When we booked our stay at the Sierra Nevada Resort & Spa in Mammoth Lakes, we weren’t sure what to expect as the reviews we read online were mixed. Mixed reviews always make us a little nervous, but the other hotel brands we were more familiar with were completely booked. Since we were traveling with our pups, our choices were limited, so the Sierra Nevada Resort was our next best option for a pet-friendly accommodation in Mammoth Lakes.

LOCATION

The location is fantastic and was in the middle of everything we wanted to explore for the weekend. The lakes were nearby and dining options were within walking distance. The town had everything you would need for a comfortable stay from a grocery store to convenience store to numerous veterinary clinics.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The hotel was easy to spot from the road and their sign was huge. When we pulled into the lot, there was plenty of parking and the lobby was very easy to locate. The check-in area was a little different from what we’re accustomed to. It was tucked away in a corner with one person sitting behind a small counter with a plexiglass covering. It almost felt like we were at a tiny gas station ordering something from behind the counter. Surprisingly, the woman behind the counter was expecting us and had our keys ready to go. The entire check-in process took less than five minutes.

THE ROOM

The room we stayed in was so much more than what we were expecting. It was a good size and everything looked pretty normal with a vintage, rustic theme. We believe a lot of reviews online were negative because they did not stay in the renovated rooms like we did. We stayed in the Deluxe Queen room with two queen beds and despite the room being very dim (we prefer well-lit rooms), we felt very comfortable staying here.

The size of the room was big enough for the two of us and our pups. It’s always nice to have more space so that the pups can run around a little bit, but we had plenty of outdoor activities planned for them so they would just crash when they got back to the hotel.

Our Deluxe Queen room came with a huge dresser, a small wall-mounted tv, and a corner desk. Within the dresser was a refrigerator and microwave. The only big negative for us was the lack of outlets to charge our phones and camera equipment. It would have been nice to have some outlets next to our bed or on our nightstand, but the only outlets we could find were in the bathroom and next to the dresser in front of our beds.

The bathroom amenities were from Olive and Branch Botanicals which was lovely and the best we’ve seen in a while. The packaging reflected the ambiance of the bathroom and we appreciated that they provided a makeup remover wipe, a grooming kit, and a shower cap. Recently, many hotels we’ve stayed at do not provide extra amenities unless it’s requested.

Although the room was very dark, the bathroom was bright and even had a magnifying mirror with a ring light, so that was a plus. The water pressure was a bit weak for Candy, but for Crystal is was just fine. Candy prefers a stronger pressure since she has long, thick hair that takes forever to wash when the pressure is weak.

The closet was located in the bathroom along with a safety box, luggage rack, hair dryer and a few hangers. We didn’t see an iron or ironing board, so this may be something you have to request from the front desk. There also wasn’t a coffee maker and surprisingly, there was no coffee or tea available on site either. There are a few places nearby to get coffee, but it was still a little inconvenient not to have any coffee at all within the resort.

THE AMENITIES

Pool

There was a small pool located near the lobby, but we had a full day of activities at the lakes so the pool went unused. We typically don’t have time to take advantage of hotel pools, but it’s nice for guests who like to enjoy a relaxing day by the pool.

Miniature Golf

The miniature golf was located in a parking lot and was free to use (it was included in the resort fee), but it looked like it had been deserted for years. It definitely needs an upgrade or some other sort of activity built there.

PET FRIENDLINESS

They Sierra Nevada Resort and Spa is very pet friendly and only charges a $25 pet fee per pet, per night. Some hotels charge $75 per night for pet fees, so we were very happy with this price. They do not provide any pet amenities, so make sure to bring your own dog bowls, dog bed, dog crate and treats.

The premises didn’t have an area to walk the pups, but we did find a tiny patch of grass near the back entrance. Kuma and Zooey prefer to do their business in the grass, so it’s nice when hotels provide dedicated pet areas.

HOTEL COST

We stayed at this hotel in mid August during the weekend and it was about $200 per night for the Deluxe Queen room. This includes a 13% tax plus a $15 resort fee per night. Parking is free and the pet fee is $25 per day.

A resort fee is tacked onto the bill; however, we did not feel like we were staying at a resort. A resort, by most standards, includes an associated recreational aspect and we think the miniature golf did not count as one. We understand that they call it a resort because of the spa services on-site, but we still don’t think it justifies it being called a resort.

Check current hotel rates HERE.

WHERE TO EAT

There are several pet-friendly restaurants nearby and many of them are within walking distance. We had a delicious breakfast with the pups at The Warming Hut and there is a fantastic restaurant next door called Bleu Handcrafted Foods. Bleu’s sandwiches were fresh and delicious and they also had an amazing selection of desserts. Due to the pandemic, Bleu was only offering take-out orders, so we ate in our room.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Our room was comfy and we didn’t have any issues with the condition of the room despite all the mixed reviews online. The beds were comfy, the AC worked perfectly fine, and the bathroom was brand new and spacious. We were located within minutes from many restaurants and were close to all the activities we had planned for the weekend. The hotel itself looks a little outdated and could definitely use a renovation, but it also goes with the rustic theme found around Mammoth.

SIERRA NEVADA RESORT & SPA
ADDRESS: 164 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes, California 93546
PHONE: +1 760-934-2515