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See why so many travellers make Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn their hotel of choice when visiting Mackinaw City. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a family-friendly setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.
Rooms at Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn provide a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a refrigerator, and guests can stay connected with free wifi.
In addition, while staying at Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn guests have access to 24 hour front desk and express check-in and check-out. You can also enjoy a pool and free breakfast. Need a place to park? Free parking is available at Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn.
While in Mackinaw City be sure to experience local shrimp favourites at Dixie Saloon, Darrow's Family Restaurant, or The Lighthouse Restaurant.
If you’re looking for things to do, you can check out Mackinac Bridge (0.7 mi), Colonial Michilimackinac (0.9 mi), or Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse (0.8 mi), which are popular attractions amongst tourists, and they are all within walking distance.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn as you experience all of the things Mackinaw City has to offer.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn is recognized for its prime location by the lake, which many travelers find appealing due to easy access to ferry lines and city attractions. Although guests appreciate the clean rooms and scenic views, there are repeated concerns about the outdated decor and maintenance issues.
The hotel offers a range of amenities, including a popular pool and hot tub; however, the lack of in-room microwaves and cleanliness issues are points of contention. While some guests commend the service, others have experienced staff that seemed indifferent, affecting the overall perceived value of their stay.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Unkempt
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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This hotel is in the perfect location if you want to go to the island or walk the strip. It’s a 5 minute walk to Shepler’s ferry, Starbucks and other restaurants and shops. There is a beach behind the hotel. Overall the hotel is clean and kept up, however there were a couple things I was a little surprised by. For one the website states that their Covid precautions are they will not enter your room after you check in, however we were surprised that they came into our rooms after we left for the day. The only staff wearing a mask was the front desk clerk, the house keeping staff or maintenance staff both who enter the rooms do not wear masks. Also bring your own pillows because the pillows on the bed are very tiny. Also the pool had way too much chlorine that our eyes were burning even after flushing them out. Nothing to do with the hotel but just a tip, restaurants close early around the hotel so eat early.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our 3rd floor room had a nice deck with two chairs and a small table facing the beach of Lake Huron. It was nice to be able to open the slider for fresh air and a view of the local boat piers and Mackinaw Island in the distance. Mackinaw bridge is NOT visible from this location. The room was comfortable and clean. The room has a nice TV and a refrigerator, but there was no microwave. The shower and toilet were inside the bathroom, but the sink was in the entry hall of the room which made it awkward to wash hands or privately groom. The rooms are all accessed in motel style with open air balconies. We visited in good weather, but this would be uncomfortable in bad weather, and there would be difficulty ensuring security for the rooms as all doors are open to the public from the parking lot. Our door would lock but the extra security latch was broken off. It is a long walk outside from the room to the reception desk for any needs such as coffee, towels, the bagged breakfast, or the pool. This Best Western is a great value with the right expectations. The location is perfect for a day trip to Mackinaw Island as the docks are very close. It is possible to walk a few blocks to the many tourist shops. The clean sandy beachfront was very nice with lots of lounge chairs and a patio. We would consider visiting this location again because of the economical room rates.
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Review collected in partnership with Best Western
Date of stay: May 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jodi Klooster, Owner at Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn
Responded 31 May 2021
Thank you for completing the survey regarding your recent stay at our property. On behalf of our entire team, I would like to apologize for not exceeding your expectations. Your satisfaction is important to us and we will be using the feedback you gave us to implement improvements to ensure we offer a better experience for guests in the future. I hope that you will consider staying with us again so that we can have another chance to provide you with a superior experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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My husband and I came for a quick getaway. I booked this hotel because I like a Best Westerns, and it was a great location as I wanted a lakeview room. This hotel was able to provide everything I wanted, indoor pool and hot tub, lakeview room, and great location within the town. Upon arrival, we went to check in at 650pm on Monday night. We waited as they dealt with us for about 10 minutes and I noticed the employees kept taking amongst themselves about rooms and them being clean. After this time, the employee finally had to tell us our room wasn’t ready and they needed 20 more minutes. That’s the last thing you want to hear after a 7 hour drive at 7pm! When I said “It’s 7pm!” He just said sorry. So we left, and came back and our room was ready which was about 20 minutes. Our room was perfect location a small great balcony. Had it been warmer it would have been amazing as you can walk directly out to the beach. Breakfast was okay as I know they have some challenges with Covid but they are trying. They did tell us we could buy discount tickets to the ferry there. So, we did that, and it seemed easy enough. They didn’t mention all we bought was a voucher so we still had to stand in line at the ferry to get our tickets. I would absolutely stay here again for the great location, convenience and comfort and cleanliness. Just hoping the check in process would be a little smoother. Another benefit.... free parking!
