Great experience beginning to end. Greeted warmly by owner (and staff as well). Comfortable room with ample space. There was a sunroom/game room available at all (reasonable) hours. Breakfast was chef-made and delicious. We enjoyed every aspect of our stay. (I'm writing this over a week later, so forgot some of the details, but it's well worth a stay). Oh, and I left behind a couple of items and the owner graciously offered to send them to me. read more

Delicious breakfast made to order by friendly and outgoing staff! The rooms are quaint and thoughtfully decorated to follow along with a historic theme, and the landscaping is gorgeous. In addition to the incredible scenery and decor, the inn keepers and staff are kind, and ready to assist in any way. Definitely worth a visit and truly one of a kind. read more

The house has a nostalgic feel with all the bygone years of decor among old piano, furnitures etc. But I'm deeply unhappy that no TV is provided , no room service totally. For 3 days stay , not once our room is clean up, made the bed or change towels. Rubbish bin is piling up. Shitty pathetic service. Won't recommend to stay here. read more

My family and I stayed in the Stover's cottage this last weekend and had the best weekend ever!! Eva and Chrissy are amazing woman who do all the hard work and keep the place clean, warm and up beat! Chrissy is a sweet, kind woman who embraced us and my daughter loved her dearly! The breakfast is always fancy and delicious. The whole property feels so welcoming and clean and like a relaxing getaway. It's definitely a fun experience and will be coming back as soon as possible:) read more

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One of my new favorite spots. The property is absolutely gorgeous and so peaceful. The inn keeper Eva is so kind and is an amazing cook! I loved our room it had a great shower, cozy bed and a wood burning fireplace. The complimentary sherry, yummy cookies, and amazing breakfast is just the sprinkles on top of a perfect trip. Highly recommend staying here. Don't forget to say hi to Minden the cat who roams the yard! read more

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Beautiful campus! Innkeepers and staff are friendly and helpful! Delicious breakfast and very clean rooms!

Such an amazing experience. The breakfast was so good and they kept the coffee coming. It was so relaxing enjoying our breakfast outside. The weather was perfect and the employees were so friendly. We stayed in Annie's room. Had such an amazing stay! read more

Bidwell House - Enjoying our breakfast. - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Chester, California

Our stay at Bidwell House was fantastic, from beginning to end. Eva made us feel so welcome and at home during our four day stay. I cannot recommend this place enough. After a hot day of hiking Lassen, we sat on the swing by the garden and ate ice cream, we drank sherry at sunset on the patio. Each morning, she provided us with a smile and the most delicious breakfast. We will absolutely be back! SPECTACULAR service and accommodations. read more

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We enjoyed our stay and were very comfortable in our upstairs room. Would be 4 stars, but we felt breakfast could have been better. We were there two nights, and both mornings, breakfast was 2 eggs, some meat, and toast. These were prepared well and stacked w pesto or other savory things, but that was it. Coffee and juice and these eggs. No fruit, no granola, no muffin. We did not go away hungry, but it seemed skimpy, and most b and bs alternate sweet and savory breakfasts. If we'd stayed a third day and had the same/similar breakfast, we'd have been really disappointed. If food waste is an issue, just ask people if they want fruit /muffin etc or not. I would have been happy with 2 strawberries and a slice of melon more. Otherwise, this is a lovely and quiet place. Well tended grounds and helpful staff. read more

This is a historic B&B Inn run by a lovely family. The common areas are furnished in old style, giving it a very cozy atmosphere. The staff were all very friendly and attentive. We enjoyed the quiet in the evening after our visit to the Lassen national park. And the uniquely prepared breakfasts were awesome. I definitely recommend this place. read more

This review is strictly based on a recent experience during Covid. The service and food were good. However, the innkeepers and most of the guests are not wearing masks!!! Please don't go if you are concerned about Covid!! I don't know why the innkeepers think they don't need to wear a mask when they meet 50 strangers a day and when they cook and serve food to the guests! Deeply disturbing. Now, I am scared that one day they will send out an email saying that one of the staff members got Covid. It's not worth risking your life going there right now and I wish that was written on their website so I know they are not making any effort at preventing the spread of Covid. Bidwell House no more. read more

