Seagull Bay - A Lakeside Motel

George Dalglish

2024-05

Warm, cozy, homey, inviting and conveniently located close to town with a well-maintained walking path right behind the property. Family friendly with many extras that make a stay here a wonderful experience. We came here in the beginning of May so it was cool and a little grey but the view from our back window was still stunning. The unit has a lovely kitchenettes stocked with all of the essentials including dish washing products as well as a nice dining table and chairs. Our unit (#23) in particular had a very comfortable fold out futon and a queen bed but I know some units have 2 queens. The bath towels were thick and high quality. The toilet is the wider type so better suited to fit more people and more comfortable for most adults. The layout of the unit is inviting and spacious. The heating and cooling unit is updated and works great. The water system has full and variable pressure that works great as well.The owners are extremely friendly and a joy to talk to. This family owned motel deserves higher than the 4.4 stars I saw at the time of publishing my own review. It really needs closer to 5 stars. I hope my detailed review can help potential customers make an informed decision. The price, the service, the location, the cleanliness, the layout, everything you need in an affordable motel stay close to town...

tfguitar1

2024-05

This was our second time staying at Seagull Bay. We were disappointed that our room was on the lower level this time where the view of Lake Superior was not as nice or full as the view from the upper level rooms. It seemed that during the time of our stay there were quite a few empty rooms available on the upper level. It also would have been helpful to have a clock in the room. We were surprised that your checkout time was 10:00 with an additional charge of $25 for each hour beyond that time. When on vacation it is often nice to relax and "sleep in" a bit before heading back home and an 11:00 checkout time would have been more pleasant. Our room was very clean and the staff that we encountered was very kind. We had a very nice time in your beautiful and friendly town but will plan to stay elsewhere on our next trip to Bayfield.

Alabama Matrious

2024-04

We stayed here for a weekend trip to Madeline island and loved it. We stayed in room 20 of the motel. It was your standard room with a queen bed but was so cozy for the two of us after a long day of hiking. We enjoyed the view of the lake from our window and the balcony off of our room. Town was close for us to get dinner. It was so calm and relaxing, I felt recharged after our stay and would definitely recommend it to anyone staying in Bayfield. Thank you for a great weekend!

MaryBeth Lassmans

2023-11

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Yvonne E

2023-09

Wasn't worth the money or any money for that matter. Stayed at Bay West room 28, not the motel you see on the website! If you want to feel like your staying in a hospital room, this is the place for you! 1 Bed & 1 chair. No small table to sit at. You have to eat your food on the bed. No night stands or lights by the bed just overhead lighting. Very clinical feel. Your updates aren't updates. When I texted (this is how they communicate) they said they couldn't give us a different room, even though the sign showed vacancy. We were trying to have a nice comfortable weekend after husbands hospital stay and it felt like we were right back in the hospital, yuk! Not worth the high prices, I wouldn't stay here if it was free!!

Ellen J DeVries

2023-06

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Brennan P

2023-11

Outstanding!This place is amazing. Highly recommend everyone check it out.In my opinion, the best stay in Northern Wisconsin!The updated rooms are amazing and the management team are really putting in some serious time and money into the property.

Marlee Boyle

2023-07

I wish I could say our stay here was great, but it was unfortunately not. We had several issues with our room during our stay. At first glance, our room was amazing, very clean, and perfect for our 3 night stay. Then, we began to have several issues. We were only given two rolls of toilet paper and two towel sets for our 3 night stay. They were able to bring us more, but then said to grab some yourself in the main building down the street if you ever need anymore. The shower had no shelves for soap so we had to put them on the floor. The curtains to the shower did not work (it was just cloth) so water leaked onto the floor, therefore two towels were not enough for our stay. The door to the bathroom did not shut so we had to slam it every time, which I hope our neighbors could not hear. The room also did not have a night stand or lamp, just the over head lights, so we had to set our phones and glasses on the floor. Then, on our last night our toilet stopped working. We texted the number provided twice and no response for over an hour. Finally, we called and a nice lady came to our room and helped. However, after a few minutes of plunging nothing seemed to work. She said the only solution was just “don’t flush it and wait in the morning for someone to come fix it with a snake.” We were quite disappointed because there was no other solution given but to just leave it. So we ended our stay in the worse way possible…a broken toilet and better yet a yucky mess left on the bathroom floor by the woman who tried to help us. Luckily, we got it fixed on our own, but the mess left behind by the woman was the most concerning part. We tried to contact the owners via email (it took a week for them to reply) to explain our situation and ask for at least one night refund, but their response was “We are unable to refund a whole night's stay for a clogged toilet but would be happy to send a few shirts your way”. You’ve got to be kidding me. They disregarded all the other issues we had. Needless to say, we will never stay there again.Rooms: No nightstand, no lamp, shower leaks, bathroom door does not shut, limited outlets

