Gardiner's Hidden Gem: Super 8's Yellowstone Park Paradise!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a review of the Super 8 in Gardiner, Montana - the self-proclaimed "Yellowstone Park Paradise." And let me tell you, after my stay? Paradise might be a bit of a stretch, but hey, at least it's a Super 8, right? (Spoiler alert: I'm kidding… mostly.)
First, the Grind: Let's get the boring (but important!) stuff out of the way.
Accessibility: They say they've got it. And kudos for trying! But I didn't need a wheelchair, so I can’t 100% vouch. The elevators were present (thank god!), which is crucial if you get stuck on a high floor (more on that later). Let's just say, double-check if full accessibility is your must-have – phone those friendly folks at the front desk!
Cleanliness and Safety (the Covid-Era Tango): Okay, this is where I was genuinely impressed. The Super 8's gone all-in on the Covid precautions. They really seem to care about cleanliness. You got the hand sanitizer stations everywhere, the "professional-grade" cleaning signs… all the right buzzwords. Plus, they’ve got those individually-wrapped food options… a nice touch. The daily disinfection of common areas seemed legit. And bless their hearts, the staff seemed genuinely trained – even if they looked a little shell-shocked sometimes (understandable!). They were also selling those disposable masks at the front desk, which I appreciate as a forgetful traveler.
Booking and General Housekeeping:
- Cashless payment service: Check. Thank goodness because I never carry cash anymore.
- Contactless check-in/out: Also, check. Saves time and potential awkwardness.
- Daily housekeeping: They kept things pretty tidy, which is a win.
- Fire extinguisher/Smoke alarms: Hope they're working – I didn't test them, obvs.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Yep, which is a lifesaver when you arrive late or, like me, wake up at 3 am thinking you left your wallet in a grizzy's den (I hadn't.)
- Safety deposit boxes: Great.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Appears to be true; and I'm a fan.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed like they are.
- Sterilizing equipment: Good to hear.
The Room - My Humble Abode:
I snagged a room on a higher floor because, well, I like to feel superior (kidding!… mostly).
- Wi-Fi [free] in all rooms! Okay, this is a MUST. Worked well.
- Air conditioning: Praise the heavens for AC in the Montana summer heat.
- Complimentary Tea: I didn't see complimentary tea.
- Desk/Laptop workspace: Useful for catching up on emails.
- Refrigerator: A lifesaver for storing snacks (and that essential bottle of wine).
- Bathrobes: Nope. Definitely no bathrobes.
- Bathrooms: They were simple, clean, and well-maintained.
- Complimentary bottles water: Provided in room, nice touch.
- Satellite/cable channels: Plenty to flick through to wind down for the night.
- Seating Area: Just a small seating area, I suppose.
- Alarm Clock: If you need it.
- Extra long bed: Yes.
- Window that opens: Yes.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (My Personal Mission):
This is the tricky part, folks. We're talking about a Super 8, not the Ritz.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The breakfast situation was… well, it was a buffet. I'm talking standard continental fare. Cereal, toast, maybe some sad-looking scrambled eggs. Don't expect Michelin stars. But it serves its purpose.
- Breakfast takeaway service: They did have a takeaway option, which was handy for a quick grab (if late).
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Coffee was available, thank god. And decent, too!
- Coffee shop: I didn't see one.
- Snack bar: No snack bar either, but there's a convenience store nearby, as well as the inevitable vending machine.
Things to do - Ways to Relax (Or Try To):
Okay, this is where the "Paradise" tag starts feeling a little, shall we say, ambitious.
- Fitness center/Gym: There was a tiny gym, with like, one treadmill and a couple of weights. I did not use it, because I can't stand hotel gyms.
- Swimming Pool [outdoor]: The pool was… nice! After a long day of hiking and driving, a dip in the pool at Sunset was lovely. The best part.
- Terrace: Meh.
- Spa/Sauna: Definitely, nope.
The Really Good Stuff (and the Not-So-Good):
Location, location, location: This is the Super 8's secret weapon. It’s IN Gardiner. Literally the gateway to Yellowstone. You can practically smell the geysers from the parking lot. This is HUGE. After a long day in the park, it's a quick and easy drive to the hotel, and all the restaurants in Gardiner.
The Quirks: The staff were friendly, even if the hotel itself felt a little.. well, generic. It's a Super 8. You get what you pay for.
