Manistee Hotel — Hotel in Manistee

We booked this hotel a while back so that we could spend a day in Manistee before heading up North for the rest of our vacation. We booked because of the really affordable price. I have to say that we were pleasantly surprised. We read some reviews and it seemed iffy but it turned out well. Do not judge a book by its cover. It may look out of the ordinary from the outside but I think it gives it some character :) All throughout our stay the staff was friendly and funny. I think one of them might have been the owner bc I heard another staff person call him Joe and, from what I read on the other reviews, the owner's name is Joe. Unlike what another reviewer said, he and the same staff member where in the lobby every time we went by. To me that says a lot. They care and it seems like it is a local business which I will support any day over the big hotels in the area. This hotel is not the fanciest as far as the hallways and pool area but our room was SPOTLESS. It was cleaner and nicer than some places we've stayed at for triple the price. Tons of pillows. Sufficient towels. Top blankets had the white sheet type cover so you can see it is cleaned every time , not like 80% of the places that have the iffy coverlets that you never know what has been on them--I always strip those off. The beds were super comfy. Furniture was fine. The bathroom was so clean. Again, it was cleaner than a lot of places we've stayed. That's usually the clincher for us. Plenty of soap, t.p., etc. There was an awesome huge flatscreen T.V. Looked almost brand new. Lots of cable channel selections and great reception. Our son was happy with the great kids channels. The view from our room was awesome (we were on the second floor). We overlooked the big ships that were docked in the bay. Our room was really sound proofed. We were right next to the stairwell and I know we had neighbors bc we checked in together. Absolutely no problems with noise. The pool and hot tub were decent. Again, not the most up-to-date but our son had fun and that's what counts. Kids aren't going to mind if it's not a five-star pool. Plus it's one of the few area hotels that offers a pool. The hot tub was in working condition and we enjoyed it. There were plenty of towels in the pool area. The lounge chairs were brand new bc you could see some of the plastic packaging on the bottom. The breakfast was the normal hotel fare--eggs, waffle-maker, toast, bagels, muffins, danishes, fresh hot coffee, OJ and apple juice, plenty of butter, syrup, etc. We saw Joe making sure that nothing got low. We've been at so many places where you have to ask for something. Coffee was great. All in all we were super happy with our stay--especially what we got for the price we paid. It also meant a lot to us that we were able to help support a local business and the owner (we think) was there the whole time (and was so friendly ). It's obvious that he cares about his customers. The only thing we recommend is maybe more vacuuming in the halls but it really didn't matter to us. We will definitely stay here again when we...

As we got there we were very happy and got our rooms. We got two adjoining rooms next to each other as we were traveling with friends. Then the nightmare begins. To begin we went down to the pool where there was only two towels left, which our friends took. Ok, they were booked so I'm sure they were busy. So I picked phone up just so they know they were almost out of towels. Phone rang from pool more then 30 times. When they did answer he said they only had 3 towels left. He'd bring them down but that was it. Ok, we only needed two. All I cared about is having a towel for my husband and I, not what you can or can't provide to other guests. Suggestion, if you don't have staff on hand when you are booked, teach other personnel to run a wash machine/dryer. Lol. Now to the rooms, our friends Tv was not working and was told to just turn off for 30 seconds and turn back on and it should work. They done that periodically all night and it never worked. Also we got some water and went to put it in the fridge, and the fridge still had left over food wrapped in a tin foil from the prior guests. Now for Breakfast... to begin I didn't know the kid that was playing tunes off his cell phone was the kid working in what I assume is the kitchen area. He was playing the "make me a believer" pop song on his cell. There was nothing stocked as far as food goes. I saw a few come out from the direction of what I believe was the kitchen to let them know they were out of stock like out of pretty much everything. So then the kid, probably in his 20's, that was playing tunes on his cell comes out, still playing music on his phone carrying it, and comes back shortly after and slams a sign, I mean "slam" a note obove the entry area door saying "employees only, thank you" because people were going back and telling him the food was out including the orange juice that I was wanting coming out as complete water. All of us sitting in room at tables jumped in shock of the slammed note. Looked like kids handwriting by the way, very unprofessional. The table next to us with kids there after googled then on his cell phone, places for breakfast locations in the area, as we could see we were not going to get breakfast here, as so did we search for a place to eat. So we headed back to our rooms to pack and leave. We also told the front desk lady working they were out of a lot of things for breakfast. As we came down and checked out and walked out, she then told us food was stocked again. Lady... really?... we were leaving at that point. Suggestion, if the food was still cooking, come out and just tell us, or how long before it gets stocked. Not slam a hand written childish written looking note up on the wall above the entry telling us to stay out and not letting you know you are out of stock in food. Let us know. Or management... when you know the hotel is booked the night before because they were turning people away when we checked in because they were booked, recognize that you may need to call some extra staff in to help for the next morning at...

As a world traveler, I’ve NEVER, EVER been more disappointed or more insulted by a hotel and especially than by the “manager” of The Manistee Hotel – a “family owned” place that insulted not only me, but also my traveling companions. Reservations were made on May 30th for 2 rooms with 2 queen beds for a June 29th overnight stay. Their web site asks for an approximate arrival time. - 9:00 PM was given. We arrived around 9:30 PM only to find that 1 room was ready, the other was not. It would be a half hour or so until the 2nd room was ready. “WHAT??? I made the reservations a month ago. We’ve been on the road since 9:00 AM ”. – “Manager’s reply: “That doesn’t matter” – “I didn’t cancel the reservation, you should be expecting us”. – reply “That doesn’t matter. We’re shorthanded because of Covid” was his excuse. “It’s a family owned business - where’s your family”? – a blank look was the answer to my query. A half hour passes and still NO ROOM.

We moved our luggage from the car into the readied room. The bathroom tub didn’t have a dripping faucet, it didn’t have a drizzle but, yes, a full blown stream running down the drain. Way to be ECO friendly. Back to the lobby we went, expecting prompt action on our situation. Another “guest” came into the lobby while we were waiting. He had to complain to the “manager” of ants in his room. The “manager” was nowhere to be found. Phone ringing in the background – no one to answer. Room not ready, poorly maintained plumbing, ants in the room – what else? – bed bugs? – critters in the walls?

After almost an hour wait for our 2nd room, our traveling companion (now righteously frustrated and very tired) was accused of talking to the “manager” in a disrespectful manner. In an elevated voice - “I want my room that was reserved a month ago” Manager: “That doesn’t matter. Why are you talking to me this way? I deserve to be treated with respect.” (Even though you’ve waited an hour for someone to clean a room that was reserved for you a month ago). The “manager” then refused to give our companions the keys to the now ready room and demanded that they leave “his” hotel because he felt he was treated with disrespect. The “manager” should have been our side of the plastic “wall” in order to see how he disrespected us.

When the “manager” asked that my companions leave, he said I could stay. UMM NO. When we first checked in, the “manager” put BOTH rooms on my credit card. He would not process a credit to my card until all of us were in the lobby, exiting “his” hotel.

DO NOT EVER – EVER – EVER STAY THERE. DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

For a few $ more – last minute ¬– we stayed at a Choice Hotel a couple of blocks away – very accommodating – no problem with having 2 rooms ready for us – great breakfast. Well deserved after the horror of the Manistee Hotel.

Unfortunately, I can't give less than 1 star. If I could It would be a minus 10 out of a...