Grand Teton - Summer 2005

I stayed at this hotel upon my arrival in Bozeman and the night before my departure. I think $86.66 is rather moderate for a hotel price, especially around a major city or town. Bozeman isn’t a major city, but it is a rather large town, or what you would call a small city.

Anyway, the hotel is located approximately seven miles east of the airport. Not a long drive by any means, but if it’s dark when you arrive, don’t expect to find a lot of road signs along the way. Be sure to get directions BEFORE you arrive in Bozeman. The rooms were extremely clean, but I preferred the room I was given the second time around rather than the first. Let me describe each one in detail:

On my first trip – I paid for a king room but was given a room with two Queen beds. There wasn’t a difference in price, and I’m not hard to please, so I let it slide. The room had recently been updated, although the décor chosen could have been better. The room was very clean, but I did notice that the bathroom had experienced a leak at one time and the linoleum was very stained and warped. More than likely, this occurred from the shower, based upon the stain ring. In my opinion, the floor should have been replaced immediately in order to keep in line with the recent updates. For the price, however, I guess I shouldn’t complain much.

The hotel offers a continental breakfast in the morning, but I was a bit lazy getting up and missed it.

Second Trip – This time, I was given a king room, and they also upgraded me to the Conference Center section. A much better room. The décor was neutral and recently updated. My room contained a king-sized bed, queen pull-out sofa bed, balcony (looked at Wal-Mart’s parking lot), small refrigerator, and microwave. Not too bad for $86.66/night, including tax. Again, I found the room to very clean and centrally located just outside of downtown Bozeman.

I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights while checking out Grand Teton and Jackson Hole. It’s a hotel, but the room’s doors face the outside of the building, not the inside. It was rather quiet, as this is a ski resort, and I didn’t find any downside to this in terms of noise or foot traffic, but it may be different during the winter months.

I paid $124/night, which isn’t bad for this tourist area. You can find motels a lot cheaper, but you’ll also be compromising quality as well. People should look into staying in Teton Village during the summer, as it’s a bit cheaper than staying in Jackson Hole, and it’s not a far drive to all the restaurants and stores. Not to mention that it’s a bit quieter.

The rooms were recently updated with a neutral décor. I found the outside walkway to be rather dark and a little spooky at times, and I really think it’s something management should look into. They provide The Body Shop soap and lotions, which isn’t too shabby. A bit of inconvenience occurred when the parking lot underwent re-paving during my third night. It’s the summer, and you have to expect these types of things, but the hotel didn’t appear to plan well for this and there wasn’t any close parking to load your luggage into your vehicle. It was something they should have put some thought into.

Due to the summer season, the ski resort is rather quiet, and hence, the hotels and restaurants are a bit understaffed – the Best Western was no exception. There was only one person on staff when I checked in, and this person not only had to check me in, but answer the phone and field questions from other guests. This did not make for a happy employee, and it showed.

They only have an Internet connection in the lobby, which stinks, but you can access the internet via a dial-up connection in your room (I connected consistently at 56k bps).

No reservations are needed during the summer months, but during the winter months, I'd do it.

This is a great restaurant to eat at, and you can’t beat the location from the Best Western or any of the other hotels in Teton Village. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and I’m sure this place is hopping during the winter ski season.

The decor matches all the hubbub: It looks like an upscale junk shop, with bicycles, old signs, and, naturally, a moose head or two hanging from the walls and rafters. The food is customary Wyoming fare (steak, seafood, and pasta), with an all-you-can eat salad bar and a smattering of Mexican dishes.

This is a great place frequented by locals, not the bus tours. Be sure to write your name on the waiting list, and DON’T disappear, because if you’re not there when your name is called, you’re out of luck!

I had breakfast there and didn’t get the opportunity to try out their barbeque, but I heard it was fairly decent. My plate was loaded with scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. The service was quick and friendly.

Try and avoid the place at 11am (11:30am on Sundays), as that’s when they make their switch from breakfast to lunch, and you’ll either be aggravated you can’t order breakfast anymore or aggravated that you have to wait a good 30 to 45 minutes until they begin serving lunch.

This is a neat bar to check out. I have heard that their restaurant downstairs is exceptionally good, but pricey as well, and since I would be dining alone, I decided to bypass it.

The bar stools are replaced by old saddles, which are kind of neat at first, but they get old real fast when all you want to do is enjoy a beer and relax at the bar. Besides that, it’s real neat-looking inside. Made to look like an Old West bar, it definitely succeeds.

There are tables near a stage, two bar areas, and four or six pool tables. They serve sandwiches, and you can get your shoes shined, too! My beer was reasonably priced, and the bartenders are SUPER helpful. They willingly give you tips on the area and point you in directions that are off the beaten path. This is a must place to hangout for a beer or two.

Conveniently located in the Jackson Lake Lodge, it looks like a diner straight from the ‘50s or ‘60s, but after eating there, I don’t think they meant for it to look that way - I simply think it’s never been updated.

The restaurant/diner only offers counter service, which must be a drag on families. The service is quick and efficient, but the food leaves much to be desired. I ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a coke - the cheeseburger was black on the edges. Thankfully, it wasn’t crispy, but I could tell it was a second or two from becoming a hockey puck.

The food is reasonably priced, and it’s possibly a neat place to maybe have dessert, but I’d bypass a meal there.

The Hidden Falls/Inspiration Point hike is possibly the most popular in the park. But don't let the crowds scare you away. The combination of a pristine alpine lake, a powerful cascade, a spectacular view of Jackson Hole, and a chance to get close to the towering Teton summits makes this hike well worth your time. You can either hike around the lake to the falls or take a shuttle to/from the falls. I chose to do a combination of the both - I took the boat shuttle to the falls and hiked back to my car along the southern trail (approximately 3 miles in total). Currently, the southern trail along Jenny Lake is closed (summer 2005), and instead you have to hike along the upper horse trail. The trail is a bit more strenuous, but it is hikeable.

Located in Teton Village is the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, which transports you effortlessly to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, where you'll enjoy spectacular views of Jackson Hole and can explore the fascinating alpine tundra. The cost is $19/per person, round-trip. Look for the $2 discount coupon in the local newspaper. Even if you don't go for a hike at the top of the mountain, it's a great way to see all of Jackson Hole. Beware, though, as it's a lot colder at the top of the mountain, and on the day I went up, it was 25° degrees colder. It was the end of June, and there was still a great deal of snow at the top. At 10,000 feet, air pressure is low, and your body gets a third less oxygen than at sea level. Take care not to overexert.

I did not stay at this hotel, but I did roam around a bit. I found the hotel outdated – something out of the ‘70s. It’s nicely located within Grand Teton National Park, and you can’t beat the views of the Tetons, but I’m really wondering if it’s worth the money they charge ($173 to $249/night). In my opinion, the concessionaire, Grand Teton Lodge Company, does a poor job in maintaining the premises. I thought the outside of the cabins looked rather scary, and the glimpse I got of one of the rooms in the hotel was rather minimalist. I suppose a 1-night stay may be warranted for one to say, “I’ve done that, “ but in my opinion, I think one would be better off finding accommodations in Jackson Hole and simply visiting the Jackson Lake Lodge.