The Orca Inn

The room was clean enough, the beds were comfortable enough, and it was nice having two bathrooms and two showers. The walls seemed a bit thin. Check-in went smoothly, and our room was ready early. This cost less than other hotels on the island, so it was about what I expected for the price.

The room was small and charming, just right as a place to rest, and the bed was comfy. It was spotless and had a wall unit for adjusting the heat or air conditioning. From the inn, it’s about a 15-minute walk along the main street sidewalks into Friday Harbor. I had a great stay at the Orca Inn. KJ was warm at check-in and gave me her phone number so I could reach her any time, day or night. When a neighbor was loud at first, she handled it promptly and respectfully, and the issue was resolved. I’d stay here again. It was affordable, safe, and nice.

For the lowest price I could find on the island, the room was clean and had both a fridge and microwave, and the staff were friendly. It was the smallest, most old-fashioned-looking motel room I’ve ever seen. Sound carries from the parking lot and hallways, and the blinds don’t do much to keep car headlights out.

They did find us a larger, nicer room with an actual king bed for the rest of our stay, and it was worth the extra $100 per night. Still, I was disappointed they wouldn’t offer even partial compensation for the first night. When we said we might leave a negative review, we were told the owners wouldn’t care. We had booked through a third party, so when we asked for a refund after that first sleepless, uncomfortable night, the front desk said we’d need to contact the booking site. I called; they contacted the hotel, which said it absolutely would not refund anything. We had complained as soon as we saw the room, and the staff were very nice about finding us a better one, but it wasn’t ready until the next day. We thought we’d booked a room with a king bed, but the room was so cramped I could barely get my suitcase inside. The bed took up nearly all the space. They said it was a queen, though it felt like a double, and the bathroom door scraped against the bed when opened. The refrigerator was right by the head of the bed and kept us awake all night.