The View at Monument Valley

[bill proud]

After years of eating sand at the campground, I damned the cost and spent the night at the brand new Monument Valley hotel, "The View". Well, actually I split the cost with a friend. But it did have two queen beds. I got my own bed. No sleeping bag and protected from the howling wind and blowing sand.

We may have been the first to stay in this room. It was exceptionally clean and well appointed. Solid, six panel clear pine bath door and moulding, either 18" granite or marble tile floor and in room coffee pot. Scented facial soap and moisturizer, everything any manly outdoor photographer would want. The beds had light comforters with navaho weave cotton coverlets, four throw pillows on each bed and striped tan and creamed coffee colored sheets. This was luxury. The concierge called shortly after we checked in to see if all was okay. Is this Monument Valley?

The building design was well thought out. It is only three stories high to blend with the rock. I might have colored it a little closer to the actual rock tint but it isn't bad. The lobby is open to the third floor and a large round rock fireplace holds kachinas at intervals up the wall. It even has an elevator.

The most important part is that you won't have to leave your room to shoot a mitten sunset. Each room has a small balcony that looks directly at the Mittens. All the rooms face east. You get the mitten view and are protected from the west winds. What more could you ask? Paved roads?

There are no plans at this time to pave the road but they are doing something to the parking lot.

cheers,

[Paul Sumi]

The most important part is that you won't have to leave your room to shoot a mitten sunset. Each room has a small balcony that looks directly at the Mittens. All the rooms face east. You get the mitten view and are protected from the west winds. What more could you ask? Paved roads?

Thanks for the update.  I'll be in Monument Valley in May, but I'll be darned if I'm going to photograph the Mittens from a hotel balcony.  Next thing you'll tell us is that you had cheese and wine while photographing the sunset!    

Paul    

[bill proud]

Thanks for the update.  I'll be in Monument Valley in May, but I'll be darned if I'm going to photograph the Mittens from a hotel balcony.  Next thing you'll tell us is that you had cheese and wine while photographing the sunset!    

Paul

Paul,

Cheesecake with artistically drizzled chocolate. But it was the next day after shooting. My friend, however, went to the dark side right immediately after checking in. He went right out on the balcony and started shooting the mittens. I am proud to say that I did not. I was engrossed in "Death Wish III" on the flat screen.

Best,

[framah]

Always glad to hear about elevators in hotels!! I usually get stuck on the 3rd floor in a walkup with all of my gear!

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Next thing you'll tell us is that you had cheese and wine while photographing the sunset!  

IMHO, cheese and wine are essential gear for setting the right mood when photographing sunsets. 

[Paul Sumi]

The most important part is that you won't have to leave your room to shoot a mitten sunset. Each room has a small balcony that looks directly at the Mittens.

In defense of real manly outdoor photographers I feel compelled to post a NON-hotel balcony photo of The Mittens I shot last year (sunrise, though, not sunset) sans cheese, wine, chocolate-drizzled cheesecake, or even first cup of coffee.    

Paul

[Lisa Nikodym]

Hey, I've gotten some of my best shots from hotel room balconies (mostly in Switzerland), and proud of it!  

"The View" sounds like a hotel in a great place.  Thanks for the mini-review.  I'll have to go there one of these days.

Lisa

[Willard]

I am Bill's friend that went to the darkside.  It was a breezy day yet the hotel balcony was nice and calm, perfect for setting up the view camera.  We were laughing the minute we walked in and saw the view.  It is too easy!  It did feel sacrilegious, almost like shooting fish in a barrel.  Though it is harder to take in the beauty and focus the camera with the sounds of screams and gunfire coming from "Death Wish III"

One nice thing about the building design, just about every room has "the view".  There are only 3 or 4 set aside without "the view".  So you should not be getting a view of the parking lot.  And if you get a second floor room you can walk over to the restaurant and gift shop without taking the stairs/elevator.

And Bill, you missed your calling.  I am impressed with the details you picked up and reported.  You should be working for Travel and Leisure reviewing lodging

John

[bill proud]

Switzerland is a place I always wanted to see.

 Lisa, your photography makes me want to go even more so. I looked at all the Berner Oberland images. Quite appealing.


cheers,

[Lisa Nikodym]

Thanks, Bill.  I travel quite a lot, and of all the places I've been, Switzerland is the one I keep repeatedly going back to, especially to the Berner Oberland.  It's far from cheap, but it's absolutely gorgeous, full of lifts and mountain trains so getting up into the high mountains is easy, plenty of hiking trails to keep you busy, it's the most clean well-functioning country I've seen, and has great cheese.  

Lisa

[vandevanterSH]

Thanks for the report.  I am wandering around the "West" for awhile...booked a third floor room for Mon and Tues, next week.

Steve

[DarkPenguin]

After years of eating sand at the campground, I damned the cost and spent the night at the brand new Monument Valley hotel, "The View". Well, actually I split the cost with a friend. But it did have two queen beds. I got my own bed. No sleeping bag and protected from the howling wind and blowing sand.

Just give it time.  Eventually the choice will be the howling wind and blowing sand vs dried semen encrusted room.  If you flipped the AC on high you could probably get a howling wind and blowing ...

Beware sweeps week and local news reporters with blacklights.

[vandevanterSH]

The view from the valley.  

Steve[attachment=12141:_DSC4683.jpg]