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Reviews of Northwinds Motel

2.5 out of 5
Northwinds Motel
11472 W US 23, Mackinaw City, MI

Reviews

5.6
Rating 10 - Excellent. 50 out of 376 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 73 out of 376 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 90 out of 376 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 72 out of 376 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 91 out of 376 reviews" "

6.0/10

Cleanliness

6.8/10

Staff & service

4.6/10

Amenities

5.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

5.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from Management on 17 Oct 2023
We appreciate you selecting us and hope to see you again soon

6/10 Okay

Daniela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Jason

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Simple older but clean motel. Great place to rest your head
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from Management on 17 Oct 2023
We appreciate you selecting us and hope to see you again soon

10/10 Excellent

carol

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved being given (without our asking) the only room with a deck out back overlooking Lake Huron with a spectacular view of the skies and bridge. When our room key didn't work, the front desk lady was there in a jiffy with a new key. Only thing I didn't like were the spiders in the corners, which were working hard to catch all the gnats that got in when we were unpacking the car. But I guess that's to be expected when it's Sept and there are few guests.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from Management on 17 Oct 2023
We appreciate you selecting us and hope to see you again soon

10/10 Excellent

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from Management on 17 Oct 2023
We appreciate you selecting us and hope to see you again soon

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The most amazing view. A balcony overlooking the straights with the bridge and Mackinac island. Room was clean and comfortable with a great bed.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from Management on 17 Oct 2023
We appreciate you selecting us and hope to see you again soon

4/10 Poor

Bethany

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disgusting, not worth the money
The hotel was so run down it had not had maintenance done in many years. It was not cleaned properly and everything was outdated. The beds were hard and springy, the shower pressure was non existing, and there was no housekeeping services unless you gave a different hotel 24 hr notice if you needed it. The front desk was under construction and had to check in at a completely different hotel to get keys. Will never stay here again. $200 a night for filth.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Gregory

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
This was an adventure
I don’t like to complain. I hope this is taken as constructive criticism. It was a great location. Unfortunately I didn’t stay at Northwinds. When I arrived, I had to check in at a nearby motel (Sunrise). Then, I was given another room at another motel (Bells). When I arrived, the inside appeared clean. Bathroom was very clean. However, there were spiders. They don’t bother me too much but if my wife would have been with me, she would have slept in the car. The outside deck had a plastic table. No chairs. I borrowed one from next door. On the table was a half used bottle of charcoal lighter fluid. Paint was chipping off the deck, there were cobwebs and other debris all over the outside part of the cabin, and the previous tenants left pistachio shells all over the deck (look at pic). I’m not positive, but I think there was a homeless guy sleeping on the beach. A little paint, a broom, some dusting would fix all these issues. Would I stay here again? I think so. But I would bring cleaning supplies and camp chairs with me.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from Management on 17 Oct 2023
We appreciate you selecting us and hope to see you again soon

4/10 Poor

Kristie

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bell's is a dump.
First, they put me a Bell's instead of Northwoods. Bell's is a dump. The glass door didnt lock. The bathroom floor was all bubbled and warped. The shower had a rusty head. The sink only slowly drained.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

4/10 Poor

Dan

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

4/10 Poor

Janet

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Room was clean but it smelled musty. Could not stay there. Went to sunrise motel
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

2/10 Terrible

Shannon

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

4/10 Poor

Hank

We had a problem with the condition of our room and when I brought it to their attention we were promptly offered another room at one of their other properties. Excellent customer service!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Response from Management on 17 Oct 2023
We appreciate you selecting us and hope to see you again soon

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Decent for the price
Not bad for the price. Wasn’t expecting a 5 star, but never experienced any problems.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

4/10 Poor

Thomas

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disappointing
Sorry, but in all honesty this place was a disappointment. And I mean EVERYTHING about it.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Autumn

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very upbeat and happy staff very helpful. Lots of fresh towels. Room was very clean. Had a wonderful view of the lake. Would come back again :)
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

2/10 Terrible

Jennifer

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The fumes of chlorine should have kept me from attempting to take a shower at all. I couldn’t stay in long enough to wash my hair. I have a rash after taking a shower. If I can upload pictures of my skin I will. I want a refund and need to shower to rinse this stench of my body. I was put in their Belle motel location, not Northwinds, what I thought I was booking on the expedia website.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Jody

