We stayed in the Roof Garden Suite for 3 nights. There were 3 of us so my daughter had a cot. The suite was amazing but not ideal for 3 people (may be a better fit with a baby or toddler). There is a nice sitting room with a couch, chairs, side tables, tv with stand, bookcase, fridge and coffeemaker. The bedroom has a king bed, a tv with small credenza, desk with chair, and a closet with a safe and robes and slippers (best robe I’ve ever used!). The only place for the cot was in the bedroom, and there was barely room. The bathroom is large and has gel hand soap, moisturizer and shampoo/conditioner/body wash. There are 2 entrance doors into the suite. The door is a bit tricky- have to press the handle really hard after you hear the lock click. There are no drawers so we lived out of our suitcases. The credenza in the bedroom has some odd storage thing but not anything you can unpack into. The deck may have been the best part of the room. There were 2 tables, 2 stools, 6 chairs and a chaise lounge. The pillows dried quickly after rain. It was a very large deck. We had a partial view of the Canyon, view of the entrance to El Tovar and Hopi House and the train station and train. It was really amazing. The suite is on the 3rd floor. There is no elevator. We knew this beforehand and were expecting it. The bellman carried our bags to the room, and my husband brought them to the car on checkout. Hotel staff were all very kind and professional. We were told on check-in that housekeeping wouldn’t come every day (which was fine) but we could call if we needed anything (new towels, tp, etc.). The first day, we had no problems getting restocked. The second day, it took 5 hours to get bath towels and tp. Finally, the front desk clerk is the one who got them for us. The gift shops were good and well stocked. We went several times a day. One of the shops has stamps and the hotel lobby has a postbox. My daughter mailed postcards. There is a main dining room at the hotel (reservations needed for lunch and dinner), a lounge, and a drink cart outside during the day. The hotel is walking distance to lots of other food and shops. We got our coffee from Bright Angel Lodge every morning. Other food options are within a quick drive or longer walk. The parking lot is shared but we never had a problem finding a spot. Being on the rim is unparalleled, especially during quiet times during the day (morning and night). During the summer, a bighorn sheep (ram) comes over the wall from the Canyon to eat. Watching him wander the sidewalks was one of my favorite parts. This is my second time staying at El Tovar (first in a suite) and I’ll definitely be back.
G6827UMalexist
Five hundred bucks a night for a tiny room with no view at all (I don’t know at all what is “deluxe” in this room !), bad bed quality, the restaurant is fully booked (so that we can’t even eat for a reservation made 6 months ago !!) whereas no one told us that we should book it in advance and the waiter was disrespectful. It was a total scam, worst hotel experience i’ve ever had.
653markc653
First off - the location of El Tovar is outstanding. And - of course - the Grand Canyon itself is stunningly gorgeous. But the hotel ... Many folks note that the hotel isn't that important because, after all, all you do is sleep there. For the most part, I agree. The thing is -- we could barely even sleep there. The in-room AC unit is excruciatingly loud and cycles on/off through the night. My wife and I woke up multiple times. On top of that, the flashing green light on the smoke detector feels intensely bright when you're being awakened every 20 minutes by the AC. (The AC also had a loud dripping noise every time it shut off.) Then there's the toilet. When we arrived, it didn't flush (liquid only, at the risk of TMI). I visited the front desk and got a doubtful look. They sent someone over to take a look fairly quickly, and she went ahead and plunged the toilet, assuring me that she "thinks she got it." Sure - now instead of water rising and then slowly disappearing at an imperceptible speed -- now it slowly dropped down. But it didn't actually *flush*. Suffice it to say - we used the lobby toilets for the remainder of our short stay. Then there's the paper-thin walls. I heard so many good nights in the hallway and nearby rooms - along with the sounds of someone using their bathroom. This classic hotel has outstanding location, but it has seen far better days. Be warned of what you're getting yourself into.
