Pontiac Lodge

We liked the comfortable, airy room, which was just the right size for my husband and me, and the location was ideal. Room #23 had two windows, giving us a lake view when it wasn’t foggy and a view of Main street. Being right across from the ferry dock made it fun to watch people step into the street full of anticipation. The staff were pleasant and helpful. There weren’t any comfortable chairs for resting, just two kitchen-style chairs. A bathroom shelf for cosmetics would have been handy; I used the ironing board for that. Also, carriage traffic turns off Main street onto the side street right below the windows, and it could be loud. Light or late sleepers should keep that in mind. I’d recommend the hotel.

The room itself was roomy, with a really comfortable bed, and housekeeping did a great job once we figured out how to request it. You have to ask the night before, but the notice was easy to miss on the table, so we went without fresh towels on day two. Bring your own shower products too, the ones there were pretty disappointing. Being right downtown was the main draw, though the T-shirt shop below played heavy bass late into the night, past midnight. Earplugs would help if you’re a light sleeper. After a 12-hour trip, reception told us there was no water in the room and sent us to the grocery store. We later found vending machines on the second floor, which nobody had mentioned. We paid more than $1,800 for four nights, so I expected better service for the price. The Pontiac Lodge is convenient if you want to be in the middle of things and can handle the noise, but the hospitality fell short. The owners should give the receptionist some customer service training.

We had a pleasant stay, with a clean, spacious room and a nice look out over Main Street and the harbor. The front desk staff were friendly, too. It’s close to the Sheplers dock and right beside the Kingston Kitchen. Plan for the stairs with your bags, or arrange for a dock porter to bring them from the dock to your room.

I was unsure after reading the online reviews, but we had a great time at the Pontiac Lodge. The staff were courteous and knew their stuff, and we could walk to every sight we visited. The view was breathtaking, and our room had comfortable beds, plenty of space, and a kitchenette station stocked with everything we needed. A couple of remote buttons had worn-off labels, but it was still pretty easy to figure out the red round one was power. The bathroom isn’t huge, though I thought it was just the right size. I’d rather have a roomy bedroom anyway. A lot of the negative reviews didn’t match our experience.