Lilac House Bed and Breakfast

From the outside, the Lilac House Bed and Breakfast on Market and Astor Street in Mackinac Island Michigan seems like an inviting and warm atmosphere for guests to unwind. However, it is not until after you have arrived at the Lilac House bed & breakfast, that you realized this stay could be worse than a motel 8. I remember asking the owner of the Lilac House B&B (LoriAnn) what time is breakfast served? She was very blunt with her prior arrangements stating she was going to meet her husband coming off the ship after two months so she left pop tarts in a box and she said she could tell us directions on how to make coffee. It was pretty clear at this point that the Lilac House was not a bed and breakfast whatsoever. I know someone that owns a reputable bed and breakfast and they offer eggs benedict in the morning...

Lilac House Bed and Breakfast

When walking up the stairs to the second floor you will notice a community bathroom for the 8 to 10 rooms. Privacy is virtually impossible because of how crampt the thin walled bed and breakfast is. I was a first time visitors to Mackinac Island, and she assured me it was okay to call her cell phone number on her business card anytime for any reason. I actually tried to conversate with her over the phone and she was very impersonal with responses to my appropriate questions about the island. As a matter of fact she sounded more annoyed than helpful. LoriAnn why would you give guests your business card with your contact number if you care nothing about their questions?

Review from Others at Lilac House in Mackinac Island

This unsatisfactory service was evident with others that stayed at the Lilac House Bed and Breakfast. I was told by a recently married couple, that had went to Douds Corner store to purchase a bottle of wine, and that they were not sure if they should have purchased the wine because they did not have a wine opener. The couple called the number printed on the front of LoriAnns business card to see if she had one or if they had to spend $15 on Douds last wine opener in stock. She was short with answering questions about the Bed and Breakfast and if they had a wine opener or not. Does LoriAnn wish she did not have her phone number listed on her business card at all? Obviously if you are a business owner and your guests have a question about your bed and breakfast you should be more than forthcoming with information. Word of mouth referrals and recent reviews might possibly affect those considering your services.

When people came downstairs to have coffee in the morning, coffee was gone. There were other hotel guests that drank the last of the coffee and when more guests came downstairs there was none left. When I got ready to checkout at 11am LoriAnn was not available and I was unsure where to go or how my luggage was going to get to the ferry on time. After this confusion I knocked on the back door for several minutes and got no response. It was not until after calling her personal cell phone that she finally opened the back door.

After leaving, I accidentally forgot the ticket for my bags on the living room counter (next to the pop tarts). I was not sure if I needed it or not until the porter asked for them, so I came back looking for the tickets. Her husband opened the door very rudely and said do you need something and guess what, the ticket was purposely thrown in the garbage. I had to sift through a dirty garbage to find it and he was not very hospitable when he said are you done yet?

Avoid the Lilac House Bed and Breakfast

LoriAnn obviously hates her job (which is probably her livelihood) and she probably inherited the Lilac House bed and breakfast from her family. I think that she personally would rather be somewhere else than overlooking the care of her visitors. If I were to act like that with any of my clients I would expect to be slapped! To me I was just room 7, how do you think she will affect your stay at Mackinac Island? I would have rather spent double money to avoid this situation and would advise that others steer clear of the Lilac House Bed and Breakfast in Mackinac Island Michigan.

Bottom line Lilac House Bed & Breakfast is a big headache that is not necessary for those staying and working on Mackinac Island!