The Birchy, Adventure Lodging by Base Hospitality Group

The room was comfortable, clean, and up to date, with a handy kitchenette area, high ceilings, and extra cabinets nearby. I loved the views over Superior and the contactless check-in. The place feels modern and well updated. It’s not right downtown, and some hotels are closer, but it still isn’t very far, and I liked it a lot more than a higher-star hotel I stayed at downtown. I just wish there were a designated closet area.

The room smelled awful, like it had been smoked in for years. The early check-in charge was disappointing and unclear. They advertise early check-in but don’t make it clear they may charge $25 for every hour early, then presented it as a flat $25 fee for 1 pm to the 3 pm check-in time, as if they were doing me a favor. The room was already empty and cleaned, so it felt like a way to squeeze out a few extra dollars. I’ve never heard of an early check-in fee before. Most places will let you in as a courtesy if the room is free, and ours seemed to be.

The view from our balcony and the large room window was lovely, with Lake Superior and freighters in sight. We were pleased with the room, and the kitchenette was useful, especially the extra sink outside the bathroom. The bathroom was larger than a typical hotel one and very nice. The AC worked well, and the internet gave my kid no trouble for his online class. There were lots of amenities, and we had a good stay overall. Ten o’clock checkout felt early, though. I’d suggest 11 am instead. We’d come back.

We booked at the last minute for the 4th of July and paid over $300, even though the room would usually be around $170. The room smelled strongly of wet dog, and I’m highly allergic, but the office only said they’d charge the previous guests another $50. That didn’t fix the problem, and I had an asthma attack in the middle of the night. They hadn’t told us the place was pet friendly. There was just one small metal chair in the room, the outdoor pool wasn’t working, and noise from the people upstairs kept disturbing our sleep. I strongly recommend never staying here.