Lighthouse Inn

We had a quaint little adventure that mostly met my expectations. I wanted to stay in Galilee on short notice, and this is the only hotel there. Two state beaches and four restaurants are within walking distance, and the ferry is right across the street. I’m not afraid of budget places, and staying here costs less than lodging in Newport. Still, I wouldn’t bring young children because I’m picky about clean pools and floors for their sake. The property is huge but run down and dated. The entire backyard is state property used for parking by people taking the Block Island ferry. The restaurant next door is currently closed, and the big, well-known problem is the many seagulls roosting on guests’ vehicles. Their diluted droppings drip from the roof and could possibly get into the pool, though I can’t prove that. The place isn’t spotless, but it’s sanitary enough; the staff seem stretched thin. It also lacks the usual chain-hotel extras like coffee, breakfast, a hair dryer, and small appliances. The pool is dated, and the adjoining sauna and bar are closed. For about $15 more, you could go inland or north and get chain amenities. This could be a one-in-a-million property if the owner did some sprucing up, especially measures to stop the gulls from roosting. It’s a shame that a place this big and appealing in quaint Galilee and Great Island is seen as a blight on the neighborhood.

The employees were pleasant, and the restaurant food was good. We ordered it to go and ate in our room. The rooms weren’t spotless, but they were acceptable. The full garbage can by the ice machine was disappointing since it was still full when we left two nights later, though it didn’t spoil the stay. Seagull poop was everywhere, including on our car, but the birds are all over the area, and we just laughed about it. I was nervous after reading the bad reviews, but the price was right and the Lighthouse Inn was first on the list since I didn’t know the area. It was a short drive to our main destination, Theater by the Sea, which was a wonderful experience I’d recommend without hesitation. I might stay here again if we return to the theater, though we usually vacation somewhere new.

The parking lot shown in the photos on this webpage looks clean, but that’s not what we found. Seagulls made the surroundings dirty and smelly, and their droppings were everywhere. Avoid parking near the building, and don’t walk outside unless you have to. Our friends’ room had a cracked bathtub and a toilet that wobbled. The owner’s claim of a “Newly renovated 100-room motel directly…” doesn’t match what we saw. It’s too bad there’s no nearby competitor, since this is the only motel in the area. My husband and I arrived at 9:00PM on Saturday 21st and found our bed unmade and used towels in a dirty bathroom. We had to move to a different room, where the bathtub was clogged and the nightstand lamp’s bulb was burned out. We stayed only that night. Good luck!!!

We were stuck with this place after a last-minute decision to stay in the Narragansett area, since it was the only room available. It cost $200 for the night with taxes. My husband spent the first half hour killing spiders, and I had to clean with Lysol wipes. I could barely make myself stay because we had no other option. The room had no water pressure or closet, the dresser was broken, and it smelled awful. The towels looked and smelled clean, the only positive I can offer. Luckily, we were there just from 10pm to 8am. This place needs a health department visit. Skip it!