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Bay View Inn

4.2 (53 reviews)
ModerateHotels

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Little lending library
Eliza H.

Our favorite inn in Michigan. At Staffords you are treated like family (thanks Corey, Stacy, Bobbie Jo and Ethan). Around the holidays trees pop up throughout the inn with various themes. Ditto for bunnies at Easter. The many fireplaces, quiet books, comfy library and other spaces make it a welcoming retreat in all four seasons. The restaurant has great food (thank you Chefs Richard, Laura and Freddie) and offers lovely views of the bay. We prefer the bayside rooms as they are quieter (and because of the views). We especially like rooms 7, 16 and 32. The mattresses are made locally and you can call ahead to request that housekeeping flip to the firm or softer side before arrival. We can't wait to return.

Room 10 bed with cookies
Krystal R.

From the moment we walked in the door we where treated like royalty. All the staff where absolutley amazing in every way. The hotel definitely feels like grandma's house, old style, fresh cookies on your bed everyday, amazing food. We stayed for a few days for a wedding on the property and it was breathtaking. Stacy the wedding planner did an amazing job! I'd definitely make this your wedding destination, weekend get away, etc. There is a library on the second floor that had a tv, games, books, free coffee and hot coco, water, ice, card games, and lots of seating :) The sunroom is a perfect place to read the morning paper and just relax! Pros- staff where amazing (shout out to Cassie and Ethan for being absolutely amazing and helping us!), beautiful rooms, views, great food, clean, old timey feel, restaurant, library, comfy pillows. Cons- no TVs in the rooms (but that isn't a huge deal) We also found out that since we stayed at Staffords we can go to any of their locations and use the amenities for free!

Rhonda W.

We began our Upper Pennisula trip with 2 nights at this lovely Inn. We stayed Saturday and Sunday. The Inn was recommend to us and we greatly enjoyed our stay. The decor, location, landscaping, staff, food, view ect. Its all 5! It had the look and feel of the nicest b&b but has several modern comforts. There is an old elevator but its small and need to open 2 doors so would be tricky if alone in wheelchair. No phone or tv in rooms but that was ok. The ac gets as cold as i like which is RARE. The bathroom had a loud exhaust fan which i prefer, a nightlight and heat light. Room was quiet, lovely and every day 2 complimentary huge delish cookie left on bed.. omg. They gave discount coupons for breakfast and brunch. Food was very good.! Lemonade, coffee, tea and ice tea complimentary. Quant common room, wraparound porch and beautiful flowegarden. Easy walk to water access / beach. Unfortunately didnt see the discount coupons for Mackinac island ferrys until we had already returned. We Stayed here Saturday and Sunday. Brunch was best ever. Come for brunch whether you stay here or not. Soooo delish. In fact we both said best brunch EVER. What a lovely Inn right on the water. whether your looking for a lovely quiet place to relax, a romantic get away or a peaceful place start your Upper Peninsula trip .. this a great choice. I like b&b .. this has the charm and decor of a B&B. This gorgeous historic Inn has a nice mixture of going back in time and modern convenience. I didn't mind the no phone or tv in the rooms. I greatly appreciated the AC gets as cold as you could ever want .. and the bathroom had had a Loud fan which is nice for privacy, nightlight, heat light .. or just a light. The bath salts for our tub were nice. There is an old elevator but its small and need to open 2 doors so would be tricky if alone in wheelchair. No fridge in room. Free parking, gorgeous landscaping .. lots of flowers. Did i mention the daily free cookies ... 2 huge amazing cookies every day on your bed. I read they offer complimentary tea, ice tea, lemonade and coffee all day but we didn't try. Love the large porch . great place to relax and have a drink or chat while viewing the lake. They have a common room with a tv and games. The staff were super friendly, welcoming and helpful. We had a great trip and this was an ideal start. This was 30-45 minutes from the Big Mack bridge to the Upper P. We went on a day trip to Mackinac Island on our second day and came back. Drove down town both nights to see the sunset at the harbor with the lighthouse. Unfortunately didnt see the discount coupons for Mackinac island ferrys until we had already returned. We drove up here from southern Ohio and stopped here .. stayed 2 nights to begin our Upper Peninsula trip. We had this town recommended to us and the whole town was great... cozy and cute.

