Overview: affordable for mammoth, cool people, and decent housing…read more ---- I decided to solo travel for snowboarding and booked a few days here, having no expectations and never having stayed at a hostel before in America. The process of picking up the keys was easy, there's a lobby area on a separate building and a bulletin board with an envelope and your name on it with instructions and your keys. The parking lot is pretty tight but doable and they have a motel in a separate building to the hostel. The hot tub is only for motel guests tho. The hostel has different room options with the cheapest one being a mixed dorm with 6 beds, I think I paid around $50 per night and it really depends on the time of the season for price fluctuations. They have more private rooms for more expensive which is a nice option if you are staying with someone you know, however the walls are quite thin here. In the private room, it was located next to the kitchen and you can practically hear everything through them, so not much privacy in that regard. I've met really cool people here and had a great time getting to know some of them. I even saw a person from my first trip on my second one as well! I also got to snowboard with some of the people in the dorm I shared which was awesome. You meet people of all walks of life here. The kitchen situation was straightforward, there are 2 fridges and you label your stuff with a sticky label and a sharpie with your name and checkout date. There are also communal dishes and utensils and a microwave, but so stove/oven so be prepared! I did see a mouse on the very first night I stayed there too but it was one of the cute small ones hahah. There's one bigger personal bathroom on the first floor and then the shared ones upstairs. The location is also prime for walking to the gondola and it's near some great restaurants. ---- Overall: my new go-to spot for staying in Mammoth, great for solo travelers or friends who want somewhere affordable to stay at, many pros to this place that outweigh its cons

Stayed a night at Moderne Hostel in Mammoth Lakes. Check-in is at 3pm, and early check-in usually…read moreisn't possible, so keep that in mind. The place is clean and well-kept, with a nice kitchen that guests can use, which is a big plus. Rooms are simple--some with bunk beds, others private. We booked our own room, which worked out well and was a good value for the price. Important note: don't leave food in your car. A bear had ripped into someone's vehicle for food while we were there, so always store it properly. Overall, a clean, budget-friendly stay with handy kitchen facilities--great for a short stop in Mammoth.

Always a great time when we stay here each year around April. This year we have 21 international…read morehigh school students and various accommodations. If you book a private room you will have a hotel style room with nice linens and private shower/bathroom. We leaders had a room with queen and two twins. The restaurant is fabulous, always with great selections. They are very helpful and kind also. We will be back next year!

Edit : Careful not to hurt the owner's ego. Just look at his response to my honest review of the…read morerestaurant on his property--I didn't even know it was also owned by him, by the way. He clearly DOESN'T accept facts or genuine feedback. If I wasn't being honest and fair about the restaurant, I wouldn't have given your lodge 5 stars initially, especially considering all the issues I experienced there. I'm glad I only stayed one night. Sending lots of love, because you clearly need it. Original review I'm giving 5 stars for the price and location. I also understand that this is a rustic hotel, but I do think the property needs a little more attention and love. The guest kitchen was not well kept. Everything looked rusted and it wasn't very clean. I'm glad I didn't need to use it because otherwise I would have felt uncomfortable. There were also some guests who didn't clean up after themselves and left the oven on for idk how long - which obviously isn't the property's fault. The dorm was a decent size, but there were no outlets by the beds. The carpet was dirty and stained, and the bedsheets were ripped. On the positive side, the shower was very good and had great water pressure. The body wash, however, seemed more like a cleaning product diluted with water. The front desk staff was very attentive and explained everything to me clearly. When I called because I was worried about the fire and road closures, Shawn was especially nice and helpful, which I really appreciated. Overall, I think this place has a lot of potential. The price and location are great, but a little more attention to cleanliness, maintenance, and basic amenities would make a big difference. Regardless, I appreciate having an affordable option so close to Yosemite!

I only stopped to take a shower, since I was traveling on my camper van. The shower is only $5…read more I had the chance to look around and is all good to me. The place gives very warm and chill vibes. I would had definitely stay if I didn't have my van.

