Yavapai Lodge East

“Nice experience!”

Nice accommodations, especially for the price of the room. I called the Lodge directly to book the rooms for my family and the customer service was exceptional. Checking in was lengthy because of the time of year and so many people checking in at the same time. The staff was very kind and apologiz… more

Nice accommodations, especially for the price of the room. I called the Lodge directly to book the rooms for my family and the customer service was exceptional. Checking in was lengthy because of the time of year and so many people checking in at the same time. The staff was very kind and apologized for the delay. The specifics that I requested in my reservation were not available to the person checking me in and that surprised me, as the email confirmation I received reflected those specifications. Yayvapai Lodge exceeded my expectations, since previous reviews were not exactly favorable. Thank you for providing such comfortable accommodations for our family of 10.

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“Great location and caring staff”

This is a challenging review to write because some aspects of our stay were terrific and others were lacking. What was fantastic was the location, especially because even when we were there at the end of the season (mid-November), the shuttles were running, and it was extremely convenient. The shut… more

This is a challenging review to write because some aspects of our stay were terrific and others were lacking. What was fantastic was the location, especially because even when we were there at the end of the season (mid-November), the shuttles were running, and it was extremely convenient. The shuttle drivers were also full of good information and very kind and helpful. Another real positive was that some of the staff at Yavapai Lodge were truly fantastic, especially one of the cashiers in the bar/bistro and one of the cooks, both of whom made sure I got a plain grilled chicken breast on a bun (not on the menu) because I was recovering from the food poisoning I'd gotten in Tucson. Another stand-out staff member was Anna (I think she is a manager) when we were checking out. The not-so-great was the accommodation, itself. As a frequent traveller, I read reviews thoroughly before booking, and based on reviews, I booked a King room in Yavapai EAST months in advance, and even called to ensure I'd get a room in the EAST part of the lodge. Upon check-in, the staff member at the front desk (Eric, I believe) said we should really stay in the west part because it was historic and closer to nature. I mentioned the reviews and he said they were contested because "Some people expect a 5-star hotel." I asked for more information and he said the historic west part was built in 1940 and the east part in 1972, but that the west part had been renovated in 2015 and the east part had been renovated in 2001. I asked if I chose to change to the west part whether I could then switch if needed. He said that the fact I had asked suggested I probably wouldn't be happy with west, and he sounded pretty judgemental. He added that all of the staff like the west part better and it depended on whether we wanted a hotel or motel vibe. I should have stuck to the room I reserved, but I did feel a bit pressured to switch and so I did. I also asked about trail closures and he said the only trail he recommended was Bright Angel for the first few miles because "Fourteen people have died here in the last 2 months due to their inability to adequately assess their fitness level." I mentioned that my husband and I (in our early 60s) were active, frequent hikers, and had been planning to hike part of the South Kaibob Trail down to Ooh Ahh Point, and Eric tried to dissuade me, and I'm glad we stuck to our plan because hiking down to Ooh Ahh Point was truy spectacular! Although I am grateful for the information he shared, I think Eric should pull back on the persuasion. To his credit though, when I left my purse on the back of my chair in the restaurant, Eric called me and returned it. I really appreciated that! At any rate, we went to our room in the west part and it was definitely motel-like. It had cinderblock walls, and although it was clean, the carpet was stained, and paint was peeling on some of the walls, especially the bathroom. Even though the room was dreary, it was evening, and we were tired, so we just tried to go to sleep. Unfortunately, the heat started decreasing regardless of where we had set it, so I called the front desk and spoke to Eric who said the heat was "finicky" and that he would send someone to look at it. The staff member arrived very quickly and was able to override the system and resolve the issue. I'm glad I watched him because I had to do what he did four or more times the next night. Another issue was the bed which was clearly old because I could feel the springs through the mattress, which didn't help my chronic lower back problems. Finally, when checking out, I asked the woman at the front desk if the East and West rooms were the same price, and she said they were not. Because I had prepaid for an East room, I wanted to be sure I hadn't been overcharged, and the person at the desk was kind of testy about it. Like Eric, she was adamant that rooms were appointed exactly the same, and I mentioned the issues with the heat and the bed. After I again mentioned that I wanted to be sure I had paid the appropriate amount, she got Anna, the manger to speak with me. Thankfully, Anna was terrific. She ascertained that there is about a $20 difference in cost between East and West rooms, and that she would give me a 10% refund, which was enough to cover the difference. Anna was warm, kind, and courteous, and I am extremely grateful for her assistance. When I shared both the positive and negative parts of my experience, she was very understanding and apparently, unsurprised. She committed to addressing some of the communication concerns, and I'm sure she will. The bottom line is that despite some of the issues that arose, we would definitely recommend Yavapai Lodge. We would stay again--in the EAST part!

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