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
They had just opened for the season but it was still a wonderful stay with an amazing host…perfect weekend relaxing getaway. Room was clean and comfortable, pool was warm, hot tub was amazing. Nice and quiet time of year to visit.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Anna Leighio, General Manager at Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn
Responded 8 Apr 2023
Thank you for completing the survey regarding your recent stay at our property. Your business is very important to us and we value your feedback. By telling us what you liked about your stay and how we can improve, you are helping us deliver a superior experience for you and other guests in the future. We hope you will come back and see us again soon.
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Stayed overnight here after spending a day on the island, purchased the ferry tickets at the hotel for a discount price and then the ferry is a block and a half up the road. Ate at the Italian restaurant just down the street, it was good and had a neat atmosphere, our room was on the top floor with a balcony facing the water, I felt the price was very reasonable especially compared to others in the area. The bed and pillows were clean and comfortable and we thought the furniture was actually pretty upscale for a chain hotel. It was nice to at least have the grab and go breakfast and though we didn't use them, the pool is heated and had a nice hot tub as well. What highly recommend.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here 3 days as we do once a year. Have stayed here many times. It cost over 1k for 3 days but to be expected here during tourist season. This year has been very disappointing. First, Kirt at the front desk provided excellent service. He was very helpful and knowledgeable in the operations. This was important as we had family with us and had secured a two room suite. This was in contrast to a lady at the desk the next morning. We had an issue with our key and she was abrupt and rude. On our last day, we stopped by the office for coffee at 9am. Pot was empty and we asked the clerk about it and without even looking up, she said “ l will make some in a few minutes”. She wasn’t helping anyone and seemed irritated that we asked. We had seen others complain of no coffee made the previous morning. Also, with the COVID issue, breakfast is no longer served and all you get are coupons for a restaurant close by. Despite this, the room rates have increased. The rooms were large but are getting very worn and outdated. Drawers that didn’t close properly, electrical outlets that didn’t work, lights out in the bathroom, squeaky doors and a toilet seat that was about to fall off. Also, bed comforter had what appeared to he tree leafs on it and the bathroom towels and wash cloths were terrible. They are worn out and stained. We found dirt along baseboards and long hairs in the bathroom. And ceiling fan was dirt coated. We also observed housekeeping staff separating bins of dirty laundry with no gloves or masks on which makes me question their commitment to sanitizing rooms and common areas. The shampoo and other items provided are very low grade and very very small. Unfortunately, it appears this location knows that people will come and are willing to pay a lot to see this area despite these issues so they are doing little to improve and update the facility.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My girlfriend and I arrived at 10:30PM on Thursday 8/6/20. We notified them earlier that we would be arriving after 10PM. The parking lot was packed, luckily we found the last spot. The people who arrived after had to park next to the front door. I wouldn't have wanted to park there. We received our key for room 224. Upon trying to open it, someone inside said, "I think you guys have the wrong room". Awkward...We went to the front desk, who didn't believe us. Not sure why you would think your customer is lying, but that's besides the point. We received a new key for room 228. Around midnight my girlfriend had gone to the front desk to ask if they had heartburn medication. The woman simply laughed and said no. Definitely could have done without the laugh, but if you have a paying customer you should have recommendations. Luckily we have google and found a 24 hour gas station. We left the room at 1AM. Above our room, upon exiting, there were 4 men listening to very loud rap music and freestyle rapping to the beat. They decided to freestyle rap about my girlfriends body, and what they would do to it. I was shocked and appalled, and my girlfriend felt extremely uncomfortable. Needless to say, there definitely were no rules or enforcement of them. Luckily when we came back they were no longer there. The next day we waited for the shuttle to go to Mackinaw Island. The front desk people could have simply told us it's a 6 minute walk instead of waiting 15 minutes for the shuttle. Again, google to the rescue, so we walked. We arrived back after spending all day hiking and wanted to shower. The room had been clean, but apparently leaving soap is not normal. Who showers when they stay at a hotel anyways? The following day it rained for the majority of the time. We walked around town and came back to the room as the weather was supposed to get worse. We had a Jacuzzi tub in the room, and since our experience had been so poor we decided we would only use it if we cleaned it with bleach. We drove to a nearby market and bought bleach and cleaned the tub. We turned on the jets and a disgusting brown/orange film came out. Clearly it had not been thoroughly cleaned in a long time. My girlfriend complained to the front desk, and they simply offered to send cleaning people. We will never stay here again, especially for how expensive it was.