Travelled with family and small children
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bathroom was in very poor condition. Surround shower tiles around the tub was separating from the wall. No curtain in the bathroom for privacy. I had to put up a beach towel for privacy. Other than that, it was clean and everything did work. No coffee maker. For what we paid for it work for us. Good location. Beach was nice but had a lot of geese droppings. Some children did get the swimmers itch due to the geese droppings. So beware.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

2/10 Terrible

Chad

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vern

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We got moved from this property to sunrise beach motel. Perfect view of the bridge and really nice beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

4/10 Poor

Ashlie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Katie

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The room was terribly small. The beds barely fit in the room. The mattresses didn’t fit on the box spring. The bathroom was terrible. Smallest shower ever. No room to move around in it. Had to sit sideways to use the toilet. Pictures on the booking site don’t match what you get.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Polite

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

April

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

2/10 Terrible

Angela

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I booked 2 rooms at the Northwinds motel. Another motel called Sunrise Beach charged my card before we arrived. We had to go to the Sunrise to check in and was then told we would be staying at the Sunrise. We were told our rooms would be ready by 4:00, it was actually after 5:00. The rooms they gave us were beyond filthy! The glass patio doors were so dirty you couldn't see through them and the carpet was caked with dirt and grime and the doors didn't even lock in one of the rooms. Went back to the office and asked for our money back and was refused. We had already been charged for 4 nights. She gave us 2 other rooms in yet another hotel next door the Bridge view. They were cleaner but reaked of mildew smell. The bathroom lights have a built in fan that comes on with the light and in one of the rooms the fan motor locked up and started screeching an ear piercing sound. I called the office immediately (around 9am) she said she would send maintenance to fix it. We returned to the room around 2pm and it wasn't fixed. I called back to the office and was told it would be fixed. We went back out and returned about 9pm to it STILL not fixed. Called the office again and this time I was told "they had a lot on their plate" Plus couldn't find a new one to replace it. We could not use the bathroom light the rest of the evening and into the next day meaning showers and using the toilet in the dark. The view was great but that's about all I can say nice about it.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from Management on 20 Jul 2023
We do operate under one hotel name for any and all credit charges. This guest was given two waterfront rooms in our Bridgeview property and while she felt they were unacceptable her other party came down and told us they loved the room. In fact I had many conversations with her father in law each morning while he sipped his coffee gazing across the water. He informed me he will be back and wants to always book the room he was in. Unfortunately you cannot please every guest and had the guest given us the right room number to have the fan fixed, we would have had it done when she returned. Maintenance went right out there (to the room number she gave us) and stated it was running fine. Again, if you come in with a poor attitude and bring your negativity to your vacation, nothing is going to please you. We would love to welcome your parents back anytime.

2/10 Terrible

Amy

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The guy didn’t have our hotel room cleaned after we checked in. Housekeeping was smoking weed. It reeked like marijuana. The hotel beds were made with flat sheets not fitted. Front window was open all night long. It was hot and uncomfortable. The air conditioner kept kicking in and out, off and on. Very loud and noisy. Hot water ran out. Shower head height was to my chest. Decor was from the 70s. Microwave was so old that Columbus brought it over on the boat! More bugs including in the globe in the light fixture in the bathroom. Bed mattresses were so flimsy that you could roll over and take the whole mattress with you. Pool was out of order at our motel. We had to walk 3 motels down to another motel. Hot tub was not working at that one. We all walk down there to find the pool filthy, bugs in it, etc. Desk clerk at other motel tells us that we can walk down three motels the other way and go to a water park for FREE. We signed liability agreement and waivers for all of us. We walked down 3 motels the other way. We were standing in a very nice hotel where the water park was. I figured that the water park would be nice, too. NOPE. Not the case at all. Water park is filthy. It has not been cleaned at all. We saw clumps of hair on the floor by the pool. No water slides were open. Dirty and filthy showers. No lifeguards. Deflated inner tubes for lazy river. Kids area on pool was taken apart and down. It truly felt like they didn’t care about any of it. Sooo sad.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Response from Management on 20 Jul 2023
When you come to a high tourist area and expect to pay bargain basement prices, you cannot expect the Hilton. We are an older property with an amazing beach. In regards to our housekeepers smoking weed, they do not. Marijuana is legal in Michigan and we cannot stop our guests from smoking it during their stay. Next time you come to Mackinaw I highly suggest staying at the Hamilton as your expectations seem to match with that establishment instead.

