Cedar Lodge

We asked for a first-floor room when we booked in July for our May 15-23 trip, but got a second-floor one, and there are no elevators. Being close to the park was nice, and the pool and spa were pleasant, with a fire ring nearby. The beds in the bedroom were comfortable, and the Murphy bed was better than the sofa bed. That pull-out was like sleeping on springs with barely an inch of mattress, very uncomfortable. For a room sleeping eight, the kitchen's coffee pot only made four cups. The rooms feel old and haven't been updated. At over $500 a night, it was way overpriced.

We enjoyed the peaceful setting by the mountains and river, with a garden and a beach across the road. It was about 30 minutes from the valley. Highway 140 was closed just before the lodge, so hardly any cars passed besides those belonging to guests, which made it even quieter. The staff were friendly and helpful. There was a gift shop, groceries, a restaurant, a pool, bear statues, cute gazebos, and picnic tables. Our room was warm and comfortable, with a nice TV and a medium-sized fridge. Beds were comfortable, and cleaning was available on request. The shower pressure felt too strong for the small space and could flood the bathroom. There's no laundry on site, so you'd need to go to Yosemite View Lodge, 10-15 minutes away. I stayed four nights last week and would definitely return.

The location near Yosemite NP seems to mean they can get away with poor service and few amenities, since there are only two hotels in the area. For the money, this was very poor value. The rooms looked recently redone, but in a very cheap way. Service in the office was almost nonexistent. I waited close to an hour for coffee, and nobody could say when it would be ready. They also didn't have regular half and half containers available, since they keep them by the register instead of near the coffee. During my three-night stay, the room was serviced without replacing the soap or in-room coffee. They also didn't provide hair conditioner or hand cream, even when I asked.

The room we got was nicer than the one shown in the picture, and it had been updated. The staff were really friendly and the service was excellent. I'd absolutely come back for my next Yosemite trip.