I had to travel to Lake Almanor area for work and was planning to rent a room at the Best Western down the street but a local friend recommended the Bidwell House and boy was I glad that he did. I've been on the road for most of the week traveling from hotel to hotel and it was nice to stay at a local B&B. I came in on a weekday and even though there were 12 other guests in the hotel room my coworker and I stayed in the Mckenzie rooms (A and B) and shared a bathroom which was part of the main house and had the front house all to ourselves. For $85 a room including breakfast this was a pretty sweet deal. I believe all the other rooms have a jacuzzi for around $145. The breakfast is a 3 course meal including yogurt, homemade blueberry pancakes and a freshly baked pastry. I will definitely be back again with my husband for hiking, swimming, and relaxing in the area. read more

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We had an absolutely charming stay at Biddle House in Chester. The grounds are lovely, as is the house, which dates from 1901. The house is in excellent condition. We enjoyed the Lobby and especially the Sun room. Our room was quaint and comfortable, handicapped accessible, which gave us plenty of room. Breakfast both days was excellent and plentiful, and served on the patio, because the weather was lovely. The proprietor Eva couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming. Will be back here for certain! read more

I've stayed at Bidwell House a few times over the last 5 years and had a positive experience there in the past. However, they've officially lost a loyal customer (and a regular source of referrals) after the terrible customer service I received from the owner/manager this week. I booked a reservation (via Expedia) back in September because I wanted to take my family somewhere special to celebrate an early Thanksgiving. We've had a super tough year, so this trip was important to us, and I picked Bidwell House because we wanted to visit Lassen. However, we all ended up with Covid this week, and when I called Expedia on Monday and told them my situation, and they called and got the owner/manager of Bidwell House on the phone, she refused to give us a refund - even a partial one. Granted, I should have read the fine print with Expedia, but I missed it... so, I asked if we could at least change the reservation to another weekend. ANY weekend. Because obviously, we would be there in a heartbeat if we weren't sick. The owner/manager refused again, saying they were closing after next weekend and wouldn't be re-opening in 2023. So, now we are laid up with Covid, out of $500, and I'm shocked by how utterly ungracious and unhelpful this woman has been. They have lost a loyal customer for good at this point, and if the Bidwell House is indeed closing down in 2023, then perhaps it's for the best... until they re-open under new management. read more

30 miles from Mt Lassen and about 15 minutes from Lake Almanor. This is the "town" near Mt Lassen and Lake Almanor but the strip is quite dead. I saw some antique shops, fishing supply shops, and some local restaurants like (Knot Bumper, Maria's Mexician, Chinese food, and Pine Frosty Shack). Its off the main stripe and a bit noisy during the day. They had a arts/crafts fair that weekend we were there. The room was cozy, the bed was comfortable. We stayed at Hunter's Den room on the first floor. No shower head on the wall so that was a bit of a minor inconvenience. You can pick up cheese, wine, bread and pasta salad to eat at the back yard garden area. They offer full breakfast (see my photos) everyday of the week. There is a sun room with plentiful dvd's and magazines to read. They just need more games (ie scrabble) Would come back...in the future read more

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We love the Bidwell House! Our Daughter was recently married at this venue. Filip , Eva and their staff are amazing. Excellent service and food. We had the pleasure along with the wedding party to stay for two nights. Beautiful rooms and delicious breakfast. THANK-YOU so very much for making our Daughters wedding the BEST day ever! read more

Bidwell House - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Chester, California

Incredible venue in the little town of Chester minutes from North Shore Campground and boat dock access. We hosted our wedding here and had a great time! The rooms are all quaint and cute. They serve a delicious breakfast both days which was an open faced sandwich with eggs and prosciutto on one day and bacon the other. They handled setting up and tearing down outside, the staff they brought in was incredible friendly and helpful, and they even let us go an extra hour with the DJ. Dinner for the event was INCREDIBLE. The salad was crisp and fresh, rolls were still warm, and the pulled pork was the absolute highlight; juicy and flavorful! 4 stars due to communication prior to event not being great and causing a small last minute hiccup. To their credit, we found a solution that worked for all. Also, rooms can get a bit toasty as the hotel does not have AC. They did have a small fan but it was still very warm especially getting ready for a wedding. I'd definitely recommend this place to others but definitely suggest you have a wedding planner to help keep things together. read more

