Wawona Hotel

It all started when two rooms from our party of 12 people were canceled, for no reason at all. That was a warning, but we went to the hotel anyway.

We were located in a attic, although the arrangement was for the main building. After negotiating, we were moved to the main building, but the day after we found out that our luggage was moved to a different room without our consent.

Breakfast for Mother's Day, which we booked two months in advance, was another ordeal. Our party was split, and we were left waiting for 40 minutes.

At checkout, there were double charges in our bills.

Stay away!

Hotels like the Wawona were elegant when new. Most elegant things pass through a decrepit state and, if they survive, eventually become charming. The Wawona has not reached the charming state. The quality of the decor was matched by the quality of the service -- both were poor. The heating in the rooms is not under guest control; at night the room was terribly hot and dry. The dining room is too small for the number of guests present resulting in long waits followed by service that endeavors to rush you out the door to free the table. The food is satisfactory, but the quality is not up to the price. The entertainment in the lounge is free, but unless you are one of the regulars be prepared to feel like an outsider; most nights it felt like a private party to which you were grudgingly admitted. Located at the Southern extent of the park, the Wawona is at least one hour from everything you might be there to see (much more with traffic and frequent road closures). If you want to experience an old hotel, try another. The Wawona is disappointing in all respects.

This hotel is less expensive than the Ahwahnee, but it's not like you have a lot of choices when want to stay in a hotel inside Yosemite. Unless you find old hotels charming, be prepared for ancient amenities. The rooms are heated by a furnace that runs off of hot water, and they make a lot of noise, and makes the rooms very humid. Some rooms don't have bathrooms, so you got to use the public ones. The location of the hotel is far from most of the attractions except for the southern area of Yosemite. If you stay here, be prepared to always eat at the restaurant, since the next closest one is probably an hour away, outside the park, in the valley. Food is just slightly above average.

Old yet expensive hotel in Yosemite. This hotel is less expensive than the Ahwahnee, but it's not like you have a lot of choices when want to stay in a hotel inside Yosemite. Unless you find old hotels charming, be prepared for ancient amenities. The rooms are heated by a furnace that runs off of hot water, and they make a lot of noise, and makes the rooms very humid. Some rooms don't have bathrooms, so you got to use the public ones. The location of the hotel is far from most of the attractions except for the southern area of Yosemite. If you stay here, be prepared to always eat at the restaurant, since the next closest one is probably an hour away, outside the park, in the valley. Food is just slightly above average.

The Wawona Lodge is about an hour's drive out of the main Yosemite Valley area so make sure you know that. The hotel has a wonderful rustic charm and the setting in the trees is incredible. It is right near the sequoia grove too so you can see the biggest trees in the world and go hiking straight out the front door. Keep in mind that not all rooms have bathrooms, however it is a novelty to have to walk along to the toilet in your bathrobe in the middle of the night. We were there in May and it was blazing hot, so in the afternoons the room was so stifling hot it was hard to get dressed up for the wedding we were going to. It is a great place to stay though and if we stayed again I'd get the room with a bathroom.