Perfect place to stay in Bellingham. When I first checked in to my room, it smelled heavily of cigarette smoke. The front desk was quick to move me to a different room which was MUCH appreciated (and smelled much better)! There is ample space to enjoy the gorgeous view. Have your breakfast on the patio at Lighthouse Bar & Grill, grab a book and read outside in the sun on one of the huge couches, or soak up the last hours of daylight by the fire pit. My evenings in Bellingham were pretty casual after long days of exploring - so I was pleased to learn the front desk offers a selection of DVDs. I ordered a pizza (Papa John's came right to my room), had a cocktail delivered from the bar (I'd recommend the ginger cosmo) and watched Pirates of the Caribbean. Free parking, huge bathtub with jets, complimentary bottled water (Aquafina), awesome water pressure, and the well-stocked mini bar (club soda, locally-made liquor, Chateau Ste. Michelle wine, chocolate, herbal tea, bath salts...) were other highlights of the visit. read more

Decided to surprise my wife with a last minute getaway for the weekend. We decided on the Hotel Bellwether based on the reviews, waterfront location and comparable rates. We were extremely pleased with our stay. The hotel staff was very accommodating. Our room (King Suite) was very spacious and clean. They granted our request for one of the non-pet rooms, which happened to be upstairs. This ended up being a huge bonus, as the view of the harbor was pretty awesome from the 3rd/top floor. There was plenty of parking, as the hotel provided a private/gated parking garage that was connected to the hotel itself. We really enjoyed our stay and will likely return! read more

Hotel Bellwether - View from the 3rd floor balcony. - Hotels Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Hubby and I stayed two nights here celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. When we checked in the ladies at the desk were very nice, wished us a happy anniversary and gave us a card. We arrived to our room just before the completion of the sunset. We were able to capture some stunning pictures from the awesome view in our 3rd floor deluxe suite. The underground, secured parking was an added bonus. The king size bed was very comfy. There was the cutest, tiny, little dishwasher in the kitchenette!! We didn't use it but it was dang cute! We had a slight issue with the ceiling fan not working in the bathroom which was a bit of an issue because the whole bathroom got very steamy when showering. We let them know and they knocked 10% off our bill, we didn't even ask for that. Overall, if given the choice...we would definitely stay here again!! read more

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Stayed here for the second time in as many years since we so enjoyed it on our first visit. This little gem is tucked away in the Bellingham marina area and is an idyllic place to spend an adult weekend. While the rate was expensive, you do feel as if you are at a secluded hideaway. If you have access to a boat, it's even more convenient. The staff are all friendly and the restaurant is quite good. There are a number of other good restaurants within easy walking distance but the hotel restaurants offer good food and fabulous sunsets. The suite we requested had the marina view with an expansive space...for couples. From here, the town of Bellingham and nearby Fairhaven are an easy reach. A great weekend spot. read more

By far the best place to stay in Bellingham! The staff went out of their way to accommodate! Every employee from the waiter at the restaurant to the the front desk were helpful and friendly! The rooms are spacious and clean! If you are looking for a romantic evening or just a night to relax, there is a jacuzzi tub for two and a fire place! Bath bombs are even available! The bed and linens are luxurious . My room has a balcony with a beautiful view of the marina and Bellingham Bay. The general manager Jim, runs an excellent hotel! The only place I'll stay in Bellingham! read more

Hotel Bellwether - Hotels Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Excellent, staff was exceptional. Room was clean and well appointed. Nice view of marina. Parking was free. Would stay again. Thank you

Nice hotel. I was not happy about the fact that they provided a walk in guest a better rate and better room than mine. They were offered a rate significantly less than my nightly rate and I made a reservation at least 6 months in advance. Much debate with the front desk staff about my concern. They indicated that they had dynamic pricing, like the airlines. I guess it is better to wait until the last minute for the best rate. Does not make sense to me. read more