As a resident of both Plumas and Lassen counties, I have been by the Bidwell House many times. In August I attended a beautiful wedding there and stayed two nights, it amazed me to see it from the eyes of a visitor, what a lovely perspective. It is a charming B&B and the staff were friendly and helpful. The Garden is beautiful and relaxing. My breakfast was not what I expected, ( dry rye toast with a poached egg and arugula) however the food prepared for the wedding was fabulous! So perhaps it was just a miss on that particular day. read more

This was the perfect birthday get away for my partner and me. I wanted to plan a surprise trip to Lassen without the camping and the Bidwell House fit the bill perfectly. We stayed in the Robin's Roost room and it was really great. When we first arrived, we were greeted by a friendly woman who gave us a tour of the whole house and showed us to our room. The room was done up in blues and browns and had a birthday card and chocolates on the bed wishing Ryan a happy birthday from the Bidwell House. The room had a great jacuzzi tub and cable television. In addition to the great room, the B & B had BEAUTIFUL grounds with a huge grassy area and a gorgeous aspen grove we could see from our window. We had a really nice night and the next morning we enjoyed a great breakfast. Jackie took good care of us and provided us with friendly service and pleanty of happy birthday wishes for Ryan. The breakfast consisted of yogurt, french toast, bacon, and an apple pastry - all very yummy and a nice start to a full day at Lassen National Park, which is only about a 30-40 minute drive away from the B & B. This B&B is a fantastic get away - we highly recommend giving it a try! read more

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Breakfast was super tasty, service was beyond fantastic (she allowed a 7 year old and an almost 6 year old to help her serve our table; and yes, the kids were with us). LOVE the lawn area; this is a very sweet looking little inn. Prices for a standard room are nothing to write home about, but the Stover-McKenzie Cottage sleeps 6(!) and is only $175 a night. That's only $60 more than their cheapest room. Fun trivia: it was moved here on logs! And yes, of course, it * might be * haunted. read more

This has to be one of the most hospitable inns that I've ever stayed in. Must impressive is the staff that will go the extra mile to make you feel at home. They were genuinely friendly and very hard working. This is an oasis in Chester. Can't wait to return. read more

Super friendly, ready to please proprietors. Clean as a whistle. The B&B in this historic building becomes like home. Enjoyed almost a week here. Take time to learn about the history of the Bidwells, the community and the house there is some info in the activities book. More info at the Chester Library. Rooms are furnished with antiques and our bathroom was nicely up to date. read more

Lovely bed and breakfast. Great location - short walk to a few restaurants and the corner store. The owners are very friendly and accommodating. We arrived after 9pm and they met us at the door to show us around and to our room. Room was large, bed was soft, towels were fluffy! The homemade breakfast was fantastic! Our only complaint is that the WiFi signal is pretty weak, or in and out, in the room, but outside and downstairs was much better. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a quiet stop in the beautiful country. read more

John and I had the pleasure of spending 4 nights at this lovely Bed and Breakfast in Chester. Oh, how i wish I could figure out how to just live on that porch, looking out across the road to the lake. From the moment we arrived until we sadly said goodbye, the Bidwell House staff carefully and unobtrusively took wonderful care of us. As I made a late reservation, we knew we'd move rooms after the first two nights. Return guests have their favorites, and they honor those reservations. We checked into our second story first room, with a lovely homey décor and the nicest shower I've seen in a B and B. Besides the aforementioned porch, there is a sun room, back patio, and lovely lawns and gazebo area, all inviting rest and leisure. We enjoyed the afternoon sherry, homemade cookies, and the companionship of a friendly tortie cat. Bidwell House also provides free wifi, which made catching up and keeping in touch so easy. Our second room on days 3 and 4 was just as great, lower level with a Jacuzzi tub, shower, and a great vista out to the lawns and gardens. The staff did all the moving for us, and it was smooth and easy. The included breakfast every morning deserves its own review! Everything was so good! Always started with a lovely yogurt parfait, then an entrée, and then a small finish "dessert." We enjoyed everything, with the omelet and the scrambled eggs on garlic toast real standouts. The service was great, warm without fakery. Eva and her crew are to be commended. We can hardly wait to return. read more

