Hyatt had my curiosity when I discovered the World of Hyatt was expanding its portfolio to cover the area around Yosemite National Park.
Hyatt had my attention when I discovered World of Hyatt was also going to have a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property – Hounds Tooth Inn – basically at the gates of Yosemite.
Would our stay be a “dog that hunts” or a “little long in the tooth”?
Review: Hounds Tooth Inn (Oakhurst, CA)
Location And Entrance
Hounds Tooth Inn (aka “HTI”) is located near Yosemite Forks, in a hidden and secluded plot of land on the Northside of the town of Oakhurst, CA (one of my favorite towns).
For reference, the driving time to Yosemite National Park from HTI is about 30 minutes to the gates of Yosemite, and about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.
FHOP Tip: Our GPS navigation to the Inn was wrong. It sent us down the next road to an auto repair shop. Making the correct turn at the Inn (while heading North) requires a sharp u-turn at the sign [below] (which was semi-obstructed from the main road) and then following the long driveway down to the Inn. If you do go the wrong way, you can still head West from the auto repair shop, as the road will eventually loop back around to the Inn.
Turn here!
If you see this long driveway, you went the “right way”
Parking
Although parking was free, the parking lot was very small.
While that wasn’t an issue during our stay, I was told there were times when the staff had to come up with “creative parking solutions” to ensure all guests had parking.
In addition, there’s a Tesla charging station with additional parking spots on the North end of the lot.
The parking lot at the “HTI”
The Tesla charging station
World Of Hyatt Redemption
The nightly rate during our stay started at $348.54 USD for a “Queen Deluxe Room”.
The Hounds Tooth Inn was a World of Hyatt Category 6 property (bookable for 25,000 points), but at a CPP of just 1.39, a points booking would have been a weak usage of points.
Therefore, I opted to pay the cash rate.
Cancellation Policy
One thing to note when making a reservation at the HTI, the cancellation policy is a bit stricter than most Hyatt properties; cancellations must be made 7 days in advance to avoid the “100% Total Stay penalty fee”.
Arrival
As we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to find an attractive, quaint and elegant Victorian-style “country-house”.
Upon closer inspection, we found all sorts of small, playful details that actually made HTI feel more like a “country-home” than a “country-house”.
Lobby
As expected from the exterior, the lobby area was predictably cute, bright, and totally consistent with vibe of both a “boutique hotel” and a “bed and breakfast”.
Evening reception hors d’oeuvres. Image: slh.com
Hotel Amenities
Part of the charm of staying at the Hounds Tooth Inn was the Breakfast and Evening Reception services.
The Staircase To The Room
Hallway
Room Entrance
Bedroom Area
Upon entering the room, I was immediately reminded of my previous stay at another SLH property, the 1906 Lodge. The room was smaller than expected and had exactly one window.
Nevertheless, it was colorfully restored and thoughtfully decorated to evoke maximum charm and feelings of restful comfort.
Image: slh.com
A portable Bluetooth speaker
Living Area
Television & Storage Space
The armoire (there was no closet)
Wet Bar
Welcome Platter
Bathroom Area
The sink and the vanity were located “in the bedroom,” while the shower and toilet were located “in the bathroom”.
Although this “dual-setup” is unusual for a bathroom in a modern building, it was fine (and somewhat fitting) for a “Victorian-rustic country-house”.
The sink “in the bedroom”
The Beekman brand was the toiletries of choice
Room Wear & Stains
I was a little disappointed to find large visible stains on the carpet and wear on the bed bench.
Breakfast In The Lobby
Perhaps the highlight of our stay was the wonderful little breakfast that was arranged for us at 6:30 am (so that we could get an early start on Yosemite National Park).
We both went with the breakfast sandwich, which was delicious – and large enough to eat half for breakfast and to save the other half for lunch (at Lower Yosemite Falls).
Also, the Blueberry Pomegranate Acai Juice was a nice, refreshing touch to start the day.
Breakfast ready to go at 6:30 am
Breakfast Sandwich
Walking The Property
The Victorian building was even more handsome in person than it appeared in the photos online.
There were plenty of tables and chairs to “lounge around” and take in the cool Sierra mountain air.
The Adjacent Grounds
The grounds behind the Inn however, appeared overgrown and unkept.
It was as if there was once a garden or park behind the country-house (complete with street lights and walking paths) that had since been overrun by brush and time.
Was there once a garden or park here? What’s with the street light?
What’s Nearby
FHOP Tip: My favorite restaurant in Oakhurst is the Oakhurst Grill & Whiskey 41 Lounge, located on the main strip South of the Hounds Tooth Inn (try the Seared Tuna). If Mexican food is your thing, the perennial favorite (and nearby) El Cid Mexican Cuisine can’t be beat.
The Bottom-Line Review: Review: Hounds Tooth Inn (Oakhurst, CA)
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Hounds Tooth Inn.
I can’t help but compare this stay to the other SLH property I stayed at in California, the 1906 Lodge. The rooms and decor were very similar, as was the overall “vibe” of the boutique hotel, and the excellent service (especially the morning Inn Keeper who was genuinely friendly and very helpful in planning our time in Yosemite.
The only negatives I found were the stains in our room and the isolation of the property with little to do in terms of activities. I think if HTI could somehow manage to restore the garden/park behind the house to its former glory, they could really have something magical there.
I can easily recommend the Hounds Tooth Inn for couples looking for the full “bed and breakfast” experience, but I wouldn’t recommend it for families or business travelers. As far as points redemptions go, 25,000 points was steep (although perhaps the norm for SLH properties), so I would personally stick with cash when booking.
Final Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