I love Hostel California. I've stayed here three different…read moretimes, and will stay here many more. It's a very spacious hostel and they always provide blankets and a towel. In the shower, you'll find a mixture of bronner's and water, so bring your own toiletries if you require anything else. There's various common areas, both inside and out. There's parking on site, and street parking as well.

Eastside Guest House is a great place to stay. I've stayed here probably four or five times over…read morethe years, and I've always had a great experience. It has a really nice, laid-back atmosphere, a great scene, and it's especially good if you're traveling with kids. The little coffee shop out front is a great touch and makes it easy to grab something in the morning and just relax. It's the perfect kind of place to stay for a night or two while you're traveling before moving on to your next destination. Comfortable, chill, and consistently enjoyable. I've kept coming back over the years for a reason. Highly recommend Eastside Guest House!

Came to Bishop for the Flash Foxy festival. My friend has been to this festival many times and she…read moreknew this is the best lodging in town and I really enjoyed it. We shared a loft apartment (~$200 a night after taxes and fees). Very clean and comfortable, loved the in suite kitchen area, dining area, and in suite bathroom. The common area was also useful to get some quick tea / coffee, get filtered water and do some laundry. The atmosphere of the whole property is organized, clean, quiet, and friendly. Highly recommend for folks who are coming to Bishop for outdoor activities and want a relaxing and comfy experience.

Some people and places come into your life for a reason…read more We had a good feeling about Cyndi's from the beginning. From the moment we rolled in, we relaxed our breath into the cradling caring arms of Cyndi's Snowline Lodge. Natural darkness descending around us- Robert was quick to invite us into the warmly lit communal lodge area, which was brimming with personality. He showed us a fun silverware balancing bar trick, while Lucky the dog, looked on with heavy lidded amusement. We were the only ones staying at the lodge that night. Our room was darling and clean and smelled fresh. The wi-fi was working well. We slept unbelievably well. Showering was a dream in the morning with strong hot water pressure. Cindi brought us up fresh squeezed orange juice and invited us down for a hot lovingly made breakfast spread - which included hot waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, and light potatoes. We also indulged in wondrous coffee and an impressive selection of tea. Cindy even had Pink Himalayan Salt on hand for us to adorn our food - which we indulged in both there and on our backpacking adventure. Cyndi and the rest of the loving folk who help run this charming lodge take immense care and pride in making sure that all those who stay here feel welcomed and taken care of. They go out of their way to make everyone's stay both memorable and comfortable. We can't wait to come back to Cyndi's Snowline Lodge. Trust.

Needs code improvements. Roof leaked. Handrails falling off. Stairs not to code. No staff.read more

We visited Vermilion over the Labor Day weekend and on the Friday we arrived, our dog Aztec passed…read moreaway. It was a traumatic experienced for all of us there. Raven, one of the camp hosts arrived and attempted to resuscitate him but our pet was gone. Raven did what he could to give Aztec dignity and preserve him until we could make it down the mountain. He also went over and beyond to comfort our family in such a difficult time. I cannot thank the staff at Vermilion for the true warmth and comfort we were provided in our time of need. I didn't get the name of the wonderful woman working the Cafe register on Friday night of 8/30. She also went over and beyond in assisting us with reaching our son and ease my pain. You are all amazing. The campground is as beautiful as the people there.

Went during June. The lake was full and the weather was good…read more Campsite had a good view of the Lake. The weather was mild. The last day we were there, smoke from fires south of the Kings Canyon rolled in. But wasnt bad. The camp host was very informative-and nice. Did not see any bears. And some mosquitos..! Great hikes. go to Devil bathtub. and others if possible. Mono Hot springs was nice as well. stop in Fresno and Take plenty of food and water as the campstore is very expensive. The road to get there is one lane and you will need an SUV or a truck. Be careful and drive slow!!

We had a nice stay. Fantastic location too. We were in cabin 6, 1 bedroom, kitchenette, restroom…read morehad a standing shower. It also had a coffee maker, kettle, sauté pans, dishes, glassware. No baking sheet so if you get pizza you'll need to heat it in the microwave. There was an another family next to us, but even with both of our indoor voices we could pick up discussions and kind of hear each other but it is what it is. I'd definitely look into booking this place again. We ended up arriving late in the day after the office closed and they had sealed envelopes with our names for check-in instructions.

