Boulevard Inn

Cute beachfront hotel: a bit overpriced for what it is, but it was clean, roomy, and close by to area bars and restaurants.
Two girlfriends and myself drove to St. Joe form Grand Rapids to meet a 4^th friend who drove up from Chicago. Around 4pm we met at The Boulevard Inn to check in and drop our overnight bags off. The front desk staff was friendly enough, but up-​charged us $ 10 for each person over their two person «Standard room occupancy». Given that we had booked a small suite, which was more expensive, and because it was larger, we assumed they knew more than 2 people would occupy it. So that was annoying, but we paid it, and moved along with our weekend.
The suite itself was cute and tidy with a living room and kitchenette space on one side and two queen beds in the other room. I don’t like it when the bathroom sink is exposed in a hotel room– I like the sink and the bathroom to be in a separate place. This place had the exposed sink. I’m not going to knock a star off for that, but just know that your room may be the same, especially if you are sharing the bathroom with others.
They offered a city map when we left for dinner with most bars and restaurants being in walking distance, which we found great for our bar hopping overnight.

The food offered is no better than you can expect in an English pub and the management needs to sharpen their act up with the breakfast. Other than the food windge, good location and helpful friendly staff.

Location: This hotel is centrally located in front of the beach with only a short walk down. Within walking distance are really cute boutiques, shops, and restaurants. They have free all day parking right next to the hotel.
Food: They have a nice bistro which is overlooking the lake, and I was able to enjoy the view. I can only comment on their breakfast buffet (included with the room booking). It was nothing to write home about, but it was not bad at all. They seem to have a small outdoor eating area, which I did not get to use as it’s cold.
Staff: The staff was professional and friendly. They helped my friend and I locate good shops and restaurants to try nearby and were very accommodating.
Rooms: The room was clean and SUPER spacious. My room actually had two flat screen TV’s and a «living room» area. So you could actually close the door to the «bedroom» area and still enjoy a movie in the «living room» area while others slept. The beds were super comfortable as well.
Downsides: The hotel is a little bit outdated, so you wont find really modern and cool décor. However, the décor isn’t bad, it’s just more «classic.» I took off a star because I couldn’t find the temperature control in the room and it got really hot at night and I was unable to sleep comfortably due to this issue. I think the hotel itself controls the room temperature, or maybe I just didn’t locate the switch.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay and look forward to coming back again, this time hopefully in the summer months to enjoy the beach.

We loved the room! Had a park view (lake). Comfortable bed. Clean room. Room has a full size fridge, microwave and sink. This is our 4^th time at st. joes and 3^rd time at the boulevard. You can’t beat the location. The restaurant is just ok. Still cannot understand them not opening until 5pm on a Saturday though. There are PLENTY of nearby restaurant, bars and grilles though. Go out and enjoy this town and its views.

While the location is great, and the hotel was clean, I thought this hotel was overpriced. It is a bit outdated as well from what I would expect from a hotel that charges so much.
When asked the simplest of questions, the front desk staff seemed confused and unsure of how to respond. All I wanted was some extra hangers.
While they have a nice free breakfast in their Bistro, the Bistro itself is overpriced, in my opinion. There are many nice restaurants in the area for much cheaper.