Minnscribe

2023-08

The older man at the front desk was kind and pleasant. Check in and out easy. The location and view of Lake Superior and the islands is 2nd to none! Room was clean and cosy but.... there are some things that did not make it worth the $250 a night. The frig was right next to the bed and made odd noises during the night. There is absolutely NO space to put any items on sides of the sink nor are there any drawers under the sink. The dresser had 4 drawers but only one was usable (one had blankets and the other two could not be opened). We were left with the dresser top for a great deal of our stuff. The cute room now seemed very cluttered. The vent fans in the tiny bathroom were so noisy we could not stand to run them. We could also hear the water running from next door. Price does not match the quality of the lodging.

David Thomas

2023-09

I’m not sure if it’s normal operating procedure for this place but there was no staff at the front desk at check-in, just a sign with a phone number to text. They text you back with your room number and the key is in the room. We had a problem with the room (which was no fault of the proprietor’s) and they were gracious enough to move us to a new (and upgraded) room with no fuss. Great customer service, swell rooms, great lake view. 10/10 would stay again.Walkability: Just a short walk into town.

Abram Palmer

2023-07

We had a fantastic stay at this establishment. The rooms were nothing short of elegant and thoughtfully designed, boasting a stunning view of the lake. The amenities provided far exceeded our expectations for a typical motel, adding a touch of luxury to our experience. The location couldn't have been better. Everything we wanted to see and do in Bayfield was just a short walk away. Without a doubt, I will stay here again in the future.

Chris Emerson

2023-08

4.5 stars. Good for price, but no breakfast offered and very few amenities overall. I knocked off a half a star because directions were a but difficult and there are two locations down the street from one another. Overall a good stay.Check out Mortys pub while you’re in town

Monica Sexton

2023-09

This review is hard to write because we tried to find positives about the "Residence" room at this motel. Unfortunately, we found very few.Pros:Full kitchen. Convenient parking outside front door. Fire pit. Screened in sunroom. Comfy couch.Cons:There is one small wall air conditioner in the dining area which only cools that area and the living room. There is no AC in the bedrooms, kitchen or bathroom. With temperatures above 90 degrees the bedrooms never got below 82. The owner did bring us a couple fans, but they did not help. The beds were very hard, and due to their uncomfortableness and the lack of AC, I ended up sleeping on the couch. There is only one TV and it is the size of a computer screen.. The place is furnished with old, tattered, and outdated furniture. (The couch is comfortable though.) There are broken and missing blinds in the rooms, and none are black out, so you are awoken at sunrise. The lock on the front door doesn't lock properly, and two of the electrical outlets didn't work. There was no ice, no hand soap, only 1 1/2 rolls of TP, and 4 towels for 2 people for 4 days. The office is down the street, and there is no way to walk there on the main road to obtain more of anything. Of the 3 times we stopped by the office, only once (at check in) was someone around, and we had to call to get that person to show up. We ended up having to purchase soap, paper towels, TP, and ice to get by. Above all these negatives, there is NOT a view as stated on the website. It was most disappointing to see trees and brush instead of beautiful Lake Superior.We also realized the night before check out that we were charged close to $250 in addition to the total bill with no explanation. We have never been more disappointed in a hotel/motel, and unfortunately, we would not recommend it. Update on review.. We did receive the $250.00 back.

Grace Kromrey

2023-06

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Katy Muckala

2023-05

This was my second stay and it was just as good as the first time. The location is perfect and is just a short walk into town; the views are wonderful. I love the simplicity, cleanliness, and affordability of this place. The staff was very accommodating to my friend, who couldn't tolerate my snoring, and found her a room at 10pm at night and were so nice about it. Will definitely stay again!

