NJUPINTHEAIR
Aug 19, 06, 10:31 pm
I recently completed a six night reward stay at this property and I did not see any comments posted about this hotel so I thought I would briefly add some. For additional comments, the reviews at Tripadvisor.com are spot on, except for one malcontent's comments.
This hotel is roughly 2 blocks walking distance to the main center of town -- the town square whose 4 conrers are adorned with Elk antlers formed into arches -- for those who are animal lovers, do not worry, the antlers likely were acquired as a result of natural shedding processes as the National Elk Refuge abuts Jackson, and I have read that they auction off those that are recovered and the $$ are plowed back into conservation efforts for the species.
The hotel is perhaps no more than 2 years old and is in very good condition. The downside -- it only consists of 41 rooms, all suites, naturally.
The standard suite size appears to be a bit smaller than the avg. Homewood Suites room, though. I had a handicapped room -- and it was slightly bigger, from what I could see compared to most on the floor plan.
Bear this is mind, most of the suites do not have sleeper sofas. So, if you wish to have one in your room, be sure to contact the hotel to see if that is possible. The suite bedrooms, themselves, are nicley appointed with the usual white down comforter with pillow top mattress.
The living room was nice, if snug, and it did have a gas fireplace on a timer, similar to the one I saw at the Hilton Sedona. Both rooms have flat-panel TV screens (not flat TVs, though). The couch was upholsetered in a material that appeared to be designed for durability, not for comfort of lying down and taking a snooze. Similarly, the chair was ok, but not luxurious. However, although it was a Lazy Boy Style, I never quite figured out where the lever was to release the foot component!
The breakfasts were decent, as they rotated the offerings -- scrambled eggs, breakfasat burrito, breakfast fritatta?, etc. The sausages and bacon that they served on some days were OK, but not overly crisp the way I liked it. I drank Cranberry juice instead of the OJ.
The small evening buffets I attended were fair -- mediocre chili -- really just beans -- and OK BBQ beef one night. As the property does NOT have a liquor license, there is no beer or wine, or any other sort of alcohol on offer for the buffets.
The hotel staff are really quite nice and helpful, if somewhat harried at some times. The morning breakfast guy is very polite -- he is from Poland, I believe. Ryan at the front desk is a really nice guy, as are the ladies named Michelle -- I kid you not -- the GM's name ends in that moniker, and I beleive there are two front desk staff who sport that name, as well -- all nice.
The Hot tub and pool are small and nice, and the excersise room was small if the standard treadmill and other equipment.
This is the nicest chain property without a doubt, within at least 75 miles of either the Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks.
To my knowledge, there are some closer Best Western properties near any of the multpile entrances to each, but they apparently do not rate, if the reviews on Tripadvisor are any guide.
No Marriott properties near Grand Teton, and only a Fairfield Inn in Bozeman -- the nearest point to Yellowstone. Billings has both a Fairfield and a newer Springhill, but the drive is much farther.
SPG to the best of my knowledege is not even on the map there, perhaps SLC is the closest.
As an aside, whereas Marriott is sparse in this area of the Mountain NorthWest, Hilton has an abundance of properties -- both a Hampton and a HGI in Bozeman, and any number of hotels in the rest of WY, MT, and ID!
I drive fairly fast, and do not mind a longish drive, so although you may be about 65 miles from the South Entrance to Yellowstone, you had better give yourself about 1 and 1/2 hours to get there. We alternated Yellowstone -Grand Teton - Yellowstone, etc. However, the drives back and forth were anything but monontous -- as we drove via the Grand Teton National Park each day, and were rewarded with magnificent views as well as some wildlife -- saw a grey fox and a herd of bison one day. Grand Teton is a short 20 minute drive from the hotel.
The hotel has a shuttle -- to the airport and around town -- probably for the winter ski season, so we did not utilize it, but it is nice to know that if you wish to ski, a car rental is probably not necessary.
As this hotel has only a small complement of rooms -- and the summer season in Jackson is busier than in the winter -- the hotel was sold out on most days -- therefore commanding rates of $269 to $309 each night. We met a nice couple celebrating their 10th anniversary while he was back from Iraq on leave, and the miliatry discount still was a hefty $199.
Hence, this is a very good use of HHonors points. Perhaps not like using them for the Cavalieri -- whose room rates and benefits are likely much higher/nicer than the above -- but then again, your $$ goes farther on this side of the pond, and the airfare to get here is far less expensive, as well. We flew into SLC and drove the distance in about 4 and 1/2 hours.
Finally, we had some excellent dinners in Jackson each evening -- of course some days we were so tired we just ate the BBQ chickens we bought at the Albertsons and Smith supermarkets that are on the edge of town, about a 2 mile drive from the hotel. On the other hand, I can highly recommend the Snake River Grill and the Gun Barrell restaurant -- especially if you wish to sample some local game dishes such as Buffalo steaks, Elk medalliors/chops, and/or Buffalo or Venison sausages. These restraurants are not inexpensive, but if you expect to pay big city prices, then you will be happy to receive more value for your $$ than you generally receive at those sort of city establishments.
Next year, I am contemplating a Montanna and Idaho trip -- too bad that the only Hilton property near Glacier National park is the Hampton in Kalispell.
By the way, anyone ever stay there, or at any of the Hilton properties in Missoula, Bozeman, or Idaho, as well?? ;)
P.S. The town is named Jackson, the "Hole" comes from Old West parlance where a "Hole" denoted a valley. Jackson is sited in a valley, so the two are sometimes used interchangeably, and sometimes not!
