South Pier Inn — Hotel in Duluth

The property did not live up to the $400+ price for one night. It's really sad that these places price gouge. Not just this place, all of the hotels in Duluth do, and it's pretty pathetic.

The property sits on the far side of the bridge from the rest of the city. The bridge lifts up every half hour for boat traffic, which traps you on the island for a few minutes. When a ship comes in, the bridge raises well in advance, and stays up for a minimum of 20 minutes, so plan accordingly if you have plans on the mainland side of the bridge that require you to be somewhere at a certain time. Traffic backs up on either side of the bridge accordingly.

The location was great. Our room was right on the canal and afforded great views of the bridge, the harbor and the city. Other than that, not much good to say. Parking is tight, and people who don't understand what the stripes on the ground are for don't help. We had to park far away from our room because people don't know how to park between the lines. The property is a short walk to the many bars, restaurants, shops and other attractions in and around Canal Park.

The housekeepers missed a washcloth hanging on the shower curtain rod. Nasty. The biggest thing we weren't prepared for is the noise. Every time a vehicle crosses the bridge, which is near constant, the tires make a loud hum on the bridge deck grate. And every time the lift bridge is going to go up they ring a loud bell to warn pedestrians. The bridge operator also frequently speaks to people over the loudspeaker, telling them various instructions or to get off the bridge, whatever.

But the worst noise was the horns. Despite modern communications making it obsolete, they still carry on the tradition of ships greeting the bridge operator with a series of horn blasts, which are then repeated by the bridge operator. These aren't subtle beeps, but ear-splitting blasts that can be heard for miles. It's one thing to do it during the day, but at 11:30pm? Not cool. At least the 4:45am ship had manners. I wish the people in the room above us had manners. I don't understand the need to be stomping around for hours on end. What are you doing up there???

Back to the property itself, the room was nice, and other than the missed wash cloth, was clean. The pillows were horrible. It had vaulted ceilings, which added to the roominess. The deck was small, barely big enough for the two of us to sit out there. There was bird or seagull crap on the deck we had to step around. None of the windows opened, so despite a nice cool night we had to leave the A/C on to keep the room at a comfortable temp. That helped supply white noise to drown out the bridge and the noisy people upstairs. The breakfast was just ok, did not have much for options.

This is not anything approaching a $400/night property. The gouging is disgusting. For that kind of money, at least clean the room properly, including washing the bird poop...

We stayed in room 501 over this weekend, and we have feedback to share in hopes for serious consideration for changes before our next stays in 2019.

Positives: Our kids loved watching the ships last night/this morning. It truly is a unique experience. We also LOVED having the clear view of Bentlyville. We actually opted for hot chocolate and the fireplace in our room instead of fighting the traffic, the cold, and being hearded through the display. It's also a quick walk across the lift bridge to restaurants, shops, and entertainment, which is awesome!

Areas needing improvement: •For the amount of money charged, one would expect a match in terms of comfort, decor and atmosphere. The curb appeal and room wasn't anything special. In fact, it was rather outdated and resembled that of a discount motel. •The beds are rock hard, and the pillows are flat. I actually woke up to a sore hip, shoulder, and neck accompanied with my right leg and arm tingly/asleep, which was the side I was lying on. •The noise is terribly loud and disruptive. We constantly heard stomping up and down the stairs as well as the guests above us walking around. There was the frequent sound of the doors slamming shut. They were the worst. We understand they are designed to self-close, but unless one is in a room such as ours (by stairwell), people don't realize how terribly loud and disruptive the doors, stairs, and walking around the upper level can be. •Also, please offer a breakfast with more substance. We ended up going out for breakfast yesterday and this morning, which is very unfortunate and an added expense. We were looking forward to the included breakfast. Also, the coffee was terribly bitter. •Parking can be an issue. Spots were sparse. When we checked in Friday night, the front desk stated they weren't full. If so, I would question if other guests had more than one vehicle or visitors. •If housekeeping is going to remove used washcloths, please have them leave clean ones. Although we're family, I'd still prefer not to have to share a washcloth with my husband and kids.

To add...and a big add...I agree with another guest's Facebook review two years ago on October 25, 2016. It doesn't seem as if much has changed, if anything, from her feedback, from the inn's response to her, and from our own first time experience from this weekend. She addressed the same items I have (noise, breakfast, etc.). Please don't take customer's reviews for granted. We're giving you free market feedback to only enhance your standings and the customer's experience. That said, we'll be back but look forward to seeing improvements. With improvements, I'd be happy to update to a 5 star...

Excellent, friendly, cozy, comfy, and purely marvelous!! I went to Deluth spontaneously for my birthday back in September of this year. Without any plans or reservations, I was blessed to be able to get such a luxurious roomd! We had eaten at Fitgerz prior (about a block away, I highly recommend eating there, great food and brew), and I Googled nearby lodging. The South Pier Inn was the first listing described as cozy and romantic--it truly was plus so much more!! I couldn't have asked for a better deal...the fire place gave the cozy effect, coupled with a jacuzzi that faces the balcony view of Lake Superior, only feet away made it romantic and purely awesome!! As I was sipping my champagne in the tub, an enormous Canadian ship cruised by in front us, and off into the beautiful night--it was quite a sight! There was a fridge for our leftovers and champagne. The bathroom was super clean, roomy, and had big soft towels. I can see why they have their bathrobes for sale because they are so luxurious and comfy! The bedroom was separate from the other room, and had the softest most comfortable sheets and pillows--I slept so well even through the sounds of the draw bridge! You will wake up to view a gorgeous sunrise over the lake, and then be treated to a well-above-average complimentary breakfast. I was late as they technically stop serving by 11am, but the staff was more than generous to leave it open for us with all the time we wanted to enjoy our food! (Local granola, Yoplait yogurt, fresh fruit, and much more)! We arrived without any solid plans for adventure, so the staff provided above and beyond service excellence by printing off maps of the Superior Hiking Trail for us, and gave us other awesome suggestions for sights and fun activities to do!! The staff are very professional and so helpful and generous at South Pier Inn, I shall always remember their smiling faces. We checked out and asked the bill to be split up with no problem or hesitancy (in my experience, not many hotels and ones this classy, will do this). Then as we were about to leave, the owner introduced herself to us (another rarity) and gave me lovely birthday gifts and souvenirs!! She happens to live close by and welcomes all to view the marvelous garden she and her neighbor grew--a colorful touch adding to the beauty of the lake. I'm late to post this, but better late than never because I couldn't keep such a great experience like this to myself. My stay at the South Pier Inn was a beautiful dream that I was able to live, and I couldn't have asked for better lodging accommodations for my birthday. I...