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August 2009
This was an enjoyable night rest after a few nights of camping with the kids, and before heading into Yosemite Park. We stayed in the cottages/cabins and enjoyed the Pizzeria in the evening. Fantastic value (off season) and certainly a place I would return to again, especially if it's in between camping and you have laundry to do. (traveling with 3 kids gives reason for this stay)...
I could imagine coming back and starting off a ski holiday here.
I was underwhelmed with my stay at Tenaya after having stayed at the Vino Bello. Our room was spacious and reseaonable clean. The bathroom was tiny and the overall facilities felt tired. For the price I would have expected more, like a flat screen tv and a comfortable bed. Some of the resort is decorated with a kitchy Midwestern/Native American feel. Kinda like Chili's.
The restaurants were decent, but their prices were absurd. We spent 40 on breakfast. Your average two eggs, toast, bacon, and juice are about $15. If you want to go the buffet route, be prepared to pay $18.
Ohh and avoid the Timberloft at all costs. That place is a disaster.
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We stayed here as a reward for a long day of hiking and eating crackers and peanuts, and it was definitely an awesome place to end up.
The lodge is a little off the beaten path, in absolutely beautiful surroundings. We had a cabin, which was very private, and had access to a small backyard of sorts with chairs. The room itself was spacious, comfortable, had a large bathroom, and fantastic soap-- I might need to track it down and buy it somewhere, the soap was great.
The only complaint was that our cabin / suite shared a wall with another one, and it was not a very sound proof wall. There was a family that arrived late and left early next door and we could hear every word they said / that the father yelled at the kids, which was not very pleasant and woke us up.
Unfortunately, we were there for one exhausted night only and didn't have time to take advantage of any of the amenities, the pool and spa looked awesome, we will have to check that out next time.
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I have been here for Christmas around 4 times and I love it. Great way to have a white Christmas if you are in the Bay Area with a easy commute. There are tons of activities that you can participate in. Snow shoeing, ice skating, skiing (Badger Pass) etc. They usually have special events for kids too. I remember a chocolate buffet one year that was awesome. They also bought the property next door which has cottages which is really nice. I feel like I should keep this place a secret but hey I am nice, give this place a try .... for Christmas.
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Several reasons to stay at Tenaya Lodge
1. The rooms were spacious and clean. Similar in design and size to a full-service Marriott room. The beds were comfortable and decorated with rustic color tones. On the office desk sat a reading lamp, spa magazines, and hotel information.
2. The bedroom window opens wide to the clean, cool mountain air with views and scents of cedar trees. Great natural air conditioning.
3. A small refrigerator perfectly located in the bathroom area (not the sleeping area) allowed us to cool water, fruit, and chocolate.
4, Free parking. Although the front lots may fill early, we found plenty of parking behind the hotel. We had no problem entering the building from this side.
5. Friendly staff.
6. Small pack of Excedrin with 4 pills: $1.50. No gum sales.
7. A sinful breakfast buffet with scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, pastries, oatmeal, juice, milk, cold cereal, etc...
8. A central laundry room with washers and dryers.
9. Away from the Yosemite Valley crowds.
10. A complimentary business center with 2 computers for checking email and printing boarding passes.
The hotel has either been renovated recently, or is very well maintained. My room was in good shape, and thoughtfully designed (e.g., two people could use the bathroom at once with no problems). For some late night mind killing, they had a nice selection of channels and movies on the TV. The bed was comfortable and in good shape.
We ate at Embers the first night. Definitely on par with higher end bay area restaurants. The ingredients were fresh, and nicely prepared. In particular, the fruit we ate at all of the restaurants was very, very good. The specialty of Embers seemed to be dessert; the blackberry cobbler was really killer, and the preparation of the flambéed coffees had the attention of everyone in the restaurant. We ate at Sierra for one breakfast, which was perfectly fine. The bar and grill place was sub-par, with a terrible beer selection, but we were so tired after doing Upper Yosemite Falls, we didn't really care.
The day after our hike, we did hit the indoor pool. There were not too many people there. The pool area was clean, well maintained, and stocked with lots of towels and chairs.
I thought the overall service at the place was quite good. Several members of our party got sprains on the way down the hill, and we missed a reservation-only event planned through the hotel. Once we explained what happened, they promptly refunded our money for the event, and gave us some free medical supplies. The little store on the first floor had the remainder of what we needed, and the prices were high, but not at all exorbitant. When we left, we were expecting to get charged $10 per day for the valet, but it was free. The waiters in Embers were professional but friendly, and delivered our orders properly.
The complaints about the place being taken over by kids is true. I like kids, but it was definitely a bit annoying. Not Disneyland annoying, but annoying. I could speculate about the sociology of the situation, or attempt to find fault, but I won't. All I will say is that, if you can't handle kids running around and making noise, then don't stay here.
