Mariner Motel

Happy Smiley (Ole Happy)

2024-04

Ran by the sweetest old lady north of Hinckley! Place is very well maintained. Rooms are very clean. Town is very quiet with priceless views of sunrise and sunset just minutes away.Nearby activities: Sightseeing Rock foraging, tons of Driftwood

Patrick Swyter

2023-09

The rooms were very nice for the price, the owner was very friendly and accommodating. When we arrived, we found out there was no air conditioning in the rooms- which usually isn't needed in this area, but it was very hot that weekend. The owner said he would gladly refund our money...we ended up staying 1 night instead of 2. I would come back if it was normal temps!Noteworthy details: No A/C

Paul Ruby

2023-09

Clean, comfortable motel within walking distance to restaurants, grocery store and coffee shop. No frills, but well kept. Graciously accommodated our family at the last minute on a Saturday night when our car unexpectedly broke down while traveling through the area. Would recommend to anyone looking for a basic, comfortable room at a great price.

Lisa Guillermo

2024-04

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J L

2023-05

This small mid century motel was perfect for me. The rooms are rustic with knotty pine paneling, with a mini fridge and microwave. It was nearly half the cost of nearby Americinn. The shower had great pressure, they have soft water, and the tub/bathroom was spotless. If you don't mind basic lodging, and cleanliness is important, I couldn't recommend this motel enough. Please note the office has limited hours, and the proprietor isn't always on property (I had to wait for the office to open). I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area.Rooms: One of the cleanest I've stayed in, a bit dated, but that's part of the mid century charm. If you're picky about clean and not amenities this should be a good fit.Nearby activities: Very close to Palisade Head and Split Rock lighthouse, in the heart of the scenic north shore area.Safety: There are cameras in the parking lot, small quiet town

paul greenough

2023-06

In the last 2 years I've stayed here about 4 times. Every time I stayed I had no issues! If you have stayed here or called for reservations, sometimes the staff is short and too the point.For me I like that because they are literally half price for a hotel up the shore.(two harbors) - average this trip memorial weekend $169 + tax.I paid $85.No pool but close to black beach and next to rope course.THIS IS A HIDDEN GEM IN MY BOOK!

Joe Peterson

2023-05

I stayed here this past weekend for the first time in about 15 years. My experience was good and it'll be the place I use for similar needs in the future. I just needed a place to stay for the night and wasn't going to be in the room for much more than sleep and a shower. It was great for that and at an excellent value (much cheaper than any other options I could find). The room was very simple, but that didn't bother me in the slightest. The snowmobile trail spur to the other hotel in the area was right by my window and I could hear some head by late (~1:00AM) and then early (~6:00AM or so?), but I could deal with it. I think as long as someone has the right expectations and this meets their needs, it would work well.

Dundy Lo

2022-05

For a Motel- and as a person who cares about where she sleeps 4+star hotels, I was quite impressed with this Motel. It was clean and well taken care of. Clean linens! Nothing was broken- the rooms were spacious enough where you don't feel like it's just a bed and with room to do anything else. Would definitely stay again... I didn't give it a 5 star because I got a bit of an attitude with the front desk about one of the nights being cancelled and then telling me it wasn't ok when I had checked in.

Samuel Lalone

2023-05

I'm writing a review as we stay a night in the motel, very impressed of how clean it is. For example, the floor corners of hotels are usually caked with gunk. This motel does not have that and the rest of the room is incredibly clean. It is outdated and older looking, but you can't pass the cleanliness and it's 100$ less than the surrounding area. Will definitely stay here again, I wish we knew about this place sooner!!

Sarah Deysach

2020-05

This place was great! Me and a friend went on a camping trip in the middle of winter and got too cold... this was a great last minute find! And very affordable! The owner was a kind older gentleman and once we got talking he told us some stories of other campers in a crazy storm. Super sweet guy especially since we’re teens and most hotels/ motels aren’t as friendly towards newly adults. It was very cozy and very VERY clean. The bathroom also had a thing where the toilet is separate with a door so you can have someone using it and another person brushing teeth or using the sink. I thought that was pretty cool! It’s nothing fancy but if your looking for a good location, clean space, and good sleep, this is the place for you! There’s also a place called north woods grill and it has amazing burgers. They also have cable. And free WiFi.