This review is for Crystal, who showed empathy and great customer service…read more 12/10/2022: Mammoth had forecasted a storm bringing 70 inches of snow. Heavy winds from 20-30 miles per hour with gusts ranging from 40-50 mph. I checked CalTrans every hour over night and they finally made the call for chains required on the 395, travel cautiously if you must drive warning. Crystal was very helpful and understanding of the weather situation along with delays in driving. I have never driven in those conditions and every forum related to mammoth mountain (Facebook and Instagram) said it was safe to stay out if you weren't in Mammoth already. Crystal, with the help of my Expedia agent, refunded my reservation despite their cancellation policy. Thank you so much Crystal! I can only say great things about my experience here booking with you and Edelweiss lodge. Thank you for your compassion and doing what you could to help us!

On August 20, 2020 we received a mandatory evacuation notice for Scotts Valley, CA due to a raging…read moreforest fire close to our home. We worked our way east and spent two nights at the Tenaya Lodge, just outside the South entrance to Yosemite National Park. This is supposedly a very up-scale hotel and the facilities were very nice, but not worth the several hundred dollars per night that we paid. The restaurant food was just so-so. Access to the Park is severely limited due to the virus. An advanced reservation is required to enter, but we found it to be impossible to get one. We even drove to the Park entrance and pleaded with the staff (claiming we were forced evacuees) but to no avail. To be so close and not be allowed in was extremely disappointing. I went to Travelocity to book subsequent nights and found the River Rock Inn in Mariposa, CA. This historic inn is Mariposa's oldest motel and was constructed in 1941. It is about a block off the main road (hiway 140) and is quiet and peaceful. We did not know when we would be allowed back to our home, so our reservation had to be open ended. I talked to Stephanie Erikson, the owner, about not specifying a check out day and she was very accommodating. Our room, actually a two-room suite, was great; very clean with comfortable beds. Free Wi-Fi that was very reliable, Direct TV, refrigerator, and a wall mounted air conditioner that was quiet - unlike the AC unit in the Tenaya Lodge. The housekeeping was excellent and our hosts, Stephanie and Keith made us feel very welcome. Their customer service was excellent also. We liked it much better than the Tenaya Lodge. There are several good restaurants in town so we ate well! We discovered a great way to get to Yosemite: a bus service called YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transit System) runs frequently from Merced to the Yosemite Visitors Center. There are three stops in Mariposa - one only 80 yards from our room. It takes about 90 minutes from Mariposa to Yosemite Valley. AND, the best part is that no Park reservation is required. Just get on the bus, pay the driver, and you are delivered to the Visitor's Center. Since the park shuttle bus is not running now, you can rent bikes at the Center (with a smart phone app) or hike around the Park. YARTS told me their busses have room for only one bike. Finding the River Rock Inn was the best part of the evacuation. After 5 nights there, we were allowed back to our home. Actually, the fire never got closer than 5 miles from our house. We were very lucky and grateful.

stayed there 2 days Aug this year. Room had cobwebs & dust everywhere. Broken tiles on floor. Major…read moretripping hazard, No Fire detector. Violation of State law. Furniture in need of repair. Manager never on site . Keys in door when we got there. Housekeeper said usually doesn't use this room

I highly recommend this hostel, especially for the price! The staff were very friendly and helpful,…read moreand they gave us lots of useful information that made exploring Yosemite much easier and more enjoyable. The building is older, but it is very clean and well maintained. You can really tell that the place is well cared for. We had a comfortable and pleasant stay, and the price was incredibly reasonable for what we got. If you're looking for an affordable, clean, and comfortable place to stay while visiting Yosemite, this is definitely a great choice. We would happily stay here again!

I stayed at the white cottage across the street. Clean neat place. I was concerned after reading…read morereviews, but honestly it isn't as bad. I have seen worse out there. Worth the money.