Bidwell House - Lovely! I think Bidwell House has been more relaxing than any vacation we've had. - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Chester, California

Let me begin this review by mentioning that I was here off-season and had the entire place to myself. Which was fabulous, but definitely worth noting :) My overall experience this week was amazing. The innkeepers really want you to feel like home here, and it's hard not to when they have a large porch with rocking chairs that face Main Street and the lake... an entry room/living room with a cozy fireplace (and cookies!)... a sunroom overlooking the grounds stocked with books, puzzles, and DVDs... and constant access to hot tea and coffee at any time of the day. One of the most convenient things about this bed and breakfast is that the rooms are set up more like hotel rooms. All the other inns I have stayed at were Victorian homes where the bedrooms inside the house were the rooms. So, you could hear everyone all the time and had to be extra careful about entering and exiting the place without disrupting anyone.... At the Bidwell House, access to most of the rooms is from a wraparound deck outside the house, where the rooms have been converted into a more private experience. Eva was very friendly, and her breakfasts were scrumptious. My favorite was scrambled eggs with basil pesto and shaved Parmesan, all on top of a buttered Texas toast. Yummmmmmmm!!! I was always too full to eat the 3rd course/dessert, so she was more than willing to let me take it to my room to eat later. The other great thing about this place is the location. You can easily walk to all the downtown shops, plus it's right there off the highway so you can hop on the road to head to the lake and it only takes a few minutes. I'd most definitely return here for the summer when I'm sure there will be more to do in town. Sadly most shops and nearby places were closed for the Winter :( read more

Beautiful accommodations, the place is run European style, the staff is friendly. The floors and walls are paper thin, though, but you can't beat the atmosphere. read more

The Bidwell House is a very nice place and you do get a lot for the money. They offer a AAA discount and I simply told them I have a membership and got the discount (didn't have to show my card - yes I have one). My review is based on the fact that it's not as expensive as it could have been and is generally cheaper than comparable B&B's I've been to. The house itself has a few rooms to rent but behind it they built a large 2-story building with about 10 rooms that match the rest of the house pretty well. The rooms are large and ours had a huge bathroom with jacuzzi tub. But because it's newer construction the walls were thin and I could hear the upstairs guests pretty clearly. The breakfast is great if you are not a vegetarian (as I am). They didn't really know what to do with me so I got a big bowl of plain yogurt each morning. The coffee was great and they bake a fresh pastry too. They serve cookies and sherry in the afternoon and there's two nice inside lounge areas to relax and read. Plus the house has a huge porch with chairs. There's also an expansive green lawn and gazebo on the side of the house and a vegetable garden. People have gotten married there and it seems like a nice spot for that. The town of Chester is along the main road there and most places to eat stay open til 9 except Sundays. You can see Lake Almador from the house (it's across the street). I'm the kind of person who can't sleep well in a strange bed but the one we had was more comfortable than usual, as were the pillows. The owners Eva and Philip are from Germany and are very nice and attentive. I would definitely stay there again but next time will offer some recipe suggestions for a veggie breakfast. read more

We planned a trip to Chester as we had never been there before and found this charming and well-appointed historic home via TripAdvisor. We found the room and hotel cozy, welcoming, and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We chose the Rose Room for its fireplace and King-sized bed and were not disappointed. The room was prepped and warmed up for us and included champagne and chocolates with our package. The owner met us and checked us in quickly. She was helpful and accommodating and even offered to help unload the car. The main house included 24 hour access to coffee, tea, hot chocolate and sherry, a fireplace, a charming miniature snow village, and tables for breakfast service. Guests have access to a guest fridge, firewood and kindling. Our room was spacious and included a beautiful quilt and a comfortable recliner. We arrived a few days after New Years. It snowed on our last night and the snow was just beautiful on the trees and yard. We were visited by Mandy the cat, who is very friendly. She's an indoor/outdoor cat so if she runs outside from the main house don't worry- she'll find her way back on her own. It wouldn't be a bed and breakfast without breakfast. The first morning we had breakfast in our room and the second in the main house. The quality of the food was excellent. We had frittatas and eggs Benedict. It is difficult to get eggs Benedict right but this as probably the best I've had. It was cooked perfectly. Breakfast is advertised as a three course breakfast. I guess coffee counts as a course...but aside from that the breakfast was just great. Each meal included fresh veggies such as zucchini in the frittata and spinach in the eggs Benedict. The shower was modern and updated and large with good water pressure. The bathroom had little counter space near the sink but we made do with a shelf nearby. Overall we thought this place was just great and plan to come back, try a different room and explore Chester a bit more. The b&b is within walking distance of several restaurants and other businesses. Chester and this inn have become new favorites of ours. We'll be back. read more

