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Thunderbird Inn
146 Old US 31, Mackinaw City, MI 49701-9652
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About
#12 of 39 hotels in Mackinaw City
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Located in beautiful and historic Mackinaw City, the Thunderbird Inn is the premier choice in accommodations. Situated less than 1 mile from the downtown area, the Thunderbird Inn boasts a quite location still within walking distance to area shops, restaurants and attractions. Offering all the amenities you have grown to love, our property offers free Wi-Fi, a complimentary breakfast, indoor seasonal pool (May 15th - Oct 15th), coffee maker, iron and ironing board, and so much more! We are a pet friendly (specific rooms, subject to availability) property offering the very best customer service Northern Michigan has to offer. Take advantage of our packages and discount tickets to local attractions and ferry lines to Mackinac Island. We look forward to seeing you on your next trip to the Mackinaw Area!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Non-smoking hotel
Express check-in / check-out
Self-serve laundry
Parking
Wifi
Indoor pool
Heated pool
Vending machine
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Family
Languages Spoken
English
Location
146 Old US 31, Mackinaw City, MI 49701-9652
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
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.
Grade: 51 out of 100
51
11 Restaurants
within 1 kilometer
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews
Hotel's Favourite
Nice hotel with no frills. I think our room was recently updated since it had newer looking vinyl flooring, however it still had the old heat/air-conditioning unit. It was loud! But I think for the price it's a good option. The staff was very nice and the room was clean. Comfortable beds. Perfect for a 1-2 night stay.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
This was a good motel for the off season in Mackinaw City. It is a basic room. The best quality is that it was very clean when we arrived. For the winter weather the heater worked great to quickly warm the room. It did have a slightly closed up smell when we first arrived. You could also tell it was a per friendly room as it set off one of the guests allergies rather quickly. Beds were OK, with a slight tendency to roll you towards the middle. Plenty of towels and adequate toiletries. A less than powerful hairdryer in the room could stand an upgrade. Breakfast was very nice...fresh scrambled eggs with sausage and toast, cereal, etc. The Staff was very helpful, efficient and friendly.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
This hotel is great for the price and comparable to local “brand name” hotels charging $20 more a night, I only wish the pool were open but it’s supposed to snow tomorrow:-(
The most mundane thing made me love this place. The complementary shampoo/conditioner is some hippy designer brand and it’s really nice, the smell is far above the usual cheap caustic stuff and it did a great job on my long hair (where are the cameras when I want them :-)
The hotel is not located on the water but it’s winter and we spent the day walking the beach in the sun and cold wind. Tonight we wanted a hot shower and a decent place to stay. We made a great choice.
One complaint: the TV is so small.. who puts a 21 inch TV in rooms today???
The most mundane thing made me love this place. The complementary shampoo/conditioner is some hippy designer brand and it’s really nice, the smell is far above the usual cheap caustic stuff and it did a great job on my long hair (where are the cameras when I want them :-)
The hotel is not located on the water but it’s winter and we spent the day walking the beach in the sun and cold wind. Tonight we wanted a hot shower and a decent place to stay. We made a great choice.
One complaint: the TV is so small.. who puts a 21 inch TV in rooms today???
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Date of stay: November 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.
Check-in was okay, found it strange I had to sign that I wouldn't smoke marijuana in the room or on property, obviously we didn't plan on smoking anything in the room or on their property. I've stayed in many places in different cities and I've never had to agree to something like that. The room appeared clean with the exception of a few hairs in the shower. You can literally see the age of the room just by looking at the hairdryer, it must be at least 50 years old. The walls were paper thin, when our neighbor used their shower we would hear everything, the water running through the wall and the shower itself. Nearly $100 for the night seems high for what you get. Covid has limited the breakfast down to nothing, and the pool was closed yet other hotels in town have their pools open. The bed however is the reason for two stars, it was very comfortable!
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Date of stay: June 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.
Booked this only for pool plus they said they had breakfast. They are lying! Absolutely no breakfast here. The pool here at the motel here is drained you have to walk to The Budget Inn for the pool and then another building for the hot tub. Walking around this property I did not feel safe, a lot of sketchy people. The hot tub was crumbling and looked like it hadn't been cleaned in weeks. The out door pool was a dirty color and also had rust and mold so we tried indoor thinking this would be better option, wrong again the building on outside is crumbling( not sure how it would pass an inspection) again dirty with mold. The health department really needs to check it out, as well as a building inspector. I guess the same owner owns all 3. Pretty sad they do not care about the well being and health of others to fix up the place. Our room had a nasty ac unit and one of the beds was squeaky. This place needs to be condemned. Also looking for kindness at the front desk, their is none very rude
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Do not get a room here, you will regret it
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 enjoyed our stay here. The customer service was excellent, and breakfast was good (not a hot breakfast but good options otherwise).
