Yellowstone National Park Hotel Tips by toonsarah

Lake Yellowstone Hotel: Best place to stay? Lake Yellowstone Hotel Review

We spent two nights in a Frontier Cabin at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and although the cabin’s specification was the same as the one at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, this was in every way a better experience! OK it did cost a little more ($112 rather than $92) but it was really worth it. For one thing, the cabin was nicer – larger and with four windows making it feel really light and airy. [Actually, to be honest the cabin we checked into did have one fault – the carpet was still very wet from a recent wash. But the staff on the reception desk were very helpful and managed to find us an alternative one despite the fact that they were obviously very busy and had lots of guests to accommodate.]

The hotel itself, where we ate, drank and relaxed on both evenings, is really lovely – an elegant colonial style building very unlike the usual “national park rustic” style you find elsewhere. There’s a large conservatory-type lounge with beautiful views of the lake, where you can get great cocktails (try the ruby red cosmopolitan!) and enjoy live piano music before and after dinner, or get a breakfast coffee and pastry if you don’t want the full works. And the dining room again is very light and manages to feel quite peaceful and stylish despite the large size and considerable numbers being served. We also enjoyed the food here more than at Old Faithful – see my dining tip for details.

Unique Qualities: Lots to recommend this place, if you don't mind paying a little extra - the views of the lake (though not from the cabins), the elegant atmosphere, the fine dining! And I guess if you really wanted to splash out it would be a great experience to stay in one of the hotel rooms themselves but that would cost you around $200 a night.

Comparison: about average

Directions: On the western shore of the lake a few miles south of Fishing Bridge

Phone: 307.344.7311

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Inn

Website: http://www.travelyellowstone.com/lake-yellowstone-hotel-cabins-94.html

Old Faithful Snow Lodge cabin: Quiet if basic Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins Review

We spent our first night in Yellowstone in this cabin at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The facilities were fine, if fairly basic. The cabin was right at the edge of the huge Old Faithful complex, which meant a bit of a walk when we wanted to go out for dinner (at the Old Faithful Inn) but had the bonus that it was very quiet. Our window looked out to the surrounding pine woods so it was easy to feel comfortably detached from the tourist melee of the complex.

Ours was a Frontier Cabin, described as "Duplex motel-style unit, simple but comfortable with a bathroom with shower, toilet and sink" - which is fair enough.

The lodge itself has an attractive modern design. There’s a restaurant (we didn’t dine there but had a good breakfast the next morning though service was a little slow), and a small but comfortable bar with good cocktails. All in all it’s a bit more peaceful than the more famous Old Faithful Inn and I felt better value for money, though not a patch on the Lake Hotel where we stayed for the remaining two night of our visit.

Comparison: less expensive than average

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Inn

Website: http://www.travelyellowstone.com/old-faithful-snow-lodge-cabins-98.html