So many positives, but some very harsh negatives as well, to this place! It’s all about location.
The first reservations I made had to be post-​poned by two weeks, because the weather was too crappy to travel. When I called to reschedule (just pushing back two weeks) I was told I would get a «FREE» upgrade, but I had to pay $ 20 more for my room. Uhhh. Whatever. It was a business trip, but that was weird.
We checked in and the staff was super friendly. Cookies were sitting up ready for us to take (they were hard as a rock, but nice touch). Upon entering the room, it was a balmy 80 degrees. We turned the heat way down and got ready to leave for dinner. The room was spacious, it was actually two rooms connected (like a suite) with a TV, couch and mini-​kitchen in one, bathroom, bedroom and TV in the other.
The biggest problem though, was the extras that we did NOT want in our room. We went to take the comforter off the bed and there was something red smeared on the top of the comforter — right where my head would be. I couldn’t tell for sure if it was blood or not, but it was a large stain regardless. I called to let the front desk know and they just said they’d let the manager know. I was surprised that was all they offered. THEN we found a used Floss pick on the ground! So disgusting.
Fortunately, those were the only surprises. I travel often: for business and for pleasure and I have never encountered a blood-​like substance or a used toiletry in my room. Absolutely revolting. I didn’t call about the Floss pick since I didn’t get anywhere with the blood.
Anywho, we left for dinner, and when we came back, the room was still sweltering. My guess is it was a set temperature in the hotel itself, not controlled in the room. We had to sleep with the air conditioning on!!! ZERO degrees outside, and we slept with the A/​C on. Well, at least we were comfortable. Never mind the loud engine start up every time the A/​C ran, or the train that woke us up several times.
I was there for a work trip in the middle of a very cold week, so it definitely wasn’t too busy. The location is key. I’d imagine that in the summer, the bars/​restaurants are open later and are much busier. There was a Winter Walk set up right outside the hotel which was beautiful, but it was definitely too cold to walk around. I’m sure this is a great summer spot! But really, location is the best thing Boulevard Inn has going for it. I’d stay again for location only, but seriously hope for no more disgusting surprises.

You can’t beat this hotel for service and location. Extremely friendly front desk and the rooms are very, very clean and nice. Large comfy beds and 2 tv’s. Full size refrigerator free wi-​fi. Location couldn’t be better, right on Lake Michigan and a block away from downtown… Perfect

Location was very good & rooms were clean and spacious. However the quality of the breakfast was very poor. It was very limited (hard boiled eggs, oat meal, toast, waffles, yogurt, mini sweet rolls, & musselix). The only juice was orange juice. The sweet rolls were stale & the bread was poor quality supermarket balloon bread. No bagels or better quality breads. No hot items. It was not what i would expect from a hotel charging $ 210.00 per night for a room. Also we upgraded from a courtyard room to a Parkview room thinking that we would have a view of the lake, but the only view we got was looking into the trees across the street. That was a waste of money. Nice location but over priced for what you get.

Location! If you are staying in St. Joseph, you really cannot beat the Boulevard Inn. It is the nicest hotel in the area and the staff is great.
We had our wedding block here, and they really were on top of things. We booked a few suites and had the bridal party get ready there (highly recommend)! The Bistro has good food and they recently updated the rooms.
The only negative feedback I have is the cost (expected in a resort town) and the breakfast. They used to have a better breakfast, and they’ve definitely cut back. Also, parking is often tricky during peak season, so once you have a spot, plan on staying put!

I could not be happier with The Boulevard Inn. When my best girlfriend and I started coming to St. Joe, our kids were little and we stayed at the (then) Holiday Inn, now The Clarion, because of the indoor pool. Now the kids are grown and we still come to St Joe every August. Our big ‘perk’ for ourselves was ‘moving on up’ to The Boulevard.
The rooms were updated a couple years ago. The beds are comfortable and fresh. We have never had any maintenance issue at all. The front desk staff is always friendly. The free breakfast buffet is amazing. Eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, cereal, milk, juice, fresh fruit, a waffle station, And it’s FREE. I seriously don’t know where the people who complain about the breakfast buffet normally stay on vacation. I have traveled quite a bit and have never stayed had anything remotely close to this spread… for FREE. I will make my usual disclaimer that I love St Joe. Everything about it. I always chuckle at bad reviews that, in my opinion, have no merit. This is a small town in Michigan that is swamped with tourists from May — Sept. I am not suggesting anyone should ever put up with bad service or rooms with plumbing problems etc. But negative comments about the size of the bathrooms and the slow elevators… LOL. No, this is not the Ritz Carlton in New York City. The nightly rates are not a bargain — but you know the old saying — location, location, location. There is nowhere else I would rather stay.

We stayed here for a wedding. There are some definite pros including free internet and free (albeit kinda weak) continental breakfast. The bed is fine. But there are also cons. The bathrooms are teeny tiny. I would have taken a lower rate over a suite-​style room. The elevators are painfully slow. But I guess there’s not really much of an alternative for this area???

