Yosemite Condominium

The setting is good if you want to stay in the wilderness, but there are no nearby stores or restaurants, so bring food. We also had a frustrating time getting into the condo. There’s no cell service there, and the entry code wasn’t delivered properly because of miscommunication between the booking company and its subcontractor. Thankfully, a resident shared the Wi-Fi password so we could contact customer service. We booked through Agoda, and the advertised $161 rate ended up costing $320 after fees that weren’t clearly shown on the main page. The room was also advertised as having a mountain view, but we didn’t get one. Inside, it was somewhat old with decent amenities, though the bathroom had no body wash or shampoo. It wasn’t a great experience for us. If they sorted out these problems, it could be a good wilderness stay.

We were out seeing and doing things most of the time, and the short drive to hiking in the valley was handy. The location and convenience are the big draw. The unit was basic but clean and comfortable, with a decent layout and a useful kitchen. I liked having a corner unit with extra windows to open. I just wish the terrace had comfier chairs and a small table for a drink. Don’t expect luxury.

The room was clean, but we spent the week driving more than 30 minutes each day to reach sightseeing and swimming spots, and there wasn’t much nearby. It was 95 degrees inside at night, with no AC. Two fans were provided, but one didn’t work. The couch bed was so uncomfortable that I slept on the couch instead. The room supposedly sleeps four, but felt cramped for two adults and a child. We couldn’t get hold of management when we needed clean towels or extra pillows. The power also went out, and the food in the fridge spoiled in the heat. We had a rough stay.

We found a bedbug on our second night. After we slept in our car, Scenic Wonders first offered a refund for just one night. I had to go back and forth with them to get a full refund, and they wouldn’t arrange cleaning for our exposed belongings, so we paid for that ourselves. The bedbugs aside, the condos seemed neglected since Scenic Wonders took over, and ours wasn’t very clean. The problem derailed the last couple of days of our trip. Avoid if you can.