This hotel is roughly 2 blocks walking distance to the main center of town -- the town square whose 4 conrers are adorned with Elk antlers formed into arches -- for those who are animal lovers, do not worry, the antlers likely were acquired as a result of natural shedding processes as the National Elk Refuge abuts Jackson, and I have read that they auction off those that are recovered and the $$ are plowed back into conservation efforts for the species.
The hotel is perhaps no more than 2 years old and is in very good condition. The downside -- it only consists of 41 rooms, all suites, naturally.
The standard suite size appears to be a bit smaller than the avg. Homewood Suites room, though. I had a handicapped room -- and it was slightly bigger, from what I could see compared to most on the floor plan.
Bear this is mind, most of the suites do not have sleeper sofas. So, if you wish to have one in your room, be sure to contact the hotel to see if that is possible. The suite bedrooms, themselves, are nicley appointed with the usual white down comforter with pillow top mattress.
The living room was nice, if snug, and it did have a gas fireplace on a timer, similar to the one I saw at the Hilton Sedona. Both rooms have flat-panel TV screens (not flat TVs, though). The couch was upholsetered in a material that appeared to be designed for durability, not for comfort of lying down and taking a snooze. Similarly, the chair was ok, but not luxurious. However, although it was a Lazy Boy Style, I never quite figured out where the lever was to release the foot component!
The breakfasts were decent, as they rotated the offerings -- scrambled eggs, breakfasat burrito, breakfast fritatta?, etc. The sausages and bacon that they served on some days were OK, but not overly crisp the way I liked it. I drank Cranberry juice instead of the OJ.
The small evening buffets I attended were fair -- mediocre chili -- really just beans -- and OK BBQ beef one night. As the property does NOT have a liquor license, there is no beer or wine, or any other sort of alcohol on offer for the buffets.
The hotel staff are really quite nice and helpful, if somewhat harried at some times. The morning breakfast guy is very polite -- he is from Poland, I believe. Ryan at the front desk is a really nice guy, as are the ladies named Michelle -- I kid you not -- the GM's name ends in that moniker, and I beleive there are two front desk staff who sport that name, as well -- all nice.
The Hot tub and pool are small and nice, and the excersise room was small if the standard treadmill and other equipment.
This is the nicest chain property without a doubt, within at least 75 miles of either the Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks.
To my knowledge, there are some closer Best Western properties near any of the multpile entrances to each, but they apparently do not rate, if the reviews on Tripadvisor are any guide.
No Marriott properties near Grand Teton, and only a Fairfield Inn in Bozeman -- the nearest point to Yellowstone. Billings has both a Fairfield and a newer Springhill, but the drive is much farther.
SPG to the best of my knowledege is not even on the map there, perhaps SLC is the closest.
As an aside, whereas Marriott is sparse in this area of the Mountain NorthWest, Hilton has an abundance of properties -- both a Hampton and a HGI in Bozeman, and any number of hotels in the rest of WY, MT, and ID!
I drive fairly fast, and do not mind a longish drive, so although you may be about 65 miles from the South Entrance to Yellowstone, you had better give yourself about 1 and 1/2 hours to get there. We alternated Yellowstone -Grand Teton - Yellowstone, etc. However, the drives back and forth were anything but monontous -- as we drove via the Grand Teton National Park each day, and were rewarded with magnificent views as well as some wildlife -- saw a grey fox and a herd of bison one day. Grand Teton is a short 20 minute drive from the hotel.
The hotel has a shuttle -- to the airport and around town -- probably for the winter ski season, so we did not utilize it, but it is nice to know that if you wish to ski, a car rental is probably not necessary.
As this hotel has only a small complement of rooms -- and the summer season in Jackson is busier than in the winter -- the hotel was sold out on most days -- therefore commanding rates of $269 to $309 each night. We met a nice couple celebrating their 10th anniversary while he was back from Iraq on leave, and the miliatry discount still was a hefty $199.
Hence, this is a very good use of HHonors points. Perhaps not like using them for the Cavalieri -- whose room rates and benefits are likely much higher/nicer than the above -- but then again, your $$ goes farther on this side of the pond, and the airfare to get here is far less expensive, as well. We flew into SLC and drove the distance in about 4 and 1/2 hours.
Finally, we had some excellent dinners in Jackson each evening -- of course some days we were so tired we just ate the BBQ chickens we bought at the Albertsons and Smith supermarkets that are on the edge of town, about a 2 mile drive from the hotel. On the other hand, I can highly recommend the Snake River Grill and the Gun Barrell restaurant -- especially if you wish to sample some local game dishes such as Buffalo steaks, Elk medalliors/chops, and/or Buffalo or Venison sausages. These restraurants are not inexpensive, but if you expect to pay big city prices, then you will be happy to receive more value for your $$ than you generally receive at those sort of city establishments.
Next year, I am contemplating a Montanna and Idaho trip -- too bad that the only Hilton property near Glacier National park is the Hampton in Kalispell.
By the way, anyone ever stay there, or at any of the Hilton properties in Missoula, Bozeman, or Idaho, as well?? ;)
P.S. The town is named Jackson, the "Hole" comes from Old West parlance where a "Hole" denoted a valley. Jackson is sited in a valley, so the two are sometimes used interchangeably, and sometimes not!