Both the location and the service at the Boulevard Inn were top notch. We stayed with a group for a wedding so we did get the negotiated group rate so I can’t speak to the cost that other people have mentioned but really the service outweighs any of the cons.
The front desk people were helpful and made requested notes on our check out, they made sure a dvd player was in my sister’s room for her kiddos prior to arrival, and apparently offered the bride and groom assistance with pre-​arrival odds and ends. Also, when I forgot something in my room at check out, the hotel called me to let me know so they could send it back to me. That is worth one star alone.
The rooms aren’t the Four Seasons and the elevator is seriously slow, but I’d stay here again for the service and the location. Plus there was a waffle maker involved in the continental breakfast. Waffles.

Stayed here on a family vacation. The rooms are dated but the location can’t be beat! Took the kids to the beach, enjoyed the carousel and was able to walk to shops and good as well.

Prime choice for the St Joe area/​town. The suite was clean, big, had a nice size mini fridge, & close to lake/​park. The staff was welcoming, fast when we need a couple things brought to the room, and overall helpful when needed. The breakfast was simple but great for being included in the hotel price. Fresh waffles, yogurt, cereals, coffee. Might be a little more than other area hotels, but worth it & we would happily return. Below renovations are complete and we didn’t experience anything but the best.

My parents came up to visit and they stayed here. Their experience was significantly less than ideal– they had to move rooms twice for maintenance issues, and the hotel was actively undergoing renovations in the rooms adjacent to their final room so it was very loud and dusty.
The general appearance of the rooms is dated and less than clean. I would recommend finding a little house to rent– the cost is probably about the same as the rooms are so expensive here.

I stayed here recently while in town for a friend’s wedding.
Pros:
— location. I took the train in from Chicago so I wouldn’t have to drive, and the hotel is right up the bluff from the train station. Also centrally located to all wedding activities, nearby restaurants, etc. I got around on foot with zero problems.
— not really a pro for the hotel, but holy mackerel St. Joseph is pretty! I arrived at sunset and while walking to the hotel and then dinner I was met with amazing views. Just lovely.
— I believe all the rooms are suites, which means more space. I had a fridge, microwave, sink, etc.
— Free wifi!
— Though no wedding festivities were actually held here, this was one of the hotels with a block of rooms for wedding guests. The hotel had clearly worked with my friends, as I was given a welcome packet when I arrived and offered other coordinated goodies during my stay. Nice touch.
Cons:
— my room had a strange smell. Luckily the windows opened.
— they were under a renovation when I was there, which made for painfully long elevator wait times, but at least they warned us.
— My room was very outdated, especially the bathroom. I assumed I had a non-​remodeled room. Yet when my friend stopped by she said I DID have a remodeled room. That’s just… scary.
— No full length mirror. This has become a sticking point with me after I’ve traveled around the freaking planet over the last year. How can any hotel NOT have a full length mirror, especially a hotel like this who I assume gets a lot of wedding business?
— Terrible bathroom lighting. See also: how is this acceptable with a hotel that gets a lot of wedding business?
— On a Saturday morning at FIVE AM there were garbage trucks emptying all the renovation dumpsters for about 45 minutes straight. I wanted to stab someone. SO NOT OKAY.
I don’t know what the other hotel options in St. Joe’s are like, but this was okay I guess.

I stayed in this hotel back in 1998. I stayed here again recently and NOTHING has changed or been updated.
I was immediately disgusted the minute I walked through the doors. The two chairs by the doors are stained and disheveled. Not only were the pillows unfluffed, but there were gaping holes in them. C’mon, how hard is it to get a new decorative throw pillow? This is the first impression — gross.
The rooms are in need of a massive update. The walls, the bedding, the TV, the colors, the carpet, the hair dryer are all terribly out of date. The duvet had a gaping hole in it as well. The shower curtain had black mold growing on it. The lighting in the bathroom is probably the most unflattering set up I have ever experienced.
On top of it all, I really wanted a Coke, but the vending machine only had RC Cola! What decade are we in?
I understand people visiting St. Joe need a place to stay, but for the same price, you can get a great hotel in Chicago on Hotwire or something.
Just reminiscing about my recent stay here makes me want to gouge my eyes out.
The location is great. Please people of the Boulevard, do something to bring this hotel into the current decade.

