First, the good things: location is great, a few steps from the canyon. Dining experience was good, Paul and Guy were excellent in taking care of us. Then: the room is by far the worst room I’ve stayed in since… well, I have a job. It’s tiny, the bed could barely fit my wife and I (smaller than a queen bed), the bathroom is ridiculously small and the air conditioning makes so much noise that is unbearable. Cherry on top, the view was underground, facing pipes. We booked 6 months ago at full price. When I’ve asked to change room, their reply was that since I’ve booked through a third party my only option was to pay full price with no refund. I’ve tried to understand the logic because I said I was willing to pay the difference but the only reply I’ve got was “there’s nothing we can do”. Horrible customer service and the ugliness of the room, the tiny bed and the noise of the air conditioning made our experience forgettable. They sit on the great location so I guess they don’t care much about how they treat customers. If you really want to go boom a room with two beds and bring ear plugs.

Location Simply outstanding. Being right on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim is hard to beat. Rooms & Facilities Rooms are small. Bathrooms and in-room carpet feel old and dated. Wi-Fi is limited to two guests, even if you have five people. Overall condition does not match a four-star rating. Price About USD 800 per night for five people, room-only (no breakfast)—high for the level of comfort provided. Dining The restaurant is okay but nothing exceptional—except for the desserts, which are very good. Overall Great location, but the hotel itself feels outdated and overpriced for what you get.

Beds literally tip down so that your head was lower than our feet. Not comfortable and we slept on the opposite side of the bed. The rooms and bathrooms are very clean. The food at the restaurant was HORRIBLE. Steak was over and/or undercooked. Potatoes were undercooked, and eggs were undercooked. I sent back several times. Save your money and go to Bright Angel - you are literally paying $600 per night for the views.

We’ve never been to the Grand Canyon and wanted to make it special. El Tovar is so amazing, special, iconic and atmospheric. The entire experience went far beyond my wildest expectations! Driving from Sedona to the Grand Canyon there’s a lot of nothing until you get tot eh Grand Canyon Village. We were delighted to find that El Tovar is literally next to the canyon. Unbelievable views and walks right outside the door! It’s conveniently located near several shops and places to eat, and the Bright Angel trail is just a few minutes away. The hotel is like stepping back in time. It’s a lodge, a Teddy Roosevelt Hollywood movie star lodge. Sure, it’s “dated”, but honestly it’s wonderful to find a place that hasn’t been renovated by IKEA. The staff is wonderful, so kind and friendly and accommodating. There’s a restaurant, a bar/lounge and a more casual eating area. But the view! I mean, that’s what we’re here for and it’s spectacular. Staying right next to the canyon, here at sunset when the touri buses leave, here in the dead quiet morning watching the sunrise spread across the canyon. Absolutely a once in a lifetime experience…and I can’t wait to do it again.

We really enjoyed our stay at El Tovar. It was awesome to have incredible views, hiking and dining/shopping options right outside our doorstep. Our room was very clean/comfortable and even had a partial canyon view. There was no elevator, but we were on the first floor, so it wasn't an issue. The only problem we encountered is that many of the staff seemed stretched thin and not very happy, which could be due to budget cuts and underfunding.