The location is, overall, nice. The views from much of the hotel are beautiful. The drive the valley floor is a bit long (40-50 minutes), and you either need to leave a bit early in the morning, or be prepared for a 10-15 minute wait at the south entrance.
As far as the price goes, its not exactly cheap, but I think that all of the claims of the place being _way_ overpriced are a bit ridiculous. The room that I had was probably 85% as "good" (both design and maintenance) as the Four Seasons on Market, or the Hyatt Embarcadero, and the price was certainly no higher. I think people expect that because its not downtown SF, or Paris, or the Seychelles, that it should be $50 per night. Get real.
Overall, for anyone who doesn't want to have to worry about their accommodations after doing some tough hikes, and doesn't really want dorm-style bathrooms, this place is definitely a good choice.
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After reading the reviews on Yelp I was practically expecting some kind of dilapidated hotel, and a horrible experience at Tenaya. We didn't have too many options for accommodations, because it was a last minute trip. It could have been the case that our expectations were so low, that when we spent our time there we were pleasantly surprised, but I honestly did not think that the hotel was bad.
Yes, the room was very expensive compared to nicer rooms I've stayed in for much cheaper, but you can't make price comparisons between hotels that are in different markets. Even the Days Inn nearby is much more expensive than other Days Inns in different areas.
We stayed in a Deluxe Room: two double beds, with a roll away bed to accommodate five occupants. At first I thought the double beds were too firm, but they were actually very comfortable to sleep in. Probably depends on the type of mattress you prefer though. There was a small refrigerator we used to store the soda and water we brought. The room was fine for us. It was not that big, but we didn't spend too much time in the room. At times it took forever for the elevator to come.
We ate breakfast and dinner at the Sierra. It was good, but it did take a while for our food to come. I had the prime rib, and it was a little salty, but it still tasted really good. The yorkshire pudding it came with, in my opinion, was better than the yorkshire pudding at the House of Prime Rib in San Francisco. The dessert was really good. I had some kind of dark chocolate mousse dessert. Really yummy. My dining partners said the carrot cake was really moist and good as well.
The staff were all very nice. The concierge was very helpful. This was our first time in Yosemite, and we had someone in our party that could not walk very far, and she was able to make some recommendations. She was very informative, and even let us know that parking fills up quickly so we should go early. She was right by the way. I believe we got to the park around 9:30am or 10ish, and parking was almost impossible. We got lucky. There was a gift shop, which contained many of the same items in other gift shops located within the park.
Overall we liked it at Tenaya. Next time we might try one of the hotels that are actually within the park. The drive into Yosemite from Tenaya was not bad, but it's a pain to fight for parking. So, it would have been nice to be staying at one of the hotels where the free shuttle was nearby.
Oh yeah! Our iPhones had no reception in the area. Another one in our party had reception through Sprint.
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Nice hotel but EXTREMELY average and definitely NOT worth $289 a night. The only reason they get away with it is because there are really no other options and everything in Yosemite books up fast. This place offers convenience (or so it seems)... restaurants, deli, gift store.. but it's all mediocre at best. The sandwiches in the deli were disgusting and the service in the restaurants (especially the Sierra Room or whatever it's called) was basically awful.
Do your best to plan ahead and book at Wawona (or even Yosemite Lodge) if you're there for the Yosemite experience... this place just isn't worth the $.
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For the anti-camping out there, staying at a lodge or in cabin is a great way to enjoy Yosemite. Tenaya Lodge, is a few minutes away from the park entrance, not in the park itself, and offers good accommodation, but at very high prices. If you're a young adult looking for a rustic yosemite experience, this probably isn't the best place to stay. If you're a family, looking for a comfortable kid-friendly environment Tenaya is great.
The cabins they advertise are in fact rooms split up into standard hotel rooms (3 per cabin), so they aren't nearly as spacious as you think. The kitchenettes are more of a counter with a coffee maker. The pool is nice, but gets very busy in the afternoons when everyone returns from their hikes. The buffet breakfast was very nice with all the usual options available. You can even sneak away with a few snacks for the road. The best thing about the hotel was definitely the free board games they have for you to enjoy in your room. I recommend Apples to Apples!
Our family just returned from Tenaya and I don't think we could have had a better time! They are completely dog friendly which is why we picked Tenaya. When we got to the room there were dog beds, leashes, potty bags, dishes, squeaky toys plus squeaky balls AND rawhide bones! The room its self was very big. We had a king sized bed and there was a good size dining area. The bathroom shower had great water pressure. All three lodge restaurants and room service were beyond expectations. Even the buffet breakfast was amazing (sausage, bacon, eggs, potatoes, pancakes, french toast, cereal, fruit bar, coffee). They make their chicken noodle soup and chili all right there and it was the best soup I'd ever had in my entire life. I am hoping to email them and ask for their recipe. Every staff member we spoke with was polite, courteous, cheerful and helpful. The valet man not only greeted us but our dogs too! The beds were comfortable and I loved being able to walk out of the sliding door right onto the lawn and look out at the valley. Not only do I hope to go back but I would recommend it to everyone!