I stayed here 2 nights while playing Bellingham tourist. Very nice, clean and modern facility. Being on the water, it was also extra peaceful and serene to walk around. My 1st FL room at the end was good and comfy. There did manage to appear a lil' spider in the bathroom - a first for me ever traveling - but no big. I didn't notice any housekeeping placards, though, that helped conserve linens and energy, etc. Those should become more common for all lodging places. As a default, I just use the DND (do not disturb) sign on the door, as desired, so I don't waste unnecessary energy on laundry and stuff. The fitness center is across the parking lot but the bathroom is only in the lobby. Minor inconvenience. Desk staff was pleasant, decent fitness equipment, business center and interior vibe. I totally forgot to try the hot tub, drats! Parking also available underground in garage. Worth a visit! read more

Being just a lil over a hour drive from Seattle, I find bellingham to be a perfect overnight getaway and this lighthouse suite did not disappoint us. We stayed in the lighthouse suite on an impromptu getaway on a beautiful sunny day this past spring. I like to stargaze with my telescope and the wraparound observatory deck on 3rd floor was perfect for my stargazing. The suite is private, spacious, has stellar 360 views, room service available, private parking spot, soaking tub, french doors, was able to play music on all 3 floors at same time for an amazing surround sound experience from the tvs... we left feeling satiated with how we spent our money and time and knowing that we will definitely be coming back here for another local getaway. read more

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While Bellingham lacks high quality hotels, the Bellwether and Chrysalis go neck and neck for the title of "best". Having stayed at both more than once, Chrysalis (despite a disastrous spa experience a few years back) takes the cake in the room department. There is nothing majorly wrong with Bellwether, don't get me wrong. The location and views are among the best. You can bike anywhere from here. It has a very good on-site restaurant that made us quite possibly the best martinis we've ever had. The rooms are spacious, and the beds and pillows are very comfortable. The bathrooms, however, were in severe need of updating. The gold trim gave away its 90's time stamp, but the one thing that I had a hard time looking past was how dirty the shower appeared with it's dark stained (I.e dirty appearing) grout floor. Having had a shower with this type of base in the past, I know it is extremely hard to keep clean. Why on Earth they'd choose it for a hotel shower that is used by countless strangers is beyond me. It made me want to shower with my flip flops on. FYI, there is no on-site swimming pool, and the spa is in a different establishment (Zazen) that shares the same parking lot. Knowing this, my husband booked a jacuzzi suite. While lovely, please just be aware that this is a one person tub. You won't be comfortably nuzzling with your loved one and sipping wine. You'll be awkwardly struggling to find a way for you each to fit in there, and you won't find it. We are not big people, either. Finally, the water pressure in both shower and bath was terrible. It took eons to rinse the shampoo out of my chin length hair. On the last day, I gave up and washed my hair in the tub, which was only slightly better. Rooms were clean and nicely appointed otherwise, though. Housekeeping staff was very friendly and accommodating. Would I stay here again? Absolutely, without hesitation. Is it showing the beginning stages of age? Yes, it is. One last thing: Parking is free and in a secured garage, which is an awesome perk, especially if you have bikes with you. However, be aware that a few spots (I think the pic I'm attaching was spot #31) are underneath some sort of electrical boxes that are dripping what appears to be an corrosive fluid onto the ground. It was strong enough to eat away at the pavement, so I can only imagine what it'd do to the paint of your car. All in all, Bellwether is a solid choice for your stay in Bellingham. Would definitely recommend and stay here again. read more

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We enjoyed our 2 night stay at Hotel Bellwether during Sept 2020 amidst Covid-19 protocols. The place felt safe, clean, and not too crowded. Our room was clean and in good repair. Bed was comfortable, fireplace was nice, and I loved the robes and free slippers. We tried to enjoy the jetted bathtub but the water did not seem to stay hot long enough to fill the tub up and a few of the tub settings didn't work. I do wish the bath salts would have been complimentary and not $9. They had a nice minibar selection with local drinks and treats for purchase. Overall we enjoyed the stay and hope to return when the weather is better and we can actually enjoy the view and patio. read more

Didn't stay, just walked around the hotel and the grounds. That said, after what I saw, next time I'm in the area, I will be making reservations here. Everything about this place is wonderful, the grounds are so clean, the staff is really friendly, and the views are nothing short of spectacular. I give it four stars for now, but after a stay and meal here, I'm not ruling out the possibility of a rare five star review from me. Thanks how much I like this place. read more

