El Tovar

I have just booked to stay 1 night in the El Tovar Hotel in Oct.

I booked a standard double terrace and it wasn%26#39;t until I got the confirmation e-mail that I found this was ground floor. Does anyone know if these rooms are ok?

I am not sure whether to keep this reservation or call and change it. The other option is the standard double, would this be likely to give us views of the grand canyon?

El Tovar

There%26#39;re only few rooms with canyonview at El Tovar. But you%26#39;ll want to stay in this classic hotel and rooms are not that important. Also no elevator in El Tovar. You%26#39;ll be out of your room most of the time and it%26#39;s just steps to the rim. BTW Didnot stay myself in El Tovar but stayed next door so can%26#39;t tell you about the quality of the rooms.

Tet

El Tovar

I was told by Xanterra that the ';standard terrace'; rooms are quite small---OK for one person, but crowded for two. Also, they are partly below grade, so that the window itself is right at ground level.

So I would suggest changing it if you can, to a room on one of the upper floors (second or third floor as we number them in the US). You could ask about a view of the canyon, but I don%26#39;t think they make any promises. It%26#39;s not all that important, as you can walk out the front door and you are right there on the edge.

When we stayed at the El Tovar we stayed in whatever was their least expensive room on the ground floor. It was small, but cozy and comfortable. The fun part is staying in this incredible, wonderful old inn. We spent most of the time at the lodge sitting in front of the grand fireplace in the lobby.

The El Tovar sits back just far enough from the Canyon Rim that even the rooms with a view don%26#39;t have that great a view. You must go outside and walk a few steps to the edge of the Canyon and look down. That%26#39;s where you get the awesome views.

The weather in October should be fairly nice, and the huge summer crowds will be gone, so plan to spend a great deal of time hiking along the canyon rim, taking the shuttle to Hermit%26#39;s Rest, etc.

Unforunately Hermit Road to Hermits Rest will be closed to all vehicles from july 7 through november this year. Bad luck. But there are countless other great spots.

Reason for the closure is resurfacing and road widening.

Tet