There was some mold on the curtains, but I have read that many of the hotels in this area struggle with that. Probably from the moisture from the lake or perhaps not the best ventilation in the rooms.
The heat lamp in the bathroom was nice. The water in our room didn’t get very hot so the lamp was helpful.
There was some mold on the curtains, but I have read that many of the hotels in this area struggle with that. Probably from the moisture from the lake or perhaps not the best ventilation in the rooms.
The heat lamp in the bathroom was nice. The water in our room didn’t get very hot so the lamp was helpful.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: They do not have a microwave so plan accordingly.
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 room smelled terrible. We went out and bought air freshener, but it didn’t help at all. The bathroom looked like there had been some water damage on the walls. The floor looked new, but like a 10 year old had repaired it. The tub had a mat glued down the length of it. When standing in the shower, it felt like there was no floor under the tub floor. We actually left a night early.
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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 met my family in Mackinaw City. They stayed on the water for $250+ per night. I was traveling solo and found Thunderbird Inn less than 1 minute from all the shopping and lake views. Under $100/night, single room.
The room was clean, had bathing supplies, lots of storage, table, vanity, heat lamp in bath, TV and ...hands down... the best breakfast available! No bagged breakfast with an apple and water, but fresh waffles, bagels, breads, fruit, yogurt, cereal, juices, coffees (plus coffee in your room!) and a friendly staff and good-natured neighbors.
Very impressive and cost effective. Pass the word...Thunderbird! 👍
The room was clean, had bathing supplies, lots of storage, table, vanity, heat lamp in bath, TV and ...hands down... the best breakfast available! No bagged breakfast with an apple and water, but fresh waffles, bagels, breads, fruit, yogurt, cereal, juices, coffees (plus coffee in your room!) and a friendly staff and good-natured neighbors.
Very impressive and cost effective. Pass the word...Thunderbird! 👍
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip 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.
Rooms are smelly, carpet stained. We did have more than one room and both were equally bad.
Only reason I stayed was family was very tired
I understand places get old and used but please keep them clean
I do not recommend this place to anyone unless it’s totally remodeled
Only reason I stayed was family was very tired
I understand places get old and used but please keep them clean
I do not recommend this place to anyone unless it’s totally remodeled
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
If you need a good hotel in Mackinaw City, stay away from the Thunderbird Inn! The room smelled musty, there were bugs all over, a booger on the wall in the bathroom, and hair on the sheets. I told the front desk and they offered me two different rooms, but they both had the same awful smell. I booked a different hotel and asked for a refund, but they are refusing any compensation. I called customer service and they were extremely rude and are also refusing to give me a refund. I am not one that needs anything fancy, but this place was disgusting.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip 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.
About one mile.
Yes, there is a one time, non-refundable pet fee of $25. Also, please call us directly at 231-436-5433 to book a pet friendly room.
I don't know you would have to call the hotel
5 minute drive to the ferry terminals in Mackinaw city. you could easily walk it.
"Read reviews before you stay here. Do not believe photos on their website. There is no feature to review your experience on their website."Read full review
"Dirty stinky rooms. There was a pool but it was not in working condition. We were told we could go the the next door motel since owned by."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
AU$138 - AU$182 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
best western mackinaw city, mackinaw city best western, best western thunderbird hotel
LOCATION
United StatesMichiganCheboygan CountyMackinaw City
NUMBER OF ROOMS
48
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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Claim Your ListingTHUNDERBIRD INN (AU$138) - 2025 Prices & Reviews (Mackinaw City, MI) - Photos of Hotel - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Thunderbird Inn
Which popular attractions are close to Thunderbird Inn?
Nearby attractions include The Forge (1.0 km), Del Sol - Color-Change - Mackinaw Crossings (1.1 km), and Mystery Town USA (1.0 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Thunderbird Inn?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, free wifi, and free breakfast.
What food & drink options are available at Thunderbird Inn?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Thunderbird Inn?
Conveniently located restaurants include Murdick's Fudge, Kilwins Ice Cream - Chocolate - Fudge, and Rusted Spoke Brewing Co..
Are there opportunities to exercise at Thunderbird Inn?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to Thunderbird Inn?
Many travellers enjoy visiting McGulpin Point Lighthouse & Historic Site (3.8 km) and Historic Mill Creek (5.7 km).