Thunderbird Lodge

Hotels
8.3 (2833 reviews)
Bia Indian Route 7 , Chinle , us

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Business center
Heating
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent location very close to Cañón de Chelly
Authentic historic property and Navajo staff/guides
Responsive and accommodating staff (upgrades, friendly service)
Enjoyable guided sunset canyon tour
On-site coffee/nearby restaurant options
Cons:
Room problems: bedbugs, cigarette smell, ozone generator, poor maintenance
Perceived poor value/overpriced and extra charges
Limited amenities in places (no ice/beer, flies, inconsistent AC)
Safety and emergency-protocol concern during a tour vehicle breakdown
Food service limitations (cafeteria closed early; skimpy/expensive breakfasts)

Categories

Cleanliness
6
Multiple guests reported cleanliness problems: bedbugs, cigarette smell in an assigned room, and complaints about toxic ozone generator and sand/dust in rooms.
Service
10
Service is frequently described as responsive and accommodating (staff upgrades, helpful front-desk and on-site staff); local Navajo employees and guides receive strong praise for authenticity and personal effort during a tour disruption.
Location
10
Consistently highlighted as excellent — very close to the Cañón de Chelly visitor access and picturesque setting; many reviews cite location as the primary positive factor.
Room Quality
5.8
Room quality received several negative reports: rooms described as 'awful', issues with deadbolt, cigarette odor, ozone generator, sandbags blocking doors and layout/condition inconsistencies between rooms.
Amenities
9.6
Mixed notes: positive mentions of an on-site coffee machine and unique historic facilities/tours, but some guests noted limited conveniences (no ice/beer, flies, occasional AC not pre-cooled). Overall amenities are strong for the property's historic/remote character.
Value for Money
6
Several guests felt the property was overpriced for what was offered, mentioning extra room charges and that it was 'caro' / 'over rated over priced'.
Food and Beverage
9
Food experiences are mixed: a liked nearby restaurant and generally acceptable breakfasts are mentioned, but the lodge cafeteria closing early and skimpy/expensive breakfasts were noted; overall F&B seen as satisfactory given location.
Overall Experience
10
Overall sentiment skews positive due to unique historic setting, excellent location and memorable guided tours; however there are notable caveats (safety/protocol concerns on a tour and room issues) that some guests raised.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 09:08

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
Stay in comfort at Thunderbird Lodge with each guest room equipped with a flat-screen TV, satellite channels, and a microwave. Enjoy the convenience of a private bathroom in every room.

Convenient Amenities
Benefit from free WiFi throughout the property, a business centre for your work needs, and a fitness centre to stay active during your stay. Indulge in Native American cuisine at the on-site restaurant.

Nearby Attractions
Explore the wonders of Canyon de Chelly National Monument just 19 km away, and make sure to visit Petrified Forest National Park, located 161 km from the lodge.

Book your stay at Thunderbird Lodge now to experience a blend of comfort, convenience, and culture.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: ABQ

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 2833 reviews
Cleanliness: 6
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 5.8
Amenities: 9.6
Value for Money: 6
Food and Beverage: 9
Overall Experience: 10
F
Faust • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
C
Cheryl • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
R
Retha • extended_group • us
8
Clean, friendly lodge reminiscent of the ‘50-60s.
Pros:

Good food, prepared to order, served hot. wide food selection available

Cons:

Nothing - it is an older quaint property reminiscent of the 1950-60s era

2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
S
Szilárd • couple • de
8
2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
E
Ethan • couple • us
8
Excellent staff, amenities and location
Pros:

It felt cozy and well maintained

Cons:

The bathroom was kind of small but it wasn’t that big of a deal

2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
C
craig • couple • us
8
Restful and Delicious Breakfast in the Morning after sleeping like a baby. Beautiful surroundings in the bright morning
Pros:

Loved the quietness of the Property and Remoteness.