Sara S.

Terrific spot for a quiet, romantic excursion. I was quite pleased with my recent stay at this lovely B & B. My husband and I spent a long holiday weekend here recently and were quite happy with the overall look and feel of the place. Pretty much everything about our stay here was top notch. We haven't traditionally done the B & B thing that often, but when we have, we've had high expectations and we were not at all disappointed during this trip. Our room was a tad on the smallish size, just a regular room with a street side view, not a suite, but is was comfortably appointed and looked super adorable. The bed was comfortable, the furnishings and antiques were cute and the bathroom was not only much larger than I expected, but had obviously been remodeled recently. Everything about it was great, right down to the fresh-baked cookies left on our bed every morning by housekeeping (by the way, they were delicious and the desk clerk gave me the recipe, yippee). Heck, I even liked the purple floral wallpaper with a vintage feel that adorned our hotel room. The only hiccup seemed to be the water pressure in our bathroom. It took awhile for the hot water in the shower to heat up to my preferred temperature. Other than that, everything was great. The towels were super fluffy and thick, of a higher quality than your average mid-price motel/hotel (a la Days Inn, Super 8, Quality Inn) and bedding was crisp and new. Even the lighting in bathroom was decent and that almost never happens in a hotel! Every area in the hotel looked so cute and seemed extremely clean. I have to give kudos to the cleaning staff because they did an impeccable job. Our room was one of the cleanest we've ever had at any hotel upon check in. It almost seemed like they must have been doing the "white glove" test or something to ensure every surface passed muster. As a B & B, they only had two TVs in the place, in the sun room and the library, both of which were often occupied by dudes who had to watch sports, but we didn't care about that and didn't mind not seeing much TV over the holiday weekend. We just watched movies at night on our IPhones, so who cares? There were two fireplaces in the lobby and sun room downstairs and one upstairs in the library, giving the inn a cozy feel. If you don't appreciate white wicker furniture or the shabby chic look, you might not love the style, but I thought it was comfortable and in keeping with the theme of a historic hotel. The best words to describe the feel of the place are "elegant," "timeless" and "charming." We both enjoyed the cocktails on the gorgeous porch (alcoholic beverages weren't allowed past the porch and quiet time outside was expected after 10 p.m.) while watching the sun go down every evening. Like I said, the view was unrivaled and was a major selling point for both of us. Seriously, the view from the inn was just amazing. We walked down to the shore from the inn and looked for Petoskey Stones, snapping photos along the way, every single evening. The walk to the shore was super short, just down the driveway and through a small, but lovely garden, complete with benches and old-fashioned swings. Keep in mind, this is a historic hotel. It's old, the building is from the nineteenth century (it was known as Howard House originally), so the floors do slope a bit in places and the the Wi-Fi signal is wonky in certain areas, but our experience here was nothing short of incredible. We had a great time and loved the old world charm of this lovely B & B and the history behind it. The location was great, the views onto Little Traverse Bay were unrivaled and the hospitality was beyond reproach. It was precisely what a good B & B experience is supposed to be. It definitely made for a nice, romantic trip for two. If you're looking for a relaxing, romantic excursion, this quiet little B & B would definitely do the trick. Next time we go up to the Bay View/Petoskey area, we will definitely be making a return trip to Staffords. We both thought it was a great value for the money. It was more expensive than staying at a regular hotel, but absolutely was worth the extra $.

Daughter-in-law on the porch with all the beautiful flowers
Debbie Z.