The Flaws: The beds were comfortable enough, but the décor was pretty dated. Think beige. Lots of beige. And you could sometimes hear the traffic outside.
The "Oh, Hell Yeah" Moment: After a day spent dodging bison, I collapsed in the pool with a beer. And for a glorious, fleeting moment, I felt totally at peace. That, my friends, is priceless.
The Verdict – Should You Book It?
Look, the Super 8 in Gardiner isn't the lap of luxury. It's practical. It’s clean. It's close to Yellowstone. And for the price? It's a solid choice. If you're looking for an affordable base camp for your Yellowstone adventure, and you value location over fancy amenities, then yeah, book it. Just temper your expectations a little.
Final, stream-of-consciousness thoughts:
- I really wish they would have had a jacuzzi. After a long day in the park, a jacuzzi is heaven.
- I loved the pool.
- Don't go expecting gourmet food.
- Bring your own booze.
- Check their website for deals.
- Most importantly: Yellowstone is amazing. And this Super 8 lets you actually experience it.
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to navigate my hypothetical (and probably disastrous) trip to Yellowstone, all while using the Super 8 in Gardiner, MT as my questionable home base. Prepare for a beautiful mess.
The "Trying to be Chill But Probably Failing" Yellowstone Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and the "Did I Pack Enough?" Panic
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Arrive in Gardiner, MT. "Where's the bear spray?"
Okay, first off, driving to Montana from [Insert my hypothetical starting point here - maybe a bustling city or a sleepy town, depending what I'm in the mood for], you know, the usual. Traffic. Cursing at GPS. The usual travel joys. Finally pulling up to the Super 8. The sign looks… well, it looks like a Super 8. Expectation: low. Reality: probably lower. The first thing I do is panic. Did I pack enough socks? Did I bring enough snacks? Did I remember the bear spray? (Okay, maybe I did, maybe I didn’t, it’s a gamble).
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Check into Super 8 (Hopefully a clean room!). Unpack…or rather, attempt to unpack. "Is this a hair in the shower?"
The key card is the first hurdle. Then the room. Let's be honest, Super 8s are a crapshoot. You're hoping for clean, praying for not too dated. Upon arrival, I'll attempt to unpack, which quickly devolves into throwing clothes around. Somewhere in there I'll discover something slightly concerning. A hair in the shower? A suspicious stain on the carpet? And then I'll be forced to make a split-second decision: complain…or just ignore it and hope I don't get a disease. (Ignoring is probably the answer, I like to live dangerously).
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Gardiner Town Exploration: "This is a cute town!… I think?"
Alright, must get my bearings. Quick stroll around Gardiner. The town is cute, I think? It has that "I'm a gateway town to a national park" charm. What does that even mean? Basically, it's a lot of souvenir shops and restaurants catering to tourists. I'll probably wander into a few shops, judge the price of t-shirts, maybe buy a postcard that I won't send. Definitely going to judge the price of some T-shirts. Probably some bad puns.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Diner Time: "I'm starving, but also…is this truly hand-cut fries?"
Dinner time! Gotta fuel up for Yellowstone. Finding a decent, (and hopefully) inexpensive diner. If they have "hand-cut fries," I'm sold. The other options might include some locals, but the diner's the obvious choice.
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Pre-Yellowstone Prep and Mental Build-Up: "Oh god, are we sure about this?"
Back to the Super 8. This is where the real mental preparation happens. Google-mapping Yellowstone, reviewing wildlife safety tips (don't approach bison! Don't run from bears! Don't look directly at the sun!), and probably pacing. It's a bit of a "oh god, are we absolutely positive about this?" type of vibe. Maybe a beer or two from the gas station is needed to calm the nerves. Watch some bad TV that is absolutely on.
9:00 PM: Sleep (or Attempt to Sleep) "I'm already tired. Will I hear a bear?"
Trying to sleep. The pillow is probably not great, the AC is probably too loud. Lay in bed, praying I don't hear a bison amble outside the window throughout the night.
Day 2: Yellowstone - The Geysers, The Bison, and the "I Forgot My Binoculars" Debacle.
6:00 AM - 7:00 AM: Early Rise and Breakfast: Free breakfast? "I hope it's better than I think it is!"
