Valley View Motel

The proprietor was lovely to meet and kept our cottage clean and well equipped. Valley View Motel makes a great starting point for the Olympic Peninsula, right where Highways 101, 20, and 104 meet, with routes in from Olympia, Bremerton, Port Townsend, and Port Angeles. I gave it five stars for the nostalgic feel, location, and value. It’s no Holiday Inn Express, of course.

Loved the goats 🐐, and the host was so friendly. Quaint, clean, and convenient, with the best value of our whole trip.

Cabin 3 was adorable, the bathroom was spotless, and after a 12-hour shift the shower felt great. There were extra pillows, and my phone had service, so I watched videos when I couldn’t get the TV and DVD player working. I settled in with my dog in her thunder vest. I came for the 4th of July because fireworks, drunk parties, and guns make my neighborhood feel like a war zone and terrify my dog, so I booked elsewhere for the night. I reserved the last hotel room in May, maybe even the last one in the county. I told the owners I’d arrive late after work and picking up my dog, called to say I was on my way, and checked in without a problem at 9pm. These are good people running a small business from their home and property, in a small, friendly country town where things are kept simple. It’s hard to keep a small business open in this economy. If you’re looking for a concierge, champagne, and turndown service, Seattle has that. Support small businesses!

A few straightforward updates could make a big difference here. The cottage exteriors look run-down, and the TVs are over 20 years old with no channels. The Wi-Fi didn’t work well either.