Trevor Hicks

2023-05

My wife and I needed a getaway for the weekend and this place was the perfect spot to re charge. Beautiful recently renovated room we stayed in (Room 30) for 2 nights. Came with small fully furnished kitchen with fridge and freezer which came in handy for our leftovers from eating out, and more importantly a place to store breast milk my wife pumped. We also forgot toiletries, but there were some supplied in the bathroom! The custom bar top table made of wood was beautiful and came with a beautiful view. The views were also able to be soaked in from the shared deck. It was a perfect spot to kick up and have a drink and relax. We had the choice of walking a path down the hill or walk through town to get to the main areas where the restaurants and ferry are. The room was spacious with a beautiful mural on one of the walls. Had the option to hook up to the Roku that was offered, but chose to unplug and relax. Very easy no contact check in and check out was available for us. Such a charming place, would recommend to anyone staying in Bayfield!

Jswest 363

2023-05

I’ve only been at this hotel 12 hours, and so far it’s fairly substandard, minus the view. I did read that the check in COULD BE virtual, I didn’t realize that was the only option. The office of the hotel isn’t well marked and, having never been here before, wasn’t sure where to go when I arrived at night. I walked into the office, and only one light was on and no one around. I called the listed number, only for the phone to ring at the desk in front of me with no one at it. I instead texted the number for check in as a sign on the desk indicated. I was given instructions for my room. In the welcome book in my room, it says it’s the hotel’s policy to give these instructions “the morning of your reservation.” I never received these that morning, and a map would’ve been helpful, as it was night time and I wasn’t sure where to go and how to find my room. Took me a little while to figure it out. Next, the rooms don’t offer much soundproofing. I could hear people walking around outside my room around 10pm, after “quiet hours”, but as there’s no one around to tell this to, I just ignored it. Well, unfortunately I was in a lower unit and the incredibly squeaking of the upper unit woke me up once at 5:30am when the upstairs individual decided to use the bathroom (I can hear their toilet flushing/water going through the pipes), and again at 6:50. I decided to just wake up at that point. I also noticed the side of my body in contact with the mattress was always sweaty, even though I turned the room temperature down at night. There’s a mattress cover on the bed, and I can only assume it has a plastic waterproof layer which is causing the issue. I’m hoping my second night goes better as it’s a Sunday night, so maybe my upstairs neighbor will be gone. Or maybe I’ll just get earplugs. I usually prefer smaller, family owned hotels such as this one, but I think It’d be better to go a different route next time. Would not recommend this one.

Brita Gayan

2023-07

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Lauren Borg

2023-05

Enjoyed our stay in the new building at Seagull Bay Motel! We stayed in "Hideaway", the space had a very clean and fresh updated look. Great view, and outdoor space to share with other guests. Our room had 2 bedrooms, both slept 2 with great views! It had a lovely kitchen, complete with fridge, oven, stove top, sink, and all utensils! So great when you're with friends or family and trying to save a bit of money by staying in. Bathroom was nice, bright, and spacious. If you're feeling like some TV, there was a large TV set up with Roku in the living area. Great storage in our room as well. 2 large cubby's with rods to hang your items. So close to downtown Bayfield. They left a book about themselves and the area that had great recommendations. The staff we met were so friendly too, felt like long time friends. Can't wait to go back for another relaxing trip.

Donnie Brook

2023-06

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TrevorKayla Hicks

2023-05

We stayed at Bay West. It was recently updated. From the floors to the ceiling and everything in between! Looks like lots of custom craftsmanship from the bed to the kitchen table. Even the storage for our things, which was a good size for our 3 day stay. Came with a small kitchen that was fully furnished (dishes, utensils, dish soap, etc.) with everything we needed to make our own food to save a little on lunch instead of going out for every meal. Fridge with freezer was good size for our food and drinks. Good size bathroom with toiletries included. Was able to log into my account for winding down watching tv at night on the Roku TV. It got into the 60's during the day and down to the 40s at night, so having the Air-condition and Heat was key for keeping the room nice and comfortable. I saw a previous review that there wasn't Air conditioning, so that must be another update they have done. The view from the room of Lake Superior and Madeline Island was picturesque. And just as enjoyable sitting out on the deck having a drink and playing games. We didn't light the fire pit, but nice outdoor space to guests. Walking distance to everything we wanted to do from the restaurants, shops and the ferry to Madeline Island. If you are wondering what to do just check out the book they provide. It has lots of recommendations and their story. This family owned place will definitely be where we will book next time we are in the area.