Hotel Bellwether - Fountain on back area of the grounds... - Hotels Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

New year eve The room was freezing. I asked the front desk and I was told 4 other rooms had the same issue. $370.. plus we spent a large amount of money on food and drinks. When I checked out they said they would give me a 30% discount. Not worth my time to ever go back. Sad part is I work for a very upscale Inn on a island and the room should have been Comped. Live and learn. read more

The hotel was surprisingly elegant with gorgeous sunset/sunrise views. I would highly recommend to anyone staying in the area! Additionally there are plenty of scenic walking trails around the hotel which make for a relaxing post-dinner or morning activity. read more

Hotel Bellwether - Hotels Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

We've stayed here many times over the years and usually have a wonderful experience. We usually get a suite on the second floor near the Lighthouse Suite on the south side of the hotel. This time we booked one of the smaller suites on the third floor. Also very nice...comfy bed... wonderful tub...but this time time we had a few problems. First, was the terrible internet connection. It was spotty most of the weekend. Their router's DNS server was screwed up. Secondly.. there happened to be a party with loud music on a boat in the marina next to the hotel. It was pretty annoying.. the front desk said that ".. it happens once in a while if you stay over on a Friday or Saturday ngiht." Also... two years ago we parked our brand new car in the parking garage and accidentally parked under a leaking sprinkler head. We arrived the next morning to find a HUGE white calcium stain on the roof of our car. We were able to get towels from the front desk to clean up our car. Ironically enough, it's been two years later and there is an orange cone sitting in the parking spot of the same leaking sprinkler head. To bad they can't fix this leak... two years later... In spite of the issues...it's a nice place, so we'll probably stay there again.. read more

Hotel Bellwether - Hotels Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Checking in with my 120lb dog I couldn't get any of the 3 people behind the desk to assist with bags. They weren't terribly busy either. After 3 trips on my own, each time I walked by they just looked at me. Then the last trip the guy says oh did you want me to give you a hand. Checking out the next day, asked again for help, nope. Not even help finding a rolling cart. Loaded all 6 bags & the dog myself & there were 4 people standing there watching me. Had a Caesar salad at the restaurant, it was awful. read more

I had made my reservation months ahead of time and so I had been talking to Carli and Erin before I had arrived. Once I got into town and met them at the hotel I felt as if they were old friends. Like, family. They both were bubbly and efflorescence and were very nice to me. Kate and Savannah were wonderful, marvelous and fabulously accommodating too! Everyone from the manager to the assistant manager was wonderful. They put me on the first floor at the Executive Plaza room and I felt like a President for my entire stay.The accommodations were excellent. The fair and awards ceremony was in their ballroom and everything moved like clockwork. I come from a major motion picture film locations background and so I decided to take lots of exterior photos. The Hotel Bellwether would make for a great James Bond 007 flick. It has all of the elements. take a look at my pictures and I think that you will agree. I thank everyone from Erin to Carli to the assist manager and manager for a memorial stay. I came to attend the Books By The Bay Book Fair and the Chanticleer Book Awards of which I won the Journey Grand Prize for my book. Thanks to you all for a wonderful time. read more

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What an absolutely beautiful home away from home! From the location right on Bellingham Bay to the lovely, comfortable rooms, this is the place to stay if you find yourself in Bellingham. We have stayed 10+ times at the Bellwether and each time have been treated like royalty. The executive suite is our favorite room with a gas fireplace, sitting area, king size bed with European down duvet and spacious bathroom with jacuzzi. Luxury at its finest in a quiet area of the city. read more

I travel for business and have stayed everywhere from Courtyards to Four Seasons. The Hotel Bellwether was truly one of the NICEST places i've ever stayed. The rooms are absolutely lovely, everything is clean as a whistle, but that's NOT the attraction. It's the staff. They are just as kind, gracious, concerned and attentive as any i have ever seen ANYWHERE. Everything at this hotel was just perfect. You feel like your in a luxury version of your grandmother's house-- everything just warm, comfy, friendly, no-=attitude and WONDERFUl people. Did i mention the food is ALSO terrific? Five stars plus! To submit your review, please select a star rating for this business. Post Review read more