Nestled in the beautiful Sequoia-filled mountains right outside of Yosemite National Park, the Tenaya Lodge is for folks who want to visit Yosemite without roughing it. I like the whole camping/sleep under the stars thing, but my parents don't, so we chose to stay here for a night while visiting the park.
Strengths:
1.) Pretty good value. It's pretty pricey compared to a Holiday Inn or whatever, but it is a much better value than the even pricier Ahwahnee and Wawona hotels, in my opinion. Sure it's a little old, but what hotel in Yosemite isn't? Some people here commented that the beds were uncomfortable, but no one in my family felt this at all. I slept perfectly. Oh, and make sure you get a room with a view facing the beautiful trees!
2.) It is pretty close to the park, around thirty minutes.
3.) There is a restaurant and a pool if you would like to relax after a long day in Yosemite, especially during the summer.
4.) It still has the feel of a resort, which is great for a relaxing vacation in what I believe is quite possibly the most beautiful area in the world.
Areas for improvement:
1.) Extra charge for Wi-Fi? In this century? It's $7 here. It should be free for all guests.
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I recently stayed here during Memorial Day weekend. The hotel rooms were not bad, but the service was horrible. I am not sure if they just weren't organized or ready for the summer crowds, but the service at the restaurant was chaotic and unorganized.
We were eating dinner at the restaurant after a long day of hiking. There was confusion when we were buzzed (to let us know that our table was ready) as they mentioned once we got to the hostess that it actually was in fact not ready (however when I peeked in, I saw that somebody had already seated a member of our group at the table). I ordered the chicken (which was extremely DRY) and it seemed like we had to wait at least 15 minutes for drink refills. They had about 5 extra waiting staff that stood around the bar having conversations while guests were waiting for their food, refills, and checks.
To make matters worse, one of the waiters dropped a pint glass, a piece of the glass flew over the table, and hit me in the face (which cut my cheek about an inch and a half below my eye and started to bleed). I know this was a complete accident and the manager on duty was able to help clean it up and put a band aid over it. What was bad was the fact that they couldn't give me more than one alcohol wipe, a couple extra band aids, and a small first aid kit sized neosporin. They gave us a free meal (which wasn't good to begin with) and that was it!
For the length of the drive that it took to get into the valley, and the lack of customer service, I would recommend staying at the Wawona or somewhere in the valley!
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Came back here for my birthday dinner, since we just had desserts last time. Out door seating was nice, but the service was total amature hour! Our drink order was taken but she returned like 15 min later...and then took the food order....took forever for the food to arrive! The table next to us just said forget the entrees and ate some apptixers and left! Food was passable but mos def not worth the preimum price. I say just take a pass on this place and go to the BBQ place in Oakhurst.
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This review is of the Bar and Grill restaurant. We came just for desserts. The service was really… Read more »
It is more than 3 stars but definitely not 4 stars....
Pro.:
Very dog friendly. For a pet friendly room it was nice and comfortable. They prepared a little gift for my dog (toys, treats, bed, leash)
It's close to a shopping center (like 10 miles away).
Staff was very friendly and accommodating.
The room was clean and made on timely manner while we were gone.
Con.:
The beds were pretty uncomfortable. After a long hike we couldn't really get a good rest because of the bed.
It is still a drive to the valley (around 30 miles away from the hotel).
I think the rooms were definitely not worth the money we spent for the night. (200$) it is kinda overcharged.
But all in all Yosemite itself was definitely worth the trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The place is defiantly a great getaway form the busy city. The decorating is ok, paintings and pictures of the waterfalls and the beauty of Yosemite. But the rooms are not all that great for the price. but i guess thats what happens when there is not a lot of competitors around, or any. Its a nice place but it did not impress me as much as i wanted it to.
Overall i had a good stay.
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So you fancy yourself an "outdoors" kinda person but can't stand the thought of digging a trench for your "morning glory".
Hiking the high Sierras your cup of tea, so long as you can get some high quality cup'o tea?
Roughing it means not being able to hit the hot tub past 9:00 PM?
Well, Tenaya is your place.
Mind you, at 3 miles outside the South Entrance of Yosemite National Park, it's not exactly "conveniently" located near Yosemite....if by conveniently you mean you can wake up 5 minutes from Yosemite Valley. But on the other hand, for the price and the amenities.....and more importantly, availability, it's convenient enough.
