El Tovar purports to be a 5 star hotel. It is not. We still enjoyed our visit to the Grand Canyon but El Tovar did not live up to its stated goal - to provide the same outstanding service that guests experienced in the early 1900s. Here is where El Tovar fell short: 1) no valet parking, 2) no help with luggage, 3) irritated and unhelpful desk clerk at check-in, 4) no elevator, 5) overheated room, 6) limited dining availability, 7) must request menu at front desk for any room service, 8) rooms are only serviced every three days, 9) bathroom amenities are on lock-down, and 10) over-priced for what you get. I was disappointed that this was not the 10th anniversary experience we had expected.

Solid experience. The lobby is really cool. It can be challenging to get a dinner reservation. We ate in the bar the first night which was fine. I was impressed with the high end spirits and wines. The food in the dining room and bar was better than expected. The apple pie was fresh and amazing! I wish there were a few more options from the bar menu. Service was wonderful except at the front desk, but that was OK. The room was a bit sad, but the bathroom was updated and nice.

We stayed for one night on Christmas Day and had dinner in the restaurant in the evening. Yes, it was ‘faded’ glory and could do with a spruce up. Yes, it was expensive but its location was convenient for visiting the GC when short on time, there is limited accommodation around there and there is a lot of history associated with the hotel. We liked the area outside at the back of the hotel where we enjoyed the beautiful views at sunset. You could purchase drinks to take away at the hotel and enjoy while admiring the sunset. We also enjoyed the roaring fire in the lobby, the Christmas tree and festive decorations.

This gorgeous old hotel continues to represent the epitome of the ultimate in lodging at the turn of the century. Rustic, beautifully decorated and maintained, with outstanding service in the tradition of Fred Harvey. Standard rooms are smaller than usual but more than adequate. Suites are elegant in all respects. No elevators so if difficulty negotiating stairs request first floor. Grand Canyon is a remote location which affects prices at every example. Even the McDonalds located just outside the National Park is more expensive so ignore reviews complaining about relative value.

We recently stayed at El Tovar, and while it’s expensive, you’re definitely paying for the unbeatable location. The room was dated as expected, but we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the robes and amenities. The air conditioning unit, as others have mentioned, was quite loud, so I recommend bringing a sound machine to help with that. There are no elevators, but the bell service made it easy by carrying our luggage. The restaurant was a major highlight—make sure to book early for dinner. The steak and French onion soup were outstanding, and the service was exceptional. We also enjoyed a last-minute lunch reservation, which had a different but equally good menu. The location is fantastic, walkable to everything with ample shuttles available. Parking is tricky, but with patience (and a few loops), we found a spot nearby. Overall, the charm of staying at the rim and the dining experience made it worth it!