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Reviews of Gateway to Pictured Rocks & Seney NWR 2BR Cottage located on Manistique River

Gateway to Pictured Rocks & Seney NWR 2BR Cottage located on Manistique River
Germfask, MI

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 37 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 59 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 59 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

7.4/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Jon & Carolyn G., Permanent Travelers

Liked: Cleanliness
Ok due to location but...
The location was excellent but a few things were lacking. The AC was completely inadequate to deal with hot days. It's just a portable unit that is probably capable of dealing with room less than half the size of the property. Thus we had to run it far more than we - and the owner - would have liked, during the hottest days of summer. The portable AC vented through a window, which made the home insecure. We would have gladly opened the windows because the outside temp was cooler, but the blinds were broken and some of the screens were missing, so we couldn't rely on outside overnight air to cool the property. At least one of the beds lacked a mattress cover under the bottom sheet. The "security stick" for the sliding rear door was broken, so it would have been easy for someone to enter the property through that door. It took two days for the owner to respond to a message via VRBO when we inquired if we could get a late checkout. The side door lock was broken. There was hair in 1 of the shower drains that the water wouldn't go down. We had to clean it out Hopefully the owner will switch the internet from satellite to newly-available internet service. We were unable to use the internet when it rained, and it was always very slow and connections were very "iffy." The instructions for connecting to the internet were posted on the refrigerator in a type font that was tiny and blurred, so it was difficult to read. We had to guess at what the password was.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vincent W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Very happy with property. Had a wonderful time, would have liked to stay longer. Clean and well maintained . Would have liked more outdoor chairs (white stackable ones would work). Not a big thing though. Pretty centrally located to see the sights.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Martha K.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Martha
The cabin was amazing and centrally located. Not the cleanest place.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

janice w.

The place was very convenient for us
Ok
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

2/10 Terrible

john b.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Very comfortable house
This house had everything we needed and plenty of room for 6 people. Communication with the owner was very good. We would stay there again.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Charlene B., Westminster

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to gather!
This was the perfect location for our family reunion - it was near where all the activities were taking place. We thought we could bring a dog and found out after we booked it that we couldn't. We made it work anyway, but it was an extra expense to board our dog at home. The host was great at communicating and very prompt! We'd definitely stay here again!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brad A.

Great location
Place was between Mackinac Island and Picture rocks. Location worked perfectly for us to visit both locations.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maria M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Location
The location of this property was perfect. All the locations that we wanted to travel to were about the same distance. Even though the location seems isolated, it is not. Down the road you’ll find a small supermarket, a restaurant across the street and a kayaking/canoeing/campground facility to travel down the Manistique River. It was super easy to check into the home. The home was exactly as the listing displayed. We had plenty of space for our kids to play and they loved unwinding/watching tv when we came back after a long day of activities. It was a plus having a washer/dryer. There was no AC but the temperature was tolerable with the windows open and running the ceiling fans/other fans provided.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

valerie b.

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean home, was our base for day trips in the UP.
Clean property and thankful for the ramp into the home. I think the home needs some maintenance as we had some difficulty with the lock and most of the screens are in need of repair or replacement. With no Central Air, it would have been nice to have enjoyed open doors and windows, but during the time of our stay the mosquitos were a real problem! The owner was responsive and again, it was a good location to enjoy the UP.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Kelly, Saginaw

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Central location to make as a base camp. Everything we wanted to do was only about an hour away. The house was very clean, roomy and well equiped. The down side were the uncomfortable beds. They were very firm and noisy. We were not able to have the windows opened because mosquitoes kept getting in through holes in the screens. Even with the windows closed they somehow still got in. If the screens and beds were updated I would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

Nick P., Oakland, MI

Disliked: Cleanliness
Needs to be cleaned better
Rented for a snowmobile trip. 6 guys so the sleeping set up was perfect. We got there and trash bags were piled up at the door. Beds weren’t made, there wasn’t enough bed sheets, the dust was disgusting. Nothing was wiped down. The fans had fur on them. Water pressure was really bad as well. We had to finish cleaning before we brought our stuff in. Dirty laundry in the washer. Great house and location. Just needs much better housekeeping.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 May 2022
Nick P is upset because I gave him a bad review and kept his $100 damage deposit. He and his companions left puke all over the inside of one of the showers. Left turds in one of the toilets. I fresh feces stain on the carpet in the bedroom that came from a pet that he claims didn't exist. Cigarette ashes on the floor throughout the house where he claimed they only smoked outside. (There are no pets and no smoking in the cottage!) After showing him the pictures taken by my cleaning company he still lied about it.

