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The Ahwahnee Yosemite Valley Reviews
Stunning Yosemite, perfect location
The property is in the most incredibly beautiful location in Yosemite Valley, and seamlessly integrates into the landscape. The “National Park-itecture” style of the hotel is historic with Teddy Roosevelt era grandeur and finishes. It has been renovated with attention to historic details and is respectful of the indigenous people and land it inhabits, also paying tribute to the people that designed/built and ran the hotel at its inception. As in all National Park hotels, the dining is expensive and not worth the price. But that’s not why you come!
The grandeur and ambiance of Yosemite in a Lodge!
I had read mixed reviews of the Ahwanee, so I was ready for anything. But we had wanted to stay at Ahwanee as it is such an iconic and historic lodge. I had told my Husband not to expect luxury and opulence. We arrived late afternoon and the golden lights from inside, as well as from the lights on the outside, created a warmth and inviting glow. Half Dome glistening white granite walls shone in back of the lodge. My Husband waited by the car, while I followed the red carpet into the double doors to enter the expansive lobby. We were quickly checked in, and I returned to the car to collect my Husband, and luggage.The young men who handled the valet parking were prompt and polite. The Lodge had just recently finished the renovations. We were very fortunate that evenings dinner in the magnificent dining room was one again by menu and not buffet. History is everywhere in Ahwanee. It retains it's history and exquisite decor. The lovely elevator still has it's art deco decorations and small size by today's standards. We never had to wait, and it moved quickly. Our room was a prime view room, and it did not disappoint. I could look out on the grassy expanse that stretched out in front of the main entrance and watch people in the big comfortable chairs that lined the walkways. The room itself was large with two double beds. A big comfy chair and a small loveseat with an ornate coffee table completed the area by the large window. The large bathroom was well equipped and had plenty of towels and plenty of hot water. Everything was clean, and neat, and very quiet. At night I left the window open a bit, and all I could hear was crickets chirping. Is it expensive? Yes. But to me it is worth every penny. Staying in such a magnificent hall with the history that has passed before us is not just a couple of nights in a hotel. It is an experience. It is the same kind of grandeur and ambiance that Yosemite itself fills our senses.
This 98 year-old classic is worth a visit
This classic resort in Yosemite national Park dates back to 1927. At age 98, this old lady has still got some tricks and kicks. The great room is worth a visit, but I’m pretty sure you could see it without paying the hefty fee for an overnight stay. We did stay here one night and had a wonderful room on the fourth floor looking out at the meadows and surrounding rock formations. The king bed was extremely comfortable. The room 434 did seem a little dated, but it was all that we expected. We especially loved our private balcony. The bathroom had some flaws. Examples: water lingered in the sink for an hour after you filled the basin, the shower was very leaky with not much water pressure because the knob that you pull up on the tub to get the water diverted to the showerhead didn’t work very well. despite those issues, this 98-year-old classic remains fascinating. The price seemed dear to me, but I got over it when I was enthralled by the great room and the many outdoor benches where one can sit and stare at the amazing rock formations surrounding the hotel. Scattered throughout the hotel are artifacts from the original opening.
Grand Hotel In The Heart Of Yosemite Valley
This is an extremely satisfied reviewer of the customer service at The Ahwahnee and notably for S. Molina, the Yosemite Hospitality Director of Rooms. I did not get the room that I expected when booking. S. Molina responded to my email and personally rectified my expressed concern. Excellent customer service. And the hotel itself is an historic and grand resort in the most spectacular setting of Yosemite Valley. The on site personnel are courteous and efficient. Such a great experience!
Dusty and sour smells
Don’t come here. It’s not worth $700+ daily rate when it’s not hygienic here. they use so much of the same furniture and fixings from when they opened. It’s a nice idea to preserve the “look” but to actually literally use the same stuff from decades ago creates such a strong dust smell, my dust allergies were going crazy. The shower curtain smelled sour. The rooms had such strong musty smells especially in the carpets, cabinets and corners. You can it has accumulated so much dust and dirt over the decades that it’s not possible to get the odor out. They could at least keep things hygienic if they want to use the same old furniture and fixings. The sink has orange scratch marks on it. If you really need a hotel, just stay at the next nearby town and drive an hour into the park. It’s a 2 star hotel that’s just expensive because it’s inside the park.
Really disappointing
I would have rated it a 1 out of 5, except that the location is so good. Aramark employs the staff and they must treat them poorly judging from the grumpy, poor service. And the food was horrible and overpriced to boot. I don’t recommend this lodge.
Excellent and Historic!
To truly appreciate the Ahwanhee one needs to appreciate the hotel’s history. Built in 1927, the hotel carries you back in time. See photo. The decor and furnishings invoke the past. If you want ultra modern with every wireless and technology feature, the Ahwahnee is not for you, although rooms have internet access and televisions. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Ahwahnee is the setting. As I write this review, I am sitting on the patio outside the lobby and the Grand Lounge looking straight at Half Dome. I will include a photo. We took an early morning hike from the hotel to Mirror Lake (another photo). Just beautiful. The rooms are very comfortable. The food in both the dining room (a spectacular, expansive and historic room itself (third photo) is very good even though dinner is a buffet. Breakfast was outstanding! Bar is excellent. Overall, highly recommended.
Sad, an expensive shadow of its past glory and historic splendour.
Expectations were very high, with its location tucked away in a valley meadow close to the river. The obligatory valet parking is nice, but in my opinion more hassle than useful. Friendly and helpful staff at the reception although at the bar that seemed less of a credo. The building breathes history and grandeur. It seems like you’re stepping back in time. The room was a disappointment, premium view was a tiny look-out on the falls through a window that hasn’t seen cleaning for a long time with spider’s webs full of dead insect corpses. Bathroom was not clean and the sink was almost clogged upon arrival. After 3 days still the same, nobody cared to fix it. Dinner at the restaurant is an expensive buffet, nothing fancy. So really fantastic location, but the rooms and hotel not so much. Value-for-money therefore: very poor.
Priceless experience. Exceptional and worth every dollar!
Our stay at the Ahwahnee was a first for me and my childhood bestie before she moves to Florida. The Hotel is beautiful, comfortable, clean, spacious with so many places to sit, relax and take in the views. Easy access to everything, trails, museums, shuttles, bikes, etc. Yes, I won't lie, it is expensive but well worth the price as the memories that we created are priceless. The best part of our stay at the Ahwahnee was the exceptional Staff. These people are so exceptional that they deserve to be recognized by name: Alyssa (ensured the best room during initial reservations), Lavender and Faith at the front desk were always so pleasant with smiles and conversation. Basil in concierge never failed to ask if we needed any assistance and gave wonderful suggestions. Eric our Bellman willingly ran up to our room twice when we needed something out of our room. John and Shannon in the Dining Hall, attentive and so welcoming. Everyone at the Ahwahnee clearly loves their jobs and it shows. Bravo to Tyler for cultivating such a fantastic team that ensures a fantastic experience. Thanks Team Ahwahnee. I hope to visit again soon.
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Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to The Ahwahnee Yosemite Valley at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the The Ahwahnee Yosemite Valley page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58 for any questions Peter may have as 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58 now uses their connections at The Ahwahnee Yosemite Valley to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58 receives the $200 reward which is credited to 🏝️ @DistinguishedTree58's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at The Ahwahnee Yosemite Valley!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