DO YOU LIKE MASSIVE DIARRHEA? Eat at the Bellwether. Went in for lunch and had the turkey dip sandwich. Didn't taste very good but being quite hungry I ate half of it. Upon leaving felt things coming on. Decided to drive straight home and barely made it. I'll spare you the details. Anyone who's ever been there, worked in healthcare as I have, or even has half a brain knows how this happens. The cooks are not washing their hands after using the restrooms. FOLKS, YOU'RE EATING E -COLLI. How gross is that? I called twice to talk with the manager but he could have cared less to call me back. If your staying here, there are so many better dining options in town very close by. If this is the kind of food, or quite literally crap, that you like and want to eat, Bon Appe'tit !!! read more

Just had our Christmas stay here. We enjoyed a third floor room with a great view of the bay. The lobby had lots of differently decorated Christmas trees and was very festive. Check in was easy, and they have there own parking section in the underground lot below. The room was spacious with a huge bed, fire place, the jet tub, and a balcony with a small table and two chairs. We enjoyed the complimentary water, which was a nice touch. The front desk was super nice, and I know how crappy it is to work on a holiday when you'd rather be with family and friends, but everyone we talked to was smiling and happy. Although or stay was lovely, there are two things I would like to point out for the future. If they ever renovate or remodel these would be the things is keep in mind. 1. A freight elevator. There is only one elevator in the hotel as far as we could tell. On a couple different occasions we had to take the stairs up and down, because of maids with carts or equipment being taken up or down. Not that big of a deal for us, but if you have trouble with stairs I'd recommend the ground floor to save you the trouble. 2. The key card access point for the parking lot. This is weirdly placed. On several occasions we dropped the card and had to get out to re-slide it. I have a small car and this was awkward trying not to hit the gate and swiping. If you had anything bigger than a car I could see this giving you lots of trouble. If you want a beautiful place to stay in bellingham I would defiantly recommend this hotel. Go for the bay view and you won't be disappointed! read more

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The Hotel Bellwether is a classy Hotel on Bellingham's waterfront located in and around shopping, dining, walking trails and marinas. It's a short distance from downtown located on the shore of Bellingham Bay. The rooms/suites are well designed, beautifully decorated, comfortable, immaculately clean, throughly stocked and quiet. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and polite. I've been here maybe a half a dozen times and have always had an enjoyable stay. read more

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Highly anticipated my stay here. The hotel is beautiful and the staff were very nice. Unfortunately two of the three nights staying at the hotel were sleepless nights. You hear every step, stomp, drop, cough, you name it. Our room was on the 2nd floor, the room above us at times sounded like they were having a party or had a good group above us. This lasted until 2am before they settled down and we could all finally sleep. The other negative is their room service stops at 9pm. I've never stayed at a resort that cut room service so early. read more

We stayed here for the weekend recently, and throughly enjoyed the room and hotel. Service was good to great, especially the glass of champagne upon arrival! Room on the third floor had an amazing view. The large tub for two was nice, as was the fireplace and bed. The bar and restaurant had great views as well. Would stay again! read more

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We flew to Washington to see our two best friends get married at the Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, WA. It was a gorgeous lighthouse scene that accommodates inside and out (ours had to be in, it was raining) the girls were in the tower and it was beautiful and luxurious and fun for the bridesmaids to get glammed for the wedding day. We also had dinner there the previous night which I remember being delicious. Overall, everyone had a great experience at this beautiful hotel! read more

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Staying here was on my forever bucket list. . . Happy birthday, I am here! For the money paid, this place did not live up to expectation. We have received cleaner rooms and better and friendlier customer service from housekeeping staff at Holiday Inn Express. Front staff and their sweet dog was a blessing to keep us from being totally disappointed. Also, the staff in the restaurant were over the top, but that is a separate review. read more