10/10 Excellent

Pamela K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Up north getaway
Close to all of the attractions
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Darryn B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great getaway spot in UP
We really enjoyed staying in this home. It was roomy, comfortable and cozy. It had everything we needed for a terrific stay in the Upper Peninsula. The rooms were clean and well-lighted. The furniture was nice and homey. The washer/dryer came in handy. The only drawback was the water pressure in the home was a bit low, but with just two of us we were able to coordinate it. Also it's a great location. From here in Germfask we were able to get to a bunch of places within 30-45 minute drive, such as Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks, Munising, Manistique and other places. And the best part was, at night we could see a million stars. Coming from a big city, that was like a miracle for us! We would definitely stay here again if we have the chance.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Daniel J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Worth the drive!
A small cabin in the middle of nowhere, but on the way to everywhere! This place was an excellent point from which to explore almost all of the U.P., and just a few hours drive was worth it to see places like Copper Harbor, Porcupine Mountains, De Tour Village, and everywhere in between!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Crystal M., Lincoln Park, Michigan

Liked: Cleanliness
In the middle of everything
Our stay was awesome. Central location to all of the things you would want to do and the river behind the property was beautiful. We loved the soaking tub which we enjoyed after the long hikes. Thanks again for having us.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

4/10 Poor

Alice Y.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Not as described
My kids said that for the U.P., the place was very good; indicating there's a different/lower standard for U.P. rentals. The sticking point for me however, is that the list of amenities was not as described and it should be more accurately described. It indicated 3 queen beds but they are either full or 3/4 and need to be replaced. Every time someone moves in the bed, it makes a lot of noise. Queen size sheets are way too large for the beds. The older hide-a-bed in the living room should be replaced; the mattress was filthy and thin. The standing lamp in the living room won't stand on its own; it has to lean against something else or it will fall over and only one of the three lights on it had a bulb. The description indicates AC but it's a "portable" unit which is not very effective and there were high humidity days during our stay. The house needs central AC. The house needs intense and thorough cleaning. The deck had one hole in it upon arrival and after a torrential downpour, another appeared. That entire board was soft and spongy; an accident waiting to happen. There were only two outdoor chairs provided. The house wasn't prepared for us prior to our visit; I had to do all the laundry and cleaning before family arrived, the previous occupants trash and empty returnables were still there and remained there during our stay. One box fan had broken blades and was inoperable. We took apart the other and cleaned it; it was filthy. We had to take apart the vacuum cleaner and remove the hair and fibers around the roller and clogged in the tube. The manager made things right with me but all that work was not part of my vacation plan. The list of problems is too long to list. The homeowner should live there for a while and start fixing all of the problems with the home. No one appears to be investing in the routine maintenance and upkeep of the property.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sherri G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet
The property was a good size for our group of 10. 5 adults and 5 children. The access to the river was not ideal for swimming but would work for fishing it seemed. We had a nice fire in the fireplace, and enjoyed being able to walk across to the little restraunt in town. We enjoyed being close to the Seney wildlife refuge and saw a good dozen sand cranes in various areas throughout our stay. Overall, I think we will come back and enjoy this piece of quiet living.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Robert O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect place for us
We wish we could take this place with us wherever we go hunting.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2020

8/10 Good

BJ E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Staying with dogs
Great place if you are staying with your dogs.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nicole W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay, economical, central location
We had a great time, easy to find, walk across the street to the local restaurant. Grocery store on corner. Our only concern was the house is right on the Main Street which meant an xtra eye on our 2 dogs due to the fast traffic. Centrally located for UP destinations. Easy checkin and checkout. Polite and responsive owner. There were pet stains in main bedroom but that is expected with a pet friendly rental. Otherwise very clean and soft new towels.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Mark R.

Liked: Cleanliness
THE BEST!!!
A must for your next getaway to the great U.P. of Michigan. Property is centrally located to all the great attractions and the best fishing lakes. House is just like home. Everything you need is there. Can't thank the owner and property manager enough for a great vacation!

10/10 Excellent

april k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Northern getaway
Great location. Not far from all the hot spots to visit.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

David R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Upper Peninsula get away
Nice property and centrally located in the upper peninsula. Minutes from nice boating and fishing lakes. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