So it does try too hard to be the Ahwahnee, but on second thought, that's not such a bad thing. It still has a way to go, and the location does not help, but for me, it's surely manageable and comfortable enough. The South Entrance is also the site of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, so that in and of itself, is a plus.
Oh, and after slugging it out the better part of 2 days hiking up and down Yosemite with the Little Man in tow and Mr. Port-A-Potty's everywhere simmering in the 80 degree heat (hint....think thick clouds of greenhouse gases), nothing sounds sweeter than the sound of a high pressure flush system.
Bear that in mind the next time you book a reservation at Housekeeping Camp.
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The Tenaya is okay. The lodge itself is beautiful and decorated very rustically. The rooms are fairly modern and clean with gorgeous views. The beds were comfortable. Good wifi, but poor cell phone service (better on the west side of the hotel, the side the entrance is on). The food downstairs is so-so, but there seems to be something for everyone--from the health-nut to the homestyle eater. There's a bar with TVs adjoining a diner-like restaurant and then a more formal dining room. For a quicker bite, there's a small coffee bar/deli next to the restaurants. The convenience store downstairs is ridiculously overpriced, so definitely stock up on beverages and snacks elsewhere before you settle in at the Tenaya. Overall, the rooms are more affordable than those from the hotels in the park (esp. the Awahnee), but still a bit pricey.
Note: You are a good 45-60 minutes from the valley floor of Yosemite NP and outside the south gates. Beware of the CHPs on the drive there, too.
You want to get away from home and escape to the wilderness but you're also not quite feeling the whole "roughing it" approach. Tents, campfires and bears oh my! You'll do that another time. You also don't have the budget nor the forethought to book a room at the popular Ahwahnee in Yosemite Valley.
Book a room just south of the park at the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp. (Ignore the immediate conclusion that anything in "Fish Camp" would be fishy.) It's simply a cheaper way to enjoy the wilderness by day and still be comfortable at night.
1) THE ROOMS... were clean, comfortable and best of all, affordable. We secured a rate of 149 a night... which was perfect. Be warned that the walls in the hotel ARE thin... but hey, it's thicker than your tent, with much more privacy!
2) THE STAFF... were incredibly friendly, almost uncomfortably so. It might just be the whole small town thing but WOW these people were hunky-dory nice. My only beef here was that the woman in guest services couldn't make any useful recommendations for hiking, beyond walking around the Tenaya Lodge property.
3) THE SPA.... While I can't comment on their actual spa services, we did enjoy a dip in the outside jacuzzi as well as a trip to the sauna in the locker room. :-) It's a nice soothing touch for your weary hiking legs.
4) THE FOOD... was only ok. They have a bar/pub called Jackalope that offers... bar food. This place was jam-packed with parents and their chattering broods.The "fancier" option is the Sierra restaurant, which seemed to cater to the elderly set, or perhaps anyone at the hotel without children in tow. We opted for the latter and found the food underwhelming.
NOTE: I agree with the other reviewers that the Breakfast Buffet is pretty dismal BUT it is totally customizable. Ask your waiter and they will bring you eggs made to order (fried, poached, younameit) and other items not offered on the table like toasted english muffins etc.
TIP: bring a plastic baggie to breakfast and pile up on all the trailmix options in the Buffet. You'll have something to snack on during your hike!
5) THE LOCATION... is just 2 miles south of the park but a good 32 miles to Yosemite Valley along winding roads. SO...if you really want an early start on the trails, you might consider staying in Yosemite Valley.
All in all, a great option for those who like to hike but like to take their wilderness with a jacuzzi and a glass of wine.
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I was also there for Memorial weekend and I have to agree with the previous post, the service at the restaurant was terrible. They made me wait for everything: from ordering, getting a glass of water, and for the check. The waiters really didn't care. They were having a good time chatting to each other.
Overall, I expected something better for the price. This place is by no means a resort. The AC stopped functioning couple hours into the night, and the place was a bit old. Our coffee maker also broke down on us and they didn't have an extra one handy.
I would also recommend staying someplace else.
Went to the Tenaya Lodge for the first time on Sunday with the Leukemia and Lymphoma's Hike For Discovery Group and when I drove up the place looks awesome very expensive and stylish resort looking.
They offer free Valet Parking - was told by the valet guy that I could leave my keys and come back to my car after check in to get my luggage (he later was kind of pissey with me because I did not understand that there was a bell man to help me with my bags). Made it seem like if I wanted to carry my own bags that I should have parked my car myself too.
The rooms are nice but the bathrooms are small and tiny. One light that is like a heat lamp and doen't really light up the shower and toilet area when taking a shower.
Sunday evening I got to the bar and have a drink come back and the door key doesn't work - go back to the lobby and the front desk recharges my card. Tells me the door may need batteries and if it happens again they will send engineering up.
