Hotel at the Grand Canyon: The View Monument Valley

Thanks for advising me on the booking—should I reserve a room in the hotel or go for a cabin for the best view? Should I get breakfast or not? What do you think of the restaurant?

Thanks for advising me on the booking—should I reserve a room in the hotel or choose a cabin for the best view? Should I get breakfast or not? What do you think of the restaurant?

Hi there,

Uh ... how to put this ... the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley are two different places. The View Hotel is in Monument Valley, so it’s quite far from the Grand Canyon 😉

Luckily, I'm not the one planning the trip. So thanks anyway for answering my question about The View Monument Valley—cabin or hotel? Which hotel should I book in Grand Canyon National Park?

Uh... how to put it...

Great! I’m not a fan of controversies or snarky remarks, but I really appreciated your tactful response 🙂 Feels good!

Fortunately, it's not me planning the itinerary. So thanks anyway for answering my question about The View Monument Valley—cabin or hotel? Which hotel should I book in Grand Canyon Park?

For hotels, I don’t really have any tips to share... it all comes down to budget and preference, in my opinion.

hello there come on... it'd be nice if you got a little more involved, wouldn't it?

The View at Monument Valley is very well located right at the foot of the site.

For a big price difference (in our favor), we chose to stay at Goulding's Lodge. Honestly... we were really, really happy with it. The view: great The price: great The restaurant: even better

If we had to do it again, we'd do the same thing.

Arrive in the afternoon (so the entrance ticket remains valid for 24 hours) So, the photos... (It doesn't take 4 hours)

Then head to Goulding's.

The sunset from the terrace... okay, it's a little farther away... The sunrise: same thing

And then the next morning, we took the scenic drive inside... For $150 instead of $300.

Of course, it's still a personal choice.

hello there, still... it'd be nice if you got a little more involved, wouldn't it?

the view at Monument Valley is very well located right at the foot of the site

for a big price difference (less), we chose to stay at Goulding's Lodge to be honest... we were really, really happy... the view, okay price, okay the restaurant, great

if we did it again, we'd do the same thing

arrive in the afternoon (so the entrance ticket remains valid for 24 hours) so, photos... (it doesn't take 4 hours)

then head to Goulding's

the sunset from the terrace... okay, a little farther away... sunrise, same thing

and then in the morning, we took the road inside... for $150 instead of $300

it's still a choice, of course

Hello,

Get involved? For that, I'd probably need to have already stayed at this hotel... in my opinion, at least.

uh, no... for the planning, maybe??? it's your trip, right?

Uh, no... Maybe for the organization??? It’s your trip, isn’t it?

Well, I think you’re replying to the wrong person... It was Mariano69 who started this conversation—I just shared my impressions.

My upcoming trip is all set, and the hotels have been booked for ages.

ah sorry about that

I may have replied too quickly yeah, it was shocking to see so little involvement I’ll read everything again and reply to the right person (oops) sorry again

hello still... it'd be nice if you got a little more involved, wouldn't it?

The view at Monument Valley is really well positioned right at the foot of the site.

For a big price difference (lower), we chose to stay at Goulding's Lodge. Honestly... we were really, really happy. The view: great The price: great The restaurant: even better

If we did it again, we'd do the same thing.

Arrive in the afternoon (so the entrance ticket stays valid for 24 hours) So, photos... (It doesn't take 4 hours)

Then head to Goulding's.

The sunset from the terrace... okay, a little farther away... The sunrise: same

And then in the morning, we took the scenic drive inside... For $150 instead of $300.

It's still a choice, of course.

Good evening,

Goulding’s is a timeless place where you half-expect John Wayne to stride through the door of his cabin—both Johns left their mark on this already historic spot. Well-located in a valley, it’s still outside Monument Valley! The only upside is you can find two-bedroom apartments there for 340 € on 15/11/2019.

A hotel in Mexican Hat (I’m not talking about Kayenta)—like the San Juan Inn by the river or Hat Rock Inn—will save you a few bucks, but you’ll quickly lose those savings in extra distance and, more importantly, time.

Then there’s The View, which offers THE view of the famous buttes. Sure, it’s a bit pricier, but not by huge margins. Plus, this hotel is newer. You’ll find rooms of different standards and quality—I prefer the two queens on two floors. $249 on 15/11/2019, which was about 218 € at the time. Waking up at dawn to the sight of the buttes lighting up is worth a small splurge (just 80 € extra in total). The Starview is overrated...

As for the Grand Canyon and other parks, I follow a simple rule when possible: the closer you are—even inside the park—the less "far" it feels, unless the prices are ridiculous (like in Page). I’ve tried the Best Western and Red Feather Lodge in Tusayan: they’re fine. And the Bright Angel Lodge, with its slightly old-fashioned cabins, but you step out of your room and—20 meters later, maybe less—you’re RIGHT on the canyon rim. The price difference is negligible.

