Hampton Inn Kayenta

This Hampton Inn outpost does a stellar job of creating a sense of place with its decor. The spacious lobby features a two-sided, natural stone fireplace, with a huge, rough-hewn wood mantel and columns. Rustic beams also run across the ceiling, and Native American and Southwestern art and photos impart a warm and colorful ambiance. This is a busy place that hosts a diverse mix of tourists, including bus tour groups and international travelers. The breakfast room is crowded during peak season, as is the restaurant, since there are few full-service dining options in Kayenta.The hotel is in a small town that’s surrounded by the Navajo Nation Reservation. It’s quiet and isolated, existing mostly to service tourists who come to see the spectacular rock formations in nearby Monument Valley.

This Hampton Inn is located along the main drag of the small town of Kayenta, in the heart of the Navajo Nation Reservation. A Burger King is next door, which curiously houses a permanent exhibit that's a tribute to World War II Navajo Code Talkers. Several other restaurants (mostly fast food chains) are within a five-minute walk or a two-minute drive, and a grocery store and cinema are seven minutes away on foot. Kayenta Airport is a convenient two-minute drive, and Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Visitors Center takes 30 minutes by car. It’s about a two-hour drive to Grand Canyon National Park, and a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Flagstaff and its airport.

Colorful Southwestern decor significantly steps up the decor in these chain hotel rooms. Bright stripped Navajo throws and pillows dress up beds, and attractive prints of the area's natural landscape don the walls. Gray leather armchair and matching ottomans add a classy touch. Amenities include coffeemakers, desks, large desks, and flat-screen TVs. Room service is a standard amenity -- something not often seen at Hampton Inns -- and free Wi-Fi is offered. Bathrooms have granite vanities, shower/tub combos, and Neutrogena toiletries. Three room types -- Doubles, Kings, and Kings with sleeper sofas -- are available. Rooms are quiet, but some guests have noted ambient noise from other units. 

This Hampton features ample amenities typical of the chain, plus a full-service restaurant that’s open daily for dinner. It serves American classics and Southwestern specialties, like green chili stew and Navajo fry bread, but it doesn't have an alcohol license due to Navajo tribal restrictions. A free hot breakfast buffet is offered every morning, and to-go breakfast bags are available on weekdays. Free coffee and fruit-infused water are on-offer in the lobby throughout the day. This property also provides room service, a rarity for the Hampton Inn brand.The heated outdoor pool is surrounded by comfy, cushioned furniture and enough landscaping to make it feel private. However, one of the property's major drawbacks is its gym, which isn't much bigger than a hallway and only has two pieces of equipment.The hotel has a business center with two computers and printers, and meeting space for up to 45 people. There's a gift shop, too, that sells Navajo-made art and jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs. Vending machines and a laundry room are also on the premises. Freebies include Wi-Fi and on-site parking, and small pets are welcome for a modest surcharge.