Vintage Lakeside Inn

We usually book just one night first to see if we’re comfortable, then add another if things go well. Here, booking an extra night was easy, so we did. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the quiet location felt safe. Great stay!

A lovely owner and a quiet, clean, efficient motel. It’s near the Village, right by a bus stop, and easy to walk to lots of Big Bear Lake attractions. Hikers are welcome here!

It’s close to Big Bear, which made our ski and camping trip easy. The rooms were spacious and clean, and we slept comfortably.

***NO AIR CONDITIONING! I have mixed feelings about this place. I’m trying to be honest, not bash it. STAFF: Claudia, who took my reservation and handled my later questions, was great. She was reasonable and gave excellent customer service. She’s a real asset. The blonde-haired woman was also nice, polite, and understanding, and did what she could. The dark-haired woman tried to be nice, but came across snappy. It felt like my questions and even my presence were bothering her, as if she had better things to do. ROOM AND HOTEL: The price was good compared with other places nearby, but what you get for the price didn’t match other hotels. The rooms were quaint, meaning plain and kind of old. There was a TV, small college fridge, and microwave, which was a plus. But there was no TV remote, only one for the cable box, so I couldn’t stream from my phone or iPad and had to watch whatever was on TV. There was no air conditioning. Staff suggested keeping the blinds closed during the day to block the sun, then opening the windows at night. The only ventilation was a small plug-in fan, so after being out all day the room felt stuffy, with stagnant air. There was no daily maid or room cleaning service, though the front desk said to ask if we needed extra towels. When we first checked in, there was hair in the shower from the previous guests. The cleaner hadn’t done a good job, and the dark-haired woman who inspected the room didn’t notice it. Some electrical outlet and switch plates were missing screws, and a few outlets were loose. There was no ice machine or soda or water machine on the property. I was told to get things at the liquor store down the street. What? The door had a deadbolt and a regular knob lock, but we were only given a key to the knob lock, so we couldn’t deadbolt it when we left to secure our belongings. Luckily, nothing major happened to us. The owner could make this place much better by investing in the building and guest amenities, and hiring more or better staff. I’ll stay somewhere else next time. If you were born in the 1930s or 1940s and grew up and traveled in the 1950s, 60s, or 70s, this place may be for you.