David S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great central location
Overall, a great place, will definitely stay again. Big kitchen with everything you need. Washer and dryer if you want to wash clothes. Great central location for visiting Tahquamenon Falls, Munising, Marquette, Kitch-iti-kipi. Jolly Inn is a great restaurant just across the street. Small window fan above kitchen sink does a good job of cooling off the house at night, plenty of extra fans. Couldn't tell from pictures but both bathrooms have a shower. Only negatives: tough to use both showers at the same time with the water pressure. Couldn't find a very clear path to the river but I didn't try very hard. Wifi was not very great but worked. A bigger TV mounted on the wall would be nice for people who aren't out exploring all day like me. Other than that, everything was great. I look forward to visiting again.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Christina M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Location
Pros: Location- 1 hour from pictured rocks Bonfire & nice property Fully stocked house Easy to reach the property manager Flexible check in/out times Walking distance from small grocery, bar, food Cons: Beds could be upgraded. Very uncomfortable mattress. Spotty internet- but I'm sure that's the area Could have been cleaner: stains on comforters, dirty dish rags, others hairs in bathroom, etc
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nancy L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot
Perfect for day trips around the UP. House had everything you could need.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Mike C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to stay in the U.P.
Property was bigger than expected and right on the river. Close to all the U.P. attractions and right on the highway. Nice large kitchen, washer/dryer and big living room. Great restaurant, the Jolly Inn across the street with a wonderful breakfast.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Ashley S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Located in a great spot for day trips
The house was in a great location to travel for day trips to beautiful sites in the UP. Seney wildlife reserve was gorgeous and less than a mile away. There were options to swim and fish within driving distance. The river didn’t have great access On the property but other locations to visit were so close it didn’t matter. Thanks for a great vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

Jennifer S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice place
We enjoyed our stay. The place was nice to use as a central spot. Germfask is within 1- 1 1/2 hours to almost any place you want to go to. Each day we did day trips. It was nice to come back to a spot for dinner and hang out in the backyard. The only complaint was the beds. The queen in the 2nd bedroom was very squeaky and only fit one comfortably. A lot of the family ended up sleeping on the sofas in the main area. When you locked up the house for the day, it got very warm and took a long time to cool down. They had fans to circulate the air but took awhile. The nights were cool and made the place comfortable. We enjoyed the large backyard area and they had plenty of shade. They had chairs you could use in the main lodge hallway. They have plenty of maps and brochures of things to do. There is a Very small and friendly grocery store two within a 1 minute walk away from the place. There is a family restaurant/bar right across the street if your looking for a place to eat at. For us it was important to have wi-if and they have it but cell phone service is spotty depending on what provider you use. The house is right on M-77 and if you keep the front windows closed the traffic noise is minimal. However, it’s not a super busy street so the noise isn’t constant and when we hung out in the backyard we couldn’t hear it. Overall, it was a great place and enjoyed the stay. The owner was easy to get a hold of and very responsive, especially with things to do and places to go. They had Bath towels for us to use and plenty of pots, pans, silverware, toilet paper and paper towels& trash bags. Best stocked place we’ve been at. We brought paper plates and bowls as we don’t like to do a lot of dishes While on vacation. They do have a Microwave, dishwasher, washer & dryer which are convient to have.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Melvin T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Rental/Nice Local
Property is nicely located to several areas. It was clean and spacious for 6 of us that stayed. Extremely great it was pet friendly for our older dog. Owner/manager was friendly and easy to communicate with.

10/10 Excellent

Nick W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Property and Location
This location is perfect as a getaway. The property owner is prompt with answering questions, and keeps the property looking good. There is a really good local bar/restaurant across the street. The street is a main road that stays relatively plowed in the winter, with easy access to US2 and M28. Great location, great price, and great owner!
Stayed 15 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

William C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Location
Very nice property in an excellent location for exploring the central and east UP. We will book this property again when we travel north.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

James S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quick Trip
Great cabin !
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Marjorie K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Vacation in the U.P.
The house was very nice. clean and very well kept. Everything we needed was there, or we could easily get it. The location was perfect for my family as we traveled all over the U.P. Thanks for everything. John, Mickey, Dave, Tammy, Allie, and Logan.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Paula E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great central location in the U.P.
We had a family vacation here which included a child, a senior couple and ourselves. This home had plenty of room for all of us. The kitchen was well equipped. We enjoyed the dining table and had several meals there. The bathrooms were clean and the towels provided were soft and large. I enjoyed taking a soaking bath in the large tub and my grandson had a blast taking his bath there as well. The deck in back was large and had chairs, a table and extra cushions. We used the grill. The grounds were well tended and had large trees. While some other reviewers complained about the road noise, we didn't notice it. We also had no problems with the restaurant across the street and noise. We happened to be there in an extremely hot spell (uncommon there) and the house was very hot. The owners included 2 fans for your use and during any other time I'm sure they would have been great. The evenings cooled down very nicely and we were able to sleep comfortably all but one night. No one can control the weather though! The beds were comfortable. The washer and dryer were in good working order and we enjoyed the convenience of having them. There was plenty of parking for two vehicles. This is a great place to stay if you are looking for a middle area to explore the U.P. We really enjoyed ourselves and hope to return!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kathy D., California

