Just returned from Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island

[caverill]

We just returned from spending two nights at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI.

We traded 110 DVC points for the two nights in a Deluxe Lakeside room. Included was two meals per day (breakfast and dinner - which is a five course meal) and all tips. I find it very interesting that the Grand Hotel discourages tipping, to point of having it posted all over the place and on every bill.

Our stay at the Grand Hotel couldn't have been any better. Our room was great (it was on the first floor and had a private balcony which overlooked the Mackinac Bridge and Straights). We had a non-smoking room with a king bed, sofa, and two chairs. I believe the room was larger then my living room at home.

The only item that was strange was the TV. It was a nine-inch color set. That didn't bother us, since we wanted to be out and about away.

There are plenty of things to keep you busy on the Island. There are lots of trails to bike or walk on (no cars allowed on Mackinac Island). The Grand Hotel has it's own golf course (green fee's not included) and other things to do.

If you have the points and want to try something different, I would sure recommend staying at the Grand Hotel!

Any questions?

 

[MaryJ]

How far in advance did you make your reservation? I have wanted to go there since I saw the hotel in the movie "Somewhere In Time."

 

[Peter_noPan]

Mackinac Island is my favorite place in the world. We have a painting of the grand in our bedroom.

As much as I love it, I would not use my points on it. I would rather pay the $$ and use the points at WDW.

I am gald you had a good time.

 

[caverill]

We made our reservation in March.

My wife had always wanted to stay there. We actually Honeymooned on Mackinac Island 12 years ago, so the island is special to both of us.

We called MS and gave them a range of dates that we were trying for. They really tried to get exactly the dates we wanted, but we ended up on a weekend (which was fine for us).

The movie "Somewhere in Time" is very popular on the island. The Grand Hotel you see in the movie is the Grand Hotel you are staying in. Other then the period pieces (and the car driving up to the Grand Hotel) in the film, it is exactly the way it is.

 

[caverill]

I agree about the use of the points (to a point).

I think your points are better used at WDW in a DVC hotel, but we purchased the points for our vacations and my wife had always wanted to stay at the Grand Hotel.

One of the selling points of DVC to us was the flexibility to stay in many places around the world. We are looking to go to Hawaii in three years and plan to use points for that also.

If you look at the cost to stay at the Grand Hotel and what you get, I don't believe it is a bad deal.

 

[prncssjas]

Thanks for posting!! This was very helpful for me. I have been thinking about trying the Grand Hotel and it's useful to hear other people's experiences!

 

[marifran]

My sister, brother-in-law, neice, and I visited Mackinac Island a few years ago and would never go back! They pride themselves on not allowing any cars on the island, but the horse **** on the streets was terrible. The fresh stuff stunk to high heavens! and the dried stuff was all over in little tiny pieces. People couldn't avoid walking in it. Flies were buzzing around everywhere. That cannot be healthy. It was very congested and with some construction going on down by the harbor, the whole island reverberated with a continual pounding that gave us all headaches. No thanks! That's not my idea of relaxation.

 

[caverill]

There is no doubt that the horses do add an "air" to same parts of the island.

One of the nice things about staying at the Grand Hotel is that you really don't have to go down by the harbor where all the people (and horses) are, unless you really want to except to arrive and depart the island.

There is no major construction going on right now on the island, so noise was not a problem. In fact, once the "day tourists" leave the island in the evening, the whole area is very, very quiet and peaceful.

 

[TnRobin]

Thanks for the post. I too have dreamed of going to the Grand hotel since seeing Somewhere in Time. I was so happy to see it as an exchange on the DVC.

 

[Denine]

Thanks for the post. I've been wanting to go to the Grand Hotel since we joined, just haven't made it there yet.