So later that night my roommate can't get into the room, and has to go fix his key.
Monday I go eat breakfast in the Sierra Restaurant and had a lovely delicious meal. Walk all the way back to my room and the door key doesn't work again. Had to go all the way back down to the lobby and told them this was the second time I had to get this done, and my roommate had to get his card fixed last night too.
They asked me if I had my card charged or both of ours last night and I said I am not sure what my roommate did, they said that when one person's card gets recharged the other is made invalid unless they are done both at the same time. They also asked me again about the battery life thing and said they would have an engineer come look and he too found nothing wrong with the door like the guy the night before.
Their customer service is not really good, the bartenders are slow in the bar, and the events desk are not really friendly.
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Stayed in the newly acquired "cottage" cabins, just outside the main hotel area. The room was OK but not great, and certainly not what I'd expect for the money. It didn't help that I was stung by a wasp in my room shortly after checking in. The mattresses are really hard - great if you like hard mattresses, I guess. The room had a microwave, small refrigerator and a small coffee machine. The only sink was in the bathroom. The coffee they give you for the machine is terrible, so if you care about getting a decent cup, bring some of your own. Also, the cafe at the lodge is just average and a bit overpriced.
A warning: their "concierge" service is hell bent on selling you whatever additional packages they can. I've been to Yosemite enough times to sort through what they had, and actually enjoyed the flashlight hike they offered, but for someone unfamiliar with the park in general it would be pretty easy to get ripped off. I was annoyed enough that I gave advice to a couple other families who where down there. Probably cost them a couple 100$ of business. I don't feel at all guilty about that.
One pleasant surprise was the bar in the pool area. It was surprisingly well-stocked, and the bartender was both friendly and good.
Had dinner one night at "Jackalopes," which is one of the three restaurants on site. It was the most expensive and least good meal I had on the trip. The food seemed like it came straight out of a Sysco catalog, with no additional thought and little preparation applied. I suggest driving down to Oakhurst for dinner, or up to the Wawona lodge in the park.
My boyfriend and I visited Tenaya Lodge at the end of our winter break. It was after all the kids had returned to school and in the middle of the week. We had such a fabulous time. The staff are very friendly. The accommodations are fabulous and it is a great place for a romantic getaway or just a relaxing mountain weekend.
If you want to ski, Badger Pass is a little less then an hour away and if you just want to play in the snow, it's right out the door. It really is a fabulous place and if you pick a less crowded time, the price isn't that bad.
After roughing it in the wild all day, you'd be more than likely begging for some luxury (ESPECIALLY a long soak in the hot tub and snuggle down into a comfy bed) at the end of the day. This hotel nestled amidst absolute wilderness provides the ultimate comfort and luxury that you'd be begging for. You'll also appreciate the hotel's indoor and outdoor (heated) pool, indoor and outdoor hot tub, spa services, fitness center, restaurants,...If you're into "glam camping," or camping sans the "roughing it" part, you'd appreciate the amenities that this hotel provides.
With all seriousness, communing with nature is truly very transcendental an experience, but doubly so if one has access to a nice warm shower, a luxurious bed, a warm meal in between.
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I took my wife here for a Labor Day weekend get-away. The weather was perfect, the room was awesome, the views were great, and the food was pretty good. Though I didn't pay full price for this room and I would not have if it was me paying for the full price. Over-priced for the room we got if we had to pay in full.
The nice thing is that this resort is only about 5 minutes from Yosemite's south entrance near the sequoia's. The air was so clean and the sights were awesome.
The food was good but I wouldn't say it is great. For the price, I say mediocre. but man, their Long Island Iced Tea is poh-tent! ;-)
Now the best thing - the service was probably the best I have ever experienced anywhere. From the valet to the front desk to the masseuse - it was awesome!
We stayed here in March when the rates are very low. I loved the hotel because it is comfortable and the rooms are nice. We enjoyed the hot tub at night. I hadn't considered staying here before, but came when I saw the rates for off season. It was very cold the first day, but the second day was nice for visiting the valley, with temps in the 50's. It is about 45 minutes drive. Be aware the in room movies are 10.99 to 13.99 - what are they thinking!!
The surprise was how good the Sierra restaurant was for dinner. We tried it the first night, not expecting much since it is a hotel restaurant, and it was so good we looked forward to returning the second night. The first night I had a vegetable napoleon, which was really delicious! My husband had the scallop and shrimp noodle bowl - also good. The second night we had the pork chop and the NY steak. Also both very good.
I highly recommend the dessert 'fries and ketchup', made with fried sticks of pound cake and strawberry sauce "ketchup", and served in a paper cone. Really good and cute. We weren't so crazy about the hazelnut bread pudding - it had a strange spongy texture.