I don't recommend the hotel bellwether for a larger wedding. They are having excessive internal communication issues that unfortunately trickled down to us (their customers) they attempted multiple times to charge for things or "services" that were included. Attempt to increase food prices two months before the wedding, charge an additional fee for the venue - even after contracts were signed at the agreed upon price point. They even pulled food from the buffet prior to all of our guests eating, though we had food left over. Jim the gen. manager called to harass my husband and I and now we have been getting passive aggressive emails from their staff asking my husband and I to take down our reviews. Many of our guest do not speak English and the bellwether used this as an excuse to pull food early from the reception stating that it wasn't their fault that the staff couldn't understand my guest request for food. They also booked another wedding at the same time as ours, and the other wedding was right next to ours...Really disappointed in the behavior of the bellwether, and several of their staff. I would say, use the location for pictures, but go somewhere else for your wedding. The hidden fees at the bellwether will get you. Everyone's nice, until they are paid... and it goes downhill from there. Start your marriage on the right foot, and avoid this venue. read more

This was one of the best stays I have ever had at a hotel. First, the room was beautiful. Everything needed and more was anticipated for my visit. I wouldn't have needed to leave the room. However, with such beautiful grounds you have to go on a walk! I had brought both my dogs with me. That isn't always an easy thing to do in hotels. This hotel is different. And in a major amazing way. I walked in to find a cozy dog bed, silver bowls for water and food and treats! Every minute of my stay was amazing. If you are in Bellingham there really is no need to stay elsewhere. read more

This is an amazing property, kept in nice shape surrounded by beautiful harbor views. The hotel staff was courteous, the room clean & spacious, and the amenities plentiful. Overall a good time. The price is $$$ which is inline with the upscale nature of the property. Hotel Bellwether delivered on our stay and so is money well spent. I DO have some constructive criticism. The interior lobby tiles and hallway carpets were a bit ugly and dated. Some white marble would look much more elegant around the elevator flooring, and that ugly dark carpet would look better with the cream/khaki carpet that floored our room. Some of the rooms have a very nice renovated bathroom, but the unrenovated bathrooms are just beginning to look a bit dated as well (still nice though). Our shower smelled a bit musty, maybe coming from the drain? The aromatic shower lotions offset this some. The restaurant was fine dining- but very small entree portions with little to no sides. They would greatly benefit from simply adding a baked potato or rice pilaf to dishes like the lamb or steak to increase value. Until they do I'm not interested in a $40 steak of modest size with three green beans draped across the top. Nearby Lombardi's and Anthony's Fish House restaurants were luxurious and filled the void. In conclusion, this is a unique property on a semi-secluded wharf. It is wonderful for romantics getaways, or to just clear your head and relax with the ocean views and great seafood nearby. It's a bit pricey but well worth the money and scratched our itch to treat ourselves. We had a wonderful time there, and left our negative/constructive comments out of love. read more

I stayed here last month for my husband's birthday. At first I thought What a treat and I love that youre pet friendly. When we arrived I got a free upgrade which I thought was wonderful. Having dogs and being put on the bottom level was perfect. We had a gorgeous patio that over looked the water. My one suggestion is letting those with pets know where to take them to the bathroom. We had to cut through 3 peoples patios and didnt know where to go. Walked out to the hallway and Didnt know where a door to go outside was for the dogs other than the front door. I love that they provide a bed with bowls for them. A few complaints...please have the guy who sweeps the patios and cleans them up to wait until after check out. It was 8 am and I had just woken up, and I opened the blinds and I hear my dogs barking while im changing. I look up and I'm topless and this guy is sweeping our patio!!! At 8 am!!! I was pissed and felt violated. He moved the chairs around out there. We had not checked out and I'd appreciate if next time noone starts cleaning until we leave. I wanted to enjoy breakfast out there but your staff moved everything around in the patio. I purposely moved the chair to accommodate our dogs. I also was shocked by all the tax and fees I got charged. Over 30 bucks in tax is insane. Also I didnt like that check in was so late at 4 pm. Wanted to enjoy the view of the water and barely got to due to how dark is gets so quickly. Plus with how much you charge to stay here people wanna check in early to get their money worth. I wouldn't stay here again for the price. Not worth it. 300 plus bucks and no complimentary breakfast , just a extremely overpriced restaurant. The amount of tax I paid to stay here took my dinner money. So we had to leave just to eat.. that was sad. This was my husband's birthday and I wanted to do something nice. read more

