Big Bear Lodge

We stayed at this motel last month and really had a great experience! The room was very clean and we were very happy with our stay. We thought the decor and quaint atmosphere were charming and the beds were surprisingly comfortable as well! I think the doors could use a secondary lock on them, however the motel is in clear view of the road and the doors and outside areas are all very well lit so we felt safe! Next time we are in the area we will be staying again!

Positive: It was next to a restaurant making it easy to walk over to eat dinner. But was also it located on a main highway and the thin walls and flimsy door made it very noisy. Negative: It was a dump. The register in the bathroom was falling off the wall. The toilet was repaired with black plastic tape and the shower was filthy. Bathroom was last updated in the 1950's. I can not believe the reviews are truthful.

This is the first time since Trip Advisor became available that I was disappointed. The Big Bear Lodge in Alpena is a dump!!!! Should be rated 2 out of 10. The shower was so disgusting I would not use it. I would not go barefoot in the bathroom. The heat register was falling apart and the toilet was repaired with black electrical tape Ugh, just nasty. Would not have stayed but all of the hotels were booked and my car was packed too full to sleep in.

Rather than paying outrageously high prices for a chain hotel, I decided to give this place a try given the positive reviews. Indeed the owners are very kind and helpful. My room was straight out of the 1950s which was charming because everything was super clean. Clearly the owners, who live on the property, care about the upkeep. My shower was fine, and I had hot water. My bed was comfortable. It was neat to experience a nostalgic motel experience.

A real dump!!!! I can not believe it was so highly rated. Bathroom was so dirty I would not shower in it or walk barefoot on the floors. The register for heat was falling apart and black tape was used to repair the toilet. Not sure how one reviewer could say the bathrooms were updated. Maybe in 1950. lol. I added photos to the review as proof. Would not have even spent the night but other hotels were full and our vehicle was too full to sleep in. Door to the room was flimsy and would be easy to break in. Loud and paper thin walls. Never again!!! Especially for $130 a night. The reviews have to be false. The owners must spend all of their spare time writing good reviews for their motel.