Quality Inn & Suites Mackinaw City Beachfront

We stopped for a night on a holiday weekend without a reservation, and I wasn't sure what to expect. The room was very budget friendly and tastefully decorated, with tongue-and-groove paneling and a fresh pine smell. It had a beautiful view, and the staff were very friendly. We'd happily return, especially if we could get the same room. I'd been hesitant after reading the reviews, but it really does look like they're trying to fix things up. There were a few mystery switches that didn't turn anything on or off, and some loose outlets, but overall it was a very nice room.

The room was falling apart. Dirt, dust, spiders, spider eggs, and trash were all there when we walked in. We left the door open to air out the funk, because once you sign the check-in paper, you're stuck. The door opened just by pushing it, and half the door jamb came with it. There were soft spots or holes beneath the dirty carpet, enough that I was surprised we didn't fall through. Black mold in the bathroom, ripped flooring. I could go on. We were still seven hours from home, late at night, so we didn't keep driving. All we got afterward was an apology email saying they hoped we'd stay again. That email sealed it. We won't. My husband and I rode our motorcycle from Ohio to Copper Harbor for his birthday. We normally book when we're on the bike and ready to stop. It was Labor Day weekend with the bridge walk happening, and rooms were outrageously priced. The cheapest available was $293. We'd stayed at numerous Choice Hotels and had good experiences, and the pictures of this “beachfront” Choice hotel looked inviting. We didn't know the little strip that looked like the Bates Motel was part of it. That's where they put us, by the road, away from the beach and nowhere near the nice hotel in the photos. At best, the room was worth $60 on a holiday, or $30 on a normal night.

The pool stayed cloudy and filthy the whole time we were there. We asked staff about it more than once, but nobody seemed to care or do anything. It was never closed for maintenance, yet unusable throughout our stay. Our family vacation was a letdown from the start. The stained carpets and sheets, outdated furniture, and plumbing trouble in one bathroom made the rooms feel poorly maintained. We weren't expecting luxury, but basic cleanliness and upkeep matter, especially at a family-friendly resort. Service was nonexistent. I wouldn't recommend this place, especially to families hoping for a relaxing vacation.

The room's floors were filthy. After briefly walking around, the bottoms of our feet were black. There were spiders and webs on the ceiling by the entrance, and the shower curtain was filthy. We had no washcloths, hand towels, or bar soap. The elevator to the rooms also looked as if it hadn't been cleaned for who knows how long. We chose the place for its advertised hot tub, but there were only six inches of water in it, it wasn't heated, and we couldn't use it at all. The pool was extremely cloudy, and I wasn't sure it was safe to enter. The beach lounge chairs, if they belonged to the hotel, were in horrible shape. The freezer was unusable because of heavy frost buildup, and there was no knob to adjust the fridge temperature. Some listings showed a grab-and-go breakfast and a nice dining area with a food counter, but neither existed. That space was used for housekeeping storage. Check-in was understaffed, and the place was overpriced for what it offered. Guests should be compensated for what they don't get. I'll never stay again. Waste of money.