SpringHill Suites Yellowstone Island Park, Idaho. Excellent Property

Springhill Suites Yellowstone at Island Park, Idaho is a new Marriott property.  It opened about 1.5 years ago.  It is located on the SE corner of Highway 20 and Henrys Fork river.  The original lot belongs to Mack's inn cabins and sports.  The Mack's Inn Resort still opens on the other side of Highway 20.

This property has 111 suites, including six (6) two bedroom family suites.  All rooms have microwave and mini frige.  

The hotel is Marriott category 6, with standard redemption rate of 50,000 points.  Most of the active travel time, it is at peak pricing of 60,000 points.

The cash rates vary greatly.  From $300 to $1,100 per night.  During the active season, its average cash rate looks to be about $450 to $500 level.  The rates are much cheaper during winter.

Front entrance:

Right side (East):

West side (highway).  The Mack's Adventures (sport) was still closed and is to open during Memorial weekend.  The Mack's Palor still opens:

View from the upper parking lot:

Views from the river side of the picnic area:

The Sinclair gas station is at the entrance of the hotel.

We checked in from Marriott app.  When we checked in at the front desk in late afternoon, room was ready.  Our room was on the 3rd (top) level with river view.  I believe this is considered an upgrade since top level river view is more desirable than courtyard view or on the lower level.  We did not contact the hotel and asked for upgrade.  This is a all suite property.  I did not expect much room upgrade.

Our Marriott elite is acknowledged.  Welcome gift was offered and we chose the Marriott points.  

The lobby area is spacious with the vaulted ceiling.  All the decor looks modern, new and warm.

Lobby and breakfast area:

Bar, fireplace and pool table area:

The guest room smells fresh.  Looks clean.

The bed is firm.  Some may like and some may not like it.

The bathroom looks also modern and super clean.  Towels look and feel like new and plush.  They are not the cheap towels used in some other hotels.  I wish the vanity sink can be double.

Mini fridge and microwave oven:

Hallway:

Due to the pandemic, the hotel has changed the roomkeeping service.  Guests need to call for room service.  It is on demand only.  So guests can be surprised if no one comes to change wet towels when they come back.

We did not konw that.  So we called the front desk.  Fresh towels were sent in less than 10 minutes.  

The bar area serves drinks and diner items to about 10 PM:

All the staff was very friendly and got job done.

Breakfast is included as standard at Springhill Suites.  It is full breakfast.

As stated above, bar area serves dinner in evening hours.

The Mack's Inn Parlor serves pizza and ice cream at the convention building.  It is outside the hotel. You can't charge the meal there to the hotel:

Cafe Sabor is a Mexican restaurant on the other side the Henry's Fork river.  It is currently under new construction.  It has a food truck on the road side of the hotel.  Close to Mack's Adventures.  It serves Mexican food.

The hotel has a full size gym for guest's use:

The hotel also has an indoor pool.  Not sure if it was heated.

The hot tub is actually outdoors.  It can be refreshing to sit in the hot tub in snowy weather.  

The hotel is about 23 miles or 25 minutes to the town of West Yellowstone.  Or it is about 30 minutes to the West gate of Yellowstone National Park.  So for Yellowstone National Park (YNP), it is in a better location than Big Sky or Bozeman.  30 minute is really nothing to the vast YNP.  

The town of Island Park does not really has much.  It only has one supermarket, Robin's Roost.  We never need it.  There are quite a few restaurants in the town of West Yellowstone.  

Island Park is also a better location for visitors directly from Salt Lake City, or has desire and energy to visit Grand Teton National Park as part of the trip.

Marriott has really changed its redemption to reflect the supply and demand dynamics.  Before, such type of Spirnghill Suites would be category 5.  But Marriott has changed several of the Springhill Suites to the higher level category 6.  Springhill Suite Zion National Park is another one of the same type, along with Springhill Suite Jackson Hole.

To visit YNP, it is hard to beat this hotel.  YNP has 5 entrances.  Both North and South gates have about two lanes each.  The Northeast and East gates are not popular since they are in the relatively remote areas and may have to cross mountain passes.

The West gate is the main gate and it has four (4) lanes of entries.  It is the closest to the Old faithful and all the geysers.  

There are also quite a few lodges inside YNP.  But most of them look old and the rates are not cheap.  And they normally do not open until Memorial day.  

So at 60,000 Marriott points and $500 per night, Springhill Suite Island Park is not cheap.  We booked the trip before the travel season opened up and we booked the stay at 50,000 points/day.  With the 5th night free, at 200,000 Marriott points for 5 night stay, it can still be be good value to visit YNP.  

We always like to stay at newer properties.  We really can't find any flaws of this property.  Granted, it is not in a busy location and there is a 30 minute drive everyday to YNP.  But there is not anything better than what this hotel offers.

We'll stay there again if we visit YNP next time.  I'll recommend this hotel to our friends.