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Wharf Master's Inn
Categories: Hotels & Travel Bed & Breakfast Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Bed & Breakfast, Hotels [Edit]
785 Iversen AvePoint Arena, CA 95468
(800) 932-4031
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 8 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 8 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
38 reviews for Wharf Master's Inn
Review Highlights
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"Ocean views, jacuzzi tub, and sweet Point Arena folks." In 8 reviews -
"A little pricey, but I would highly recommend this place." In 3 reviews -
"Romantic getaway complete with fireplace, wine glasses, etc." In 3 reviews
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Tim M.
Lincoln, CA
12/29/2011
While this place may seem like it's in the middle of nowhere (it is), and takes forever to get to (it does), once you get here none of those trivial facts seem to matter much!
Let's start with the drive, coming from Sacramento we drove to Jenner and then took Highway 1 North, all the way up to Point Arena. The scenery was spectacular the entire drive, totally unspoiled wilderness dotted with picturesque little towns and beautiful seaside homes. I always thought that Monterey/Carmel had the most beautiful scenery, but this is even BETTER! We passed thru Manchester, Gualala, Sea Ranch, Elk, Fort Ross, and so many beautiful unspoiled sea coves I lost count. The scenery was almost overwhelming it was so beautiful, by the time we got to the hotel we were feeling the cathartic effect of all that beauty, kind of a light-hearted joy! (I know it sounds sappy, but that's how we felt)
Pulling up to the Wharf Master's Inn, you see the rugged cove straight ahead, and then you look up to your right and see the charming New England style Inn perched up on the hill nestled in the trees, the kind of place you see on the Travel Channel and promise yourself to visit one day... We pulled up to the Inn, and were greeted by the very charming Terri, the Innkeeper for our stay. In less than five minutes we were checked in and headed to our room with two DVDs from their free library. They also had a lot of high quality wines for purchase.
Upon entering the room our first "wow" was the panoramic view of the entire cove from the wall of glass facing the ocean, glass doors opened to a very nice private deck with two chairs and a table. Our second "wow" was for the size of our room and the tall catherdal ceiling, it felt more like a suite than just a room. Our bed had a down comforter AND a down mattress pad. We really enjoyed the very large electric fireplace and jacuzzi tub as well. Also included was a large champagne/ice bucket, and candles by the tub. The only thing our room didn't have was a mini-fridge and a microwave, but our host Terri graciously offered to heat or chill anything we desired. The room also had two very nice and comfortable upholstered chairs, and a desk.
Our room was so comfortable, and the view was so grand, we didn't really have any reason to leave... but we did make it to Mendocino for some sight seeing, and a great lunch at the Mendocino Hotel. -
Review from robert k.
4/18/2012
We had a very nice time here. The room was nice, but not great. The fireplaces that they advertise are modern electric fireplaces (in the more modern rooms). The jacuzzi tub is nice, but it takes forever to fill up and there are no steps, so be weary of banging knees on the way in or out. Similarly, the water gets cold since it tastes so long to fill! And, it's way too loud to actually relax in. Last but not least, the bed and the fixtures (bathroom, faucets) are older and not comfortable / outdated. And sadly, there is barely any phone reception in this area, and the wi-fi barely works outside the office.
But those are the only downsides, really. Room is clean, location is great, and staff is incredibly friendly. This is a very laid back b&b (did you expect anything else in Mendocino county?) and it is very couple friendly, but maybe not family friendly. I guess I didn't ask, but we only had 1 bed for us and the kids, so the kids slept on the floor (and eventually ended up in our beds). They also did not have a crib available, which complicated things as well. And, I don't think there was an elevator at all.
But overall I think the pros outweigh the cons here, especially if you can get a good rate, or if you want to get off the beaten path for a while. The "point" here is absolutely gorgeous, and the little nook that is just steps away from the hotel is a great place to relax and catch a sunset. There is a nice little pizza & ice cream shop as well as a restaurant right there, where you can grab some beer or wine or pizza or ice cream and enjoy the scenery in peace and quiet, without too much distraction of foot traffic wandering in at twilight.
Would stay here again, but not with my kids! And only if the price was right, since it seems that modern and not-so-modern b&b's are a dime a dozen in this area. Solid B+.