Kathleen S
Lovely classic western feel to step back into the past with modern rooms. The wood work is incredible from the doors to the beautiful porch. You are so close to the edge of the canyon. There is a bus stop nearby to get you around the village and to different trails. The staff is friendly and the gift shop has some unique items. I did wonder if my room on the lower level was haunted because the door seemed to unlatch when I used the key but it felt like something was preventing the door from opening until I said, please ghost, let me in so I can just go to bed… then the door opened no problem! This happened three times!
524stevens524
Not the cleanest but it’s over 100 years old so I guess it is what it is. Just stayed for the historic aspect. Air conditioning in room is awful. Doesn’t get cold at all. 78-80 the whole time. Dessert in the lounge was fantastic. Breakfast was ok for the price.
Odyssey39990643714
First off - the El Tovar is a wonderful, history-filled hotel that has been on my bucket list for 4 decades. On July 4th weekend I stayed there - booking the Garden Suite on the top floor. The room was huge and the balcony - while not looking out over the canyon rim - was very large and nice. The view of the train depot and the forest was nice and at night it was very peaceful and a greta place to unwind (See photo). The bed was very comfortable, as was the couch. Plus the wi-fi was very fast - and that was a great surprise. The dinning room was very elegant and the food was very good. The waitstaff was excellent. The check-on process for dinning was good, depending on who was working. I ate there 3 times and the seating service by the check-in staff was great, ok and poor. But - hey - my mood was great, ok and poor at the same time. Now for the negatives - for the price you pay - and it's A LOT - there is no elevator. I knew that when I booked the room, so its my own fault. So if you book a room upstairs - pack light. The altitude and 3 flights of stairs for 4 days/3 nights was a killer. Plus - the only ice machine is in the basement. Needless-to-say, we dis without ice. But the room did have a great refrigerator for our drinks. Very little help with baggage when arriving and checking out. And parking is very bad. Arrive early and park in the gravel parking lot behind the Hupi House - where it says "no parking". That was what I was told to do by the front desk after driving around and around and around for what seemed like an hour. The lounge looks real nice and the drinks were good - not so the charcuterie board. All hard no-so-good cheese, very skimpy on the meat slices, no grapes (need grapes) and crackers were stale and most of all - you have to wait at the door to be allowed in and seated. Not sure why that bothered me, but it did. It's like a private lounge - and probably was 100 years ago by the upper crust guests - but it isn't today. Try the outside beer garden instead. Relaxed atmosphere, nice people and good beer and cider - and no waiting. If there's a seat open - come on in. So that's it - one more thing on my bucket list is now checking off. It's a one-and-done. It's a great looking place with a rich history. But the price tag for a suite is way too high. Regular rooms with no view are reasonable, so try that. Oh - BTW - the front deck double books rooms twice in my stay. One was my room and the unexpected guest had a key and walked in on us. Fortunately we were not in a compromising situation. He got a room across the hall but not what he wanted. But he and his family were nice and we visited later and laughed about it. Try the El Tovar if you are a history nut like me. But avoid those stairs if you're over 65 and overweight like me.
Scenic399782
Had a suite over night after taking the train from Williams. The room was beat up. Furniture was threadbare, dirty and stained. At almost $900 per night, I expected more, both in quality of room, service and care from the hotel staff. The room service menu is limited, you have to make advance dinner reservations long in advance of the stay. No notice was given of that fact. No resolution was granted by the staff on hand. And in fact were belligerant and argumentative. If you must spend the night, do it the most inexpensive way possible. The El Tovar is not any type of iconic experience. I emailed management, did not get a response.
BEAMER1998
This was a trip a year in the making, looking to get my mom a room that overlooked the south rim. The staff was amazing and the check-in process was seamless. The room was very nice and met the decor and feel of the hotel. While the room had two rooms only recommendation is to think about a pull out to ensure sleeping was easier as I did stay on the couch. While I also know many don’t come for the room the TV and internet was not the best especially for someone who did have to stay connected for work. Would recommend investing in that portion of the hotel. Overall it was a great experience and priceless to see my mom as happy as I’ve ever seen her.
marybethl178
Definitely an experience. This is an extremely old hotel. You are paying for the location and the history. My recommendation would be to stay one night and bring in minimal luggage because the rooms are very small. We booked 3 nights and ended up leaving one night early. Heads up, you are not guaranteed a parking place outside the hotel even after paying top dollar to stay there. Seems they could do parking tags or something to secure spots. I would advise walking the south rim trail early to enjoy a quiet & cool walk before all the crowds show up! We also enjoyed having a short walk to the Bright Angel Lodge.
