Yellowstone recommendations- lodging, etc?

[Simba's Mom]

As someone said before, lodging does book up, some a year in advance. But there's nothing like staying in the park! We've gone 3 times, and a co-worker of DH wants to go in 2012. So for fun, I was looking at the website for Yellowstone Lodging this afternoon, specifically where we stayed last time (Mammoth Hot Springs cabins). Wow, I couldn't believe that they're already sold out for a lot of dates. However, I remember when I'd called for reservations one year, the lady told me that there are a lot of cancellations in the early spring, so don't give up on where you want to stay. Just don't expect TVs, telephones, free wi-fi (or any wi-fi), cell reception, in the park. DH (and lots of other people, we noticed) could only get cell reception in the big parking lot by Old Faithful Geyser and hotel. We were just talking about Yellowstone last night and reminiscing about what a wonderful time we had. One last thing is the weather-in the 3 Junes we went, it snowed each trip, sometimes closing certain areas, once closing entrance to the entire park. The only advantage to our plane delaying our arrival on our last trip-had we arrived when planned, we would have sat in the snow outside the park all day, unable to get in.

[CPT Tripss]

I have been able to book by telephone when "no vacancy" showed up on the web site. But, there were times when that did not work. Also try telephone booking up to the day you leave, "stuff" happens.

[skiingfast]

Originally Posted by CPT Tripss

I have been able to book by telephone when "no vacancy" showed up on the web site. But, there were times when that did not work. Also try telephone booking up to the day you leave, "stuff" happens.

I had a friend who worked a front desk in the town of Jackson, WY. Many people would try to "walk up" hoping for a room. That were amazed there were no rooms in the area and suggested they try going to Idaho Falls, Idaho or that only the 4Seasons has rooms left for $400. Some of these people had already been told no up in Yellowstone. Stuff can happen and stuff can go terribly wrong too.

[CPT Tripss]

Originally Posted by skiingfast

I had a friend who worked a front desk in the town of Jackson, WY. Many people would try to "walk up" hoping for a room. That were amazed there were no rooms in the area and suggested they try going to Idaho Falls, Idaho or that only the 4Seasons has rooms left for $400. Some of these people had already been told no up in Yellowstone. Stuff can happen and stuff can go terribly wrong too.

I certainly was not advocating heading to these popular destinations with no ressies. Did you read it that way?

But if I have a safety valve ressie, I keep trying to get into my preferred accommodation up to my cancelation deadline.