This is not a 5-star hotel, nor does it try to be. I give it 4 stars for convenience, not luxury…read more It feels like it's trying to be an affordable place to stay in Merced while still making the experience as comfortable and appealing as possible. The price is right, and during the week you'll probably see a lot of people staying here for work. The rooms are clean, and overall, everything feels like a fair match for the price. The one thing that has bothered me is the coffee machines in the rooms. The last two times I've stayed here, mine didn't work. The good news is that you can get a free refill at the Starbucks downstairs, so it's not a huge deal. There was also an incident involving someone being arrested during one of my stays, and I honestly had no idea it was even happening until afterward. The hotel handled it quietly and didn't let it disrupt everyone else's stay. Things happen... what matters is how they handle them. If you're staying here mainly for Marriott points, I'm not sure it's worth it unless you stay here regularly. I don't stay enough to get much value from the points. The gym is small but functional, and there's also an indoor pool. For a work trip, you really can't go wrong here. It's affordable, clean, convenient, and gets the job done.

Adding this review because this experience was extremely concerning and I don't feel like it's been…read moreresolved. I would like to know this if I were thinking of staying here. We stayed here in June and experienced harassing and intimidating behavior by staff. Management response was limited. I am listing the more egregious issues here. We had connecting rooms and no door stoppers, the rooms did not have key access to one another so when the door closed unexpectedly, we got locked out. It was early morning so the door latch was still on from night before. I was in the connecting room with my kids when the Maintenance man opened the door. He notified us by swinging the connecting room doors open twice without knocking. I was surprised because we hadn't gotten an ETA for resolution but super grateful and in a rush. I said thank you, thinking thatd be it. Turns out it wasn't. The maintenance man had to be pushed out of my door way because he had been told by the "manager" Priscilla that I was "pressuring them" when I called to ask for a time estimate for the service so I could get my kids morning medicine & other belongings or make other plans. The maintenance man stood in front of my door, looking at me intensely, and said "it's her ? She's the one pressuring us? We don't have to do this (unlock the door).." I said thank you several times before realizing what was happening then told him I didn't pay to argue as I was pushing the door he was blocking to get him out my room. Priscilla was in the hallway and asked if I had gotten corporates number then Scoffed when I said no. He didn't budge until I put my phone up. I wasn't sure if I was going to record or call 911. I notified management and corporate by email, informing them every detail and that there was also a sink not working since our arrival the previous night but I was uncomfortable getting it fixed without coordinating w management first. I was so uncomfortable, I didn't want anyone in my room, I was uncomfortable that they had access to my room (and personal information). Despite my request to coordinate the fix, They sent housekeeping without notice. While housekeeping was in the room, I also received a call from Priscilla who informed me not to email mgmt but only ask for support at the desk. I told her I didn't feel comfortable, and she proceeded to argue that she had been "realllyyy nice to me" then hang up abruptly after I told her this conversation was inappropriate. We didn't get a response from management until we had decided to check out a day early later that evening. And it confirmed our decision to do so. There was no reassurance that we'd be left alone, but an offer to a free dinner at the restaurant in the same lobby as where Priscilla worked. It was incredibly insulting and there was no way I trusted a meal from this place. Upon checkout we also found that communication to the later staff had been that we had refused service, implying we were being difficult, not that the staff was being inappropriate and unprofessional. Marriott is a hospitality company but this experience was so below the bar I am still shocked and uncomfortable. I wasn't looking to be wowed, just not end up entirely disturbed. They could have just *not*, but it seemed that they went out of this way to create this experience. While we received a refund and a case closure email citing the free meal, the experience was still not okay and I don't think it's been or will be resolved at this point. I'm still shaken weeks later. Can't imagine what could have happened if I were alone in this case, shorter or more timid. I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone.

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 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.

Thank you for our stay our experience staying for six days was a good experience the room AC worked…read morethe room was clean and the staff was very friendly.

