[Ru]

Off to Bishop in early spring for 3 weeks - can anyone recommend somewhere to stay? We'll have the boy with us, so thinking a motel. What's the knowledge?

[SA Chris]

Won't Stuart just have his own room?

I might know somewhere, will need to try find details tho'

[Stu Littlefair]

The joke's not as funny that way round

[Stubbs]

I've only stayed in the Thunderbird and El Rancho
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g32083-d1515471-Reviews-Thunderbird_Motel-Bishop_California.html

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g32083-d612074-Reviews-El_Rancho_Motel-Bishop_California.html

Of the two Thunderbird was nicer and more up to date, but from the Trip Advisor reports it sounds like El Rancho has had a facelift.  When we stayed El Rancho was definitely at the budget end of the market, fine for two dirtbags who wanted a bed for the night after a skinful at Rusty's, but not somewhere I'd want to take my family!  Thunderbird was a lot cleaner and better looked after.

There are a lot of Motels in this price bracket in Bishop and I know a few people who have got good deals by booking for two or three weeks at a time.

[SA Chris]

The joke's not as funny that way round

Probably not, but it was an open goal and going begging.

[Charlton Chestwig]

I've stayed at the Vagabond Inn. Seem to remember it being cheap and had no complaints. Cool name too.

[Moo]

the town house motel was ok. The lady was open to haggling for extended stays as well.

[Kingy]

Go and grab a burger at Whisky Creek in town after climbing, all meals half price during happy hour. then go and chill out with a brew at the Loony Bean cafe, the local climber's hang. The caff behing the local book store (The Book Worm I think) is a rival hangout on rest days, good for killing time

[Stubbs]

The caff behing the local book store (The Book Worm I think) is a rival hangout on rest days, good for killing time

The Book shop is Spellbinders and the coffee shop is the Black Sheep, free refills and free wi fi!

[SA Chris]

If you are looking for rest day things to do, go check out the Galen Rowell Mountain Light Gallery too.

[Rabies]

You should check the hot springs near Bishop too.  There is one heading south between Bishop and Big Pine and another one heading north (which I haven't been to but is better apparently) towards mammoth.

Mammoth lakes might also be a good family day out too, could even get a day or two of skiing in.

[rodma]

You should check the hot springs near Bishop too. 

Is that the one that is basically off-wash from the springs upstream in the resort, where you sit under the pylons?

If so, definitely worth a visit 

[Johnny Brown]

Those are the ones a few miles south.

We pulled in in our camper van, and a nekkid hippie immediately approached us with "Howdy, nice van!" (it was a nice van). Ellie took one look at his swinging tackle, and the shallow water with spiders on the 'beach', and we headed for the paying pool up the road. Which was nice, if lacking in a view.

The ones north towards Mammoth are said to be nicer.

[SA Chris]

There are quite a few. The one that's a resort run off is warmer at night, as the water isn't routed into their pool.

Hot Creek is wierd as you have to swim through cold water to get to the warm, and stand the right distance away so you don't get burnt. We had dead fish floating past while we were in, who must have judged the distance wrong.

All the info is here

http://www.signite.com/hiking/archives/maps/2006_July_EasternSierra/smchotsprings_mg.pdf

[benpritch]

having always stayed in motel 6s when i am in the us because of budgetary constraints i was faced with having to book into a best western because of a snow storm on the way back to canada.

for $25 more dollars you get a significantly better place to stay including a lovely breakfast, a lovely restaurant and bar and the room is actually reallly nice, (as opposed to a little bit scummy) with a fridge and a microwave and coffeee maker.

i am pretty certain there is a best western in bishop. you should at least check it out. i'm never staying in a motel 6 again.

the trees motel on the road out to the buttermilks is nice at the cheaper end of the spectrum. but not that much cheaper.

spellbinder books for coffee - blacksheep is amazing coffee roasted on the premises with free wifi

you will relish the climbing style there.

[Ru]

Cheers all.