While this hotel is located centrally in St. Joseph and has nice views of the lake, it is very outdated and in need of a face lift throughout the hotel. At the same time, it is quite affordable (at least in the winter) and has a great rewards program.
The rooms: All rooms are suites with a refrigerator, two rooms, a sleeper sofa and are very spacious. Unfortunately, the beds are not very comfortable (or at least in the few rooms that I’ve stayed in while at the hotel) and the lighting in the bathrooms suffers from fluorescent «ugly light» syndrome (in other words, when you go to do your make-​up in the morning, the light is so harsh that you feel unpretty).
The fitness center: Yes, they have a fitness center, but I was extremely disappointed by the false advertising on the website. I quote from the website: «…visit our state-​of-​the-​art Fitness Center. Equipped with all the latest equipment…». There are two treadmills that, while they work, likely date to pre-​1985 (no joke) so I have no idea how they can claim to have «all the latest equipment» since the internet did not exist when those machines were made. The one stationary bike and rowing machine are from a similar era. I really wish I had a picture to share, but didn’t have a camera.
Buffet breakfast: A basic continental breakfast is included in your stay with cereals, concentrate OJ, coffee, oatmeal, granola and yogurt. Reward program members also receive the option of a hot breakfast. I agree that I would have liked more of a fruit selection than the cantaloupe, but it did the job.
This is a hotel with a lot of classy potential, but unfortunately there has been little investment to keep the hotel up to date. I wish the hotel would renovate one floor at a time to improve at least the beds, hair dryers, and lighting in addition to the fitness center. I’d be willing to pay more if it were upgraded.

Had a great weekend in St. Joe’s for the Labor Day holiday, and our stay at the Boulevard Inn definitely played a part of that.
Location = Awesome
Just above the bluff overlooking the beach
A block away from downtown restaurants, shops, and doggy kitsch
Plenty of stairs and great road path to the beach
Ample lot and street parking
Not a great view if you’re saving money with the «park view» a.k.a. «parking lot view»
Ambience = Good
Clean, well-​kept facilities
Friendly front desk
Classy old-​time hotel feel
Awesome front porch
Relaxing
Rate = not bad for location and peak holiday
Huge drop in price from Saturday night to Sunday night
Room = A-​Ok
Cozy, huge king beds
Sweet suite style rooms — sitting room with wet bar, couch, and TV
Not the crispest reception on the two TV’s
Could use more mirrors than just the ones in the the bathroom
Buffet Breakfast = Great
Juicy, tender bacon and sausage
Fluffy well-​cooked eggs
Decent variety of carbs — cereal, bagels, breads, granola, oatmeal, waffles
Ample coffee, juices, water
Could use more fruit selections than just the apples, oranges, and OJ
Food not that hot, temperature-​wise
Dodd’s remark that aircon is weak at the height of summer is a bit worrisome, but would probably stay here again.

Ok, so we have been coming to St. Joseph for relaxing weekends for over 10 years, traveling from Chicago. Over the years we have stayed at the Boulevard Inn more often than not, enjoying this all suite hotel and its close proximity to down town attractions and overlooking the lake.
The good… Great views (if you get a lake side room), very good Bistro for dining, comfortable bed, lots of room.
The bad… Very weak air conditioning system… almost uncomfortable to stay there during real hot weather. Also, while they have always been an expensive option, they have now become extremely over priced. They are playing up the all suite, up scale place to stay thing a bit too much and and finally priced us out of this hotel for the first time in over 10 years. Also, if you don’t get a lakeview room you get the «city lights» view which is an overly nice way to say parking lot view.
It is a shame because overall this is a nice place and a fantastic location. I just do not find it worth the price any longer. Our last trip we decided to stay at the Holiday Inn down the road on Lakeshore and found it to be a great alternative (see my review of that place).
We may once again return from time to time, but only if we find a way to get a better price.