Anna Richardson

2023-05

"The Hideaway" lived up to it's name. We felt tucked away with a huge green space for our kids to run on, while we looked on from the perfect deck for morning coffee with a view of the beautiful, sparkling waters of Lake Superior in the background. We felt like we were in our own personal little paradise, but then we were also close enough to walk to the local attractions... the best of both worlds.The night sky was full of stars, and we took advantage of a perfect spot to lay on the grass and stargaze.The room was a breath of fresh air, clean and beautifully decorated. (Our kids even said, "We wish this could be our house and we could stay forever!)The shower was a highlight, and a perfect spot to sit and relax after a fun day in the sun.The beds were super comfy and, combined with nice window blinds, the whole family slept later than normal.We had great memories making breakfast together in the kitchen too.This space is the perfect spot to stay for a Lake Superior experience. Fun for the whole family!

Jessica Brogley

2023-05

2nd Stay: This time we all stayed in Bay West. Our group took over the Residence, Walkout, the upstairs Kitchenette, and one additional room. It was on point. Check in was easy, clean rooms, everything worked, and spaces were comfortable.1st Stay: The Seagull Bay motel offers comfortable lodging along the lake with a pleasant walk down the Brownstone trail to town. At night you can hear the waves gently rock against the shore. The room itself is appropriately stocked and the temperature was easily controlled. The parking was perfect and the view can't be beat. As a person who has a very hard time unwinding, I found it remarkable that I slept so well here. I'm not sure if it was the room or the waves or just the absolutely perfect atmosphere of Bayfield, but I felt like I was truly recharging. My only regret was not staying longer.

Joe Imholte

2023-05

Bayfield for MEA weekend with the family - two adults and two kids. My brother and his daughter, and two sisters and their partners stayed here also. My brother and I were in what I will call the upper property, and sisters were below. Generally the upper properties are newer and more spacious, and the lower are marginally closer to town with much better views of the lake. Both have great common spaces, we made heavy use of the deck upstairs of the upper property. Both are very well kept. We stayed in the "hideaway". My daughter said it "looks like an Instagram photo" when we walked in. And it does look cool. It was clean and we valued having the kitchenette. In the attempt at what I think is minimalism, there are some misses. There are no nightstands in the room - with the larger bed, so no place to put your phone, and no lamps except the overhead light, which is trouble when one person is a reader and the other is not. There is no shelf in the shower to put soap/shampoo. The trash can was ridiculously tiny, and there are no instructions for what to do when it is full - no trash bags provided. There is no recycling. For the unit we stayed in, we could hear EVERYTHING that happened upstairs, thankfully the folks staying up there were not amorous. We were supposed to get a text on the day of arrival with instructions, but we didn't. Overall it was a good place to stay - easy access to town with a 10 minute walk down a beautiful path and easy for a group to stay, but not have to stay "together" all the time. There were several dings that made it less than perfect. I would stay here again.

Bob Butson

2023-05

**UPDATE May 2023**This motel has begun to really invest in their amenities, which is great after a dramatic price hike a few years ago. During our most recent stay we noticed new flooring in the bathroom as well as new trim. There's a climate control system on the wall that clearly wasn't fully functional, but seems to be heat and AC based on the heat exchangers that are now mounted on the outside of several of the buildings. Hopefully this summer the AC will be up and running in all units...The place still has a way to go to be worth $200 per night, but it's nice to see some progress. I've improved my rating accordingly.\/ ORIGINAL REVIEW \/This motel used to be a great value. It's small, outdated, quaint, has too small a parking lot, no air conditioning, and other problems. BUT, it used to be affordable. In 2020, my wife and I paid about $450 for a three night stay during tourist season. This year, the same stay would cost almost $600! That's $200 per night! Completely insane price for rooms that are super mediocre. There's no service, either - last year my wife was instructed by the staff (by phone) to take the back way into the office to get more toilet paper because no one was on site.Your $200 per night would be better spent elsewhere. Sad to see this formerly great value become robbery.