My wife and I just returned from a stay at the Bidwell House. This was our second trip, and we enjoyed both trips. The place is on the edge of town with a view of the lake. it is an old home showing its age, but that adds to the charm. The staff was helpful and cordial, which adds to the experience. We enjoyed the peace and quite and spent time just sitting on the patio playing cards and enjoying the quiet. The breakfast was good both days, and with Mt Lassen Park only half an hour away, we were able to enjoy our meal in the morning and still make a nice day trip to the park. After breakfast on our, we headed south to Reno, but not without taking time to say thank you to the staff for a very pleasant stay and the personal touch they provided. read more

Great hideaway in Chester. Hosts are awesome. Breakfast also always delicious. Thanks for making our stay so enjoyable.

Loved staying here. We had a nice wood fireplace right in our room and it made the room soooo cozy and home like. Loved the resident cat too when he came to visit us. I was also very impressed and prideful of the "honor bar" which allows guests to take a bottle of wine at their free will, as long as they note they did so. That is trusting! Just the way Chester is. If you're coming to visit and don't need to be on the water, or if it's the winter, I would recommend staying here. read more

This is a very nice B&B in close proximity to Lake Almanor and Mt. Lassen. The room we stayed (Meadow View) in was cute and comfortable. Breakfast was good and the staff was very friendly. So, given all these good points, why am I giving it only 3 stars? Well, unfortunately, they also serve as a popular wedding venue. After a long day of hiking in Lassen, we came home to find a DJ booth set up just outside our room. From 6-9, we were getting blasted by a mix of country, rap and hip-hop (an odd mix, I know). Thankfully they have a policy that the music has to stop by 9, but until then, the music was way too loud, and not very conducive to a relaxing evening. To be fair, the Bidwell House does warn you (in the fine print, at the end of a bunch of disclaimers) about the weddings in their confirmation letter. However, I would never have expected to have to deal with this amount of noise at any sort of hotel, let alone a B&B. To his credit, the owner did give us a discount when I complained about the wedding noise. I'd give the place 4 stars for our first (noise free) night. The second night was more like 2 stars because of the excessive noise. So, I'll split the difference and give them three stars. I'd highly recommend calling ahead to find out if they have any events planned during your stay. read more

Bidwell House is a nice B and B near Lassen Volcano NP. Our room on the second floor was spacious and comfortable. The tables and chairs in the garden and on the porch were nice to enjoy the weather while in Northern CA. The breakfasts were delicious but fresh fruit would have been a nice addition. read more

This is a very pleasant bed and breakfast near Lassen National Volcanic Park and Lake Almanor. It's pretty frilly in typical b&b fashion, but it's very non-invasive as far as b&b's go... The breakfast is excellent and the tables are not communal, which is pretty nice -- who wants to sit with a bunch of people they don't know and eat breakfast? They have great coffee, and homemade cookies available all day. Everyone on the staff was very helpful... This is a pretty good spot for visiting Lassen, especially if you want to go to the Drakesbad area. The actual park entrance is over 30 miles from Chester, so it' s a bit of a drive to get to there. read more