H1061VUdianec
This place is so historic and unique that I included it in my book "Arizona's Historic and Unique Hotels." Movies were shot here in the silent era when actor Douglas Fairbanks and Wallace Beery were here. Architect of La Posada, Mary Jane Colter, designed some of the features here with her greatest emphasis in the bar which has an outdoor eating site, to watch strollers as they go by. Consider the origins of this place, and the role of Bucky O'Neill whose cabin can be visited here, an early Arizona sheriff who was killed in Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders campaign against the Spaniards in Cuba. See the chimney designed by Colter in Bright Angel Resort showing the stones built up by time from the bottom of the Grand Canyon. You'll love this place and all its history and amenities. People from Einstein to Sir Paul McCartney have enjoyed El Tovar. Dr. Diane Holloway Cheney
We stayed at the El Tovar for its location and the convenience of a good restaurant on the premises. We paid $475/night for a motel-like standard room, mid-week and in mid-March. It was worth it. We spent a very pleasant two days walking the rim trail, visiting the various shops, resting and then setting out again. The views steps from the hotel are breathtaking. We also ate all our meals at the El Tovar restaurant, which is excellent. Make sure you make reservations for your meals well in advance! We saw many hotel guests and others turned away because they did not have a reservation. Finally, we parked our car in the adjacent lot for the duration of our stay. Not having to move your car and then jockey with the throngs of people for a parking space was wonderful.
YvonneV1954
A snowy visit! We were so fortunate to wake up to snow both mornings of our visit! Looking out on the Grand Canyon from our second floor balcony of the Fred Harvey suite was remarkably beautiful! Sunrise in the Canyon with Misty clouds in the Canyon & very few morning visitors on the south Rim trail made for perfect viewing pleasure, a peaceful way to start each day! We very much enjoyed our stay in the famous suite. Beautiful antique chiffr. robe, chairs, & tables were truly a trip back in time when Fred Harvey was instrumental in bringing fine dining to the West.
kent953
This lodge was beautiful and had a premium location feet from the South Rim. Unfortunately - the property is not ADA compliant. Get ready to traverse the stairs with luggage if not housed on the 3rd floor. People with mobility issues should consider another property. - lodging guest should be a priority in gaining a reservation in the dining room. Was repeatedly denied seating and directed to other facilities for meals. At these prices housed guest should be a priority. - our first evening when we were seated in the dining room the fire alarm goes off and guests were ushered into below freezing temps many unprepared for the cold weather. We were outside approximately 1 hour. Staff was uninformed throughout and fire representative did not arrive for 45 minutes. No fire trucks were dispatched. When deemed safe guests returned to the building or dining room. No apologies, no we’re sorry or some form of comp for the inconvenience. Wife became ill from this experience ruining the duration of our trip. This property could benefit from a customer service course from Marriott.
Samoyed79
Amazing family trip. We stayed in rooms on the main floor and were just steps from the canyon's rim. There was a tiny view of the canyon visible from our room, too, which was a surprise. We love old hotels. Room was spacious, clean and had good amenities. I loved making an in-room coffee in a real coffee mug before the sun was up and waltzing less than 20 yards to enjoy the magic of sunrise. There was a stargazing program that evening as well. Dinner was excellent -- just book it in advance. We ate early so we could enjoy "golden hour" and the sunset. Breakfast was excellent as well. I couldn't recommend it enough.
kirstenb23
We stayed in the Fred Harvey Suite and could not have been more amazed. The history of the room is evident throughout and the views from the patio/deck are unbeatable. Highly worth the splurge. The history of the hotel and location in the park is unsurpassable. We were not able to get reservations in the dining room, but had drinks and food in the lounge (which does not require reservations) which was very cozy and charming.