Note to travelers: Stay off the mountain pass roads!! Go up (and/or down) Highway 1 to get to/from here. -
Review from Ronda F.
Foster City, CA
4/15/2012
My husband and I stayed here after purchasing a Groupon. We upgraded to an ocean view room and were not disappointed.
We arrived on a very rainy Thursday night and check in was a breeze. Nice and clean front office and the gentleman at the front desk was very helpful. He walked us over to our room (106B) which was just steps from the office. We were greeted with a large, clean room overlooking the drive up to the hotel and the ocean. There is a good size deck, electtric fireplace, and jacuzzi tub. He briefly explained how everything worked and turned on the fireplace and heater to get us going (the room was very chilly but warned up quickly).
The Groupon deal came with a bottle of wine and we received two splits of Chenin Blanc. We don't really care for that but brought them home with us. The front office does have wine available for purchase but we had brought a couple of our own favorites so no worries.
Breakfast was continental and a bit disappointing as there was no fruit, yogurt or anything other than pastries, muffins and bread.
Bed was comfy but the feather pillow was practically non-existent and I felt like my head was directly on the mattress. No support at all. I guess I should have mentioned it but oh well.
Jacuzzi worked well, was clean and not as noisy with the jets on as I imagined it may be.
Forget about cell phone coverage - there was none. And the free wi-fi could only be accessed in the office.
Only reason we may not return is it is a long drive to the middle of nowhere. Otherwise I'll keep it on my "may return" list. -
Review from Theresa M.
Fair Oaks, CA
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
My fiance and I stayed here after purchasing a groupon for two nights and a bottle of wine for $124. For that price it was definitely worth it.
We have only stayed at one other bed and breakfast, which is it's neighbor Coast Guard Inn. Both had their positives,but one greatly surpasses the other.
For breakfast, definitely the Coast Guard Inn. They had an amazing homemade breakfast, where at the Wharf Masters they had your run of the mill continental breakfast, which I like to call "camping food." haha
For room views, goes to the Wharf Masters. While Coast Guard Inn sits perfectly on the hill, only one of the rooms has an actual view. The Wharf Masters has MANY more rooms and are strategically placed along the hillside with multiple rooms for multiple views.
For room ammenities, it's a tie. The Coast Guard room we stayed in had a hallway with three rooms. One for the bathroom, another for the main bedroom with a fireplace, and the third was a smaller room - great for a kid, and maybe two if they aren't too old. The jet tub shot out dark water. :( The Wharf Masters had a large room, a soo soft bed with romantic bed posts, and a luxurious jet tub with candles.
For staff and customer service, I would definitely go with Coast Guard. So hospitable, and while Wharf Masters wasn't bad, it wasn't amazing either. Kevin and Mia went above and beyond everything expected.
For overall ambiance, it goes to Coast Guard. The bed and breakfast as a whole was so warm, inviting, a very cabin-y feel as opposed to Grandma's old antique-mystery smell-house. Speaking of mystery smell...Wharf Master's "lobby" room had some very distinct, odd smell to it. Also the overall feel was more of a motel than a bed and breakfast.
Overall, if you have a groupon available or get some crazy deal to stay at Wharf Masters, you won't be disappointed. And if you're not comparing the two, again you won't be disappointed. But if you are looking for an intimate, romantic, home away from home, Coast Guard is your choice. -
Review from Heidi D.
Santa Rosa, CA
4/12/2012
I guess I'm in the minority here but having stayed a few places along the coast, I won't return to Wharf Master's Inn for a handful of reasons. I am spoiled, I guess, since I live near enough to the ocean but we like to stay out there as well so I'm comparing it to several other hotels.
That said, I'll start with the PROS:
5 stars for the view - we had room #122 and it was just magnificent for enjoying the sunrise, sunset, view of the pier, surfers, etc. The location is really neat, up on the cliffside, overlooking the ocean. Convenient to 3 good cafe/restaurants, a brief walk down the steep driveway.
5 stars for the service - very friendly front desk staff!
