Chieftain Motel, Chambers

The picture above and the 5 star reviews are totally misleading. After checking in, we found we had no cable tv, pool was out of service, a/c thermostat did not work in auto (freeze or fry!) and ice machine inop. The lobby and front desk was closed, so we had to check in and deal with a new employee at the gas station next door. Left immediately and found a better place at the same price in Holbrook.

My family and I made a reservation for the Cheiftain since it was the closest motel to the Painted Desert. Our experience was terrible. It was the middle of summer. The pool was under construction, the AC didn't work, and there were no other rooms available. The room temperature was in the 90's. We left and drove to Holbrook and got a much nicer hotel room for a cheaper price.

The motel is a convenient stopping off place for visiting the Petrified Forest National Park. It's very isolated and "'way out in the middle of nowhere'", but that's the beauty of the place !...no lights for miles and if you step outside your room...say to the edge of the parking area, you will probably see more stars than you have ever seen in your life. The rooms are quite nice, with beamed ceilings in the rooms on the upper floor. The small swimming pool was the most "squeaky clean" we've ever seen on our visit. The restaurant isn't all that fancy or "haute cuisine", but it had something of the feeling of being on the diner of the Super Chief as you look out the windows toward Route 66 and I-40. Gas was much higher in price than in Gallup or Winslow. There was also a small store and a U.S. Post Office.

What a wonderful surprise. We were exhausted and thought for sure we would have to stay in a dive. This motel is so clean..and so very quaint. The food was superb!! The Indain Fry Bread Taco's are sensational! We will be back..you can count on that!