The Inelle, Oakhurst Yosemite

The hotel is beautiful and the location made it easy to reach Yosemite’s south entrance. The rooms were spacious and attractive, and the beds were comfortable, but the layout and practical details fell short. There was no elevator, and we only learned this after checking in and finding our room on the second floor, so carrying our luggage up and down was an unwelcome surprise at this price. The lobby and fitness center also lacked air conditioning and were uncomfortable. The room AC units were hidden behind covers for appearance, which meant the rooms took a long time to cool. The bathroom door slid across the coffee bar, making it impossible to use both at once. Bathroom hooks made the hand towel bang against the wall, and the slanted shower meant its door wouldn’t stay open and slammed during use. The walls were very thin, and since our room was by the stairwell, guests going up and down woke us often during the night. Overall, a lovely hotel in a great spot, but it lacks functionality.

We were disappointed by the room’s cleanliness on arrival. There were splatters and handprints on the mirrors, dirty shower glass, hair in the drain and across the floor, and we found hair on the bed and towels too. The bathroom towels hadn’t been folded. The AC also had weak airflow and performance, likely because the unit was boxed in by wooden furniture. There’s a lot to like here: the location is handy for restaurants and shops, the bed and pillows were comfortable, the gym was excellent, and the outdoor area was incredible. Above all, the employees were attentive, personable, and gave fantastic service. Housekeeping issues took away from what could have been a much better stay.

The outdoor lounge with couches and a fire was a favorite, and there’s a large parking lot. Breakfast was good, though not cheap. The decor mixes textures with a traveler style, while giving the new 2024 hotel the look of an older classic one. Nothing about the hotel felt especially special, so I’m not sure it’s worth the price. They have EV charging stations that look like Tesla chargers, but there’s also a hidden adapter for non-Tesla cars.

The location was very convenient, and the new rooms are in line with what I’d expect from a Marriott Tribute type hotel. But service needs a lot of work. Staff were sometimes unsure how to handle simple requests, room service was poor, and dinner choices were very limited. The sound insulation between rooms is bad too, so if your neighbor starts a hiking day at 4am, you’ll hear them. It has the makings of a top class hotel, but the service probably explains the low rating.