We were very much looking forward to our stay at The Vault, and it did not disappoint. Amenities were nice, we felt very catered to, and the rooms were modern and lovely. The Counting Room speakeasy was also a nice experience and the bartender was wonderful. Complementary snacks and beverages greet you in the lobby, and there is a nice sitting room if you'd like to just relax or do a little work... which you SHOULDN'T... (but I did at night). Parking was nice and easy... private and right across the street. It's also right smack in the middle of the main drag in Houghton... Restaurants and cafés are all around you, and it's a block from the Portage Lake Ship Canal, which has a very cool drawbridge even if there isn't much commercial shipping anymore. The Vault is a historic bank turned boutique hotel, and as such, the original bank teller windows are beautifully restored and face the main lobby area. Much to my utter amazement, they are locked and and completely unused. The staff are actually kind of stationed in what can charitably described as a back closet and they wait for the door buzzer (and can maybe see on a video screen). As the front door is always locked (your door key opens it), your initial arrival is to a locked door looking into an empty lobby but facing those beautiful teller windows. It would be AWESOME if the front counter staff were actually comfortably seated behind those teller windows, maybe even dressed appropriately like they worked in the old bank. They would be able to easily see people walking up the the front door to buzz them in, and then check-in would be at the teller window. That would be a fun way to start your experience. I also think it would be much more rewarding for the staff... who were all lovely. I really hope the owners read these comments and take this idea into consideration. I think it's a real missed opportunity. Other than that... if you're going to Houghton, this is an unforgettable hotel that most certainly will add to your experience in this historic Michigan town. read more

We were very disappointed with our stay. Apparently, the hotel only has three rooms designated for guests who book through Expedia, and unfortunately, these rooms face the road. The traffic noise was constant throughout the night and never seemed to stop. On top of that, there was a bright streetlight directly outside our window, making it difficult to get a good night's sleep. What made this experience even more frustrating was that the hotel was clearly not busy. There were only about five vehicles in the parking lot, so it was hard not to question why we were assigned one of these rooms when it appeared there were other options available. As a guest, I would expect to be treated the same regardless of how I book my reservation. Instead, it left us feeling as though we were being penalized for using Expedia. If the hotel reserves certain rooms specifically for third-party bookings, that is something guests should be made aware of before booking. A comfortable night's sleep is a basic expectation when paying for a hotel room, and unfortunately, this stay fell well short of that expectation. read more

The Vault Hotel - Bright street light right outside window - Hotels Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

I did not actually stay at the Vault Hotel but was a guest at the Counting Room. Collin is an amazing master of drinks and comes highly recommended! He perfected me a lemon drop! The bar has a speakeasy vibe, very demure and quaint. The next time I'm in Houghton, I will be sure to stay at the Vault just so I can visit this place again. read more

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It was amazing. Great staff, very modern hotel, complimentary drinks and sodas, very comfy beds, very cute little town and there was even robes. There is only one thing that I think can enhance this stay is a pool. Could not recommend more. read more

I have stayed at The Vault twice and enjoyed both of my stays. The rooms are spacious and well kept. I enjoyed the complementary drinks and snacks in the lobby. Staying at the hotel gets you access to The Counting Room speakeasy bar. The drinks I have had there have been top notch. I will say that the beds are a bit low to the ground for my taste, and you must ask the person working the front desk for the breakfast quiche because they are not out with the other breakfast food. read more

The Vault Hotel - Cocktails at The Counting Room - Hotels Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

Service: The person/persons manning the front are less than cordial. If this hotel is working toward a great niche feel, then customer service should be top notch. We found the individuals cold and uninterested in creating a welcoming environment. In contrast the bartender in the Counting Room made the experience very special. Food: I see other reviews were positive about the breakfast, but we were underwhelmed. Bagels, toast and cold cereal are not that exciting but to be fair we did not try the quiche. Coffee was mediocre at best. The room: Nice, bed is a bit low to the ground but tolerable. Shower was good. Bathtub looked enticing but didn't try. The French Press coffee in the room was a nice touch, but was tempered by the fact that there was only enough to make one cup?! Lost the "wow" factor on that note. Parking: Great space across the street, covered with easy access. Overall this hotel seems to be striving for the niche boutique experience, has the potential, but misses the mark. read more

Incredible hotel. They've converted an old bank into a nice hotel, with some rooms having the original vaults in them. The vaults are basically a sitting room with cocktail sets and chess sets. The rooms are quite nice. The only downside was the shower: it got scalding hot immediately and would not cool down. The lobby has lots of snacks and drinks to take, all of which are delicious. Breakfast is included and was pretty good: I enjoyed the ham quiche. The main draw is The Counting Room: the speakeasy bar in the basement. The only way to get in is an annual membership (which is VERY expensive) or by staying at the hotel. The drinks are absolutely fantastic and the bartender was great to talk to. I really enjoyed the visit. Highly recommend The Vault. Most hotels in the area are pretty expensive and I think this one is worth a little extra for the experience. read more

Best hotel I have been in in a while and I travel for work and cannot wait to visit again. Perfect boutique hotel! Hidden gem.