Cons:

Checked in late, let staff know which wasn’t a problem. Still the Staff was accommodating. But upon arrival there was a power failure in the Chinle Area. This made checking in and paying for the room impossible. It’s a shame there wasn’t a way to get into the rooms by older mechanical keys and running credit cards by simply writing the information down. But, I waited for about an hour to get into my room for the night. Hot, tired and exhausted. Fortunately the beds were comfortable, and the Staff kept me entertained. Thank You.

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
E
Erika • couple • us
6
Not my preferred stay
Pros:

Great location

Cons:

Very old place. Needs some updating

2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
A
Adrien • family_with_children • fr
7
2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
V
vivi • solo_traveller • it
9
Ottima posizione
Pros:

Posizione tranquilla, stanza ampia e dotato di tutto

Cons:

Il condizionatore era un po' rumoroso

2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
J
Judith • couple • us
9
Staff helpful and it was peaceful
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
P
Patricia • solo_traveller • us
9
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Charged twice, got to wait till Monday to clear it up

2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
F
Federica • couple • it
8
2026-08-09 • via Nuitee
E
Elise • solo_traveller • fr
6
2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
E
Eduard • solo_traveller • ro
8
2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
L
luguy • solo_traveller • fr
8
Pros:

La proximité avec le canyon
La chambre est bien
La machine a café

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
C
Colm • solo_traveller • us
5
Over rated over priced
Pros:

Location

Cons:

No ice, no beer, too many flies

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
S
Scott • couple • us
9
Motel an excellent value, especially if you appreciate lodging as an authentic experience, not just a place to sleep.
Pros:

Historic, in national monument. Close to visitor center(half mile) and start of rim drives. All employees Navajo so authentic cultural experience, although employees weren’t the friendliest. First room assigned smelled like cigarette smoke so they upgraded us without us even asking. Thank you! Booked a sunset canyon tour (scheduled 4-8 pm) which was amazing and Fernando was an excellent local Navajo guide … personable, dead pan jokes, and knowledgeable as a canyon resident. When the vehicle broke down at 7:15 pm on the way out of the canyon (still several miles from the lodge) he worked very hard to personally repair it.

Cons:

sunset canyon tour (scheduled 4-8 pm) was amazing BUT the vehicle broke down at 7:15 pm on the way out of the canyon (still several miles from the lodge) but the guide worked very hard to get it working and hiked twice away from the vehicle to try to get cell service to call for help. He finally got it running about 9:15 PM, in the complete dark and more than an hour after we were supposed to be back at the lodge. On our way back, near the mouth of the canyon at about 9:30 we met another tour vehicle that had been sent out to find/help us. We finally got back to the lodge at 9:40 pm, and hour and 40 minutes late. The lodge cafeteria closed at 9 pm so we missed our opportunity for a traditional Navajo dinner (other options 15 minute drive and mostly only fast food/bars open). But, more importantly, as a professional outdoor tour company I would expect 2 fundamentals for the safety of clients, neither of which were done: 1) satellite phone for guide and tour manager at lodge (and monitored after hours during sunset tour) for emergencies (cell service not available in canyon); 2) emergency plan in place to send recovery vehicle if tour is more than 30 minutes late (especially sunset tour since likely no other vehicles driving in canyon that could assist). Although our situation wasn’t an emergency, if it would have been (like a flipped vehicle with potential injuries) help would not have arrived for more than 2 hours — unsatisfactory. I recommend Thunderbird Lodge tours implement safety protocols immediately. The 20% refund they gave us was a nice gesture (thank you) but won’t prevent a tragedy.

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
A
Asier • couple • es
8
Muy bien situado
Pros:

Está en un emplazamiento encantador, muy cerca del acceso al Cañón de Chelly. Las instalaciones están bien.

Cons:

Es caro para lo que ofrece .

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
A
ALAIN • solo_traveller • fr
9
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
S
Stephanie • couple • fr
5
2026-08-02 • via Nuitee