We stayed in the Roof Garden Suite for 3 nights. There were 3 of us so my daughter had a cot. The suite was amazing but not ideal for 3 people (may be a better fit with a baby or toddler). There is a nice sitting room with a couch, chairs, side tables, tv with stand, bookcase, fridge and coffeemaker. The bedroom has a king bed, a tv with small credenza, desk with chair, and a closet with a safe and robes and slippers (best robe I’ve ever used!). The only place for the cot was in the bedroom, and there was barely room. The bathroom is large and has gel hand soap, moisturizer and shampoo/conditioner/body wash. There are 2 entrance doors into the suite. The door is a bit tricky- have to press the handle really hard after you hear the lock click. There are no drawers so we lived out of our suitcases. The credenza in the bedroom has some odd storage thing but not anything you can unpack into. The deck may have been the best part of the room. There were 2 tables, 2 stools, 6 chairs and a chaise lounge. The pillows dried quickly after rain. It was a very large deck. We had a partial view of the Canyon, view of the entrance to El Tovar and Hopi House and the train station and train. It was really amazing. The suite is on the 3rd floor. There is no elevator. We knew this beforehand and were expecting it. The bellman carried our bags to the room, and my husband brought them to the car on checkout. Hotel staff were all very kind and professional. We were told on check-in that housekeeping wouldn’t come every day (which was fine) but we could call if we needed anything (new towels, tp, etc.). The first day, we had no problems getting restocked. The second day, it took 5 hours to get bath towels and tp. Finally, the front desk clerk is the one who got them for us. The gift shops were good and well stocked. We went several times a day. One of the shops has stamps and the hotel lobby has a postbox. My daughter mailed postcards. There is a main dining room at the hotel (reservations needed for lunch and dinner), a lounge, and a drink cart outside during the day. The hotel is walking distance to lots of other food and shops. We got our coffee from Bright Angel Lodge every morning. Other food options are within a quick drive or longer walk. The parking lot is shared but we never had a problem finding a spot. Being on the rim is unparalleled, especially during quiet times during the day (morning and night). During the summer, a bighorn sheep (ram) comes over the wall from the Canyon to eat. Watching him wander the sidewalks was one of my favorite parts. This is my second time staying at El Tovar (first in a suite) and I’ll definitely be back.
Five hundred bucks a night for a tiny room with no view at all (I don’t know at all what is “deluxe” in this room !), bad bed quality, the restaurant is fully booked (so that we can’t even eat for a reservation made 6 months ago !!) whereas no one told us that we should book it in advance and the waiter was disrespectful. It was a total scam, worst hotel experience i’ve ever had.
First off - the location of El Tovar is outstanding. And - of course - the Grand Canyon itself is stunningly gorgeous. But the hotel ... Many folks note that the hotel isn't that important because, after all, all you do is sleep there. For the most part, I agree. The thing is -- we could barely even sleep there. The in-room AC unit is excruciatingly loud and cycles on/off through the night. My wife and I woke up multiple times. On top of that, the flashing green light on the smoke detector feels intensely bright when you're being awakened every 20 minutes by the AC. (The AC also had a loud dripping noise every time it shut off.) Then there's the toilet. When we arrived, it didn't flush (liquid only, at the risk of TMI). I visited the front desk and got a doubtful look. They sent someone over to take a look fairly quickly, and she went ahead and plunged the toilet, assuring me that she "thinks she got it." Sure - now instead of water rising and then slowly disappearing at an imperceptible speed -- now it slowly dropped down. But it didn't actually *flush*. Suffice it to say - we used the lobby toilets for the remainder of our short stay. Then there's the paper-thin walls. I heard so many good nights in the hallway and nearby rooms - along with the sounds of someone using their bathroom. This classic hotel has outstanding location, but it has seen far better days. Be warned of what you're getting yourself into.
