Yosemite Bug Lodge Hostel - Page 2

My wife and I were there and it was brilliant! We got a great room and the food was delicious! We ended up spending alot of time there walking and checking out the area- beautiful. There's a swimming hole in the river nearby that is like a dream come true- it takes a bit of work to find, but it's worth it. Everyone was super freindly and helpful, and we had a great time.

Can't wait till they finish working on the spa!

Getting there was great! The room was beautiful, and our lunch was fab.

Then we went out to Mariposa to get cash out of an ATM because they didn't have one in the same town. We were gone for less than 30 minutes. We came back, went into our room, and some of our personal belongings were gone. We knew it was a particular staff member because she just so happened to be around the area performing "housekeeping" even though our room was cleaned before we even arrived. I also am neurotic about checking everything so we made sure that we locked the door, etc before we left. So, it had to be someone on staff.

My husband complained to the manager. She said she would look into it and asked the girl. The girl denied everything. In the end our belongings were not recovered and we left.

Six months of vacation planning gone down the drain!

This is the sort of place that made Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson into successful chains. It's just a bit too "iffy" to want to stay at different place every night in every new town. This place is not bad, but it does take some patience and some getting used to. If everything goes well, all will be well. However, there is no back-up plan at the Bug if something goes wrong. You'll hear, "Oh, too bad." and that's about it.

We had a good time here, but we paid careful attention to all the reviews we read about the place before we went. The location is not great, but if you don't mind the daily 30 to 40 minute drive to/from the park entrance, it's OK. The room we had was private, with its own bath. No complaints at all about that; but be aware that each room's decor, etc. seems to depend on what they had on hand the day they got done building the room.

The food was plentiful, if variable in quality. There were days when it was great. Other days it was just good. Since you can see the cooks, and their moods when you order at the register, you soon figure out how the food it going to be that day. That said, it's better food than you're going to get most places, most the time. You'll not go to bed starving at the Bug.

The people were all nice folks. If you show up and your room is ready, I think you can count on settling down to a reasonable place to spend some time. The young guys at the front desk, such as it is, are just young guys. There isn't much that they can do about anything, but they mean no harm when they come across as undiplomatic. It's OJT for just about everyone who works there. Take note of the hiring offers outside the cafe; since they will hire just about anyone, you'll wind up dealing with just about anyone. But, while a bit "off," they all seem well intended and will help where they can.

The youth hostel crowd was in the majority while we were there but they were all polite, generally quiet, and busy with their own business and not looking to bust yours. We met some kind people who were also staying there and it seems a bit of give and take it all you really need to settle in and enjoy the place.

Good luck!