The Groveland Hotel

Most of the staff were very nice, but two encounters with staff made us uncomfortable. My boyfriend and I are a biracial couple. One night, a thin, middle-aged white man with blond hair stared me down as we headed to our room, to the point that I felt uneasy. The next night, a young white woman with blond hair acted as if my boyfriend was going to attack her. I’m not exaggerating about either incident. The town apparently has only two Black people, so I think travelers of color should know about this.

For $150 a night, there was no heat when nighttime temperatures were in the 50s, and there wasn’t any internet. The TV was about the size of my computer screen, and there were just two outlets. The bathtub seemed 100 years old. It felt like an 1800s house, only a step above a hostel.

We came back after a good stay six years ago, when the rate was around $190 a night. This time it was well over $310, and the drop in quality was shocking. Our room was poorly maintained, the facilities were low quality, and the service felt indifferent and unhelpful. The listing said the restaurant and bar were open, but both were closed without any advance notice. That had a significant effect on our stay. At more than $310 a night, we expected something premium, but instead got poor service and neither a restaurant nor a bar. We feel taken advantage of. We’ll be sending our complaint to Booking.com and leaving honest reviews on relevant platforms to warn other travelers. We expect an official response. Sincerely,

We loved unwinding on the porch with a glass of wine and enjoying the quiet small-town feel. Yosemite is a short drive away, while the hotel itself feels peaceful. The staff were so welcoming and went out of their way to make our stay feel special. Our room had lovely details and blended modern comfort with rustic style. The Groveland Hotel is a charming historic place, and we can’t wait to return for another cozy, unique getaway.