Hometown Inn

The parking lot and sidewalks were all ice in the middle of winter. Inside, our room was disgusting: dust piled on the curtains and bed frames, dirt marks on the blanket, and a dirty ring in the tub, so we used our own blankets and skipped the shower. My husband also found empty beer cans by the chair, though neither of us drinks. This was our second stay. We’d hoped the dirty room the first time was because they were short-staffed, but that wasn’t the explanation. Some rooms have broken windows, and the heat and air unit didn’t work. Breakfast was supposedly included, but the options were cereal or muffins, with coffee, orange juice, or apple juice.

They’re remodeling, but the place still smells clean. The rooms were clean too, and there’s air conditioning. Great service, plus a glorious pool and hot tub.

The room was dirty: dried dirt in the shower, and when we pulled back the sheets, there were food crumbs, so it seemed they hadn’t been changed after the last guest. I’d ask to see the room before renting. The front desk barely spoke English, and we couldn’t understand what she was saying. She was also very rude and acted like we were a bother. We waited five minutes for someone to notice us, even though it was 4 p.m.; nobody greeted us or made us feel welcome. Staff walked around checking how many people were in rooms and repeating “price change,” even though we booked online and entered the number of guests. There were no towels at the pool. Our keys stopped working, and it didn’t feel worth asking for replacements. They also refused to change our room because we’d opened the door, even though we hadn’t gone inside.

Staff were pleasant whenever I ran into them, and check-in was quick and easy. I paid upfront rather than at checkout. The halls smelled good and were clean, and the locks and keycard entry both worked. Our room was fairly clean, with updated linens, separate fridge and freezer at good temperatures, and a handy little desk, though there were no outlets near it. The beds were only okay, and I’d look for a better one next time. The bathroom was mostly clean but had a few long hairs; the shower faucet leaked a lot. Everything worked, and once we turned on the fan, we couldn’t hear the leak anymore. The roll-down shade let in quite a bit of light. We joked about the view of the Mackinac Bridge, though I wish there had been curtains. Breakfast was small but decent, and I left full. Pool hours were confusing: on the phone before booking, I was told 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; most things there said 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., while signs in the pool area said 11 p.m. The pool isn’t near the rooms, so it would be nice to use the hot tub after skiing. Instead, we got up early and went after breakfast. Skiing had taken a toll, and after those okay beds my body needed a hot tub. I’d stay again.