Zero Vacancies??

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southerngirl
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Zero Vacancies??

Post by southerngirl »

Are there really absolutely no vacancies in the park for the entire open season?
Selkie
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Re: Zero Vacancies??

Post by Selkie »

Expect many cancellations. Things will start to move as spring advances and visitors' plans, often aspirational in the winter, get more realistic.
What sites are you looking at?
Xanterra shows isolated, one- or two-night availability during the summer. Places will open up.
Sperry and Granite Park Chalets, which took reservations beginning Monday, Jan 10, also show no availability. This will change.
Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier, part of Pursuit Collection, shows spotty availability.

Bear in mind that gateway locations are simply across the street from the Park. Apgar, West Glacier, East Glacier, St Mary, and motels along Rte 2 will double your options.
Good luck!
(I would be more concerned about the rental car situation, if you are planning to rent.)
southerngirl
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Re: Zero Vacancies??

Post by southerngirl »

Thank you. I will keep a watchful eye on things. I am needing 2 separate rooms, because we are traveling with another couple. We like to stay at the more “economically priced” resorts and start/end our trip at West Glacier, due to proximity to the airport.
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Re: Zero Vacancies??

Post by Selkie »

For economically priced lodgings, avoid the lodges and try the following:
West Glacier: West Glacier motel
Many Glacier: Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins
St Mary and nearby: Rising Sun motel and cabins; Johnson's cabins (furnished, lots of August availability: https://www.webreserv.com/book.do?busin ... tid:0=2836); could also look on vrbo, as there are many private cabins

East Glacier: Whistling Swan Motel (http://www.seeglacier.com/whistling-swan-motel), and a largish motel next to it whose name I can't pull up. Several motels that look dicey and provide inconsistent service.
Rte 2 near Izaak Walton Inn has several OK motels and cabins, including cabins owned by the Inn.
None of this is luxury lodging! You may have to walk to a central restroom facility.

If you want to stay at Sperry Chalet or Granite Park Chalet, it's best to try to get one room for 4 because so few rooms. There are various activities and hikes that might make 2 nights more reasonable than one.

OTOH, if you want resorts, go for the lodges. Again, look outside the Park boundaries. Glacier Guides has a lodge in West Glacier, e.g., with availability in August (https://glacierguides.com/reservations/ ... s-lodge-ro). Xanterra has only a small bit of the lodging.
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Re: Zero Vacancies??

Post by Selkie »

A final factor that may be determinative is the need to purchase a timed-entry ticket for driving Going to the Sun Road if you do not have in-Park reservations. (The res may be for a boat ride; not limited to lodging.)

See here for all the rules: https://home.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit ... dentry.htm

Finally, you will find much more robust discussions of all your concerns on the TripAdvisor forums for Glacier: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g ... ntana.html
southerngirl
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Re: Zero Vacancies??

Post by southerngirl »

Here is a very late thank you for all your info. I found an Airbnb cabin near Essex. A little out of the way, but I’m looking forward to a little bit of a different experience this time. I also found a rental car through Centsible Rentals in Kalispell. It’s an older model, but less than a third of the price of what I was finding on booking sites. Again, thank you.
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