Alain

hi there "The Goulding is a timeless place where you expect to see John Wayne appear behind his cabin door"

have you been there recently? ??? 'cause last year I went and, how can I put it, it's all brand new and spotless... nothing like John Wayne ;) the rooms are spotless with a fridge and coffee machine and a balcony with a view—admittedly a bit far but directly overlooking MV

Good evening,

Goulding’s is a timeless place where you half-expect to see John Wayne step out from behind his cabin door—both Johns left a deep mark on this already historic spot.

Alain

Timeless indeed! 😏

hi room was really comfortable anyway

Louis

You seem quite playful... reading this literally? You know exactly what I mean 🙂

Alain

Hi Nathalie,

It’s the place that gives off that atmosphere... as long as you’ve taken an interest in its history.

My last visit was in 2017 after a night at The View.

The views from the two places can’t be compared. And, since you don’t sleep much there anyway... just a heads-up to avoid false expectations: the view from Goulding’s doesn’t overlook the three buttes or the scenic drive, which are about 10 km away and completely out of sight. As for the rooms, let’s just say they’re not in the same league!

Glad you were happy with your stay, but other options—admittedly a bit pricier but more complete—are also worth mentioning.

Alain

hi there

"the view from Goulding’s doesn’t overlook the three buttes"

of course it does—the room terraces face them. They’re farther away, sure, but perfectly visible.

The view is definitely much better… but it’s also double the price, so it really comes down to personal preference

Hi "Caribou"

A hotel in Mexican Hat (I’m not talking about Kayenta) like San Juan Inn by the river or Hat Rock Inn will save you a few $, but you’ll quickly lose that in distance and, more importantly, time.

While reading this thread, I came across your comment, especially the part about hotels in Mexican Hat. Generally speaking, in the American West, I agree with your point that it’s worth spending a few extra $ to stay near the site—I totally agree with that. Now, if we’re talking specifically about Mexican Hat (I’m not judging the hotels but the location), I find that driving Route 163 in the early morning (even just a stretch of it) toward Monument Valley is pure magic. Personally, I think it’s well worth the sunrise view (backlit) of the buttes when staying at The View: https://jeveuxcamperauxusa2.blogspot.com/p/la-route.html Just my two cents—pretty subjective—but don’t write off Mexican Hat too quickly 😉

Hi Nathalie,

It’s the place that gives off that atmosphere... as long as you’ve taken an interest in its history.

My last visit was in 2017 after a night at The View.

The views from the two places can’t be compared. And, since you don’t sleep much there anyway... just a heads-up to avoid raising false hopes: the view from Goulding’s doesn’t overlook the three buttes, and the scenic drive is about 10 km away and completely out of sight. As for the rooms, they’re clearly not in the same league!

All the better if you were happy with your stay, but other options—admittedly a bit pricier but more complete—are also worth mentioning.

Alain

Hey everyone... at The View hotel, you also have the ground-floor rooms without balconies meant for bus drivers. They’re cheaper and really nice—we stayed there two years ago, and for the sunset, you just need to take a few steps to the terrace. Have a great Sunday! SONIA

Louis

You seem quite playful... reading this at face value? You know exactly what I mean 🙂

Alain

Honestly no, and I’m not the only one.

Hi Jean-Philippe,

Hey, a forum pillar! Good to see you... 😎

Back to the topic: We’ve stayed twice at the San Juan Inn and twice at The View. I’d agree it’s a solid second choice for Mexican Hat, and I completely agree about the view from Room 63 (only in the morning because of the lighting). It seems better, in this case, to be driving in the "direction of travel," i.e., toward Page, to avoid a windshield-wiper effect on the route. But it’s also tricky since the "best light" is in the evening... 😕 Backlit at dawn? Sure, but the light is amazing—and then there’s the double-whammy of the sunset.

Totally subjective and biased, but I stand by it!

Happy Sunday from the seaside—cool breeze, beautiful light... 🙂

Alain

Totally subjective and biased, I stand by it!

Yes, Alain, that’s what makes forums charming in the end (as long as we don’t tear each other apart along the thread🤪). We also need to read that subjectivity 😉. You just have to argue your point well to make the meaning clear, and then everyone can decide if a comment resonates with them. That’s what’s missing from official ".gouv" sites: accurate, precise, and up-to-date information, but with such neutrality about hikes and activities that it sometimes (often?) leaves the reader undecided. On this forum, the activities and opinions of certain members (I’ll keep names to myself to avoid offending anyone 🙂) interest me particularly because I relate to their way of traveling and seeing the world. So long live subjectivity!

My soon-to-be ex-wife insisted on the view... figured we were spending her inheritance, so I didn’t say anything. The terrace view in the evening was stunning, but the morning backlight was a real letdown... One advantage though—we’re on-site to hit the trail. We spent a night in Mexican Hat during another trip. The steakhouse was super good, with a French-speaking waitress. A really nice stop.

I’m going back at Easter with my girlfriend and her two teens—already booked in Kayenta on Booking.com to play it safe...

