Considering that this is the only lodge in the canyon and that it is a "lodge" not a full on hotel, it was fine.
1) Rooms were clean (very basic and kind of old but clean). For instance: The sheets were clearly old but even though I am a picky person, I could tell they were really really clean so the oldness did not bother me. I was not worried about the bed.
2) Wi-fi never worked
3) Heater worked very well but was loud
4) Shower water was a bit low pressure but it was not a big deal
5) Cafeteria is convenient. Note that it is not a restaurant but a cafeteria so you need to go with that expectation. Having said that the food was always very good.
6) The people were nice: Note that they are not the usual "forever smiling" customer-friendly people but they are quite nice and accommodating when you ask for specific things. For instance, for the canyon tour we asked if a specific kind of food is available (due to dietary restrictions) and they immediately came up with a good alternative meal.

Coming into the run-down city of Chinle, with its graffiti-covered buildings and dust-blown streets, I did not expect the leafy, peaceful setting that is Thunderbird Lodge. What a soothing place. Our cozy room faced a shaded, green square where you could sit in the afternoon and read a book. Across the parking lot is a pretty park with grills for picnicking. The cafeteria is fun--like stepping back in time to the 1950s! The blue corn pancakes and green chili stew with fry bread are delicious, but I couldn't resist the Jello mold. Best of all is the location--within the national park and steps away from Canyon de Chelly and several short hiking trails and rim drives. The tours seem well-priced and are bookable at the gift shop, but we had already booked a horse riding tour with Totsonni Ranch up the road. The gift shop is run by two lovely women and has reasonably priced things, particularly the Navajo-made Christmas ornaments. I did not find the staff to be rude, as some reviewers have said. I think people here just have a natural reserve. To me that just added to the quiet charm of the place.

This is the only motel within the park at Canyon de Chelly (although two other apparently good choices are only a mile or so away just outside the boundary). The rooms are comfortable, and the location is excellent. It was very quiet and peaceful. The lodge has a cafeteria dining room, which was OK for breakfast. There are better choices for dinner in Chinle (e.g., the Holiday Inn). The lodge runs tours of the canyon, but it appeared to us that these involved hours in an open-top jeep-type vehicle, without a closer look at the ruins.

If you are visiting Canyon de Chelly, this location is fantastic...very close. However, it is an older hotel and probably needs some updating. You are definitely paying for the location as it does seem high for what you get. The room was clean enough, but loud plumbing. We had difficulty accessing the wi-fi. We ate breakfast in the cafeteria and it was ok. We decided to eat dinner in town at a sit down restaurant rather that in the cafeteria. We were not able to use the hotel's tour for Canyon de Chelly as we got there in the afternoon and they were only doing morning tours, so we had to arrange for our own tour.