Hello again:
I agree with the Kayenta possibilities, Holiday Inn etc but actually, if you really want the experience, I find that Bluff is so much better. You are in the midle of everything you want to shoot! Many years ago I used to stay at the Recapture Lodge in Bluff where the owners were experts in the area-after it was sold I went twice and it was not the same thing. Besides, one really did not mind the accomodations because of the other interesting things like talking all night about the ruins etc. I then started going to the Desert Rose which cost the same and was a hundred times better- while mixing in a few stays at Goulding's because I am very friendly with several Navajo families of the area and we used to meet there. Goulding's Restaurant closes at 9 and at that time we were not even back from shooting.. so we used the advantage of the small market there to buy supplies which could be used during the day or evening. In my modest opinion, Bluff is close to all the top points of the area to be really a great choice. Bluff also has a few restaurants, one of them the Twin Rocks which has pretty good hours and decent food (besides having the twin rocks above you) Across the street you have a great little restaurant, a little more upscale, called the Cow Canyon Restaurant. Great place with a local feel to it and good food. The small coffee shop next to the gas station is not a good option for breakfast as they usually open late and are very very slow in serving the food. You would miss out on the best of light. You also have the option of hiring Far Out Expeditions to guide you (very very expertly) in the area and they have a rooming house where you can stay. Great people, I have used them many times, Vaughn, the owner and Jay, one of the guides. By the way, the one advantage of the San Juan Inn is that if you call in advance they will keep the bar/coffee shop area open a little longer for you so you can have some food. Let me know if you need anything else for that area.