3 stars for the concept/simplicity of the room but the cracked sink, tub, cracks in the wall, broken bed post that had been glued together and the dried glue was still showing... knocks it down a star or two....since it's not some cheap motel. Add a star for the Jacuzzi tub, the candles and bottle of wine we were given. :)
5 stars for the individual decks with chairs. Spent many hours out there, just soaking up the sights and sounds. 1 star for the two broken/rotted sections of boards that made my heart stop when I stepped on them and felt them give way. I didn't know there was a second-layer underneath but still, doesn't seem like a good idea to keep the broken boards there.
3 stars for an uncomfortable bed. I'm sorry but I can sleep pretty much anywhere and this bed left me wishing for home. But that's just me.
2 stars for the continental breakfast but more because of the smell in the room rather than the unexciting offerings. It wasn't bad, it was "typical" continental breakfast stuff I guess. All in all, we passed on breakfast all three mornings and walked down to a little coffee shop instead.
1 star for the "promise" of "free wireless internet" when in fact, we were not able to connect 99% of the time and the other 1%, it was so slow that we gave up. (My husband is self-employed so keeping in touch with his business is vital. We don't stay anywhere without connection and it was very frustrating since the website said they had internet. Obviously if that doesn't matter to you, it's not a big deal.)
All in all, I would not recommend this place BUT it wasn't a horrible experience. If you want to be in Point Arena, go for it. If you just want to stay on the coast, keep looking. -
Review from Wendy L.
Novato, CA
5/7/2012
We had a great romantic weekend getaway here with a nice ocean view from our room, fireplace, jacuzzi tub (no problems getting the water temperature to stay nice and hot), nice romantic lighting. WiFi was not reliable but it's in the middle of nowhere after all. Continental breakfast was unremarkable.
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Review from Bill B.
Martinez, CA
1/18/2012
This is a great place to get away from it all. Seriously, there is NO cell phone coverage here, and the free WiFi is very spotty.
So this is where you go to be alone with your SO.
Rooms are beautiful, many with Jacuzzis and fireplaces. Most have wonderful views of the cove and the pier.
Its very quiet and backed by forests. But if you have problems getting around, be sure to let them know because the majority of the rooms are located at the top of some very steep narrow stairs, and the hotel itself is at the top of a steep hill, and all of it is slippery after the morning fog.
There are shops and restaurants within walking distance, but the walk back is uphill all the way.. All in all, a good value and a pleasant stay on the coast. -
Review from Maja S.
Santa Clara, CA
2/13/2012
this place was nice. Came here as we drove towards Mendocino and realized we did not want to spend $180+ per night. The price here is fair and the hotel is located right by the pier up on the rocks in a quiet area. It is quite beautiful to say the least.
Dress warm though as it does get quite chilly.:)
The concierge was very friendly and we had a good time.
Our extra bed we asked for wasn't clean so that is why I took a star off but the rest of the room did seem clean. Breakfast is continental and ok, nothing special.
They do have wi-fi though it doesn't really work well in the room. And forget cell phone service anywhere in this area! :) It's just you and nature when you take highway 1 :)
Also ignore the 'closed' comment as they certainly were open when we went despite the yelp statement that they were closed.
Also, I forgot my phone charger at the hotel and they will send it to me. So yay for great service :) -
Review from Wayne S.
Woodland, CA
2/6/2012
Wow! What a nice little place!The views were beautiful, it was very peaceful, I will surely stay there again. I must say that the customer service was out of this world!
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Review from Tim F.
Chicago, IL
3/13/2011
If you find yourself driving up the coast from the Bay area (or wine country) on highway 1, you'll probably find yourself getting hungry for dinner around Point Arena. You might see a sign for "Chowder House and Tap Room." Follow that sign. You will find yourself descending from the hills into a seaside cove with dramatic mountains views up and down the shore. Have dinner. Then check in to the Warf Master's Inn.
Our room was lovely: newly updated, with spectacular views of the mountains and the Pacific from the private terrace, a fireplace, and jacuzzi tub.
The staff was cheerful and more than accommodating.
If you're in search of a romantic and out-of-the-way destination to spend the night in Northern California, this will not disappoint. -
Review from Falcon C.
