I have been trying to find the words for this review. This will be my third attempt. On one hand it is a review of a hotel, on another it a review of a hotel on a Native American Indian reservation that has been disproportionally affected by Covid, and continues to be affected due to lack of vaccines and access to healthcare. We have been trying to make it here for a few years, each time being set back due to some unforeseen issue. This year we made it, and it is nothing like I expected.

On a hotel review level, for a $320 hotel room, I would expect much more. The restaurant is overpriced for dinner (we ate Lind’s food which was great) and the breakfast is a pretty depressing continental breakfast with pop tarts, pancakes and processed foods in abundance. The carpets are showing their lack of upkeep, as is the cracking paint and caulk. The cleanliness is not what was expected, with dirt along walls and floorboards. It just feels cheap and I feel pretty ripped off by the price. My guess is that Covid has taken a toll on the employees, perhaps taking away some of their attention to detail. But I was also pretty shocked by the mass of styrofoam and plastic used by this supposedly “environmentally responsible” hotel, which seems more like a mgmt decision.

The view is pretty nice, we did get the 2nd floor view room. The view does kind of take your mind away from the jankiness of the hotel. But the view in this valley is pretty spectacular whether you are being gouged at the hotel or not.

In the context of the life that many in the Navajo nation live, this place is opulent. But within the context of a $300/night room, it is sub-par, to be generous. I am not sure how I am supposed to contextualize this hotel. Given the fact that the Navajo nation is still struggling with a pandemic and all the societal impacts that come along with it, it is wonderful to me that the hotel provides a job for its employees. And am I supposed to think about this place within the context of the daily life of folks on this reservation, if so I did not come prepared for that. So I am not sure how one critiques this hotel. If the hotel mgmt wants to present a luxurious and “nice” hotel, they have failed. It feels like a slightly nicer Motel 6. But if the hotel mgmt is wanting to force it’s guest to try to understand some of the deeper issues of the broader community, perhaps it has succeeded. It did force me to read about how Covid is affecting this tribe. But, that is not what I paid $320 for. That was not what was advertised. In the end, this was more than a hotel experience for me. It was a stay that was unexpected and definitely not in my plans. I feel like the Navajo Nation could be better represented than how they are by this hotel, but then I look at it from a very different world view, and frankly, not for me to say. I just wish I knew what to expect beforehand. (Breakfast photos attached … Reminiscent of Motel 6)

The View Hotel has THE MOST spectacular views, 100 % lives up to its name. Well done rooms, we had the double beds. Lots of art and Navajo bedding. Large bath with tub, a must for me. Plenty of vanity, console and desk space. Roomy balcony with table and chairs. Then…there’s that view.

Is it an expensive hotel? Without any doubt. Is it a place that you should stay? Without any doubt. In my opinion, a visit to Monument Valley is not completed without staying here. My suggestion is to buy some dinner at Goulding's Lodge Shop (frozen food, fruit, sandwiches… ) and eat dinner on the terrace and watch the sunset. Likewise, get up early to watch the sunrise. We didn’t expect to have breakfast, you shouldn’t expect a great one. (But the views are great!)

The pros. Breathtaking views. Clean and comfortable bedroom. The cons Unfriendly service, especially at check-in. Poor breakfast and both mornings the coffee had run out and there was no-one around to ask to refill the machine. Overall-if you want the best views this is the place to stay despite the negatives.

The good stuff first. The views at this place are wonderful. Well worth the trip. The hotel is clean and the room we had was well sized. It’s a dry state. This is either good or for me bad. As I wanted to watch the sun go down with a lovely glass of red. Ok. So now for the rest You can’t pay over the phone. We booked 8 months ago and paid upfront only to arrive to be told that the funds had been refunded and we need to pay now. Reservation was still valid. Not great. The staff were not overly helpful and just kept repeating that we need to pay now. There is only one restaurant. The food is expensive for what it is. See pictures. I had chicken tenders (over cooked) with rice and fries. Cost $25. You can’t book and it’s first come first serve. The wifi would often drop out. I’ve reconnected about 5 times so far. The cost of the hotel room was $295. For this I would a decent hotel and service. This is not it. Advise would be drive here and see the views. Walk the routes. Drive the loop. Then drive back.