Free breakfast in the Super 8. Gotta be honest, I go in with incredibly low expectations. Cereal? Stale bagels? Maybe a sad-looking waffle? I'll take it. Coffee is essential. Fuel up for the day.
7:00 AM - 7:30 AM: Yellowstone Entry: "This is it. Maybe I should have gone to the bathroom first."
Hit the road! The grand entrance to Yellowstone. The sheer scale of the park is immediately impressive. "Oh my god, is that a bison?" I'm torn between "take a picture" and "run away from the giant beast that can crush me."
7:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Geyser Basin Extravaganza - Old Faithful and Beyond! "Is the wait worth it?"
The obligatory Old Faithful experience. The crowd! The anticipation! The wait! Is seeing a geyser erupt really worth all of this? Probably. I'll try to position myself in the best viewing spot, likely failing. Then, onto exploring other geyser basins. Admiring the steaming hot springs and colorful pools (as long as I don't fall in!!). Hiking on some short trails, trying to not get run over by a park ranger. And then… the moment of crushing disappointment. Did I bring binoculars? No. Absolutely not. Will I regret not having them? Absolutely.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Picnic Lunch: "The sandwich I made! Did I put it bag?"
Picnic time! If i had been smart and packed a lunch, that would be good. It's all about the vibe of the day, I bet. Picnic is a very important part.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Wildlife Watching (If I'm Lucky): "Where are all the bears?!"
Wildlife watching is my holy grail of the day. Driving through the Lamar Valley, which is famous for its wildlife. Hoping to spot bears, wolves, elk, maybe a majestic mountain lion. I'll scan the horizon for hours, squinting, maybe thinking I see something in the distance, maybe it's a rock. The disappointment that comes with not seeing the bear, or only seeing a tiny speck is real. But, hey, that's life.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Back to Gardiner: "Traffic! So much traffic!"
The slow back-to-Gardiner is here. The memories of the day. The smell of gas and exhaust from the car. The fatigue that comes with taking in some beautiful views while trying to spot something in the distance. Maybe something interesting will happen on the way.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Shower Time at the Super 8. "Is the water warm?"
Shower time! The most important part of the day. Shower. Put on some clean clothes. Prepare for another day.
6:00 PM - onwards: Dinner and Relaxation… or whatever feels right. "Where to eat?"
Dinner and, let's be honest, a lot of "ahhh…" moments. Considering whether this trip would be repeated soon. Maybe try another local restaurant. Maybe some more planning for tomorrow. Maybe some more relaxing at the Super 8.
Day 3: Yellowstone - Canyon, Waterfalls, and the "I'm Leaving Early" Mentality
6:00 AM - 7:00 AM: Breakfast Again "It couldn't be that bad again, right?"
Breakfast at the Super 8. Same as yesterday, but with slightly less enthusiasm, and perhaps a secret stash of granola bars I bought at the gas station.
7:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone! "OMG, is that real?"
This is where I spend most of my time. I'm going to be absolutely awestruck by the sheer beauty that can be seen in Yellowstone. The colors! The sheer size! The waterfalls! It's hard to believe that nature could create something so breathtaking. Will go for many pictures.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The Rest of Yellowstone (Maybe): "Is that all there is?"
Explore the remaining areas I've missed: perhaps the Hayden Valley. Maybe I'll try to do some of the things I've missed.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Back to Gardiner
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Packing
6:00 PM - Onwards: Goodbye or maybe not?
Reflect on the trip. Head out!
The Unvarnished Truth:
- I
Gardiner's Hidden Gem: Super 8's Yellowstone Park Paradise! - Seriously, Ask Me Anything (Because I Already Know!)
Is Super 8 actually a "hidden gem"? Or is that just marketing fluff?
Okay, okay, deep breath. "Hidden gem" is probably, you know, a *little* generous. Let's be real. It's a Super 8. But here's the thing... Gardiner, Montana, is the gateway to Yellowstone, and finding *any* decent, reasonably priced lodging can feel like winning the lottery. ESPECIALLY during peak season. So, yes, Super 8 Gardiner, with its slightly dated vibe and questionable breakfast pastries (seriously, what *are* those things?), is a gem. A slightly tarnished one, maybe. But a gem nonetheless. It's strategically placed. It's clean enough. The staff are generally pretty darn friendly (more on that later...). And, crucially, it's right there. You can practically roll out of bed and be in the park. Sold!
