Beach Haven Resort — Hotel in Orcas Island

Beach Haven Resort is a collection of waterfront cabins on the northwest side of Orcas Island, many of which are either on the water or close to the beach. I brought my family here twice, once long ago and again this past summer, and I was hoping that the resort would provide just as charming a vacation as I remembered. Alas it was not to be. || The cabins are starting to look run down, with rickety furniture, unmatched old restaurant-style utensils, and bad beds and bathrooms; and the staff frankly seemed largely indifferent to the guests. The management consists of two couples, but the head managers are actually gone half the time, taking care of their own motel 100 miles away. The assistant managers were not very helpful, and the whole place looks like they are having trouble keeping staff. Undoubtedly some of these issues are exacerbated by the pandemic, but there seems to be a lack of upkeep and funds to hire and keep competent help. I had high hopes for this vacation, and we did enjoy some great sunsets, but overall the time we spent here was a significant disappointment. In the future we’ll find a place with better facilities and a staff that’s more competent and friendly, even if we have to pay more. I gave the place 3 stars because of the nice beach and views, and they did have play equipment for the kids, but it could just have easily...

I went into this trip with an open mind and zero expectations. When I entered the cabin I was immediately greeted with a view of the water at sunset that made me understand why this place is so great. It's a location where you can unplug from technology and go back to the simple joys. With good company this place is amazing. There is an excellent playground here that also has a ping pong table and horshoes so there are games for the adults too. Walking along the beach is very relaxing at low tide and at high tide it feels like the water is right at the edge of the cabin. We went during summer so with nice weather we spent a lot of time outside. I can imagine a winter visit would be a lot of fun too sitting inside next to the fire while playing games, reading, or doing puzzles. Overall this was a great stay and I hope to...

These little cabins might be the most charming thing since Tolkien's Shire. They really are right on the water and the porches offer the most beautiful vista for staying in and cooking out (the cabins have Weber grills). Adults should not be worried about staying during the off season (admittedly, it might be more difficult with kids!), but with the roaring wood stove, the dark forest, and the rain on the metal roof, it makes for a very romantic ambience. We stayed in Cabin 2 and could hear the waves right outside all night. Staff could not be nicer and Beach Haven was a real chance to decompress from the world and to just relax. Would recommend it in...