Lake View Lodge — Hotel in Mammoth Lakes

Worst experience in lodging I have ever had and I travel for work, staying many months in hotels. Go stay in June Lake which is way nicer with many restaurants and lakes to enjoy and only 15 mins away. If you are going to Yosemite you are actually not close to the valley and what is 15 mins? No charm in motel what so ever and facing a wall, was no lake view. Upgrades were awkward (super high sink) and tacky.If you have pets you cant stay here. Heavy traffic noise, as this is the commercial truck route and you are right on the road. Bright security lights over some windows. Company made reservation with my per diem without my knowledge on a Friday. I called Saturday morning to let them know I had paperwork for an emotional assistance dog who has traveled with me for years. I was told they do not accept dogs. I asked to cancel reservation and was told I could not and that it was a special rate for two weeks and had to be prepaid ( turns out it wasn't a deal, better in June Lake- in winter the occupancy is super low). They ended up allowing me to bring dog with large deposit, daily charge for dog, list of rules, ( which if I violated would allow them to keep deposit) and I was given a room in the corner facing a wall that was being patched. There were some minor problems with room, which under normal circumstances would be no big deal-(pipe under sink shot out water, burner had to be reconnected, noisy heater). Room had small kitchenette with minimal cooking items, not even salt and pepper or paper towels. Room was ok and warm, although loud. One of my colleagues at work and I decided we wanted to share a room to save per diem so i asked clerk at desk for room with two beds without facing wall- again motel mostly empty in winter and leased restaurant on site closed for season- you pretty much have to go to June lake as store was closed as well). clerk was very nice and was aware of my dog standing by my side . Moved on Sunday and was called on Wednesday night late in evening and told we had to move this was not a dog friendly room. The owner, Stephanie, who I had never met was very rude on phone. I said it was almost 8 pm and i work at 6 am. She put her husband on who gave me until Saturday to move but it would only be to my former room or another single room that was even smaller. He indicated I could no longer share a room. They said they had to deep clean the room but i said i would be leaving in a week and it did not seem like that big of a difference. I came to my room on Friday to find I was locked out. When I went to the desk the clerk put Stephanie on speaker phone. She began insulting me and being extremely rude and nasty. To be clear my dog did nothing wrong, there were no complaints, there were no damages and I worked long days with my dog. I had a credit card on file and had paid for room and deposit. I have never been treated so poorly. This was the worst customer service i have ever encountered. She told me i was lucky they would let me stay the night. I was later told by several people she is known for angry nasty outbursts and this was not the first time she had behaved this way in public. Her husbands family had apparently built the business and they had inherited it. I left the next day . I think they make all their money in summer with folks thinking Yosemite valley is actually close and they do not have to be hospitable. She claimed they went out of their way to be accommodating- Really! Bottom line-mean rude owners who should not be in the hospitality business. They do not care because there will always be guests in this area. The restaurant is not associated with them..stay someplace in June lake.. Many options of charming places there not a tacky hotel. For those of us who have worked in customer service...you never treat people this way. Watch out for their cancellation policy (read other reviews) and no...

Update: Sept 2024|Well, we stayed here again but I think next time I will try another place. I have stayed here for years. It was our go to place in Eastern Sierra. But it seems to me the family that owns it (still maybe Banta family?) is choosing to not invest in the property. The 2 queen room we had had a small TV, smaller dresser than usual, so the fridge and microwave had taken the sink countertop area. The handles on the sink and bath tub were so hard and poorly put in you had to tug super hard to turn them on. We couldn't even get the foil off the shampoos. Are they buying really cheap shampoos? The ice machine room has had water on the floor forever. They just don't fix it. If you're going to run a business, you need to invest in it. And it seems to me they have just given up. Which is too bad. Because the structure, the physical layout, the grounds, they are all nice. |---------------------|I have stayed here many times. Let me list a few things so you have the right expectations. I paid $250 a night for a room with two queens. You are paying for the location. 30 minutes to Tuolumne Meadows. If you want to see Yosemite Valley (what majority of folks think of as Yosemite), this is way too far. It's a solid 2 hour drive to the valley one-way. But as close as you can be to Tuolumne. So again, don't book this if you are a newcomer to California and want to see Yosemite. You are probably thinking of the Valley. |Check out is 4 pm, and they close the office from around 2:30-4 and put a note on the door "Check in is 4 pm". There is no one to talk to before that. They don't answer the phone. At 4 pm a line has formed at the front. Ironic that they email you afterwards saying we are like family. Poor service on their part. The employees are instructed by the owners/managers to do this. Check out is 10 am; earlier than most other hotels.|Room tidying-up only if you stay more than 3 nights (note that you've paid $250 a night but no service). Back to my note you are paying for the location. Their bedding is low quality; they could use higher quality blankets. |But why I keep staying here:|Location. I want to get an early start on my hikes and don't want a long drive, (the next best option is June lake, 15 more minutes south), lovely landscaped grounds with flowers with plenty of seating, all kept clean, good size rooms, clean, AC works (although loud). easy parking.|Also I would only stay in the main lodge. The rooms they call cabins, etc. are trailers, and look out on other trailers, and seem dark and not that nice. They have some behind the main lodge and some across the street.||Lastly, don't expect Lake Views from most rooms ( a few have it). But it is a view of the open vistas of the Eastern Sierra, a truly...

Stay AWAY from this nasty lodge!!

We planned for two night with this lodge on the July 4th weekend through 2 separate bookings - one through an online agency as the 4th night was sold out quickly around the area, and one reservation by phone.

Upon our arrival, they noticed there are some discrepancies in our number of guests as the online bookings indicates 2 adults and my phone reservation indicates 2 adults and 2 kids. I explained that the online booking happened too fast. I probably did not even notice the guest number discrepancy. So the front desk assistant called his female hotel manager in.

Here is how the scenes began:

The moment she arrived, her first question was “Do you realize it’s a felony to lie about the number of guest of your booking? We cannot host you.” Obviously, She came in with the already formed pre-assumption that we are trying to lie to them.

Lady, in case you have any sort of logical thinking ability - think about this: had I wanted to lie about the number of guests, I wouldn’t have told the truth on my phone reservation.

At that point I started to beg her as I knew all nearby hotels were sold out and we were traveling with two young children. She then threatened to call the sheriffs if we don’t leave.

We ended up leaving and luckily was able to find a town nearby with available room for 2 nights.

I also checked online about her alleged statement over “felony crime” on hotel booking. There is NO such thing! It is really UNNECESSARY for her to make such a falsified threat to her customers.

It is an irony that someone working in the hospitality industry with such a nasty and hostile personality. Traveling around the world, she is absolutely the most unpleasant hotel management I’ve ever encountered, bar none. I really feel sorry for the owner of the Lake View Lodge to hire such an incompetent hotel manager.

On our way out in the car, my kids said she looked like a Karen. Laughing at it, I have to admit she’s very much an ill-intended one!

Your money would be better spent somewhere else. Stay away from this place as far as you can.

Their management has absolute no human...