Lake Bluff Inn and Suites

The only things keeping this from a five-star stay were the lack of a secondary lock on the door and the fireplace not working in room 49. We enjoyed the lakefront location and access to the water. Being at the edge of town made it quieter, while dining and shopping were still just a short drive away.

The lake views and bluff area are stunning. Sitting by the lake on the loungers with wine and snacks would make for a perfect way to spend time here. We loved watching the sunset each evening. One night we made a fire, and another evening the kids played in the sand while we watched. The Inn is right on the lake, exactly the sort of view we were hoping for. We booked a couple of weeks ahead and paid over $750 for two nights in a Superior room on the first floor, which I’d recommend for families with kids. The kitchenette made it easy to prepare their food, snacks, and drinks. The linens were clean and there were plenty of towels. Town is a seven-minute drive, so coffee runs and other trips were easy. There were several things that could have been better. The windows, doors, and exterior needed cleaning, with lots of cobwebs and bugs around. The building and patios could use a good leaf blowing to clear them. The water heater was out when we arrived, though they fixed it. It was inconvenient after a day at the beach with little kids. The air conditioner quit around midnight on our second night, and waking up to it was loud and scary. The fire pit was full of ash and badly needed cleaning. The coffee maker in our room didn’t work. The pool and kiddie pool needed a better cleaning, and the pool decks were grimy with debris and spider webs. The games in the entertainment room were all broken, and that space needed a thorough cleaning. It felt forgotten. The property seemed like it needed a groundskeeper.

We’d probably choose somewhere else if we returned to South Haven. Since we went in the off season, we’re not sure the price was worth it. Our family of four had a large suite with a kitchen, two bedrooms with full beds, and a pull-out couch in the living room. If we’d realized the beds were full size, we probably wouldn’t have booked it, though that was our mistake. The bedrooms could easily fit queen beds. There were some good features: a great lake view, a nice pool and hot tub, and a gaming center adults and kids could enjoy. The air conditioner worked well, the shower had good pressure, and the kitchen was functional. The oven and microwave worked, the fridge was a good size, and there was a coffee maker with supplies. South Haven itself is a cute town. The security was a real concern. The front door locked automatically but couldn’t be bolted from inside, and the back door had a flimsy lock that looked easy to kick in. None of the suite’s room locks worked, including the bathroom. There was only one TV for the entire suite, with none in the bedrooms, which wasn’t ideal with kids. There was no decor, and the walls had lots of scratches and damaged spots. The bathroom had nowhere to set toiletries, and the toilet had no lid, so things on the windowsill could fall in. We had to go to a laundromat because there was no way to do laundry. The kitchen had random dishes and utensils but no baking sheet or oven mitts, and a pizza cutter would’ve been useful. There was no cabinet space or other place for groceries besides the table. One bedroom’s smoke detector started going off at 10:30 p.m. and wouldn’t stop. We had to remove it from the wall and take out the battery. We texted the after-hours number and waited 20 minutes for a reply. They said maintenance would come in the morning, but nobody showed up.

We came in the off season for our annual night away. The views were nice, but the tub didn’t work or hold water, and we were put below some of the noisiest tenants despite the building having plenty of empty rooms. I didn’t sleep a wink. We won’t be making this our annual trip next year.