel like I'm being censored. I won't post about my feelings any more on this subject, since it's so sensitive. FYI, please keep in mind I didn't bring up this subject myself on this post. Hopefully, I can post my opinions and feelings on ther subjects on this board, or I may not want to post here. And that's a shame because I like it here, I'm learning alot and sharing about a subject I love.

Dear trippin:

Sorry I started such a heated discussion. I just expressed my opinion on the place in question. You and I are apparently the only ones that feel this way. But that event was so sad, especially seeing Carol Sund's parents and the parents from Agentina. Broke my heart to see that dad crying in the courtroom. I know it's not the CL's fault and feel bad for them.

Please keep posting, trippin, you've got a lot to offer this forum.

MY

Thanks Michelle, I do appreciate your thoughts and general support of me. There was actually one more poster on this one and there have been other posts on the subject. Even if you and I don't bring it up, it'll come up again. Oh well, I'm exhausted on this one, LOL. :-)

Back to the original subject about the Awahnee... for my last visit to Yosemite I considered paying the $$ for the Awhanee but ended up staying at a B&B outside the park and just had dinner at the Awhanee and walked around the grounds. In the end, I felt like I'd made a good decision and don't have any regrets about not staying there. Also, IMHO, the food there is overrated but the setting is great. Lunch there might be a better way to go. Either way, Yosemite is spectacular!

Hi Npurple- I'm curious for the name of the B&B you stayed at. Also, I saw another post with a website that looks good: www.yosemitebug.com.
And thank you for getting this post back on track. :-)