White Chief Mountain Lodge - Fish Camp

My fiancé and I were lucky enough to get a halfdome permit from the lottery, and everywhere in Yosemite valley was booked. So we looked further out and it was here or Tenaya Lodge. We were on a budget so we picked this hotel. When we got there to check in, there was a sign on the front desk saying that in room thermostats weren't working and to call the office if you would like the temp adjusted. We thought this sounded reasonable. Later that night we were trying to sleep early (we had to get up at 1:30 am to drive to the halfdome trailhead) and it was pretty hot. I called the office and they told me their central a/c was on and they couldn't do anything to actually adjust the temp of the room, just open the window and use the little fan. Air conditioning is a deal breaker for me when choosing a hotel. Not only did they charge my credit card a week before our stay, but there was no notification that we would not have adequate a/c. The reason for 3 stars instead of one is that the rooms were clean, the staff was nice, and the breakfast was pretty good. I personally will not stay here again because I feel I paid too much money for a room with no a/c during a heat wave. You get what you pay for I suppose.

DO NOT STAY HERE! I Only gave it one star because I had to, We had 3 rooms booked for May 17th&18th, We were driving from Las Vegas. Wednesday night around midnight I seen there was a winter weather warning in effect starting Wednesday night into Friday morning. Chains required, etc. I called Mindy and I explained what was going on. She told me I can 't do nothing about it, you have to email Terri she 's the regional manager. Terri emailed me back saying: No refund for you. I have never experienced anything like this before. It wasn 't like I was just canceling because we didn 't want to stay here. Mother Nature, weather issues. It was about 30 hours before our stay. That 's why the bad review, they took our money

Room was pleasant, but small. There was no chair and no telephone. The beds were comfortable. It was hot inside when we came in at 11 PM but we found the thermostat impossible to adjust but we finally got the heat to shut off. The breakfast was pretty normal except there was no orange juice. It was expensive for what it was $200 with tax) but this is not a normal location. I would stay here again rather than the Tenaya lodge which costs more than twice as much.

Fast forward to around 7 PM when we returned, and a different person was at the front desk. This man was incredibly pleasant and helpful; he provided us with all the information we needed about the area and the hotel. His friendly demeanor completely changed our initial impression of the place. Now, as for the room, it was quite small—just enough space for one bed. However, the convenience of parking right outside the room was a definite plus. A major downside, though, was that the walls were very thin. We could hear conversations and TV from the neighboring rooms, and one of them kept their television on until 4 or 5 AM. On the bright side, the hotel offered an included continental breakfast, which was quite good, and the lady managing it was friendly and welcoming. Another nice aspect was that we didn’t encounter any kids, which meant a more adult-oriented atmosphere, a significant bonus. While I wouldn’t choose to stay here again, the staff—aside from that one lady—and the breakfast were fantastic. The rooms, however, left much to be desired. In Fish Camp, your options are limited to this hotel, Tenaya up the street, or driving to another town. Personally, I’d recommend Tenaya or staying at the Wawona Lodge in Yosemite for a better experience.

We promptly contacted the front desk to explain our situation and request a rescheduling of our visit. Unfortunately, the woman we spoke to was extremely unhelpful and rude, refusing to even consider our request for a refund or to change our reservation to another date. It’s worth noting that we had booked only two days prior; we weren't canceling at the last minute after holding the rooms for weeks. This was the worst customer service we have ever encountered. It seems their situation is so dire that they are willing to take money any way they can, showing no empathy, consideration, or understanding for their potential guests. I wouldn't want to stay at such a place under any circumstances.