The breakfast buffet was not as delicious, just passable. The pastries all came right out of a package, and the eggs had a mealy texture. None of the fruit was ripe except the prunes! :) Liked the quiche and french toast.
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Want a quiet, romantic get-away in the mountains? Do not go to Tenaya Lodge. If you love being around completely out of control, screaming children, then you will love this place.
If you like paying 379 a night for a cottage suite, only to have 6 kids and 2 adults crammed in a single room right below you, yelling and screaming and stomping around at all hours of day and night - then this place is your dream come true.
It's kind of like a sleep-over version Chuck E. Cheese, without any of the cool games, plastic ball pit, or singing robots.
I'll never stay at Tenaya Lodge again, unless I happen to adopt a really mean dog that dislikes screaming, out of control kids more than I do. Every dog gets a free bite, you know. And Tenaya is pet friendly.
Two stars because it's so close to Yosemite.
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For a rural location like fish camp, Tenaya Lodge is a comfy place to stay which offers full amenities such as dinning, spa, indoor/outdoor pool, gym, arcade, etc. It's a short driving distance to the entrance of Yosemite, and maybe just 20 minutes away from Oakhurst, a nearby town which has many fast food restaurants and shops to get necessities in case you forget to bring any. The rooms were clean with nice mountain views. The lodge offers plenty of activities for tourist, so there's always something to do. I don't recommend Jackalope's Bar and Grill, the food wasn't good at all. But other than that, I had an enjoyable stay and plan on staying there again for my next Yosemite trip.
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A nice luxury resort next to Yosemite. We just got back from them (in Wintertime) so this review is based on their service in Winter.
1. Clean and well-run - as others have stated, it's fairly new, the rooms are clean and the organization is obviously there (not always the case at many resorts/hotels).
2. Service for the disabled (that'd be me) was superb! Much unasked for help in all areas, a good disabled room close to the elevators, etc.
3. Food and service in the bar/restaurant was quite good. We ate there 3 nights in a row (snow outside). Drinks were generous and food was very good. Wait staff was very courteous and helpful.
4. Spa treatments were also good, though the spa is a hike (well for me it's a hike) to get to, though all indoors.
5. And here's the kicker - their bellmen will dig out your car for you and scrape the windshields! I believe they do it for the valet parking, but they also did it for us in the handicap parking. I believe that they also put on chains for those that want them to. Trust me, such great service is not always available.
So it's truly a great deal in Winter (room was 129 midweek, 179 weekend) - they have an indoor pool and an outdoor ice skating rink.
A great place for a cozy vacation in Winter.
Sierra Restaurant at Tenaya Lodge delivered an eclectic menu with many flavors, including Thai. I was a bit worried at first, but the dishes I tried were tasty. A bit heavy handed with the cream, but a satisfying meal in the cool, mountain air. Also if you enjoy eating things like Elk , buffalo & squirrel (kidding on the last one) then the menu will suit you fine.
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This place is probably really a 3 star resort but I am deducting a star for value. In-season it's extremely expensive ~$400/night. The conditions inside are definately worse than one of the newer Courtyard by Marriot places.
For those who liked the food, I agree with Bunny M. If you like this, what the heck are you normally eating? My wife and I ate dinner at Jackalope's which is the bar and grill section. We were suckered in by rubbery overcooked calamari. My wife didn't really even like the fish and chips. How hard is it to make fish and chips?
I asked the waiter what to get and he suggested their signature Jackalope's burger. It tasted like a cafeteria burger with cafeteria sauces on it.
To make matters worse, the bar uses low quality mixers instead of fresh juice. Yuck. Don't they know that health freaks and hippies are up in Yosemite? They need to come correct. Maybe if you're from a small farming town in the midwest this is good or interesting food but up in the Bay Area we'd call it complete piss.
We ate breakfast at the little deli nook thingy between the restaurants. I had a pre-cooked breakfast burrito that was sitting in a tub. I actually think I would rather eat a breakfast burrito that I microwaved in the shop in Curry Village.
If you want internet access and you want to stay relatively close to the park, this is probably your best bet. It turned out I didn't use it. Out of season I might stay here again, mostly because of the internet access. In-season, no way. I think I'll stick to day trips.
Highly recommended for those that require a gluten-free diet. Both of the table service restaurants here basically share staff and kitchen resources. When I asked if they could accommodate, the gals at the front desk smiled and immediately replied that it would be no problem. My server informed me that just that week they had a meeting on the new menu and had discussed what was gluten-free and what was not. All of the pastas were gluten free - no need to even ask. Even though I sat in the bar & grill section, they read to me my options from the nicer menu as well as the bar one.