Lovely classic western feel to step back into the past with modern rooms. The wood work is incredible from the doors to the beautiful porch. You are so close to the edge of the canyon. There is a bus stop nearby to get you around the village and to different trails. The staff is friendly and the gift shop has some unique items. I did wonder if my room on the lower level was haunted because the door seemed to unlatch when I used the key but it felt like something was preventing the door from opening until I said, please ghost, let me in so I can just go to bed… then the door opened no problem! This happened three times!
Not the cleanest but it’s over 100 years old so I guess it is what it is. Just stayed for the historic aspect. Air conditioning in room is awful. Doesn’t get cold at all. 78-80 the whole time. Dessert in the lounge was fantastic. Breakfast was ok for the price.
First off - the El Tovar is a wonderful, history-filled hotel that has been on my bucket list for 4 decades. On July 4th weekend I stayed there - booking the Garden Suite on the top floor. The room was huge and the balcony - while not looking out over the canyon rim - was very large and nice. The view of the train depot and the forest was nice and at night it was very peaceful and a greta place to unwind (See photo). The bed was very comfortable, as was the couch. Plus the wi-fi was very fast - and that was a great surprise. The dinning room was very elegant and the food was very good. The waitstaff was excellent. The check-on process for dinning was good, depending on who was working. I ate there 3 times and the seating service by the check-in staff was great, ok and poor. But - hey - my mood was great, ok and poor at the same time. Now for the negatives - for the price you pay - and it's A LOT - there is no elevator. I knew that when I booked the room, so its my own fault. So if you book a room upstairs - pack light. The altitude and 3 flights of stairs for 4 days/3 nights was a killer. Plus - the only ice machine is in the basement. Needless-to-say, we dis without ice. But the room did have a great refrigerator for our drinks. Very little help with baggage when arriving and checking out. And parking is very bad. Arrive early and park in the gravel parking lot behind the Hupi House - where it says "no parking". That was what I was told to do by the front desk after driving around and around and around for what seemed like an hour. The lounge looks real nice and the drinks were good - not so the charcuterie board. All hard no-so-good cheese, very skimpy on the meat slices, no grapes (need grapes) and crackers were stale and most of all - you have to wait at the door to be allowed in and seated. Not sure why that bothered me, but it did. It's like a private lounge - and probably was 100 years ago by the upper crust guests - but it isn't today. Try the outside beer garden instead. Relaxed atmosphere, nice people and good beer and cider - and no waiting. If there's a seat open - come on in. So that's it - one more thing on my bucket list is now checking off. It's a one-and-done. It's a great looking place with a rich history. But the price tag for a suite is way too high. Regular rooms with no view are reasonable, so try that. Oh - BTW - the front deck double books rooms twice in my stay. One was my room and the unexpected guest had a key and walked in on us. Fortunately we were not in a compromising situation. He got a room across the hall but not what he wanted. But he and his family were nice and we visited later and laughed about it. Try the El Tovar if you are a history nut like me. But avoid those stairs if you're over 65 and overweight like me.
Had a suite over night after taking the train from Williams. The room was beat up. Furniture was threadbare, dirty and stained. At almost $900 per night, I expected more, both in quality of room, service and care from the hotel staff. The room service menu is limited, you have to make advance dinner reservations long in advance of the stay. No notice was given of that fact. No resolution was granted by the staff on hand. And in fact were belligerant and argumentative. If you must spend the night, do it the most inexpensive way possible. The El Tovar is not any type of iconic experience. I emailed management, did not get a response.
This was a trip a year in the making, looking to get my mom a room that overlooked the south rim. The staff was amazing and the check-in process was seamless. The room was very nice and met the decor and feel of the hotel. While the room had two rooms only recommendation is to think about a pull out to ensure sleeping was easier as I did stay on the couch. While I also know many don’t come for the room the TV and internet was not the best especially for someone who did have to stay connected for work. Would recommend investing in that portion of the hotel. Overall it was a great experience and priceless to see my mom as happy as I’ve ever seen her.