Good evening, To be honest, even though I don’t feel like I need to justify myself, I handle choosing the hotels and making the reservations, while my friend—who has more free time since he’s retired—enjoys planning the itinerary. That’s why I’m asking kind fellow travelers to share their experiences with me. Thanks in advance, but back to my question: should we book a room in the hotel or a cabin at The View Monument Valley?

hi there No idea.. since I stayed at Goulding's Lodge ;)

Good evening,

The choice between a cabin and a room is up to you—it depends on your accommodation preferences, and in my opinion, it’s a fine line since the location, which is unique and what really matters, is almost identical within about a hundred meters.

The cabins are smaller, dust can be present and bothersome, and the amenities are nearly the same. The distance to the restaurant is negligible, but what about the WiFi?

What made me decide on a room: - the space - the comfort - the wider view to the right - not having to leave the hotel to eat (heat or... rain, like in 2015!) - the cabins, lined up like temporary offices on the edge of the plateau (on that note, pick the ones in the 1st row!)—it’s really quite unattractive! - the price difference is minimal.

One last point: the Wildcat Trail (about 6 km), which loops around West Butte, immerses you in the valley without the tourists who are too rushed to take this walk.

Alain

Hi there,

This year, since there were five of us, we didn’t go for the rooms at "The View" because we would’ve had to book two. Given that prices have gone up since our 2012 visit, we opted for a cabin instead. It had a bedroom with a queen bed, bunk beds in a sort of passage room between the living room/kitchen and the main bedroom, and a sofa in the living room. I found this cabin much more spacious than our 2012 room and almost brand new. We weren’t in the first row (no availability in November for August), but in the end, it turned out to be a great choice—both economically and for the location. The kitchen also helped us save some money by avoiding restaurants!

Hi there, and thanks for your tips! Another question—are there any rooms for 4 people?

Hi Marie Noelle, in September 2014 at Monument Valley, we stayed with a Navajo couple, right across from the Park. There are 2 bedrooms, and at the time, my wife and I paid $90 for the night, dinner, and breakfast. There’s a stunning view from where we ate, and at one point, it looked like this.





Okay, it’s a bit basic, but it’s much cheaper and less touristy than The View. Here’s the address and phone number:

Teardrop Arch Bed and Breakfast, W Medical Dr 14357273303

Thanks so much for this info. Have a great evening

Finally redid the math... and went with Goulding’s Lodge.

201 € for a 2-bedroom apartment with a kitchen...

20 € more than planned compared to Kayenta.

But when it comes to the view, there’s nothing to say—it’s perfect! Same for the kilometers!

Plus, there’s the cute little museum, the stagecoach...

hi

we were happy with Goulding’s… and since we passed through Kayenta, we were delighted we’d chosen Goulding’s. for info, we ate dinner at the lodge restaurant—a soup + salad buffet deal for under $15 including tips—and we thought it was really good.

we had breakfast watching the sunrise from our terrace… then we left early to do the scenic drive at MV with almost no one around.

Hello and thank you for your advice. Another question. Are there rooms for 4 people?

At 'The View' itself, the room we had was for the four of us (2 queen beds). But since there were five of us this year, we would have needed to book two rooms. That’s why we chose a cabin that comfortably accommodated 5 people. I don’t remember if there are different cabin sizes. The one we had was very spacious and very new.

view from Goulding's at sunrise 😉

Yes, Marie Noëlle, there are cabins for 4 people: a double bed and a bunk bed, perfect for families!

I guess that’s what we had: one double bed, two bunk beds plus the sofa in the living room that can sleep two more people. Unless there’s a version without the sofa?

Hi there,

We stayed in a cabin this summer (4 people). The cabins are really nice, well furnished, and it was very clean (a double bed and a small room with bunk beds). There’s a microwave, a coffee maker, a table, and a terrace, so it’s possible to have dinner and breakfast on-site facing the buttes. The view is amazing... We really didn’t regret it, though I haven’t stayed in the rooms, so I can’t compare!

As for the Grand Canyon, we went camping, so I can’t help with hotels.

Happy planning,

Marie

Thanks for the details.

Hello, I tried The View this year and all I can say is: the investment is worth it—it’s a must-do at least once. After that, if you pass through the area again, why not sleep outside the site? But if it’s your first visit, I think it’s still a must-do.

Regarding the rooms, booking a second-floor one that’s slightly set back is a good idea. The rooms have two very comfortable queen beds, and the bathroom is large and nice. I think the cabins are more for families because—I didn’t check—but there’s definitely a bunk bed and a queen bed. They’re smaller but well laid out, that’s for sure! ;)

For food, it’s good and not too expensive. Breakfast is hearty but a bit pricey.

About the Grand Canyon, since I’ve never stayed there, I can’t really say much except that given your plans, the easiest thing would be to sleep in the park to enjoy it in the afternoon and morning before you leave.

Hi there, No doubt we're staying at The View Monument Valley. Have a great Sunday! Marie-Noëlle

Hello

I’d like to book at The View. Could you confirm if I take the 1 King Bed 2nd floor premium view, I’ll be on the first floor? Is it well located? Also, could you tell me about their cancellation policy—if I understood correctly, it’s 10% of the price if canceled more than 45 days before the reservation? Thanks!