Sheila LaFriniere

2023-06

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Deborah Duncan

2022-05

My daughter and I were on a rambling trip up the North Shore from the Cities, with no lodging booked. We were starting to get just a tiny bit concerned at all the “no vacancies” and room prices ($250+ for a “Motel 6”? Not!). Seems Duluth was having their annual marathon. Oops. We kept going North, and she found this motel. The colorful man who ran it died 3 months ago, but it is open for business and his lovely wife greeted us. She was very pleasant and got us settled into a double Queen room for less than $100. It was indeed rustic and vintage, but spotlessly clean - I thoroughly checked! The beds were comfy, it was quiet. There was no A/C, but the nights along the lake are cool, and there was a powerful floor fan in the room. We stayed there again on the way home, in the same room at a lower weekday rate. I would certainly be a repeat customer for overnight stays.

Liz Deninger

2023-05

The Mariner is a stellar budget-friendly option for a trip to the North Shore. Room was clean and generous with towels, the windows opened for a lovely breeze. Even with many guests visiting in early October, the place stayed quiet overnight. My only wish is that I could access the ice machine without staff assistance. We’ll be back next season!

Philip Valdez

2020-05

We have stayed at this motel several times. It is very comfortable and convenient, as it is very close to some gorgeous hikes. The rooms are very clean and there is a tub--not just a shower (sometimes hard to find now-a-days). Yes, if you plan to hang out in your motel room all day, it might not be the best, but that's not why we stay. We like to hike!An unexpected event occurred and we had to go back home. It was 8:30 at night and we had just come back from a hike. We hadn't used the room yet. The owner was very kind and understanding, and he gave us a full cash refund. Thank you sir for being so hospitable, and we will be back!!Great place. I think it's a treasure :)

Darin Fonder

2023-05

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David Fairbairn

2017-05

Very clean and well-appointed for the price. The owner upgraded us to a suite from a double for free. Two rooms, one very large. Easy chair. Decent beds. Real wood paneling, cinder block walls (painted) make the place very quiet. He obviously takes pride in the place. We thought he was fun to interact with. Yes, he's a little gruff - but we thought it was in more of a good-natured, East European old-guy way than anything else. Overall, this place is awesome and we'll be back. Was 1/2 the price of anything else on the north shore that weekend.

Liza Jane

2019-05

First off I would like to say we will definitely stay here again! I read all the reviews before booking our stay at the Mariner Motel, and to be honest I didn’t know what to expect after reading them.. but I can tell you this... I’m glad we didn’t listen to everyone’s bad reviews because we had a great experience! Wes the owner is a one of a kind sweet gentleman that takes a lot of pride in his motel. The rooms were super clean and just what we needed. We had a 2 bedroom suite with a fully furnished kitchen that had everything we needed. We got in late our first night so we called Wes to let him know we wouldn’t be there till late and he said that he would leave the room unlocked and it would be ready for us.. And that it was. So I will tell you all this.. don’t be so quick to judge this motel by the bad reviews, go with an open mind and a smile on your face... you won’t be disappointed:)

Ali Kiyan

2022-05

When all other resorts and hotels were full and we were desperately looking for a place to stay for the night, we were lucky to land the two roomS suit with full facility and Spacious layout. The rooms and the tub were super clean and the beds were equally comfortable. She helped us in every possible way for a great stay. Even free fire wood and match & newspaper for a campfire at the nearby beach. I sure liked the experience and If for nothing else I will Visit her to have a chat.Thank you and wish a happy and healthy life for youAli Kiyan

Teresa Fowler

2023-05

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lovely p

2022-05

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Westonka Snoblazers

2016-05

The room was spotless. The beds were comfortable. The shower was spotless and had a ton of water pressure. And the rooms were cheap. Real cheap compared to the other local choices. Like $50/night cheaper than the Americinn. There are a few reviews here that focus on the owner who is an interesting but gruff & salty character. He is quite particular about how you park your truck when it has a snowmobile trailer on it. But I have to say that once we talked with him for a few minutes, he opened up and was more friendly. Our advise is to enjoy the tidy, clean, comfortable, cheap room for what it is and take an extra minute to be friendly to the guy and you will have good experience. We will be back.

Jessica Finke

2018-05

If u can get past the gruff owner and show some respect it's all good.The rooms are spacious and very clean. Very quiet and well ran. Water pressure of the showers are amazing. We had a good time with 4 kids and they loved riding under the awning.

