Grand Canyon lodging?

[Rajah]

Anyone ever stayed at the El Tovar, Kachina, or Thunderbird Lodges at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon?

Any pictures? I for some reason am having a really hard time finding decent pictures of any of those three, El Tovar being the easiest.

 

[ahutton]

We have been up there a couple times. The El Tovar is really lovely. They have a great view, good restaurant and it was very convenient to the rest of the village area. The train to Williams is a great ride. The others are nice too, but El Tovar is far and away my favorite.

 

[Rajah]

Is El Tovar worth it if you can't get a rim-view? There's only one night of the possible nights we'll be up there that there is *any* availability at the El Tovar (if their website is to be believed) and I'm not sure if that's rim view or not.

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Annnnd, I just talked to DH and he said that the *one* night the El Tovar has available, DH absolutely *must* be actually *in* Phoenix. So that strikes the El Tovar off the list unless there's a cancellation.

So... how about the cabins, Kachina, or Thunderbird lodges?

 

[TLinden16]

I stayed at the Kachina about five years ago. We had a great view of the canyon from our room.

The lodge it self reminded me of a dormitory. The room was clean, and comfortable, but by no means a deluxe resort (I'm spoiled--I tend to stay at nice hotels whenever I travel). It was a very basic, no frills room. It was adequate. I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you can get a canyon view room. Just don't expect it to be luxurious. What it lacks in luxary it more than makes up with the view and the proximity to the canyon.

Karen