Staffords Bay View Inn is right on Lake Michigan in beautiful Petoskey, Michigan. The sign outside says breakfast, lunch, and dinner M-Saturday. I was there around 2 p.m. on Sunday. I was a little scared that they weren't serving anything, but was pleasantly pleased that brunch was available. What a beautiful brunch we had! The food was so fresh and delicious. You can tell that the eggs were so very fresh - probably the hens just laid them that morning! If you wanted pancakes or omelets there was a chef making them fresh for you. They had a meat carver ready to cut up whatever type of fresh meat you wanted. The waiters were johnny on the spot as far as freshening up your coffee and/or water. I was in a party of 7 and we had absolutely no reservation and did not have to wait at all to be seated. They sat us near the buffet table so we didn't even have to go far for the food! They had breakfast items, lunch items, dinner items, and to top it all off they had dessert items as well. The decor was impeccable. Clean and very classy! They had tablecloths, fresh flowers on all the tables, cloth napkins - very beautiful set-up. We were not rushed at all. Afterwards we went out to the porch and took some pictures and sat on the rocking chairs and took in the view of Lake Michigan and all its beauty. The grounds were beautiful as well with all fresh flowers all over. Parking was very convenient and no problem. Definitely would recommend this place if you do take the 4.5-5 hour drive up north. Special shout outs go to Nathan - our server! You deserve a raise!

Stafford's Bay View Inn - Petoskey - Sunday buffet - lunch choices - plus much, much more
Sandra C.

Staffords Bay View Inn is 5 Stars all the way. I was there on a weekend retreat with my sister and fellow yelper, Debbie Z. We were awed by the beauty of the Inn which was located right on Lake Michigan in Petoskey. The Sunday Buffet was the best I've ever seen. Check out the pictures I uploaded. There was plenty of choices for breakfast, and/or dinner. Everything was fresh, fresh, fresh and tasted wonderful. My neices and nephews were with us, 7 total, and we didn't have to wait to be seated. Our server was Nate. He was incredible and funny. Loved him. After we ate we went out to sit and that fantastic porch with a lake view. We were served complimentary soft drinks while we basked in perfection. We met a couple from Clinton Township who have been making the 5 hrs drive every year for 16 years just to go to Staffords Bay View Inn. One of my facebook friends informed me that she knows a couple who go up to Petoskey every single year just for the Sunday brunch at Staffords Bay View Inn. This is one fantastic place you simply must try. Tell them Sandy sent you. LOL

Sticky bun
Randy G.

My rating was either going to be four or five stars based on the decor, bedrooms, view, staff, use of gift certificates, and food. Most categories I would give it four and a few five starts, therefore, I'll give them 4.5 rating. Lets start with the gift certificate. I had a certificate (not gift card) dating back seven years ago, given to me by a friend. I didn't think they would honor it, but after speaking to the manager, he gladly accepted it. I thought it was great customer service. I initially thought it was going to be a small bed and breakfast, but to find it to be much bigger as a hotel. It's an old hotel dating back to probably 1800-1900s. The view from the porch or a small walk to their garden or beach is spectacular of the bay. It's perfect for a sunset. That morning, we had breakfast in their restaurant and we started with their sticky bun cinnamon roll. I thought it was a good start. It would have been nice if it were heated up, but it was okay. I moved onto the Michigan Cherry French Toast. It was much better than the sticky bun. It did have enough cinnamon and cherries to give it a nice balance of flavor and texture. The service was very good.

Dining Rm. Sweet Decorating.
Allison L.

This review is strictly for their restaurant. *3.5 stars* We had made reservations and arrived right on time. No one was at the host/ess stand. So we waited and waited. Finally a gentleman comes and takes us to a table. After asking about 3 times how many is in our party (um, don't you have our reservation?). Anyreservs...once we were sat, we noticed the absolutely gorgeous view of the lake from inside! Really so lovely. The menu is somewhat impressive, lots of interesting things on it. We started with a bottle of wine and the baked brie with fruit and crackers. Really enjoyed this, but then again I'm a whore for good cheese. They also have this dill/garlic bread they bring out and for lack of a better phrase...made by the angels above. If I were stranded on a desert island, I would want that to be my only nourishment. For dinner I ordered the perch with veggies and rice pilaf. Veggies were a little overcooked, but the perch was delicious. BF had the whitefish with roasted new potatoes and veggies. Very much liked his. MOL had ordered their fish special literally when we sat down. Of course no one else was ready to order, so we asked the waiter to come back. When we were all finally ready to order, he asked her what she wanted. She goes "I already told you what I wanted", he looked at her like she had 3 heads. The service was ok. He tried real hard. Forgot a few things here and there, but overall nice guy and all that. The food is delicious and tasted very fresh. The inside looks like a 18th century hotel. Awful green carpet and the wallpaper is just hideous. HOWEVER....it gives it character and I actually really enjoyed the interior design of this small northern bed and breakfast. If you stay at the Bay View Inn, I would def eat here at least one night.