Definitely an experience. This is an extremely old hotel. You are paying for the location and the history. My recommendation would be to stay one night and bring in minimal luggage because the rooms are very small. We booked 3 nights and ended up leaving one night early. Heads up, you are not guaranteed a parking place outside the hotel even after paying top dollar to stay there. Seems they could do parking tags or something to secure spots. I would advise walking the south rim trail early to enjoy a quiet & cool walk before all the crowds show up! We also enjoyed having a short walk to the Bright Angel Lodge.
This place is so historic and unique that I included it in my book "Arizona's Historic and Unique Hotels." Movies were shot here in the silent era when actor Douglas Fairbanks and Wallace Beery were here. Architect of La Posada, Mary Jane Colter, designed some of the features here with her greatest emphasis in the bar which has an outdoor eating site, to watch strollers as they go by. Consider the origins of this place, and the role of Bucky O'Neill whose cabin can be visited here, an early Arizona sheriff who was killed in Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders campaign against the Spaniards in Cuba. See the chimney designed by Colter in Bright Angel Resort showing the stones built up by time from the bottom of the Grand Canyon. You'll love this place and all its history and amenities. People from Einstein to Sir Paul McCartney have enjoyed El Tovar. Dr. Diane Holloway Cheney
Restaurantji Recommends
We stayed at the El Tovar for its location and the convenience of a good restaurant on the premises. We paid $475/night for a motel-like standard room, mid-week and in mid-March. It was worth it. We spent a very pleasant two days walking the rim trail, visiting the various shops, resting and then setting out again. The views steps from the hotel are breathtaking. We also ate all our meals at the El Tovar restaurant, which is excellent. Make sure you make reservations for your meals well in advance! We saw many hotel guests and others turned away because they did not have a reservation. Finally, we parked our car in the adjacent lot for the duration of our stay. Not having to move your car and then jockey with the throngs of people for a parking space was wonderful.
A snowy visit! We were so fortunate to wake up to snow both mornings of our visit! Looking out on the Grand Canyon from our second floor balcony of the Fred Harvey suite was remarkably beautiful! Sunrise in the Canyon with Misty clouds in the Canyon & very few morning visitors on the south Rim trail made for perfect viewing pleasure, a peaceful way to start each day! We very much enjoyed our stay in the famous suite. Beautiful antique chiffr. robe, chairs, & tables were truly a trip back in time when Fred Harvey was instrumental in bringing fine dining to the West.
This lodge was beautiful and had a premium location feet from the South Rim. Unfortunately - the property is not ADA compliant. Get ready to traverse the stairs with luggage if not housed on the 3rd floor. People with mobility issues should consider another property. - lodging guest should be a priority in gaining a reservation in the dining room. Was repeatedly denied seating and directed to other facilities for meals. At these prices housed guest should be a priority. - our first evening when we were seated in the dining room the fire alarm goes off and guests were ushered into below freezing temps many unprepared for the cold weather. We were outside approximately 1 hour. Staff was uninformed throughout and fire representative did not arrive for 45 minutes. No fire trucks were dispatched. When deemed safe guests returned to the building or dining room. No apologies, no we’re sorry or some form of comp for the inconvenience. Wife became ill from this experience ruining the duration of our trip. This property could benefit from a customer service course from Marriott.
Amazing family trip. We stayed in rooms on the main floor and were just steps from the canyon's rim. There was a tiny view of the canyon visible from our room, too, which was a surprise. We love old hotels. Room was spacious, clean and had good amenities. I loved making an in-room coffee in a real coffee mug before the sun was up and waltzing less than 20 yards to enjoy the magic of sunrise. There was a stargazing program that evening as well. Dinner was excellent -- just book it in advance. We ate early so we could enjoy "golden hour" and the sunset. Breakfast was excellent as well. I couldn't recommend it enough.
We stayed in the Fred Harvey Suite and could not have been more amazed. The history of the room is evident throughout and the views from the patio/deck are unbeatable. Highly worth the splurge. The history of the hotel and location in the park is unsurpassable. We were not able to get reservations in the dining room, but had drinks and food in the lounge (which does not require reservations) which was very cozy and charming.