Harbor Lights Resort — Hotel in Frankfort

My husband and I spent our honeymoon at the Harbor Lights Resort this past weekend. I can't say enough great things about this place! It was right on Lake Michigan, a super short walking distance to downtown shops, and it was very clean inside and out. We almost stayed at the Best Western in Beulah but the front desk clerk there said she spent her honeymoon at Harbor Lights and loved it.

As you might have gathered, we hadn't made reservations because early May in northern Michigan doesn't tend to be a busy time. Both of the ladies that work the front desk at Harbor Lights were friendly and helpful. The woman who helped book our room the first night simply asked what accommodations we were looking for, and she fit us in a room that perfectly met all of our needs.

The "room" was basically our own little apartment. It was spacious for 2 people with a king sized bed, a 2-person jacuzzi right in the bedroom(sweet!), and even a double-sided fireplace that could be enjoyed from the bedroom or the living area. There was a little deck off the living room, a full kitchen with a fridge/freezer, and ice machine which was super convenient for keeping our leftovers and taking food in the cooler on day trips. The bathroom was nicely sized with a double sink and large shower. The couch was really comfy (and was also a queen sleeper, for a more family-type scenario;) The decorations were tasteful and sparse which added to the relaxing atmosphere. The pool/hot tub area was big and clean. After thoroughly enjoying our stay the first night and exploring the cute little town of Frankfort, we decided to stay another night. Diane helped us book our second night. She made some really great recommendations for places to check out in and around town. All of them lived up to expectations. Thank you again, Diane.

Literally the only reason I can't give Harbor Lights Resort 5 stars is there were a few minor changes/improvements that I noted while staying there. Label the lights. There was a panel of 5 or 6 light switches for the kitchen/dining/living area to the right as you enter the unit. It was difficult to remember what switch went to what light. This is an inexpensive solution that would be very helpful for future guests. Supply guests with robes for the suites(or at least guests who are honeymooning). The pool/hot tub are in a separate building and it tends to be pretty cold along the lake most months out of the year. Also, it would be great to enjoy time in the jacuzzi or hot tub and then put on a robe and sit on your deck enjoying the sunset. Tinted/privacy windows for 1st floor units. The unit we stayed in was on the bottom level right across from the main office so it was highly visible. There were lots of windows in the suite which was nice during the day but privacy was a bit of an issue unless the blinds were completely closed.

Long story short, we loved Harbor Lights Resort! We will definitely stay there again, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing time on...

Revised review I am writing to follow up on my review of the Harbor Lights Resort and also the proprietor’s response. Not long after checking out, but after I’d written my review, we were contacted by the proprietor, who wanted to hear firsthand about our concerns. Especially since I had discovered that I did have email documents, that I had forgotten about when I wrote the original review, I responded to him with a detailed email, including the documentation for my concerns. Any business can have an off day or even an off weekend, and so the real test of a proprietor’s quality is that person’s willingness to make good on an occasional failure. That is exactly what the proprietor at Harbor Lights did. Having received my documentation and the details of our complaint, he made good on the cost and said that he would look after the other issues so that these would not be a problem for future renters. As I said, anybody can have an off day or an off weekend and so it is very important that a business be willing to make amends. That’s what Harbor Lights Resort has done and so now I am switching my review from one star to five stars. It is a lovely place to stay with a beautiful view of the lake. Frankfort is a delightful town with nice places for walking and nice restaurants. We will be coming back to Harbor Lights and we recommend it to others.

Original review This review is specifically about unit 94. The view from this condo is absolutely beautiful but we would never rent unit 94 again. It’s one of the units at Harbor lights that is rented by an owner and not by the resort. First of all, it is way over priced and we are sure we were charged at the desk more than we were quoted on the phone when we made the reservation. However, we neglected to get it in writing. Once in the unit we discovered numerous problems. Several things are not working. There’s no instructions on how to operate anything. It would appear that the owners have put little money or thought into the unit as a rental, and only have thought of how much they could get back in rent. Again, never again will we come to unit 94. Instead ask...

If you or your family are trying to decide if you should stay at this resort, don’t think twice. You will enjoy your stay. The rooms were clean and updated. I stayed with my family in a two queen room, but I did get to see into some of the nicer family suites on the property and those looked even better. The access to the beach is incredible. No matter where you stay on the property, the beach is just a matter of a couple dozen steps away. Having private access to the beach is amazing, especially if you have young kids. The hotel grounds are clean and very well maintained. The beach is amazing. Beautiful water and clean sand. My experience with the staff members here were always pleasant and welcoming. The proximity to the downtown Frankfurt area is perfect, you can practically walk downtown from the resort. If you are a sunset lover, I think this property may get some of the best sunsets in the entire state. Very scenic and beautiful. My only comment is that the pillows at this establishment are very strange. They are small and not very comfortable, so if you are coming here I would definitely recommend you bring your own pillows. Overall, I cannot wait to return and spend more time at this great location in a great area...