Marina Del Rey, CA
2/26/2011
Frances at the front desk took pity on us last night when we couldn't find a room in a local hotel at 9:30 pm at night.
We were out at Point Arena Lighthouse and it was SNOWING and dark, we are two women, so we were afraid for our lives.
Luckily there was "room at the inn" and Frances let us reserve over the phone with my partner's AmEx. When we arrived she had left the key and instructions in the late check-in box and we were able to go into our room, which felt inviting and warm and take a hot bath in the giant soaking tub.
The view was incredible, we had a gorgeous private deck and the four-poster bed was SUPER-COMFY and we slept like LOGS.
My only complaint is that the décor is a little old-fashioned for my taste, but the antiques and floral bedspreads give the hotel a really nice classic appeal. Oh, and I didn't enjoy the floral grandma perfume scent. I have allergies so this didn't make me too happy but at least the room smelled clean!!
Thanks Wharf Master's Inn and Frances, you made our night! -
Review from Lyly P.
Emeryville, CA
2/11/2008
Whafmaster Inn is the "hooker with a heart of gold." Beautiful, great deal, and you get so much more than just a comfie place to sleep. This little engine that does, tugs away at your heart by including a jacuzzi tub and fireplace in every room and by offering a free, plentiful, continental breakfast.
Wharfmaster doesn't try to cash in on it's lucrative county name. But genuinely offers the quaint, cozy charm of true Northern Cali coastal living.
When I initially read the inn's sign, I thought it was named something else and got really scared. -
Review from Lolly G.
San Francisco, CA
11/14/2009
It is too bad I was traveling solo, because being alone here just makes you a little sad and missin' your baby. Tucked away at the end of Iverson Ave on a mountainous beach stands a semi secluded large hotel named "Wharf Master's Inn". If you want to hide away from the world for a little while, this is very reasonably priced/extremely comfortable and calming place on the beach to do it.
For a pittance, I received the most comfortable queen sized bed (and I SWEAR the best nights sleep in 5 years) I have ever slept in, a huge over sized tub and one of the best comp breakfasts. Considering my harrowing solo journey on Hwy 1 in the rain, it was just what I needed. The mandatory cable, super plush linens, private balcony (to enjoy the roaring waves) and friendly fellow travelers were just icing on the cake.
Head into town and be charmed by the locals, sundry offerings, retro pump station (maybe that was further down HWY 1?) and a historic movie theatre. -
Review from Carl F.
Castro Valley, CA
11/1/2009
A super nice little inn. The secluded hillside location makes this a very peaceful place. The view of the ocean from the balconies is beautiful. The rooms have fireplaces and jacuzzi tubs, so they are perfect for a romantic getaway. Service was great. There is an excellent brewpub-style bar (beer and wine only) adjacent to the Inn, as well as a great little pizza restaurant. A little pricey, but I would highly recommend this place.
Just an aside; this place is NOT dirty, the restaurant is NOT "nasty", and the nearby bar is NOT filled with "toothless drunkards" as suggested by the reviewer who "cried" when she arrived (give me a break). Not by anyone's standards. And I am pretty picky. No, you probably won't find your room at the Wharf Master's Inn on par with the $15K Presidential Suite at the NYC Plaza. The fact that you are sleeping in a very nice room with a jacuzzi and a fireplace that overlooks the Pacific Ocean (and the $14,850 savings) should soften the blow somewhat. -
Review from Ladi D.
Ithaca, NY
11/20/2007
We stayed at Wharf Master's for three nights in one of the Romantic and Peaceful rooms.
Our room had a very comfortable four-poster bed with soft linens, two easy chairs, a fireplace (for Duraflame logs), a two-person jacuzzi tub, a separate shower, and A-frame ceilings that gave the room an airy feel. The large attached porch offers a prime place to enjoy the sound of the waves and watch the changing light reflect on the coast. Inside, we angled our easy chairs to get the best ocean view (other rooms may have a view from the bed or bathtub, but hey, after sunset the view's the same!)
Wharf Master's reception staff are very friendly and will make you feel welcome. On staff was a tuxedo cat who showed us to our room on arrival. As any good bellhop would, he gave us a tour of the room, but alas we did not speak his dialect so we tossed him out.