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location!
Located 2 miles from the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Our focus was birding and we had great success. Seney NWR is amazing. Must see. This home is a modest accomodation. Beds are squeaky, but everything else was just fine. We recommend walking across the street to the only resturant in town. Fantastic. Try the Friday Night Fish Fry. The property is well maintained and enjoyable to just sit on the deck.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mahdi G., Lansing

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect place for pictured rocks tours!!
Perfect place for pictured rocks tours!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Bill T., Fort Pierce, FL, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Cabin/house near wildlife refuge
The location of the property in central east upper Michigan was perfect for us. The property is a couple of miles from the entrance to the Seney NWR where we photographed Canada geese with goslings, lots of trumpeter swans (one pair with cygnets) and even a couple of loons. It is also near the Pictured Rocks National Seashore, which is a beautiful area. The cabin in more of a 2-bedroom house. Very clean and complete with all the kitchen stuff one might need. There was plenty of room for four of us. The owner/manager lived next door and were very nice. Wonderful place. The only concern was that the listing indicated two queen beds, but there were only three double/standard beds. The double in the 'master' was also very creaky, so rolling over was noisy (thus the 4-star rating for accuracy of online listing). But overall, a great experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Matt N.

Roomy and clean!
Stayed here for snowmobiling and the trail was only .3 mi away. The house had plenty of room for our group and gear. Nice big kitchen to cook breakfasts and just across the street a decent little bar. The house was also clean! The host was very accommodating.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Danny L.

Nice clean house
House was very clean and well maintained. It was a great central place to explore the UP. The Jolly Inn across the street had good food, and good service.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy Y.

Nice place, would stay again.
My husband and our two doggies stayed 4 nights to explore pictured rocks, tahquamenon falls, seney wildlife refuge, and local wineries. The house was centrally located to all our stops and was clean/warm to boot. I agree with some of the other reviews concerning the noticeable noise from traffic outside the house, but it wasn’t loud enough to keep us up at night and wouldn’t prevent us from staying again in the future. Both Brian and Rebecca were friendly and helpful if we needed them.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kevin S.

The place to stay !
If you are looking to see some of the most amazing things Like T-Falls, Pictured Rocks, among many other waterfalls etc.. this place will put you right in the middle for the travel. As for the place we took both of our Siberian Huskies up with us and they had a great back yard and good tie off for their leashes! Brian and Rebecca are the care takers and they are really nice you can ask them anything and they will help, as a matter of fact when we got to the rental someone else's other stuff was in our rental, a little confusion due to the fact that Tom the owner has another rental next door LOL, but Rebecca rushed over and corrected the problem very quickly ! The only improvement's I would suggest is a flat screen that can handle the dish network, the tv they have is obsolete and the home should not share WIFI with the other rental it gets bogged down for basic internet ! Sometimes un useable, and lock boxes for keys would eliminate the confusion on the rentals ! I did get to briefly meet Tom and he seemed like a great guy as well ! You will enjoy your stay here ! Oh and bye the way when we just arrived our dogs collar brock and Brian and Rebecca loaned us one of theirs that helped us out immensely until we could get a new one . thanks again for that.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2020
Thanks for the kind comments! We now have lock boxes and i'm bringing flat screens with me on my next visit. As for internet, there is no high speed in the area. We are as frustrated as our guests about the speed of internet service, but, its out of our control. It's just part of the experience!

10/10 Excellent

James S.

Super clean
Great place ....
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Ron K.

very good
We had a great time.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018

6/10 Okay

Karen D.

Very clean house
House was clean and laid out well. Central to attractions like Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls, Manistee, etc. The property is on the Manistique River, however you cannot see the river from the deck and the river embankment is brushy and steep. Not accessible. Noisy lumber trucks pass by on M77 day and night...house is less than 50 feet from the road. Very loud.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2018

8/10 Good

naresh kumar g.

Awesome stay!!
Well maintained home.Except few glitches its worth staying place.I recommended this property. Pros: Fully equipped Kitchen clean carpets nice deck Cons: water is not coming if both bathrooms showers on Dryer not working
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018

6/10 Okay

Tom, Germfask Michigan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Comfortable place but no hair dryer and clothes dryer did not work and that was realson why we picked this pkace
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Eugene G.

Our vacation
We truly enjoyed our stay. The cottage was very clean and comfortable with all the amenities. I would definitely recommend this place. Thank you for allowing us to stay at your cottage.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We had a wonderful stay and enjoyed our time here.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Hope T.

Very nice, clean
Great location. About an hour drive to either the falls or Munising. Comfort and clean.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018