The Inn on Lake Superior — Hotel in Duluth

This used to be my favorite place to stay in Duluth and I've stayed there quite often in the past 20 years, but I'm probably going to think twice about returning. It still has a lot to offer, but i think it must have changed management in the past few years because things that were a constant are gone, and there's just an air of "we don't really care" that I never experienced even five years ago.||First, the positives: You can't beat the location. It's right on the lake and within walking distance of many great shops and restaurants as well as the lighthouses on the pier, and if you have a room with a balcony, you can watch the boats make their way into the harbor during shipping season. (A lakeside room with balcony is a must IMHO -- the view of the lake and walking path that goes in front of it is absolutely wonderful.) The hotel has a large parking lot and is careful to only allow in those staying there, which, especially in fall and summer months, is a blessing. (Duluth is a popular vacation spot!)||Rooms are pretty large and everything was very clean. The lighting was surprisingly good, as were the towels, and the shower was hot and powerful, even on the top floor. There are two pools, one a heated pool on the roof that is open year-round unless temps are dangerously cold (so, in Duluth, that means below 0 degrees F!) The indoor pool is a good size, and the hot tub is very large and VERY hot. There is also a sauna, a nice plus. || One of the real delights that hasn't changed is the nightly s'mores bonfire: chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows and skewers are provided and you can sit around the patio fire pit to create your personal gooey dessert. Bonus if you meet some interesting people while roasting your marshmallows! A large, airy dining room with patio access is another pleasant feature. Breakfast is standard fare -- eggs, sausage, waffles, packaged pastries, so not bad, but it used to have more interesting, unusual offerings (maybe still does on weekends??) The plastic cutlery breaks easily, so be careful when buttering your waffle. Another positive: Every room has a fridge, a microwave and a coffeemaker, but now only coffee is offered. There used to be an assortment of coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the room. And there also was coffee, tea, etc., offered in the lobby but all I saw this time was a water dispenser.||So along with the good ... some bad, and it's mostly in the little things. The hotel used to offer toiletries in individual containers, and had them artfully arranged on or around a Lake Superior rock, a nice touch for a Great Lakes destination. Now all toiletries are in plastic containers mounted on the wall, making it feel like you're in a gym. The products don't seem especially high quality, either. Our bed was comfortable enough (if a little soft), but came with a somewhat disturbing squeak. ||When we arrived -- granted, it was the dead of winter and a weekday -- there was no one at the desk, and when the clerk arrived he was busily chewing something -- gum, lunch or whatever. It seemed pretty unprofessional, especially when he didn't offer us a greeting or apologize for questionable manners (and I'm really not that much of a fussbudget!) The woman monitoring the breakfast buffet seemed to hate her job and was unfriendly when my companion tried to speak to her. When we checked in we weren't told about any of the amenities, though we did receive a flyer about pool hours, etc., but this differs from previous years when a clerk went over details with every guest (and there was more than one clerk; this could have been due to it being, as previously mentioned, WINTER). The staff -- everyone from night clerk to maids -- used to be incredibly friendly and happy to help or share information about the hotel and the city. They seemed to take a personal interest in providing great service with a smile, and they also seemed personally invested in maintaining the hotel's reputation. ||Now, The Inn feels like just an ordinary place to stay, not like being a guest in an exclusive lodging. It used to feel really special to stay there. And the thing is, this place isn't cheap, especially in summer. (I usually try to take advantage of the many specials they offer throughout the year, and those really ARE a worthwhile perk.) I =will= stay there again because I have a reservation this summer, but I will no longer have the expectations of a special experience...

Several years back, I stayed at this hotel for multiple days. It didn't feel overly luxurious but it was accommodating, comfortable and positive. This weekend, my family planned a mini-getaway to the Duluth area. My parents who have always gone for the most budget-friendly hotels asked me to help them choose a place that would be close to the action of the canal. After many so-so trips, they were willing to spend more to stay somewhere that felt like a real treat. We settled on the Inn On Lake Superior because of my previous positive experience and multiple recommendations from friends who have stayed here.

$411 for the price of this hotel is completely unreasonable for what they got. The entire facility is beginning to feel dated and generally run-down. There was barely ever anyone at the front desk and when there was, no one was very personable.