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Date of stay: August 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Find someplace else. Walk to the ferry, it's only 6 minutes. The buffet they give buy 1 get...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The room itself wasn't too awful, but it was definitely dingy and outdated. Upon arrival for check-in my elderly mother was treated very poorly. She was also told no breakfast, but not why (found out why later it was because of COVID) and we were given a buy 1 get 1 free (for 3 people mind you) coupon to go to this place across the street. This wouldn't have been an issue had they first explained politely the reason why and given us an actual discount for the room since the continental breakfast was included in this fee. We ended up not even going to the restaurant since it was packed and customers coming out after having eaten told us the food was cold and the staff was rude. The only real perk was being on the first floor and being able to walk right out onto the beach.
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Date of stay: June 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place needs to be shut down! I paid $350 a night for a room that smelled musty, felt humid, and had visibly worn and outdated furnishings. The worst part was finding thick MOLD growing under the beds! After pointing it out to the front desk employees, (who were either not wearing masks, or wearing them improperly, btw) and showing them the disgusting pics of the mold, they told us they wouldn't find us other accommodations because we had been in the room for over 2 hours. Are you kidding me?! They also stated that our room was one of the driest in the hotel. If that is true, then there is mold growing under all the beds. Worth noting, our room had a dehumidifier in it, so mgmt is obviously aware there is a problem with excessive moisture. The carpet even felt cold and damp. Gross!!! I have filed complaints with the Mackinaw County Health Dept, local Mackinaw news stations and OSHA. I also plan on leaving bad reviews on all the travel websites. This place should not be in business!!
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I will start this off that the ONLY good things about this hotel is the location and the price. This is one of the few times reviews and ratings were very far off the mark. This grand dame needs a lot of TLC. Everything is outdated. We are a group of four older women traveling and security is important when staying in a room alone. We had four rooms with water view and patio doors to the beach. There are no sticks in the track or bar to keep intruders out. We did get room service but the patio doors in two units were left unlocked. 2 out of the 4 rooms were missing security latches. The hotel fixed one of them but was unable to get the second one done by evening. Our friends was offered another room but declined--so the hotel did try to cure that. One of the other ladies swears someone took a shower in her room while we were away for the day. Her toiletries in the shower were open and her hair dryer settings were all changed. There are nicer hotels in the area which are probably a bit more but we didn't like our two night stay there at all. I would spend a bit more for a place a lot safer and cleaner and newer.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jodi Klooster, Owner at Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn
Responded 20 May 2021
Thank you for completing the survey regarding your recent stay at our property. On behalf of our entire team, I would like to apologize for not exceeding your expectations. Your satisfaction is important to us and we will be using the feedback you gave us to implement improvements to ensure we offer a better experience for guests in the future. In regards to the security locks on the patio doors, it was explained to you that there is a bolted foot lever that secures the door on the floor including the dead bolt on the sliding door itself that keeps the door from being open from either side. It was also explained that without a specific key these deadbolts can not be opened. Not only did the hotel send maintenance and housekeeping to your entire groups rooms on several occasions, the staff also offered on multiple occasions to move you and your group to different accommodations including upgraded suites at no additional cost. However, with each offer you and your party declined any assistance or effort the hotel extended in an effort to make your stay more enjoyable and satisfactory. Again, I do apologize that your stay was not to your satisfaction and I hope that you will consider staying with us again so that we can have another chance to provide you with a superior experience.
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You would be able to see them from mackinaw city if they are out. Download a northern lights app and be sure the viewing dates coincide with your trip.
There are more places to choose from in the Mackinaw City area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$158 - AU$431 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
best western dockside waterfront hotel mackinaw city, best western mackinaw city, mackinaw city best western
LOCATION
United StatesMichiganCheboygan CountyMackinaw City
NUMBER OF ROOMS
113
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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