Extremely respectful I could really say I'd rather go here then anywhere else in mercedread more

This is a great place to stay very friendly and family oriented. Beds are really comfortable and…read moreare upstairs. I gave this place four stars instead of five because of the check-in,check-out times. Check-in 6 PM, check out 10 AM.

Just returned from a four night stay and for the most part was pleased with the experience. Scott…read moreis a helpful owner and his staff are outgoing and accommodating. I especially appreciated the house rules which enforced a quiet time that allowed guests the opporunity to get the sleep they came for. Met interesting people from all over the world. Accommodations were satisactory. The house is a bit run down - I believe Scott has upgrade plans in mind. Kitchen area well laid out and some frig space for our stuff. Good kitchen stuff - cookware, plates, etc. Residents all chipped in to bus their own dishes, etc. Comfy living room, TV, Wifi.

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

Nostalgic! Last time I was here was 30 years ago. My grandparents would bring their RV and we would…read morestay in one of the rented trailers. Easy to book online, book months in advance as they are popular. We stayed 3 nights in one of the cottages. Check-in was easy at the welcome center and given a key and parking pass with a map. Cottage already had the AC cooling it down and it was clean! No complaints! Comes with full bath, towels, fridge with freezer, stovetop, sink, 2 AC's, a bunk bed and bedroom. Only -1 star for how hot the 2nd floor gets in the lodge and missing 8 ball for the pool table. July summer days were above 90 each day and about 60 at dawn. You have to leave your ID with the staff at the welcome center to get pool sticks. They would make bank if they had some vending machines to save us the drive up to the gas station. The creek seemed a little bit more overgrown than I remember it 30 years ago but same bridges and layout. It was a great experience for our family!

I recently stayed for a weekend (July 31 - August 3) at Yosemite Lakes Campground, and this was my…read moresecond time visiting................................and perhaps my last. Let me first start with the positives........ The campground is in a beautiful location. The recently renovated clubhouse is nice, and the staff at the front desk were nice people. Now the bad................................................ As I'd said, this was my second time staying at Yosemite Lakes. I really like the location, so I was willing to give it a second chance based on a phone conversation I had with their front desk prior to making a reservation. The first time I visited in 2019, they had terrible bathroom / shower house situation going on, and we stayed away for seven years as a result. Recently I saw a video on youtube showing that they'd completely renovated the bathrooms (as well as the clubhouse), and that prompted me to give them a call to investigate. I asked if they had indeed renovated / modernized the bathrooms and they told me yes. I also asked were they doing a better job of maintaining the bathrooms, because during my last visit, they were not maintained AT ALL. I was assured the maintenance was improved. Unfortunately, that was a lie. If you are tent camping at this campground know going in that their bathrooms / shower houses are NASTY. They do NOT clean or maintain them at all over the weekend (don't know what they do midweek). Additionally, there were broken shower heads and toilets that were inoperable. I've stayed at MANY public and private campgrounds and these were some of the worst bathrooms / shower houses I've encountered. Be forewarned! Lastly, the bear safety situation here is VERY concerning. They do NOT have bear boxes / safety storage, which is problematic in KNOWN bear country. Also, upon check-in the young lady at the desk told us to store food IN OUR CAR! Anyone with any experience or training in the woods KNOWS this is a no no! A bear will bust your window, or pull your door open to get in and then will destroy the interior. Why are they recommending this?! Additionally, there was trash out in the open near and on top of the dumpsters because they were locked. If you're tent camping, this is just not a safe place. With all of that being said, if you are renting a cabin, yurt, or have an RV it is a great place to stay because you don't have to use the nasty bathhouses, and you don't have to worry about the bears as much. It's actually rather insulting that seven years later, Thousand Trails has not addressed either of these concerns. I wrote about these in my review from 2019. It's obvious they don't really care. So, this will be my last time staying at Yosemite Lakes. It's a shame because the place has a lot of potential. It would be much better if it were run by KOA.

