My extended family and I (15 people total) spent 1 week at Grand Targhee (December 22nd to December 29th 2007). We had a great time.

My brother selected Grand Targhee for several reasons: high likelihood of good snow early in the season, not too busy during one of the busiest times of year, slopeside accommodations that were less expensive than other resorts we considered and good skiing for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers. (My brother lived in Steamboat and Park City for a few winters and had skied just about everywhere.)

It turned out he was exactly right. We had great snow all week. All lifts and all trails were open all week. There were virtually no lift lines. The only lift that we ever waited on was the Shoshone lift for beginners. Typically it was only a few chairs worth of people. (It was busiest on Friday the 28th.)

There are only four lifts that serve the mountain. The Shoshone lift served the beginners area very well. We had several kids in our group who had lessons during the week. My own son (who had never skied before) had two private lessons with "Meghan" and had a great experience. (Highly recommend asking for her.)

We stayed in the Teewinot Lodge. The rooms were standard hotel rooms but this lodge did have a great sunken lounge area with a fireplace that many families used all week. There is also a hot tub located in the Teewinot Lodge. Our rooms did not have any extra amenities (kitchenettes, fridge, etc.,) which would have been great. Other areas of the resort do offer these extras and more (see Sioux Lodge Suites).

There are four restaurants on site. From a "fancier" sit down restaurant to a relatively large sports bar. I was completely satisfied with all of them. We went to the nearby (10 miles) town of Driggs for Pizza one night but otherwise ate at the resort. I know some people get easily tired of the same fare but I don't.

They have a heated outdoor pool that some in our group enjoyed as well as sledding in the evening on giant tubes ($9 per hour).

We also signed up for a special horse driven sleigh ride and dinner in a "Yurt". The sleigh ride is short (10 minutes each way) and fun. Dinner in the Yurt was great.

Grand Targhee is a little out of the way. It is a 1 1/2 hour drive from Jackson Hole Airport (including trip over Teton Pass) or a two hour trip from Idaho Falls. Teton Pass is not enjoyable during snow storms. If we go back, we may look for flights into Idaho Falls.

I would not call Grand Targhee a "luxury" resort but it had everything we were looking for. I highly recommend it.

"Grand" Targhee is so-called only because it is situated within close view (weather permitting, occasionally) of the 13,700+ ft Grand Teton, located in the Teton Range of the Northern Rockies in Alta (not Jackson) Wyoming. It is actually about 20 nautical miles and about 40-50 highway miles from Jackson Wyoming. You will need to go over Teton Pass into Idaho to arrive there from Jackson Hole. Plan on at least an hour for this. Once in Idaho you have to travel thru the Teton Valley, thru Driggs Idaho (heaven forbid), to Alta Wyoming (which should just go ahead and be adopted by Idaho).
There's no other way around the Teton Range in winter, unless you rent a helicoptor or take an even more scenic route on Hwy 26 and ID 32, or want to visit Crow Agency.

My personal observations of the past 8 years: 1) Do not bring your dog; still no canines are allowed at Targhee, even though it is not inside GTNP. 2) Get there early; if it has any new snow, it is OK only til the sun hits it in the afternoon as it is a western facing slope. 3) If you stay on the trails, it's OK if you like groomed, but it's pretty hard to ski ungroomed when it's so FLAT. 4) Don't bother if you're after the steep and deep experience - go back over the pass to the real Wyoming. 5) It is microscopic in terrain compared to JHMR. 6) Like the mountain - nothing - I mean NOTHING - going on apres ski. Don't try to 'dine' either. 7) Only suggest a day trip to see what it is all about, you might find out by about 2:00 pm, and take the next bus back over the pass.

My boyfriend and I have stayed at Grand Targhee every year for our anniversary. Our first date was a ski date over at Grand Targhee 4 years ago this winter. I was impressed this year when we checked into the Sioux Lodge, the "rustic" furnishings of Grand Targhee have been replaced with a Flat Screen television, photography and new furniture, and the changes weren't reflected in the price, the rate was exactly what we paid the year before. The bathrooms were also redone. I love the Sioux Lodge units because they have a mini fridge and microwave, saving money on a light breakfast.

We stayed here on our honeymoon in 2002. The outside is beautiful. It's the inside that is horrible. Walking to our room felt like we were being banished to the basement. No windows. Very dim lighting. The room itself was filthy. The handle broken on the bathroom faucet. The carpet was old and disgusting with dark stains everywhere. We were originally supposed to stay three nights. We stayed the first night because it was too late to go anywhere else. The area around the resort is beautiful. If you just want to visit the resort, do so. Just don't stay there.