The Westin Monache provids the perfect spot for some skiing and winter fun on Mammoth Mountain. I am also convinced that if you came during the summer months you would be in prime position to take advantage of a myriad of other outdoor activities as well.
Skiing, tubing, a scenic gondola ride, and a great ski village made for a great trip. If you are wondering where to stay, consider any of the best 7 hotels in Mammoth one of which is the Westin Monache Resort.
Unique Features
The Westin Monache Resort has one of, if not the, best location for accessing Mammoth Mountain skiing from a hotel.
Located directly across from the village and from the gondola that takes you to Canyon Lodge, the location can’t be beat. I also found the views from any of the 3 balconies in my room to be awe inspiring.
Booking
I booked my room about 6 months in advance and recommend for any popular destination that you do the same, especially if you are a larger group (5+). I did notice about 4 months before my visit that this room was no longer available while other standard 2 bedrooms were, until about 3-4 weeks out.
I made my reservation directly with Marriott to ensure I got proper points, credit to any promotions, and elite level benefits. The Marriott Bonvoy program has an extensive list of luxury and business hotels around the world so consider signing up for free.
On the drive from LAX I checked in via the mobile but still visited the desk upon arrival to get my room assigned, key, and to ask about general information.
The front desk was empty I the time of arrival and we had ample time to discuss property features, the village, and various charges. Onsite self parking was covered AND free, you can valet for $25 a day but do review how close the parking entrance it before going this route.
Room
I stayed in a 2 bedroom luxury suite with over 1310 sqft of prime real estate on the property. Direct views of the Sierra Nevada mountains, village, pool, and morning sunrises. Recently updated, the suite was well appointed with a clean, crisp, mountain air decor. Lots of unique seating options in addition to the dining table that comfortable sat 6 people.
The floor to ceiling windows in the living allowed for awe inspiring views all day long and into the evening.
A full sized kitchen with dishwasher, full sized refrigerator, water and ice on demand, ample counter space, full sized oven, and microwave made this perfect for a family get away. The unit was also fully stocked with all the utensils and dishes we needed, only one call to housekeeping for extra sugar and they provided it promptly.
Bathroom
There are 2 separate bathrooms in the 2 bedroom luxury suite, one located off the entry hall and the other along the master bedroom entrance. I did like that the master bath was place in a way that allowed guests to use it without fully entering the bedroom, you could also close off the bedroom and bath with one door.
We had my mother-in-law with me during this trip and she used the master bathroom because the shower was separate and had a low step over to enter. The other bathroom was a shower/tub combo which made it not ideal for easy access.
Besides the incredibly slow internet my only other complaint with the suite was very low water flow from the shower head. It was a “rain style” shower head and several of the holes did not have water flow. A bummer when you want some hot water blasting away the aches of skiing all day. Fortunately there was the heated pool and jacuzzi to fall back on.
Dining
There is only one onsite restaurant at the Westin Monache, the White Bark Restaurant, and I had both breakfast and dinner here during my stay.
I arrived early for breakfast and it was quite empty although the wait staff mentioned that around 8:30am on the weekends there is usually a wait, plan accordingly.
Breakfast options were simple and tasty, portions were also perfect to fuel up for a full day on the mountain or exploring the village. I had the breakfast burrito and a traditional breakfast meal during my stay.
I also had dinner here during my stay, I was very pleased with the quality of food and the friendly service provided. The bar area was quite busy on just about every night I passed by although I never joined in.
I made reservations prior to my stay and always recommend travelers do the same if the option is available to them. If there is one dish you should definitely try it would be the baked chocolate chip cookie in the skillet with vanilla ice cream, delicious!
I also ate at Gomez’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, Campo Mammoth, and Dos Alas CubaRican Cafe & Lounge. If you are looking for authentic Cuban/Puerto Rican food be sure to check out Dos Alas and let me know what you think.
Ski Valet & Mountain Access
I stayed here in late spring and still had great access to the gondola and ski rental facilities with the on property ski services closed. In the video walk through I show you where the ski rental and valet rooms are, just down the stairs from the Whitebark restaurant.
Locating these facilities within the hotel itself makes it incredibly easy to start your ski day in the comfort (and warmth!) of the Westin Monache.
I do recommend though that you store your equipment in the Ryder Room which is located directly below the gondola that takes you to Canyon Lodge. So, rent your gear at the hotel (or the Mountain Center which is down the stairs), walk down the stairs and take the gondola to Canyon lodge or hop on the shuttle to another spot on the mountain. When you are done skiing for the day, drop your gear off at the Ryder Room and head back up.
This way you don’t have to traverse the stairs each day with your gear, only the first day or last if renting from the hotel center.
Pool
The pool was heated and quite empty during my stay but a few sore muscled souls made their way down to the jacuzzi at the end of each day to relax. There was a nice covered bbq grill setup along with a raised deck for seating that looked like it would be perfect some a clear summer day or evening.
It also had great views of the mountain range and nearby trees making it a great place to just hang out with friends and family.
Final Thoughts
The Westin Monache was an excellent property with attentive staff, ideally located right next to the village for easy access to restaurants and shops. The system they have in place for getting your rental gear, storing them during your visit, and direct access to the gondola make it even better.
I would definitely stay here in the future and quite possible come during the summer months to take advantage of its central location to nearby state and national parks.
If you have stayed here or in another location at Mammoth Mountain share your experience below in the comments so other travelers can benefit.
