The Main Street Holiday Inn in Mammoth Lakes, California, is a well appointed, organized and clean operation. It is conveniently located between all of the various ski slopes and outdoor attractions in the area, and it is an affordable place to stay when skiing, hiking, fishing or mountain biking in the area.

Set off Main street behind the Chevron station in the middle of town the Holiday Inn has the air of larger, more exclusive, hotels without the expense. There is plenty of parking in front of the hotel and about half of the spaces are covered. There is a large foyer that contains the checkin counter, spa, comfy sofas and a fireplace. The complex is three stories high and has two wings. There is an elevator in the main building.

Half of the rooms overlook the parking lot with a view of the trees. The others face a motel on the opposite side of the building. Rooms come in a variety of configurations depending upon the number of people staying. We stayed in room number 305 which is large and contains a king bed, tv, hvac, a sofa bed desk, table and chairs, a kitchenette with fridge, sink, microwave and two-burner, electric stove. The room has a vanity with sink and a separate room with toilet and jacuzzi tub. It is clean, comfortable and perfect for hanging out with friends. The kitchentte is really useful making trips much more affordable. All in all the room is pleasant and a bargain at between $119 and $179, depending upon the season.

For those who want an indoor workout there is a modest, but complete, gym. It has treadmills, stationary bikes, Nordic Trac and weights. All is new, clean and ready use. Across the hall is a laundry room with soap dispensers, so people staying for awhile can exercise and do their laundry at the same time.

The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and hot tub with jets. The jets are strong enough to sooth the stiffest bodies. The hotel also contains a game room with video games, and pinball machines.

There are several bars and restaurants right on the property. Cafe 203 is a casual, fast food restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel. Inexpensive breakfasts, lunches and dinners are offered daily consisting of typical American fare including bacon and eggs, pancakes, hamburgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza, pasta and a few heartier dishes in the evening. And kids under 12 eat free! What a bargain!

Also on the property is the Pinecrest Bar. It is a fun and social hangout for apre-ski. The bar has table tennis, billiards, and darts. The bar tender was polite and social and told some great stories. But he was reluctant to share his knowledge of the locals hangouts -- try the gals at the front desk.

All in all the Holiday Inn in Mammoth Lakes, California is a comfortable, well-appointed property offering reasonably priced accommodations. It's a great buy. The phone number for the hotel is 760-924-1234, their website is www.holidayatmammoth.com and the general manager's email address is gm@holidayatmammoth.com.