View from our table

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The manager called soon after reading my email and sounded genuinely concerned. He apologized and send us a good Stafford gift card.

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Review Highlights - Bay View Inn

Next time we go up to the Bay View/Petoskey area, we will definitely be making a return trip to Staffords.

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Stafford's Perry Hotel - Sunset views

Stafford's Perry Hotel

(68 reviews)

$$$

Wow!!!!! We definitely stayed at the right place! This hotel was built back in 1899 and has done a…read moregreat job at keeping it old school charm. There are only 75 rooms total. It's the only hotel located in the downtown Petoskey area and you can literally walk everywhere. There are two restaurant/bars within the hotel. We enjoyed starting our days at the HO Rose restaurant for breakfast and mimosa. We finished each day at the Noggin located in the basement of the hotel. There are several options for rooms including ones with balconies. The views were amazing and we enjoyed being able to walk down by the water. There is even a "Perry House" that you can rent. I'm sure that is not cheap but looked really great. They did everything right with this hotel. We were treated like royalty and really enjoyed our stay. I would absolutely come back!! We weren't here long enough!! Petoskey is definitely gorgeous and I absolutely will be visiting again this summer. Just a note, there is no refrigerator or microwave in the rooms and the hotel is relatively noisy. It's old so the floors creak. If there is a wedding going on (which there was) the music can be heard on all floors. There were noise machines in the room to help with this but if you're sensitive to that you may want to stay elsewhere. It was so worth it because the experience can't be duplicated!

Really quaint and cozy hotel in Petoskey! I felt it was a great deal for the area during a busy…read moreholiday weekend since it came with breakfast vouchers and a gift certificate for local shops. The front desk staff was very friendly and informative. The rooms are older, but very cute and functional. We enjoyed breakfast, but on one of the mornings, we had a host who kept saying there was a wait, but then let others walk in when the restaurant was nearly empty. We waited probably an hour for no reason, despite checking in with him multiple times. This was not ideal for our plan to get on the slopes. Other than that, we had an enjoyable stay.

Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection - Favorite Hotel in Petoskey

Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection

(79 reviews)

$$$

Inn at Bay Harbor is amazing! Literally feels like heaven when I'm up there. Summers in Northern…read moreMichigan are truly magical. The Inn at Bay Harbor is located near Petoskey. The hotel is located in a village with dining, shops, real estate, and more. Ample parking, clean beaches, and amazing views of the Marina. The Inn at Bay Harbor has been a Marriott property for 22 years. As of 11/1, it will be a Boyne Resort. I don't think the change of ownership will impact the charm. If anything, it will improve things by being a Michigan based company. Love that this hotel has so many room variations - typical rooms to cottages. Outside of the Inn, there are home rentals through Bay Harbor's website too. This hotel is open year round and there is so much to do. Love high tea! Makes me feel like a princess while adulting. My husband and I plan to come up again this summer. Such a special place! Check out the bay harbor website for events if you're interested in their art festival, hot balloon festival, or any festive activities. They have so much going on! Definitely great for a romantic weekend or coming up with the family. The hotel isn't dog friendly but there are rentals that will allow dogs in the village.

Friendly, helpful staff are well trained and contribute to a pleasant environment. The hotel is…read moregorgeous and very well maintained. The hallways smell unbelievable - in a good way. Rooms are super clean and comfortable. The grounds are impeccable. Pots bursting with color, modern hammocks, and lawn games welcome you to lounge. The beautiful pool area provided free sunscreen, lush large towels, and ice cream! If you want to be pampered or just relax I highly recommend.