This was the second time we stayed at the hotel and both times have had less than a perfect stay. Here are a few points for improvement so that we would look forward to coming back and be able to recommend this place to others: 1. The cleaning staff should not be using vacuum cleaners or other loud machinery before a reasonable time in the morning, i.e.: not before 10 AM. The room above us apparently was being cleaned by at least 8 AM and made too much noise. 2. Staff communication over walkie-talkies in the hallway outside the door was very loud. We could hear everything being discussed. The volume on the radios should be regulated to a very hushed level or ear pieces be used it. Again, this was occurring early in the morning before we were even out of bed, disturbing our sleep and rest. 3. Both times we've stayed we have asked for and been granted a one hour extension on check out time, checking out at 12 noon. Both times we stayed, housekeeping has knocked on our door at 11am expecting to start cleaning and I have had to answer the door and tell them we have a late check out already arranged with the front desk. That not only shows a lack of communication between the front of the house staff and the housekeeping staff but it also is an interruption to our stay and defeats the purpose of having a one hour extension for check out, namely to enjoy ourselves in the privacy of our room. 4. The parking garage does not have enough space to reflect the capacity of rooms/guests at the hotel. This means parking outside in another section of the garage which only allows two hours of parking per the signage or parking outdoors in the common area by other businesses. 5. The restaurant experience for lunch saw a lack of timely service and attention. We had to find staff to ask for silverware after our food was served and our waitress disappeared again for an abnormally lengthy time at the end of our meal, requiring one of us to go and find staff in order to have our dishes cleared and get the check. The food was satisfactory. We do enjoy the ambience of the place otherwise and would hope to be able to return, but for a place with such a high reputation and average reading, our expectations are not being satisfied in these problems areas need to be addressed. read more

The food at the Thursday Blues music is terrible! I just paid $32, for two, and we ended up throwing it all out after a couple of bites. The music is great! Just forget about the food and go right to the drinks! read more

Wonderful hotel, lovely furnishings and very comfortable bed. Tasteful decor throughout. We stayed in the sunset suite and timed our arrival to be in our room to watch the spectacular sun setting into the Pacific Ocean. The pub had a jazz quartet performing when we arrived for a fireside meal consisting of various seafood. All staff members were attentive and very polite. We splurged because it was a one night stay for the purpose of relaxing. Glad we did. One tip bring your own bath products to fully enjoy the oversized and xtra deep jetted tub. read more

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The front desk staff is very friendly knowledgeable and willing to help and the rooms are beautiful. Well, my room was beautiful. I had the waterfront executive suite with the sunken bathtub and fireplace. Other than the fireplace not having the option to remove the heat element and only the visual of the fire, it self, everything was perfect. I think you're around it would be very romantic if you could still have the fireplace but not have the heat. BUT, Forget eating at the hotel or ordering room service. The tired and uninspiring menu will leave you wanting to order pizza. They do not have a chef. The same sauce is repeated on several proteins including the side "hash" and they do not have a light Pacific Northwest feel to the menu. I paid over $400 to stay here for two nights and they would not accommodate my order for a piece of salmon mashed potatoes and a salad at the same rate they charge for the 38$ For the tired braised greens, root vegetable hash, and repetitive sauce they have on the menu for three other proteins. They wanted $60 including charging me $12 for a salad. Very very disappointed. There's a reason why their restaurant is dead. In fact, having met the general manager at the waterfront earlier in the morning while taking a walk, his response to my taking pictures of the property was "are you staying there"? I would think if you were proud of his property he would say oh are you staying at my hotel? They are definitely in need of some updating and changing to increase a younger more affluent market. read more