Molly M Brady

2023-05

The unit where we stayed felt brand new. It was impeccably clean (I have pretty ridiculous standards here) and really nicely done with a modern but very comfortable style. The views were beautiful - both bedrooms looked directly out the back of the motel over the meadow, woods, and Lake Superior/Apostle Islands. We had a lovely dinner (made in the very well stocked and again sparkling clean kitchen - oven/stovetop, microwave, refrigerator all new) then ate it on the attached deck that looks out over Lake Superior. The space in the unit is very effectively used and quiet - our 10-month-old, a notoriously poor sleeper, slept through each night, undisturbed by any other guests or sounds. Great A/C unit. The property is very walkable to downtown Bayfield but has a quieter feel than any of the accommodations in town, and the added bonus of the grounds. The staff was very responsive with booking and when we needed additional towels (again, the 10-month-old). We've been going to Bayfield for years and stayed a number of places and Seagull Bay is now our go-to spot.

Chris Rheineck

2023-05

We stayed in the Hideaway room at Seagull Bay for our first anniversary. It was nicely refinished with a kitchenette. Nice private view of superior through bedroom windows and from the deck. Great experience overall!

Mary S

2023-05

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Nicky

2023-05

We just got home from an awful 3 night stay here. NOT because of the motel room, but because of the completely inconsiderate and rude family above us in room 23. I reserved a room on the lower level (all they had) not thinking about rude neighbors because we usually don't get them in small towns like this, (and because of the higher room rate per night, which usually keeps bad guests away). The room itself was fine, very basic but had a small kitchen so it was nice that we didn't have to go out to eat for every meal. It did smell like old hamburger grease from the moment we walked in until the day we left from a former guest. There was a firm bed and a futon couch, plus a table and chairs. Small tv, 4 drawers and some hangers. AC worked great. Cute lil kitchen had all the basics for cooking and a small coffee pot. Unfortunately they only had one iron and another room had it so we were wrinkled. They only offer housekeeping if you ask for it during your stay so you have to go get extra towels and toiletries in the office if you need them, not a big deal at all. There was a couple flaws with our room. There was a bunch of hair on the walls in the bathroom that did not belong to us. And we found a couple spider webs, one with a dead spider in it. The blind for the big window is not room darkening so if you need a completely dark room this place will not be good for you. Didn't bother us. As mentioned earlier we could not sleep in anyways. The family with their two small boys woke up at 7 a.m. two of the mornings and at 4 a.m. another of the mornings! They proceeded to run back and forth, stomp, yell/cry, throw things on the floor and just make immense amounts of noise the entire day until after 10 p.m. EVERY. DAY. These were not normal "kids playing" sounds. This was insanity. We could not hear our TV over these people. Sure we could have blasted the TV but we definitely did not want to do that because there were people on the side of us and we are considerate. We complained to the owners 4 times. They even talked to the people at least 3 times but the noise didn't end. My husband and I agreed that if someone complained about us we'd be so embarrassed and make sure to be whisper quiet (we are anyways). Not these people! The owner was very kind and apologized a few times. We wish the people would have been kicked out as the motel does have a no parties/quiet policy. Since the place is older, it is also super loud when anyone runs water or flushes a toilet. We were next to the laundry room so had to listen to the loud machines when we were in our room in addition to the family with zero manners/respect. Housekeepers let doors slam.Location is excellent. Brownstone trail is literally right outside the door and that's a fantastic way to walk into town and avoid the steep streets (we did both, trail wins). Yes there are trees that sort of block the view of the lake but still a really nice view. Bayfield is a really cute town with great food and pretty lake views. I hope the people in room 23 see my review and know that they ruined our trip. And maybe try to think of other people in the future, we were here to try and relax because my Dad recently passed away. We could have stayed home for free.5 stars for location. 4 for motel itself and kind owner who tried to help. Zero stars for incredibly awful neighbors, I hope no one else ever has to stay below them.

Dorathy Osullivan

2021-05

Great place to stay. Staff is very accommodating. We showed up with an unexpected 3rd person and they went out of their way to make sure we felt comfortable and welcome. Brownstone trail is right next to the hotel and 5 minute walk to downtown Bayfield. There is plenty of hot water. Be sure to splurge on the lakeview room, it is worth it