What's the breakfast situation like? I'm a breakfast person. Will I survive?
Alright, breakfast. This is where we need to have a *real* conversation. The continental breakfast? It’s… well, let’s just say it’s “continental.” Think: pre-packaged pastries that taste suspiciously of cardboard, questionable instant coffee (bring your own good stuff, TRUST ME), and the occasional, sad-looking, lonely orange. There’s usually some type of yogurt (maybe), and sometimes, if you're incredibly lucky, a waffle maker. But don't get your hopes up. The waffle maker is temperamental. One time, I poured batter in, watched it cook for a solid five minutes… and it just... stuck. Epic fail. So, pack some granola bars, maybe a ziplock bag of your own (better) coffee, and consider it a pre-Yellowstone fuel-up, not a culinary extravaganza. You'll survive. You WILL survive. Just... lower your expectations. Deeply.
How's the location? Is it easy to get into and out of Yellowstone?
The LOCATION is the whole dang point, people! Gardiner, specifically Super 8, is *perfectly* situated. You're literally right at the North Entrance to Yellowstone. No long drives. No traffic jams (mostly). Seriously, after a long day of geysers and bison jams, being able to stumble back to your room in a matter of minutes is priceless. And hey, there's a gas station and a few restaurants and bars within walking distance. Score! Which brings me to...
Are there any good restaurants nearby? Is there ANYTHING to do besides Yellowstone?
Okay, so Gardiner itself isn't exactly a bustling metropolis. It's a charming, small mountain town. But, yes, there are options. For dinner, I *highly* recommend the Yellowstone Mine Restaurant - the food is decent, the atmosphere is cozy. And... well, after a day of driving, sometimes "decent" hits the spot. There are basic bars, a few shops for souvenirs (you *will* buy a t-shirt!), and... honestly? Besides Yellowstone, the main thing is relaxing. Take some time in the evening to unwind. And, uh, yeah, there are river rafting tours. Which, one time, I almost did, but I'm afraid of falling in a river, so I chickened out. Maybe next time! Basically, Gardiner is about Yellowstone. Period. Everything else is extra gravy, as my mom would say.
What's the best room to get at Super 8? Is there a view?
Views? Nah, not really. It's a Super 8, remember? The rooms are... well, they're rooms. Clean, but not necessarily inspiring. Aim for a room on an upper floor, away from the parking lot (noise!). The layout of the rooms is... well, let's just say I've seen fancier. But the beds are generally comfortable, the showers are hot (crucial!), and that's what matters most after a long day of hiking. Honestly? Don't overthink the room too much. You'll spend most of your time OUTSIDE! In *Yellowstone*!
Tell me about the staff. Are they helpful? Friendly?
The staff? Ah, the staff. They're… lovely. Usually. There was this one woman at the front desk, I think her name was Agnes, who was an absolute angel. So sweet, so helpful, and had a genuine love for Yellowstone. She gave me the BEST advice on where to see the bison, and she even checked me into my room a little early, which was a HUGE win after my 7-hour drive! Then, there was another time, different trip, different person. Let's just say, "friendly" wasn't exactly the description. More like, "efficient." Which is fine, I guess. They get the job done. Most of the time. Look, they're dealing with a LOT of tired, excited, and possibly slightly smelly Yellowstone tourists. Cut them some slack. And definitely ask for Agnes if she's working – you'll get the VIP treatment!
Is it worth it? Should I book?
Alright, the big question. Is Super 8 in Gardiner worth it? Yes. Absolutely. Let's be brutally honest: it's not luxury. It's basic. But the location is *unbeatable*. You're trading a fancy hotel experience for easy access to one of the most incredible national parks in the world. I've stayed there multiple times, and I'll keep going back. Because the view from *inside* Yellowstone? That's what matters. The geysers, the wildlife, the sheer, overwhelming beauty... that's the real luxury. And Super 8 is the perfect launching pad for experiencing all of that. Sure, the breakfast might be a letdown and rooms are standard, but think of it as a base camp to explore the real gem, Yellowstone! Plus, the memories. My most recent trip, I woke up to the sound of a bull elk bugling right outside my window – like, a *stone's throw* away. THAT’S why I love Super 8. THAT’S why I always will! Book it! JUST DO IT!
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