My husband took me out for Mother's Day weekend. We stayed at the Bellwether because we wanted to wander around downtown Bellingham without the need to drive. We were planning on having a few drinks. We checked in and quickly left to have dinner at the Copper Hog. That was a bit of a walk but not all that bad. After trying for dessert at the Oyster Bar on Bay St. we arrived back at our hotel room just before 10 pm. Not wanting the night to be over we turned around and left for the Elizabeth Station. When we finally came back. We decided to enjoy the jet spa tub. Bubble bath was included with complementary toiletries. The front desk had a few board games to choose from. We paid an extra $19 when we reserved our room for the breakfast on the bay package. This included a $30 voucher to be used at the Lighthouse Bar and Grill. The restaurant was very nice. I had the west coast omelet. The crab was generously portioned and tasted fresh. The omelet also included boursin cheese and avocado and topped with house made Hollandaise. It was fabulous! The Best part about the Bellwether is the view of the bay. Beautiful! read more

There were a tiny number of things that kept the hotel from getting a five star rating. I'll start with the "bad" and end with the other points. 1. As a previous review stated, the mini bar was just a mini fridge that didn't work. As a matter of fact there was a label that said "not for perishable items." I wasn't really bothered by the lack of spirits but I was rather perplexed as to why the fridge was there if it didn't work and wasn't for perishable items. I digress... 2. While 99% of the staff at the hotel went well above and beyond in the service department there was just ONE person who appeared to be annoyed that my co workers and I were staying there. She wasn't that much of a pain to warrant a complaint but her lackluster attitude did contribute to the lack of the 5th star. 3. We ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant every day (Monday - Thursday) and I ordered the same thing. Great right? Well yeah... except everyday the exact same dish tasted and looked different. Chop it up (no pun intended) to their being a different cook every day? I dunno. Again, nothing to complain about but it was worth a mention. 4. I'm almost sure I left some books in my room but when I called to check I encountered the same lackluster agent who told me "I wouldn't know... if anything is left in the room housekeeping would know." After a brief pause (and asking her in my head "well can you go ask THEM?" she goes I'll transfer you. Before I could say "thank you" the line was ringing in my ear. Housekeeping didn't answer... my flight leaves tomorrow. I guess the books are forever residents of Washington. 5. The hotel has free wifi but when I was able to connect it was extremely slow and spotty. My co workers experienced the same thing. NOW for the outstanding parts of my stay here: 1. Check In - We arrived at 8:20pm jetlagged and starving. Our front desk agent Andrews was a breath of fresh air. He made sure that we were comfortable and even went beyond his "required duties." For example, he put us in the bay view rooms upon request and was nice enough to call the restaurant next door to make sure they'd be able to serve us (it was close to closing.) Additionally, since my luggage arrived later with the second wave of co workers he personally walked my luggage to my room. When I returned from dinner he told me that he'd noticed the room I was in had a "musty smell" (which I noticed but it didn't bother me) and took it upon himself to move me to a corner room. I was pleased. I never got to say goodbye to Andrew but I sure appreciated him. 2. Service in the restaurant - Brandon was AWESOME. We had a group of 5 and every morning he managed to remember that I liked coffee, two co workers preferred orange juice, and one wanted cranberry juice. He was extremely pleasant and his service was amazing as well. 3. Housekeeping - My room was kept very tidy the entire time I was there 4. The hotel and room are beautiful. My room was equipped with a fireplace, jetted tub, standing shower, and was a very nice size. I don't know what kind of sheets and pillows were on that bed but I never wanted to get out of it. All in all the hotel was great and I'm definitely telling my company this is my preferred spot when I'm forced to travel across the country. read more

My first (and so far only) experience at the Bellwether Lighthouse Bar and Grill was lunch. It was a good choice as far as table selection. There were very few people there which gave us an opportunity to choose where to sit and have a lovely water view. That alone was almost worth the cost. As for the food: a mixed review. My daughter ordered the clam chowder and a side Caesar salad. Unfortunately, the soup was lukewarm which isn't the end of the world, but still... The waitperson cheerfully returned it to the kitchen for a warm up, and it was returned steaming hot. The salad was average. Where were the croutons? My Cobb salad had all the usual components. However, its assembly was odd. Instead of a portion of chicken breast pieces nestled next to the tomatoes or egg slices, there were three large slices of grilled white meat lying on top of the whole salad. Difficult to eat neatly. The bowl was probably too small for its contents. On a positive note, though, I took home those chicken slices for a sandwich the next day. In all, it was a pleasant experience and I would go there again. The setting is relaxing, and if it had been summer we would have asked for seating on the patio facing the water. Looking at the dinner menu, I hope, given the prices, that the food is A+. It would be easy to drop $200 or more for two people which for some is nothing but for this middle class diner, warrants an extraordinary dining experience. The jury is still out. read more