I went with the steak and mashed potatoes. The waitress even knew well enough that the roux that they were using had wheat flour in it and made sure to leave that off. There was no shortage of options there for the GF diet so if you are traveling to Yosemite and are worried about celiac and dining options, then this is a good place to stay.
Incidentally, every place I ate at inside Yosemite was well aware of gluten-free issues and went out of their way to accommodate.
People thought this was:
This was one of my favorite places to stay in the Yosemite area. It's not cheep, and is like a resort. When visiting, I like to jump on my bike and head up the fire roads, then come home to the hot tub and spa. The rooms are large, and have been remodeled a number of times since I started going there. The food is okay. It has been hit or miss each visit. A few times it was pretty good. I usually bring an ice chest and pack my own food or maybe drive out to some of the other local places.
It is a great place for families. With plenty to do in the local area and a nice change from staying in the crowded valley. The amount of activities at this place can keep you pretty busy. It tends to draw a pretty active crowd.
We had good service but could gripe a bit about a few problems on one particular stay--they were in the process of a remodel and had closed a few of my favorite amenities.
I might go back here one day. If I can get it for a discounted rate. I would suggest it as a fine place for big groups. If you had a large family gathering, it would be a great place.
The service is four star in my opinion. They seem to have a hard time getting help that is great.
The hotel itself is nice, however I was disappointed by several things:
- Housekeeping started coming around before 8:30 am on Sunday - that's just too early.
- The pool was dirty in the morning when you would have thought a filter would be running overnight. I spotted multiple hair clumps floating about.
- The food at both the bar and the Sierra restaurant was mediocre - the eggs at the Sierra came out of a bag and had a curdled texture.
The hotel has lots of activities which I think should be pointed out to you upon check-in. This results in lots of families (ie. lots of kids) staying at the hotel. Also, the room rates are high.
My boyfriend and I had a great long weekend at the Tenaya Lodge. The employees were friendly and accommodating upon arrival, even though many had been stuck doing double shifts due to a winter storm wreaking havoc on travel. We went this past weekend (Valentine's day/President's Day) and the snowstorm made the area so beautiful! We were delighted that there was so much to do on site, since we didn't want to face the snowy roads again right away. We rented snowshoes and cross country skis from the lodge and explored the trails behind the property. We also took a guided moonlight snowshoe walk and then enjoyed the outdoor fire pit. The bar/grill offered solid basic food (mostly burgers and sandwiches), and the Sierra restaurant offered good fancier fare and knowledgeable waiters who made great recommendations. Some might consider this a negative, but I LOVED the fact that there was not a good mobile device connection in the rooms, my boyfriend could not check in with work emails on his crackberry all weekend! The downsides: the lodge was very family friendly which is great if you are bringing kids, but not so great if you want to relax by the fire in a quiet, adult-centric type of lobby. wait for dinner at either restaurant was longer that I would have liked, one night we waited an hour and a half for room service. But, overall, it was nice and I would love to visit again soon!
People thought this was:
I wasn't as impressed with our recent visit as when I stayed here two years ago. First, the prices are up by about $100 a night, and the service, if anything, has declined. That said, this is a beautiful hotel, located two miles from Yosemite's southern entrance. It offers a wide variety of top-quality activities, including a wagon ride to an all-you-can-eat cookout that my kids adored.
The food here might be the hotel's strongest asset. While the wait service is so-so, at best, the food here never disappoints. I've loved everything I've ordered here, and so has the rest of my family. (Even my very picky kids.)
Given the problems with the wait staff, housekeeping (which seems to clean rooms only at 8 am and 4 pm -- never in between) and other glitches here and there (the outdoor pool being closed from 1 pm on one day in June; the whole hotel's inability to process credit cards for one hour the next day), I can't believe this place got four diamonds from AAA. I want to love this place, but can't, given these prices and this level of service.
If you can grab a discounted (between $100-$200 a night) room here on a last-minute booking, go for it. Otherwise, stop in for a meal on your way in or out of the park, then decide for yourself if you think this is worth a higher price.
Theres nothing like jumping into a hot spa after getting lost on the way to Yosemite at 1:30 am. We were seriously driving through cow fields on one lane roads.. if you could call these roads. They were basically dirt trails with rocks.. lots of rocks.. and big holes too that would make terrific crashing sounds when you drove into them. I swore that at any point some mutated freak family would jump out and kill us all.. but it never happened. So we finally arrived to Tenaya Lodge after 6 hours of trepidation and much hand wringing.. The spa was great and so was the pool.. hey it doesn't take much to please nine people who thought they were gonna be eaten alive by mutant cow herding midgets.
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We picked Tenaya for 1 main reason: the indoor pool. Oh yeah, and The Ahwahnee was booked (surprise, surprise).
