Lee L.
Yelp
We feel fortunate to have been able to stay at the Bright Angel Lodge during a recent trip to the Grand Canyon. We planned this vacation kind of late, even for the off season, and found just a single cabin available here after striking out at El Tovar.
Just a few days after finalizing our plans, the government shut down. We didn't know what to expect, but when I called the hotel they said that all the lodgings and restaurants were run by contract concessionaires that weren't affected by the lapse in Federal funding.
After landing at Flagstaff Airport and making the short drive to Grand Canyon Village, we parked in what seemed to be the last available spot in the lot in front of the lodge. We were checked in by a young desk agent who seemed to be in training. We got the key cards to the cabin, only to discover that they didn't work so I had to go back to the desk to be helped by someone else.
The cabin was quaint, and the high vaulted ceilings gave it a very airy and open feel. There was only a queen bed but the room was big enough to have accommodated a king bed with still plenty of room to maneuver. There was an armchair and an ottoman to stretch out on, plus a small desk and an office chair. The bathroom was quite small and cramped, with just a narrow shower and no tub - however, we were thankful to have a private bath because I understand that some rooms have a shared bath. There was no counter to lay out our toiletries, just a small ledge under the mirror, so this was a bit awkward and one of our toothbrushes tumbled into the trash can below.
There is no air conditioning, but since we were here in October this was not a concern. They do provide a large standing fan and there is a ceiling fan as well, but I can imagine that on the hottest days it could be uncomfortable here. However, the cabin seems to be well-insulated. We forgot to turn on the heat on our first night, and even though the outdoor temperature dropped below freezing, the room was still 64 degrees when we woke up in the morning.
But the real value of this lodge is its location. Even though our cabin didn't have a view of the canyon, it was only a 30 second walk to get the rim. It was easy to just walk out the door and see the sunset, then retreat back to the room to relax until it was time to see the stars and search for meteors, satellites, and Comet Lemmon that was passing through the solar system at the time we visited (we couldn't spot it).
My little nit about our stay relates to the parking situation. The lots in front of and around the hotels (there are four of them on the rim) do not have dedicated parking for guests - anyone can park there. As a consequence, if you want to drive somewhere in the morning and return in the midday, you might not be able to find a convenient spot near your room. Thus, if are fortunate enough to have a spot, consider using the shuttles to get around instead.