Breakfast was a bland hotel-style continental cuisine (alright, I confess to devouring a handful of the Fruit Loops for old times sake). Knowing the fare in advance, we brought our own delicacies, put them in the large in-room refrigerator, and made our own breakfast in bed. Thanksgiving Coffee is served in the breakfast room, but the coffee packs in your room are a different, less tasty brand.
I had read in other reviews that they had a problem with the maintenance of their fixtures -- this seems to be an ongoing problem, as our bathtub stopper would not stay up to drain.
Since it's a small place, the desk closes around 9 pm. So take a good inventory and make sure there's nothing you need until morning!
Overall the peaceful atmosphere, quiet and well-kept grounds, uber-comfy bed, and the reasonable room rates make Wharf Master's a terrific place to hole up and rest.
*Why 3 stars? Consider that my 5 Star Hotel experience was the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida (where a business trip took me and I slowly exchanged my plebian loyalties for patrician splendor). -
Review from Greg G.
Alameda, CA
9/13/2009
Three hours is just long enough a drive out of the Bay area to make you feel like you're on vacation. From the minute you check in your in for a romantic treat.
After a walk down to the beach we headed over to The Pier and ordered dinner to go. Back in our room we sat on the floor in front of the fireplace and feasted on clam chowder, local calamari and herb roasted chicken. The hotel even provided a silver bucket to keep our wine cold.
The in-room hot tub washed away any memory I had left of the previous week. The only thing I could imagine better would to be here on a stormy night.
We stayed in the top floor of the Port building. I'd say Port and Lookout are probably the best rooms.Listed in: Hotels
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Review from Gary E.
5/4/2009 14 photos
For our 6th Anniversary my wife and I stayed at the Wharf Master's Inn. I ran into this place by surfing http://www.mendocino.com.
This place was truly romantic!
Check in time was at 3:00 pm but we got there an hour early. Thanks to the front desk for an early check-in.
There are several beautiful rooms you can choose from. The Spectacular Whitewater room where we stayed, was truly spectacular! Sweeping ocean views and it overlooked a pier below from our balcony.
The jacuzzi complemented with scented candles, wine bucket and glassware to match were a real treat. I loved the old school wood-burning fireplace!
Hotel guests get a free continental breakfast. There's a small restaurant and a gift shop onsite as well.
I highly recommend this place for an unforgettable getaway...Listed in: You've gotta see or try it at…
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Review from Francis M.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2009
The video description on http://www.wharfmaster... is right on.
Romantic getaway complete with fireplace, wine glasses, etc.
Terrific place in a great area. -
Review from Jess H.
Cotati, CA
1/11/2012
My fiance and I have stayed here several times (we even got engaged in their Victorian Suite) and love it. The views are amazing, the sound of the ocean is everywhere. The only thing that drives me crazy, and the reason it didn't get the full 5 stars is they only seem to have a mini fridge in the Victorian Suite. Because of that, we refuse to stay longer than a day or two. Although in the winter, you can keep a cooler full of ice outside and keep everything cold just fine.
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Review from Rose t.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2010
The complaining prima donna with one star makes me want to review this place in her living room.
Wharf Masters is fantastic, and exactly what we came for. Ocean views, jacuzzi tub, and sweet Point Arena folks.
The perfect location for an unplugged weekend away from life.
And no, there was no cell service. I imagine that unless you have Verizon, get ready to be cut off. Which is awesome.
A note on great service -
We checked into our gorgeous partial ocean view room, and a few hours later were battling a smoke detector that would not shut up. The front desk gals immediately packed us up and moved us to a suite in the front house, with full ocean views - an upgrade and well appreciated. -
Review from Shauna S.
5/16/2011 6 photos
We loved this place quite a bit. We got in a bit early and after checking in we were asked if we wanted a free upgrade -- but first we could decide ourselves by checking out the rooms. We were also escorted by Juniper, the little dog that basically ran to us every single time we saw her. The accommodations are fantastic as is the staff and service. This was a surprise weekend for me so I was more than happy with the jacuzzi in the room, the cute fireplace, and the gorgeous view from our balcony. Not to mention meeting the cutest dog in the world.