The room itself was poorly cleaned and one person in their party was using the pull-out sofa. The sheets and blankets were both stained. One of the sheets looked like it had dried blood on it. My mom called the desk and kindly requested a spare set of sheets; the front desk said it was no problem and they would send some right to the room. She was pleased with the response but 45 minutes later when nothing had been done, she went to the desk where another individual was making the same request. When my mom hinted to the host that she was disappointed that she was paying several hundred dollars for the room and the sheets were stained, she simply said "sorry about that" and didn't make any attempt to do something to make the experience better.

They also had a lake facing room located on the ground floor. One of the big selling points of this hotel was having the private balcony. With the new construction of the lakewalk going on, not only was there no lake view but there were people sitting on the grass immediately in front of their room during the afternoon hours. It may be on the lake side of the hotel, but they have no business charging extra for the rooms on the ground floor that have no view.

Finally, due to the new pandemic restrictions, there is no longer breakfast. Someone I know once praised this hotel for having "the best continental breakfast they had ever seen". Of course we understand the need for revised meal service but this could be done much better. A sack style breakfast consisting of an orange, a muffin, a granola bar and bottle of water is really something to be desired.

There are so many other hotels in the city that are half the price for better accommodations. I understand this hotel is a prime location but in my opinion, that does not make up for the poor impression. I am extremely disappointed that I recommended this hotel for a special weekend and it in no way lived up to the expectations. If the hotel would have offered to do something---anything to improve their stay, they would have left happy but the lack of courtesy is incredibly off-putting. My husband and I (not wanting to stay in the canal) stayed at a the new Tru by Hilton at the top of the hill near our former Duluth home. We paid half the price for an exceedingly better stay and even could watch the beautiful sunrise over Lake Superior from our room. Save your money and take your business elsewhere until this facility makes some improvements.

UPDATE My mom called the hotel to explain her disappointments and was told her card would be refunded. We appreciate this and are glad the staff made it right. No one likes to complain or be a bother so it really is too bad things worked out this way. When my mom thanked the person who helped her today, she was hung up on immediately after which doesn't do much to salvage any possibility of giving this place another try...

Beware of False Promises

My recent stay at The Inn on Lake Superior turned out to be an absolute nightmare, leaving me shocked, disgusted, and deeply regretful. I had made a specific request for a lake-side walk-out room and had even paid for it nearly a year in advance. However, upon arrival, I was informed that all the lake-side walk-out rooms had been given away to other guests who had supposedly "gotten there first." The hotel's failure to honor my reservation was a huge disappointment.

As a consolation, I was offered a second-floor room that reeked of cheap tobacco and malt liquor. The foul odor permeated the entire space and clung to everything, including my clothes and luggage. Despite my efforts to keep them separate, the stench infiltrated my belongings, leaving me with a lingering smell of cigarettes that persisted even after I left the hotel. It was an unpleasant and unexpected consequence that added to my overall dissatisfaction.

Moreover, the room itself was far from satisfactory. Hand prints and lip-shaped smudges on the glass indicated a lack of proper cleaning, and the balcony appeared unsafe. The combination of these factors, along with the overpowering odor, made it nearly impossible to find any semblance of comfort or relaxation in the room.

In an attempt to address the situation, I returned to the front desk, only to find it abandoned. After an excruciating wait of over 30 minutes, I finally managed to speak to the "new" manager. However, their response was far from satisfactory. I was informed that there were no other hotel rooms available in Duluth for the weekend and that I should consider myself lucky to have been given the subpar second-floor room. This dismissive attitude towards my concerns was not only disrespectful but also showcased a complete lack of professionalism.

When I politely inquired about the possibility of a partial refund for my two-night stay, the manager became aggressive and confrontational, instilling fear in me. The hostile encounter further exacerbated the distressing experience I was already enduring. Despite my attempts to sleep in the room, I woke up to find my eyes and throat burning from the stale cigarette smell that had infiltrated the entire space. It was an absolute nightmare.

I am left wondering how a much-anticipated vacation weekend in Duluth could have gone so horribly wrong. The decision to stay at The Inn on Lake Superior was undoubtedly one of the worst choices I have ever made. The false promises, the failure to honor reservations, the offensive room conditions, the confrontational manager, and the subsequent impact on my belongings and health have shattered any semblance of trust or satisfaction I had in this establishment.

I strongly advise against staying at The Inn on Lake Superior. Save yourself the disappointment, frustration, potential health risks, and the inconvenience of having your personal items tainted by the pervasive smell of cigarettes. Seek accommodation elsewhere, where you can truly enjoy your vacation without the negative experiences I...