I am actually going to write two reviews for the Bidwell House - we stayed in two different rooms and the experience was completely different from one room to the other. The first night, 9/9/09 we stayed in the Hummingbird room. It was not pleasant. I give them 2 stars for the experience in this room. The good point of this room is that the shower is large and has a some lovely tile. The bad points are numerous. The shower floor had mold stains on the tile caulking in the corners. The bathroom window looked out onto the main walkway and outdoor seating area - but the drapes were not lined and you could see right through them if you were on the side with less light. Fortunately my husband is tall and was able to hang a towel over the window so we could have the light on in there after dark. Also, the bathroom doorway is not square, so the door doesn't fit very well. The other window, in the bedroom, had cheap plastic blinds that did not meet - so those also did not offer much privacy. The bed was soft - according to the inn keeper - worn out according to my back. This is the handicapped room, with the shower large enough for a wheelchair. The wall slants in towards the head on one side of the bed. There are divots in the walls from wheelchair handles hitting them in this tight space. We could hear people speaking in the next room and the noise from people walking in the room overhead was louder than in most places I've stayed. The inn has plenty of ramps and is handicapped friendly in that way. We switched to another room for our second night there and were much happier. The breakfast is okay, but the dining area is not set up to encourage guests to get acquainted - which is something we enjoy about most B&Bs. The second room we stayed in, on 9/10/09, was Meadow View. I would rate this part of the stay with 4 stars. It was lovely. It was quiet. The bed was comfortable, the decor was very pleasing, the blinds on the windows were large wooden ones that actually provided privacy. The bathroom was fine, but this room had a large jacuzzi tub taking up most of the room, and a small shower. I feel that the jacuzzi tubs use too much water and space, and don't really care to have them. The tile work on the jacuzzi was very nice though. The inn provides many amenities, including a bottomless cookie jar, leftover pastries from breakfast, internet access, a computer in the common area, wine available for purchase in the common area, and lovely grounds. The staff were all friendly. The inn keeper was a good sport about listening to my list of complaints about the Hummingbird Room. If I were going to stay in Chester again, I would return here. read more

We were looking for a place to spend New Year's Eve outside of the city, and decided to hoof it up north. The Bidwell House popped up a number of times and had good reviews, so we booked a room. It turned out great and we had a fun time. The hosts were warm and welcoming, the other guests were fun to hang out with and put together puzzles as we slowly made our way through a bottle of wine and leftover cookies, and the fireplace was always on (it was really cold outside). The hosts also had good ideas of things to do in the area, and they happen to run a great restaurant nearby. The rooms were big and easy to relax in, and we just generally loved the place. Definitely planning a repeat trip! read more

We just spent the weekend staying at the Bidwell House and it was wonderful. The staff were great, rooms clean and well decorated, they had a fire burning to keep the living room warm, snacks and complimentary sherry in the evenings and a yummy 3 course breakfast. They even had two pairs of snow-shoes that they offered to let us borrow for free to take into the National park! Chester itself as a town doesn't have a lot going for it, but this B&B was perfect and a great base for exploring the park. read more

Well, these folks are rather rude and condescending. I made a five night reservation in April for the Memorial Day weekend and cancelled it in early May. They said they never received the cancellation and billed my card anyway. You would think that if I didn't arrive after four nights they would at least call to see whether I intended to show up for the fifth night. Nope. But the bill and charge showed up on my card immediately upon the departure time. I called to discuss it with them and they said "If you don't have a cancellation number there is nothing we can do." I pick B&Bs for the attention and service. These folks are worse than Hilton. Stay away. read more

Spent a week here. The grounds are lovely--lots of flowers, a huge green lawn and a creek flowing through it. The huge front porch is a very inviting place to sit and relax in the evening as the light fades and the sprinklers come on. The Garden Room was perfect for me. The room and bath are spacious. The bed was very comfy and I enjoyed being awakened by roosters crowing nearby every morning. It's nicely decorated--rustic without being overly fussy and cluttered. The staff is very friendly and accomodating and the owner always went out of her way to greet me. Planning to return next year. read more

I recently stayed here at the end of a business trip. The owners welcomed me to a large king-bed room with a private jetted tub. Although the B & B is right on the highway it is quiet. This is a good thing since there is no AC. Chester offers little; other than access to facinating Lassen National Park and beautiful Lake Almador. The bed was great but the conversation from the room above was more than audible. A big screen TV worked well. You are offered sherry in the afternoon and a very nice breakfast (at your leisure or in your room) comes with the cost. I will bring my date next time. read more