Inn At Grey Gables

What People are saying

Weirdest B&B stay

peghazon 25/10/2016 18:08

Wish I had taken the time to check reviews; this place was very strangely run. The house itself was lovely and quaint but the two couples in our party were the only ones staying there (midweek). Early in the day of our arrival we received a phone call from the innkeeper telling us that her husband's aunt was in the hospital in Traverse City and that they would not be able to meet us at the inn, but the door would be open and there was wine in the fridge in the dining room. So...that was the afternoon wine and cheese reception advertised on the website:

"Hot dishes such as quiche or apple cinnamon french toast sumptuous muffins, fresh fruit, steaming coffee. So many choices, what a way to start your morning.

Wine and cheese platters await you each evening. Scrumptious homemade cookies send you peacefully off to sleep." (quoted from website)

We saw none of this. We were the only guests in the house. The furnace was malfunctioning and overheating, there was a smoke alarm in the stairway beeping the whole time we were there, and nothing to be done about it. In the morning, the woman who had called us showed up to cook us a definitely non-gourmet breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and OJ, explaining that her husband, who was with the aunt at the hospital, was the cook. There was a Keurig for coffee.

We left for a day of wine tasting and when we returned at about 9pm, the front door was open. When we left the house, the innkeeper and possibly a maid were still there so neither of them had checked it. Our rooms had not been freshened. For the price we paid, that was not an unreasonable expectation. This was not a hostel.

We had booked the less expensive rooms upstairs that had private baths but in the hallway; since we were together we thought it would be okay. Turned out that one room had a full bath, while the other (ours) had two rooms on either side of the full bath; one with a toilet and sink, the other with a tiny shower. You can imagine how inconvenient that was.

Over the second morning's not great breakfast, we tried to gently complain to our innkeeper about all the problems, hoping perhaps to get a break on what we were being charged yet sensitive to the family's sick aunt issue, and received a hard luck story about the management vs. owners, and acknowledgment that what is promoted and promised on the website is not delivered at all.

This was probably the first time I had not checked the reviews for a place and I certainly regret it. Unless the owners step up and deliver what they promise on the website, I don't recommend that anyone stay here.

NOT AS ADVERTISED.

Judy Kon 05/10/2016 01:00

I wish I would have read the reviews before paying well over $200.00 a night for this place. NO breakfast as promised, never saw the owners at all - they left a note at the front door saying they were unavailable, had downstairs bedroom and a note was left stating do not run the hair dryer if the air conditioner is running because it will blow a fuse, TV in room was located in a cupboard facing away from the bed, no snacks as listed in description, bathroom was so small and dark it was difficult to get ready. The home is located in a beautiful area but this house needs some work to be a bed and breakfast and hosts need to be there to greet guests and provide amenities as promised. So very disappointing. This room was the worse we encountered on our entire trip to that area.

Sad and broken down

sheree eon 19/09/2016 05:19

Dont stay here!!! Great location. Worse house n beautiful neighborhood. Short walk to downtown charlevoix. It is not related to restaurant next door. Peach and Kelly green carpet from 70s. Could not use room shower as it was extremely small and had a curtain. Went to newer shower down hall and gap n shower door leaked water. Hey at least not n our room. N dire need of updates and fixing of cracked walls and ceiling. Needs landscaping and brick scape fix. NO breakfast and snacks. 2 other nice couples stayed also. $265 should be more like $65

Not as Advertised

Hppygrmaon 07/09/2016 16:30

We stayed here for 3 nights for a mini-vacation over Labor Day weekend. I give the property 2 stars because the location was great, and Mark & Kate (the hosts) were nice though we didn't see much of them. Other aspects were very disappointing. The website advertises "Plush bathrobes. Luxurious amenities..", and "Hot dishes such as quiche or apple cinnamon french toast, sumptuous muffins..." It states a "Guest Refreshment Center is always available with bottled water, fruit, and snacks," and talks about a "Wine & Cheese Tasting" where we could join our hosts and fellow guests for "Wine & Cheese from 5:30-6:30 in the Living Room." It also mentions a "Turndown Service" where "We will refresh your room each evening and provide cookies to send you to sleep with sweet dreams." We did have quiche one morning, but it was from a frozen quiche. The other two mornings, it was scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and toast. The "Guest Refreshment Center" consisted of bottled water only. There were no plush robes, no gourmet breakfasts, no wine & cheese, no snacks or cookies, and our room was not refreshed at all during our stay. For what we paid, and from what was advertised, I expected more.

Wonderful stay

Jane Bon 23/08/2016 01:08

Mark and his wife were wonderful hosts at this quaint and inviting inn set on a quiet side street within walking distance to town. Set in the trees with a big front porch with wicker furniture for relaxing, this inn was comfortable, clean and charming. Our room was clean and spacious, and the beds/pillows comfortable. Every morning we had a delicious freshly cooked breakfast and had great conversation with other guests and our host. After walking the beaches and shopping our group returned to the inn to hang out and visit in the living room. We would definitely stay here again and would recommend Inn at Gray Gables to others staying in the Charlevoix area.