With a baby and toddler, we wanted an in-hotel diversion to keep us occupied during our non-park hours. The heated pool was perfect, clean and uncrowded. After a cold day walking around in the snow, it was really nice for all of us to catch a swim (even in January) before getting cleaned up for dinner.
We were there during the off season so we didn't get the breakfast buffet. Instead, they just let us order whatever we wanted off the a la carte menu. That was awesome!
Hotel was very kid friendly and we'll definitely go back.
People thought this was:
Nice place to stay in southern Yosemite. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get to the Badger Pass ski place from here and a little bit longer to get to the valley but, it is a nice alternative if you want to stay close to the southern entrance. They have two restaurants, and indoor and outdoor pool, and spa services. I had a massage and a facial and they weren't too bad although a bit lacking on the ambiance. The restaurants weren't too bad and everyone was very helpful. The room was clean and very quiet except for the maids talking loudly to each other at 8am to get everyone up and out. I got a AAA rate with a breakfast buffet every morning so all-in-all, it was a pretty good deal.
People thought this was:
My family and I stayed here over New Year's vacation and were not pleased. We have been to Yosemite many times but it was our first, and will likely be our ONLY, time staying at the Tenaya Lodge.
To it's credit, the place isn't "horrible", it is probably better suited for families with small children who aren't picky about food and just wanted a place to kick back, as opposed to actually going to Yosemite. The place has extra perks like an indoor, heated pool and two jacuzzis and lots of kid-friendly activities. The valet and bellboys were extremely nice and had great service.
However, we had a number of issues come up during our stay at Tenaya. The first night we had booked a room with two double beds, and the front desk mixed up the reservation and stuck us in a room with one bed, leaving me to sleep on a rickety roll-out bed that squeaked horribly. And, the room was so small that the roll-out bed was placed in a small corridor up against the bathroom.
They attempted to right their mistake by upgrading us to a suite for the following two nights of our stay that wasn't much better and didn't look much like a suite, but at least had two double beds.
In addition to that mix-up, which could be forgivable, the suite didn't have a stopper for the bathtub. So, when we requested housekeeping bring one up so my mother could soak are injured ankle, we were very frustrated because they took hours to bring the stopper up. We actually had to call them at least 5 times, leave for our dinner reservations and come back before they finally brought it up to the room.
Also, the restaurant downstairs was HORRIBLE. We ate there a couple times and every time, the food came out super slow and didn't taste too great either. At one point, our server completely disappeared and we ended up leaving because we couldn't find him and no other server helped us. Everything there is also way too overpriced for what you are getting.
The last obnoxious thing, which the hotel can't really help, is Tenaya Lodge is actually located very far from Yosemite Valley. It seems like a shorter distance when they say on the website that they are only a short drive from the Yosemite entry gate. However, be weary, to get to anywhere worth seeing in Yosemite you must drive at least an hour.
All in all, we won't come to Tenaya Lodge again. But, we do applaud some efforts by the hotel to have added perks like board games available and free hot chocolate in the lounge, and the courteous, polite nature (although not necessarily efficient or competent service) of MOST of the staff.
I have not ever stayed here, but my husband and I have eaten at their restaurant a couple of times, and it was great!
We were there recently on vacation, and they did such a wonderful job accomodating us, since we're vegetarian (and I am vegan.) My husband ordered the salmon on a cedar plank, sans the salmon, and with roasted veggies instead. I thought he was being too difficult, but apparently the chefs saw it as an opportunity, because it was SO yummy! They had squash and roasted red bell peppers, and then they had crusted and baked or fried eggplant drizzled with a balsamic reduction on top of everything. I ate more off of his plate than mine! There was also asparagus and wasabi mashed potatoes (those were to die for!). We had their bruscheta appatizer, which probably should have been called a pizza. We had it without the goat cheese. It also had the balsamic reduction on it. YUM! At the end, we looked at the desert menu, but not much on it for those who don't eat dairy. So my husband asked if we could just have some fresh berries, and our wonderfully accomodating waitress said that she could bring some fruit in a tart shell without the custard. When it came, it was surrounded by a lovely fruit sauce. At the end of our meal, we discovered that our waitress is also a vegetarian, which was one explanation for her kind reception to all of our requests. (BTW, I had a thai curry noodle dish that normally comes with shellfish. The tofu in it was not cooked, so I didn't care for that part, but otherwise it was very good. Just not as good as the grilled veggies on the cedar plank!)
If you're looking for a less expensive place to stay, the Apple Tree Inn is right next door to Tenaya Lodge, which is where we have stayed. You can walk over from the Apple Tree Inn to the Lodge for meals, if you want. Although neither place is remotely close to "roughing it" in the mountains.
Fishcamp, CA
Category: Hotels
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Category: Grocery
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Category: Hotels
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Category: Restaurants
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