This is an absolutely beautiful hotel. It will remind you of the small hotels in Europe. The rooms are beautiful and very clean. The staff was super friendly and very helpful with information. Nice little breakfast which they offer a broccoli, bacon or ham Quiche (I would recommend the ham). The hotel is very secure, digital locks on all doors, including the main entrance. So upon your arrival at check-in, use the phone next to the front door to get the attendant. read more

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This was our second stay there and I'd have to agree with others that the quality this time was less than stellar. For starters the speakeasy bar is closed on Sundays which was the primary reason for our choosing to stay there. Surprisingly the cost to stay on a Sunday is even higher than during the week when the bar is open. Needless to say we were very disappointed. Our rooms shower head and head held sprayers were sticking and could only be switched if the water was turned off. There were also only 2 hangers in the room. For the amount charged this hotel should be top notch which it is not. This will be our last stay at The Vault because it's no longer worth the money to us. read more

I love this hotel! I was not expecting anything of this caliber in Houghton. But the staff was friendly, rooms immaculate, the vegetarian breakfast quiche in the morning was delicious! They have snacks and drinks readily available 24/7. And have even more for breakfast. They really put effort in and it shows. I appreciate a good hotel, and this one is definitely worth staying at. read more

The Vault Hotel - Snack/drink area. Everything's complimentary! - Hotels Near Me - Houghton, Michigan

Best hotel in all of Michigan. Yes. I'll say it again: BEST. HOTEL. IN ALL. OF THE STATE. OF MICHIGAN! It's boutique, sexy, cozy, CLEAN (hallelujah!!!) and unique. The speakeasy downstairs is amazing. When we stayed, it was for hotel guests only. Hopefully that's still the same now. We LOVED our stay, and we cannot wait to go back. read more

I really would have given this hour a 4.5 had that been possible. Summary because this is long...I highly recommend booking a room at The Vault. We'll be back. The Vault is a great hotel and a lovely option of the moderate chain-based hotels in Houghton. The staff is friendly, the rooms are well-appointed and interesting. Our room had a very comfortable bed (tempurpedic-ish mattress) and feather and synthetic pillow options. There was also a small sitting area featuring a fold-out couch. My son rates its comfort as "the most comfortable fold out but still not that comfortable." The room also had a nice bar area with coffee service (French press and locally roasted coffee), fridge, and microwave. The bathroom was also well-appointed with a large shower, thick towels, and lit mirror. The breakfast service was great...locally made mini-quiches and baked goods. The location is great...walking distance to KBC, which is really all that matters. The parking is convenient. The lobby is non-traditional...no front desk, which is a neat touch. The staff greeted me with laptop to complete the transaction. So why not 5 stars? 1. Value. The rooms are expensive. I would file it in the "if you really want to treat yourself" category. Last time I stayed at the Country Inn in Houghton it was $160 (total rip-off), so it makes it easier to justify the cost of The Vault (we paid $260) 2. In-room microwave...oddly you have to remove the microwave from a storage cabinet and move it to the countertop to plug it in. This could easily be solved by putting a plug in the cabinet. 3. The bed frame is an ankle biter. It is a low wooden platform frame. The mattress is smaller than the platform by design (aesthetically pleasing), but this leaves the corners of the platform exposed. We all clipped our ankles (not a whiner...ouch!). It seems like we aren't the only ones because the sharp corners were chipped on both sides of the bed. 4. Now this is picky...I travel a lot for work and *hate* the super-sized pump-driven body wash/shampoo/conditioner. I travel with my own shampoo, but I really prefer a bar of soap. There was one bar of soap for hand washing, which we moved back and forth from sink to sink to shower. The soap, btw, is lovely (very high quality for hotel soaps). read more

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A pretty nice place in Houghton! Love the complimentary snacks and the staff is great.

We just spent two nights there and felt totally pampered. Beautiful surroundings from the lobby to room to The Counting Room bar in the cellar, with attentive staff when needed, quiet and peaceful. Grant and Collin in the bar were very knowledgeable and friendly, we enjoyed quite a few unique cocktails and were never disappointed. Convenient parking and perfect location in walking distance to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and shopping. read more

Ants everywhere! Double queen suite was an ant haven with ants located all around perimeter of the room! Did receive room change, but not much else. This was a second stay here and as someone else mentioned, cleanliness has gone down hill. read more

The Vault Hotel staff were great! Every encounter had a smile and where always helpful. The Counting Room Bar is a really cool place to grab a drink and relax. It truly reminds you of a secret speak easy. read more

When I was a student at Michigan Tech, what is now The Vault was, at that time, a Wells Fargo (I'm starting to sound like my parents...). I was very intrigued to see what a boutique hotel in Houghton, MI would look like! And wow, are we impressed. The style and decor upon entering is stunning and impeccably tasteful. It's slightly reminiscent of a Gatsby-type style- lots of dark jewel tones, velvet furniture, beautifully lit and white marble and tile. The welcome bar downstairs (and breakfast in the AM!) is full of coffee, tea, quiche, bagels, sweet treats- all made from local vendors. I really appreciate any venture that makes an effort to support other local businesses and their products. It's obvious that the proprietors of The Vault wanted to create a community-focused operation here. I can't wait to come back. And one last thing- don't forget The Counting Room when you visit! read more

Great hotel tucked away in Houghton. Highly recommend. Staff was extremely accommodating with a looming snowstorm and our need to amend our plans. Sarah was outstanding and even alerted us to an item left in our room. She arranged shipment for return. Amazing experience. We'll definitely be back. read more

Refreshing vibe after several lackluster "mom and pops" on our rural road trip. Bed was comfy, amenities in the room adequate, breakfast decent especially when adding quiche, fresh fruit, baked muffins and access to coffee, tea and drinks 24-7. It's also a nice touch to have freshly baked cookies mid afternoon. It's a bit off-putting when you arrive and door is locked, but quickly resolved with quick attention from the on duty person. Free, easily-accessible garage parking as well.,My biggest beef is very spotty wi-fi. It is simply not dependable and it doesn't seem to matter the weather, time of day etc. we are all so dependent upon decent WiFi and at the price for a room here, I'd expect better. read more