It is especially rare in this day and age to be confronted by group of individuals unified by passion, innovative and creative in expressing that passion, and delivering a genuine experience that stands at the apex of today's notion of the standard of care... One could even argue that the likelihood of discovering such a high-performing team is substantially more remote if one should but venture to the end of a lonely pier in Bellingham, Washington. But, here on 1 Bellwether Way, a lighthouse rises astutely over the Bellingham Marina and heralds in way-ward visitors to experience what countless others in the rough-seas of the Hotel Service Industry struggle to succinctly achieve. Hotel Bellwether delivers quintessentially, authenticity. I remember my first stay and being immediately caught off-guard by a genuinely warm welcome upon approaching the front-desk in the lobby. Preoccupied by how this interaction was particularly different from similar variations I've had whilst travelling, I walked into my room and into an epiphany that the same contemporary, confident, and sophisticated characteristics that greeted me at the main-concierge emanated in the immaculate accommodation that Hotel Bellwether offers to all its guests. Staff and management should also be recognized for delivering exemplary service by means of seemingly small and unique nuances/impetuses when collaborating with guests and clients. I have never felt that staff has offered help, tips or opportunities for greater levels of comfort while implying, implicitly nor explicitly a solicitation of any form of entitlement or compensation for such gestures. Conversely, If I'm not satisfied with a meal, or a service, or any outcome - I feel comfortable engaging in an honest dialogue with any staff, with the issue resolved in a manner one would expect from an old acquaintance or family member. Trusting in the valor of these employees has only strengthened my positive view of management. The color that employees here add to the environment speaks to an exceptional management team, as great leadership is necessary generate levels of engagement across such a diverse and dynamic group. This framework will lead to timeless value for the Hotel. I can only hope and remain enthralled by the notion that management will continue to seek, challenge and reward individual contributors that endeavor to out-perform themselves. I prefer to rate a venue on the enduring criteria above. In contrast, offering a subjective and invented score to incidentals such as food, dining, service and accommodations seems inappropriate when considering the unassuming forces that guide those that work here to achieve something greater than the sum of their own parts. I can appreciate that I find it often easy to take marginal instances that deviate from the modicum of a standard, to define my experience. I'd like to invite those of you considering staying here, however, if only for a flighting moment, to abandon such a prescriptive approach, and entertain the possibilities that result when your path intersects the vision, passion and dedication of the Hotel Bellwether. Warmly, Vik read more

This is my favorite hotel in Bellingham. I usually pay about 130 dollars a night. It's very clean and is in a great, quiet location. The happy hour is a really great deal with terrific service, food and views. I get the feeling the place could use a good overhaul. It's not that it's extremely dated. However, my bath tub faucet needed fixing. And, there was a slight mustiness to my room. Maybe just a solid spring cleaning would do the trick. All in all, beautiful hotel, location, service and rooms. read more

This was supposed to be a getaway weekend for my husband and I, but things got off track and our daughter ended up having to come with us. Not at all the weekend I was hoping for, but a wonderful place to stay none the less. Thankfully I'd reserved one of their larger rooms with a private bedroom. The beautiful leather couch was a pull out bed for our 11 yo. She had a tv with a dvd player so she could watch her own movie at night. There was also a tv in our room. I don't know if all the rooms and bathrooms are as nice as ours, but the towels were wonderful and the robes very comfy (my husband thought a bit small for a unisex robe though). They warn you with a little sign that the water takes a bit to warm up. It took several minutes for the water in the sink to get hot when we first used it, but didn't seem to take all that long the rest of the stay. We didn't eat at the restaurant downstairs, but did visit the bar during Happy Hour ( 4-6 pm and 8-10pm) after we got back from dinner. Did not end up partaking of Happy Hour but enjoyed their desserts and a glass of wine. Parking is provided under the hotel and internet was free, both a plus. It was not a cheap stay though and have a hard time imagine staying there during the "On Season". read more