We went on a Yosemite tour for several days and this was the lodging for the group for our time…read more The location was ok. It is a bit of a drive every morning and evening to get back from Yosemite but that's not a huge deal breaker. I guess we got an old room because it was definitely in need of a remodel! Outdated furniture, bathroom needs updating and bed sheets seemed dirty maybe just old. The restaurant, bar and cafe seem to be the same; all linked together. Chicken Marsala, Fish n Chips to BLT or Burger. I guess it was fine; most nights we just sat at the bar. There is wifi it can get spotty. In the end, it was just ok; I personally wouldn't stay there again.

I had a nice stay here when I had my trip to Yosemite National Park. It's not too far from the park…read moreentrance. When I got here too early for check in, I was able to wait in their lobby on the sofa. However, when I asked the one of the receptionists for the WiFi, she gave me the broken one so I wasn't able to access the WiFi. If they didn't want to give it out to people who hadn't checked in, they should have just said so. Their restaurant doesn't open until 5 pm, but they do have a little souvenir/food store inside the lobby area if you need something to eat...better than nothing. (The restaurant was nice. The waiters were very attentive and the food was good) Across from the property, within a walking distance, there is a park to see the Merced River. It was a nice short walk, and there were plenty of birds taking splashes. The room was great! It was very spacious and comfortable! It was mentioned that the WiFi would be bad when everybody comes back from Yosemite, but it worked very well for us. There is also a pool and fitness room available.

My in-laws and I stayed at the Monarch Inn this past week for one night. We were in the area to…read morecheck out property and visit Yosemite. The rooms were clean and had all the conveniences. My two boys loved how comfy the beds were. Connie was amazing! She helped us find places to eat in town which were so tasty. Plus she had tips on what to check out while in town. We had a lot of fun visiting Briceburg on her recommendation. Connie was a wealth of knowledge, glad we stayed here.

Do NOT come here!!! Don't be fooled by the false advertising pictures!!! Also, the smell in this…read moreplace is so bad! I think they're trying to cover it up with another "fresh air scent" and seems like it's full of toxic chemicals!! I couldn't be in that front lobby for long, as I was getting sick, with nausea.. so I had to step outside to breathe while my friend checked us in. I thought maybe it would be a little better in the rooms., but even the room had a moldy smell. I couldn't stay there, because I'm very sensitive to all that.. We went back out to leave and get our money back and these people fought tooth and nail for us not to get our money back. This place is disgusting and so are the people there. AND STOP POISONING BIRDS AND HUMMINGBIRDS!!!!!

No Ac/heat. They don't change sheets. Same bedding with holes. Stains. Furniture só old…read more ROACHES!!!!!!!! dont stay here. $100 is NOT worth It. They have no housekeeping either.

This place is like something out of a David Lynch film. I've never been more creeped out by a place…read morein my life. If you value your health, your sanity, and your belongings, please do not ever consider staying here. First of all, the building itself is not even remotely secure. From the parking lot behind the building you could clearly see windows that were broken open, easily accessible from the fire escape below. The neighborhood is, shall we say, SKETCHY, so this was already not looking too promising. The man at the front desk was clearly intoxicated, and so it took a minute to realize that the room we booked didn't even have a bathroom... you have to pay extra if you want to have a private bathroom instead of the shared rooms. Fine, whatever, I'll pay the extra fee, it's not worth the hassle of a shared bathroom. His assistant had to continually remind him of what he was doing during the check-in process. For what it's worth, he was polite at least. Then, the room itself. The door frame around the deadbolt had been hacked to pieces by someone with a crowbar. It was obvious this room had been broken into before, and there was no attempt to repair the shredded door frame beyond maybe a coat of paint. The bed itself was covered in hair and the sheets were stained and burned with cigarettes. The windows leading to the outside were broken and could not fully close or latch. We sat down just long enough to book a room somewhere else and then got the hell out of there. On the way out, an old woman with an enormous pot belly stood in the hallway smoking a cigarette, staring at us the whole way down. I'm telling you, it was like Twin Peaks, but smellier. Please, do yourself a favor. Spend the extra money to stay anywhere else, like maybe a tent in an alley.