6/10 Okay

Alayna

Disliked: Cleanliness
View was nice, unfortunately the room had not been fully cleaned before we arrived.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Leah

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
View of the bridge was great cleanliness was ok the deck need painting no breakfast was a problem
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

4/10 Poor

Joshua

Business traveller
Location-incredible view! Room was right on the beach. Quality-Meh. But for the price, I didn't expect much! The pool and hot tub were unusable, but we had the beach so whatever. My biggest complaint is not getting the room I booked. It was supposed to be in the northwinds motel, a room at the end with a private deck, away from the stacked motel on the beach full of families. Instead I was charged the same rate for a smaller room in the stacked motel three businesses down. I was OK with the room change, but a little upset that I was charged the same price. I had noisy upstairs people, and all of the kids on the beach made it hard to do my work. I had I've been in the room I actually booked, my review would be much different! A note to the management, let someone know that you changed their booking before you charge their card on the phone. That was the other strange thing, I was charged before I even checked in. again, communicate with your guests. I am not sure I will be back… And I travel up here often.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Lisa

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Kinga

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Victor

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The view was awesome
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Response from Management on 20 Jul 2023
Thank you for staying with us and we are so happy you had a chance to enjoy the amazing view our property offers.

2/10 Terrible

Michelle

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Don’t book here
We didn’t end up staying. Gross. First couldn’t find office to check in. Then when we did they gave us a different motel and room. They own 4 properties and one office for all four. When we got to the room the door was open. Bugs all over room and bed look like someone had been in there. We just left and found another room somewhere else. Didn’t get money back but still wouldn’t stay. Super bad. Save your money. Go somewhere else
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Maria C.

Travelled with partner
No check in office on site. Nothing in their description is true as stated.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023
Response from Management on 20 Jul 2023
Our check in lobby is listed and there are instructions on how to find us.

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Response from Management on 20 Jul 2023
Thank you for staying with us. We are happy you enjoyed your visit and look forward to seeing you again in the future.

6/10 Okay

Hamid

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Hi, the location is good . Parking is good and free, Microwave, TV and refrigerator available. No wifi for us 😭 Bathroom very bad Shower very bad
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

4/10 Poor

Misty

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Douglas

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
AVOID AT ALL COST UNSAFE!!!
No pool which was advertised. No inside door lock and door was opened with a real key which could be duplicated. No blinds or curtains on bathroom window and a car was parked close to that window behind motel that we touched the drivers window out the window. TV didn’t work and maintenance never showed up. There was a three foot area on the floor that sunk in 3 “ when stepped on. Only office was 2 motels away. Worst experience ever. The only positive was the young man at the night desk.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

4/10 Poor

Vicky

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Will not stsy at any of these hotels again
When we checked in we were supposed to stay at northwinds. They gave me a key. I opened the door and there was someone in there. So i told them and they gave me a key for a different motel. That room was awful. The internet would not work. Had no internet. So not happy.. i have paid a lot less and gotten so much better. They jacked up prices due to car show in town.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

4/10 Poor

Penny

Travelled with family
I reserve two rooms in one room there was no washcloths or hand house in the other room there was no ice bucket it was just a very average room I would not stay there again
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Randy

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Lake was awesome. Room was horrible
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Bonnie

Travelled with family and small children
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melvin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Aaron

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bed bug
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Amber

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
The motel is what you pay for, older cabin smell and feel, not cleaned as well as a hotel, but the manager was very accommodating and it was right in the beach, close to everything, and exactly what we needed nothing more.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Response from Management on 20 Jul 2023
We appreciate you staying with us and glad you were happy with your stay. We look forward to seeing you again in the future and will continue to strive to make your stay better.

8/10 Good

Scotty

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Get what you pay for
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

6/10 Okay

Teresa

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

6/10 Okay

NICOLE

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean room but outdated, not bad for the price. Nice beach area but sadly has trash on it and needed to be cleaned. Description on site says pool and hot tub but that is at another motel 2 spots down the road at another property they own. On the plus side, they did offer to give us a room at that property. Very friendly office staff
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Dan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022