Courtyard by Marriott Petoskey at Victories Square

Courtyard by Marriott Petoskey at Victories Square

(25 reviews)

We were pleasantly surprised by this property. It is fairly new (build in 2020) and kudos to…read morewhomever designed the hotel and surrounding land. We normally don't spend a lot of time in the living area part of a suite, but here, the furniture was so comfortable that we lounged watching shows and eating charcuterie! The addition of an ottoman was key. Also, the long piece of furniture under the TV that held two open carry-ons was great! The back space with the bench swing and Adirondack chairs overlooking a pond was lovely. The bed and pillows were very comfortable (I usually have to ask for extra pillows, but didn't need to here). We appreciated the outlets on the bedside lamps. However, we struggled a little getting the temperature right without having the A/C blowing so loudly. It was hard to hear the TV or sleep with how loud the system was. The walk-in shower and shampoo products were nice. The staff was lovely. I would recommend staying here, but still found it pricey for $848.96 for 2 nights. I could stay in a place in NYC for that amount! Marriott, please be fair on pricing.

A lot to like about this hotel. Good location. Property is very nice with a spacious area outside…read moreto relax. But staff are indifferent towards issues including cleaning. They offer light cleaning services every other day. Our room wasn't really cleaned at all. Just new towels. The furniture was a mess and would have taken a few minutes to clean yet the front desk said that's not included. Ugh. They did offer a full cleaning the next day but we were leaving so I declined. They need to do better.

Hotel Walloon - Sunset Lake view

Hotel Walloon

(25 reviews)

Shhhhh. Don't tell anyone.... Its our fourth visit to this boutique hotel on the eastern edge of…read moreWalloon Lake, it's our treat to ourselves when we need a getaway, it has all one would expect, clean rooms, attentive staff, small plate breakfast and evening hors douvre s along with dessert items after the dinner hour for those that don't need a full meal, and snacky stuff in between. And the bar is open late afternoon till .... You can't go wrong visiting, with walkable dining options available too, or just visit the general store, a block away for takeout food and full beverage options.

If you live in Michigan, and haven't stayed here during Christmas then you haven't been taking…read moreadvantage of probably one of the best vacations this state has to offer. This cozy hotel, nestled near Petosky and surrounded by many wineries, is the most fabulous boutique hotel. The outdoor trees are beautifully decorated and it makes you feel like you're in a hallmark movie. As we drove up, and parked we were met by an employee who knew our names and took our bags to our room. Felt like I was in Dubai getting VIP status service again. Our check-in was swift, and we were given a tour of the downstairs which had an amazing bar with a roaring fire, and free snacks and waters. It also had a small gym, and a game room containing a billiards table. Once we finally got to the room we were so shocked. The room was massive and absolutely breath taking. The bed was extremely comfortable, and the sheets were super soft. The highlight was the outdoor patio. We got a room on the first floor. The patio came enclosed with heaters so that you can go out and look out at the lake and not freeze. During Christmas they put a Christmas tree on each patio. Very romantic and festive. Service is, by far, the number one thing about this place. The hotels beauty is obvious, but it only goes so far if the service isn't there. We loved every minute of our stay. The bartender in the evening was the best. We sat there for hours and just chatted. He was very personable, and fun to talk to. We also wanted to use the jacuzzi, so the front desk employee went, and opened it up for us even though it was freezing outside. They also let us stay 20 minutes past the hours of operation without question. There were many more things we didn't do like snow shoeing on the lake, but they offer many things for kids, families, or outdoor enthusiasts. Overall, this was probably one of the best vacations we have had. From the service to Amenities they checked every box. If you are looking for romance, or even a family get away then this place is a must. We also took advantage of the wineries in the area. They are still open in the winter. I wish I would of snapped more photos for all to see, but I was wanted to live in the moment and not technology. This place has won many awards as a top wine hotel in the country. Just make sure you call way in advance for reservations. They book up extremely early. We booked a year in advance.

Bay View Inn - hotels - Updated May 2026

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