Historic Hotel Nichols — Hotel in South Haven

We arrived in South Haven around 4:15p, and checked into the hotel. Upon entering, we were greeted with a well lit and inviting lobby. The message on the computer screen at the Desk said call a cell number for assistance. We called the number and were greeted by the bubbly voice of NaDean, the hotel manager and she said that she'd be right there help. Within thirty seconds, she appeared and gleefully checked us in. We were presented with a simple breakfast menu, and NaDean walked us through our choices. We both chose the Breakfast Burrito. We also were asked to provide a time for breakfast to be served. We could choose between 9:00a and 11:00a, in fifteen minute intervals - we elected to eat at 10:00a, Sunday morning. Following the formalities, NaDean broke down the lobby amenities and shared the technical details of navigating the hotel's common spaces. After that we were shown the way to our room.

For our visit, and at the suggestion of Mary Anne's sister, we had reserved The Blue Room. Up the stairs and to the first room on the left. The room was immaculate and tastefully appointed with a side table and two chairs, a dresser and flat screen TV, a small chair and a king size bed in the first room. In and to the right was a smaller ante room with an additional single bed, a dorm fridge, a large closet and a full bathroom. NaDean pointed out all of the details, shared the how-tos for our stay - and much to our surprise presented a gift basket containing Sparkling Cider, a bottle of Wine, two glasses, chocolates, cheese, crackers, battery powered votives and holders, and other niceties. Too cool! She also shared some of the books available on the rooms book shelves.

After settling our bags into the room we ventured out about the town. We took a drive around the town, ending up at the South Pier parking lot. We stayed to watch the Sunset, then headed to dinner at Maria's. Returning to the hotel, we retired for the evening. The room was very cozy, and the floor lamp and table lamp provided Mary Anne adequate light to look through the books, and read in bed. We talked comfortably never were disturbed by any noise from the other guests in the hotel. While you could hear folks ascending and descending the stairs next to our room, it was nothing distracting.

We slept well, and after getting cleaned up and dressed we arrived for our breakfast appointment, promptly at 10:00a. True to her promise NaDean greeted us and walked through our morning beverage options. There was a selection of Keurig options, hot water for tea, orange juice, and a freshly prepared French Press. Being a coffee fan, I went French Press. Half and Half and French Vanilla creamer were available for use. Within minutes of our arrival, our pre-ordered Breakfast Burritos were delivered to our table. The were well prepared and delicious. An extra treat was the Jalapeño Crema that topped the burrito. Excellent! The burrito was paired with local sourced, thick sliced bacon, which was crisply prepared and very tasty. The fruit cup was a mix of Strawberry, Melon and Blueberries - also delicious. After a perfect two minute check back, we were left to enjoy our breakfast as a couple. We finished eating and were enjoying a second cup of coffee when NaDean returned to confirm our satisfaction, and clear our plates.

The hotel owners should be very happy with their selection for their facility management. NaDean does an amazing job at all aspects of the customer experience - Check-In, Housekeeping, Bookings, Kitchen Prep, Meal Service and Resident History Expert.

In fact, we enjoyed our time at the Hotel Nichols so much that we took the opportunity to book our 31st anniversary weekend trip, in November.

Hotel Nichols - highly...

Staying at the Historic Hotel Nichols was a unique experience like I've never had before at any hotel. Unlike the sterile hospital atmosphere of most chain hotels, Hotel Nichols felt like a cozy comfortable 1800's mini-mansion. The rooms weren't excessively large, nor were they cramped. Just the right size for a short getaway right in the heart of South Haven's shopping district. A movie theater on the same block made for a fun evening activity on a rainy night, and was less than a minute walk from the hotel. It took only a few minutes to saunter over to the lighthouse on the pier as well, passing a diverse variety of local shops and bakeries on the way.

The aesthetic and decor of Hotel Nichols was exceptionally beautiful, with antique dressers and engraved wooden bed frames. There was even a stack of three antique books on one dresser, eliciting an experience that felt like you were living a different life straight out of 1884, when the building was first built. We rented a two bedroom suite, connected in the center. Each room had a different rug and decorative pillow on the bed, one themed with blue and the other pastel yellow. Both rooms boast a variety of unique and beautiful paintings of the sea, complete with ships and sails. As a fun contrast to the antique decor, both rooms had modern flat screen tv's with access to Roku and a subscription to Disney+. I enjoyed watching Cruella, and browsing the family friendly film options.

The best part of the experience staying at the Hotel Nichols was the hospitality. Scott, the owner of the establishment, took the time to greet and get to know us on a personal level, even encouraging me in my own small business ventures and sharing in my joy. He took an interest when I decided to show him my online shop, and shared his own experiences with me. Mario was also kind and friendly, chatting with me about movies and hobbies, and sharing fun life stories. I would lose track of the time in fun conversation that made my stay feel like a sleep over with good friends. Michael was also a pleasure to get to know, greeting me each morning with enthusiasm and updating me on all the upcoming local music shows. He was the go-to-guy for shop and restaurant suggestions and hours of operation. At Hotel Nichols, you can take the cake and eat it too, with their evening Happy Hour from 5pm to 7pm, where they provide complementary charcuterie, wine, and social. I feel like I made some fantastic new friends, and will definitely room here again! Also, the blueberry wine was...

Please ask A LOT of questions if you are planning a stay at this hotel. The positives include the location, the size of the apartment, and it was reasonably clean. However, there are many aspects that are lacking when compared to what is advertised. Flight of narrow, steep steps to acces the apartment which is not mentioned on website and could be a barrier for some patrons. The decor has not been updated for several decades, furniture is in very poor shape, beds are broken down and flip forward if you sit on the end of it, and doors/windows are not secure. The apartment includes a bookcase that opens into an adjoining hallway and is secured by a very flimsy slide lock. The key to the entire apartment was missing when we arrived. (they did change the lock). The wi-fi did not connect despite asking for help (their solution did not work) and trying multiple devices. The air condition is window units only that work poorly and one bedroom has no unit available and even running fans requires extension cords due to the outlet situation. We arrived on a 90 degree day and the air had not been turned on. The bathroom shower leaks and nothing can be left on the bathroom floor. The electric has not been updated with the result of very few outlets available (which is difficult with large groups). The breakfast is adequate, but perishable items such as yogurt are left out for long periods of time ( there is no air condition in the lobby so it is very warm). It is not cheap and based on the website and price, we expected considerably more in the way of amenities and quality. The staff will address things if pushed (they changed the compromised lock and found an extension cord for the fan), but they are not overly helpful and are very busy with their own company/visitors. Additionally, most of these issues cannot be fixed within the time frame of a visit. A very big disappointment in what was otherwise a great, long-anticipated trip to South Haven with extended family. Will definitely be returning to SoHo, but will be finding other...