Leah Chapman

2017-05

We needed a place to stay on the north shore at the last minute on the Fourth of July. The proprietor was kind enough to give us a room and upgraded us to a suite without charging us when he found we were traveling with a family. He was pleasant and joking with us even though we had clearly rousted him from sleep at 11:00pm.The room was spacious and clean, the beds were comfortable and since the walls were made of concrete there was no residual noise from any of the other guests.We couldn't have been more happy with the service, room and location. Don't believe the poor reviews.....this place is a gem on the north shore for frugal family travelers. We will be back!!

Blake Baynes

2022-05

So clean! Great place for ATV's connector tail right from the parking lot. Our rooms came with a queen bed, shower/bath, toilet, fan, fridge/freezer(1 of our 4 rooms only had the fridge). They have a fire pit and grill to use, we will be going back for sure!

Emily Mydlowski

2022-05

I stayed here during my Superior Hiking Trail thru hike. My experience with the Mariner was nothing less than wonderful. The folks there are super hiker friendly and allowed me to keep a resupply box there, have mail delivered, and were flexible with my reservation when I arrived a day early. The room was clean, the bed was so cozy, and staff friendly.There is a shopping plaza just up the road (15 minute walk), that has a grocery store and family restaurant. Made for a quick and easy meal.I’d definitely stay here again and will recommend to others.

Regina Phelange

2021-05

Fascinating lodging experience.This is a positive review.But, I feel lucky that that we read the reviews first. We knew what we were in for. When we arrived, we rang the doorbell outside the lobby and waited. After a few minutes, the infamous manager, Wes came to the door and yelled at us "BE PATIENT!" Since we were expecting some sort of hazing, my wife and I were mostly unphased.We proceeded inside and checked in. Having read the reviews, we knew the most important fact. You need to go in with a clear description of your needs. "Hi, we have a reservation for a room with two beds, two people, and a dog". Period.My bill came to $83.90. I gave him $85.00. He was looking for change, and smacked a dime on the counter and said, there. He owed me $1.10 . I happily took my dime and walked to my room. I felt that I had been extended safe passage to the infamous Mariner Motel.My wife and I along with our dog got a good rate on a very clean, basic hotel room. But, Wes is a character.Everything people say is true, but he was also, fine.He is an old Polish man with a few missing fingers who runs a really basic motel and is probably tired of it. I bet you are tired of you job, but it's not like you are going to quit. Also, I'm a dedicated Liberal, but gawd bless America that he can surround his motel with Trump signs if he wants. ...and the signs really are everywhere. He even had a Trump flag.But, the hotel was clean and that is all that matters.We will definitely stay again.Thanks Wes

Maureen 517 Reisner

2023-07

Very nice motel! Aga has a very nice place. Slept the best last night. Comfortable beds, clean bathroom with a tub! Win win!Rooms: Neat and good amount of space. Comfortable beds.Nearby activities: Waterfalls and lots of views of Lake Superior.

T S

2022-05

As others have said this place is a diamond in the rough. Vintage and clean like our grandparents cleaned. Not a cobweb, insect, or previous guest remnant. The owner Aga, from Poland, is adorable and helpful. We asked if she had a coffee pot we could use and she pulled two, spotless well packaged brewers to choose from. From the pink fleck vanity to the real wood wall panels and the old room detail tag by the wall, this is the best place we have stayed, would put it up against any 5 star we have stayed in. And it has cable with lots of channels and wifi close to everything. No A/c but the floor fan provided was spotless. We did bring a couple small table fans because we weren't sure if would need them. It was well equipped for a nice smaller motel room. And the grounds were spotless. It is very apparent this was their investment and they take pride in it by the representation of their home. One note, things shut down early around there of no fault of the motel of course, but plan accordingly. Not sure of due to Covid or just how they are normally. We visited weekend before Labor Day weekend. Enjoy!!

Veronica Fountain

2021-05

CAUTION! Had we not have read the review before coming here, we would have stayed some where else, due to the rudeness of the person on the other end of the phone. However, if you can get past the rudeness of the owner, You have made it halfway, what appears to be a really nasty rude owner is actually a big Polish teddy bear. It is a great stay. Very clean, and relaxing. He sounds worse than he really is. A sense of humor will get you a little ways too. PS...Read the reviews they will give you a great laugh.

Dawne Olson

2019-05

The room was decent. The owner is the biggest jerk I've ever dealt with at a hotel check-in. I left in tears after check in but didn't want to fight back for fear we would not get to stay and we had not had luck finding another hotel on our route. I will sleep in my car before staying here again. A comfortable bed is not worth an abusive encounter at the end if a long road trip.