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Review from Caitlin H.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2010
The 4 stars are based primarily on our second night at the Wharfmaster's Inn, which showed the inn's potential much better (and may be a little swayed by the fact that I had lovely company and a good weekend in general). Okay, so truthfully, it hovers somewhere between 3 and 4 stars and I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt.
Due to a booking snafu with Orbitz, we had to settle for a "Standard" room ($85-105 ) the first night, but this provided an interesting comparison. The Standard room was quite decent, but nothing better than your basic mid-range chain hotel. It had a balcony with a courtyard/parking area view, comfy bed (they promote feather beds, but I think they are just very plush, not actually down), and very large bathtub (no jacuzzi jets). It was strange though, because ALL the room had was a bathtub - I guess it's enforced relaxation, but when you want to shower and get ready to go out in the morning, it's a little tough (ie: awkward bird-bath time).
The second night we got our intended "Oceanview/Hillside" room ($115-135), which was much nicer and actually felt a little luxurious. It was on the top floor (less noise - though the place is generally pretty quiet), had a courtyard view with some ocean visible over the rooftops, a "feather" bed, jacuzzi tub (with jets) AND a shower, and a fireplace. It was very comfortable and spoke more of "indulgent get-away" than just "hotel room."
On the whole, the inn is in a beautiful secluded setting and very unique - good for a modest get-away, though not a super-lux one. I feel like they skimped in a few places where a little extra could have made it an even better experience. For instance: having an extra log for the fire (they give you one Duraflame log - thumbs up to the commenter who brought an extra along), and maybe some nicer soaps (they do advertise luxury soaps, but it's only generic hotel soap/shampoo/lotion, and how about some bubble bath for the jacuzzi tub???). Also some preemptive attention to maintenance things like super-loud jacuzzi jets (which we had to turn off because they were obnoxious and we felt like they'd wake the neighbors), a malfunctioning TV, and strange backwards faucet handles (hot and cold and on and off reversed) would have been appreciated.
The continental breakfast is alright - nothing different than you'd get at a mid-range chain hotel. For dinner we tried Pizzas & Cream, which is a good little pizza and ice cream restaurant right down the hill from the inn. I would definitely recommend ordering a pizza to-go and eating it next to the fire in your room. Fun! There's not a whole lot of options in "downtown" Point Arena, but Phoenix offers some decent Italian food.
Other random notes: the service was friendly and (being an architectural historian) I like that this is a modern inn built around a historic house (the Wharfmaster's house). They did a good job with the design of the complex, though I think they could do a bit more to promote/interpret the history of the site. (But I'm weird like that!)
In summary, I would recommend Wharfmaster's Inn to anyone looking for a modest get-away spot. Something a little unique, but financially reasonable. It's a good place to sleep when exploring the wider area. (For instance, we drove up from SF, stayed in PA and went to Mendocino the next day. It's a good part-way spot.) Go for an "Oceanview/Hillside" room or better and you will be pretty happy. -
Review from M. F.
Oakland, CA
8/21/2009
My experience with the owner was not good. At first she told me that I did not have a room for 4 people reserved. Then she told me that although the Victorian Suite had a pull out bed, it was not legal for us to have 4 in the room. WTF? She was VERY stand-offish and rude.
Thankfully, another employee had to come and verify that our reservations were for four and that everything would be fine.
I wasn't too impressed with the room itself. It was clean, however it was very dated. The view/balcony was the highlight. -
Review from Barbara G.
Valley Springs, CA
2/14/2011
We had two rooms booked here and upgraded to the house!! Great call on our friends part that did the wheeling and dealing. The house was awesome. Bed was smaller than I am used to but overall was a great place to stay. We had a fantastic stay here.
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Review from Alejandra W.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2009
I've been meaning to review this Inn for a while...
This is a fantastic spot for a getaway, and the area is always nice to visit, but I must agree that after staying in five star hotels, working in the industry, and taking into account the room rate and what I think this inn is trying to accomplish, my recollection is that Warf Master's Inn deserves an A-Ok 3 stars.
First, the fantastic:
-The ocean/cliff view was beautiful
-Large balcony with chairs and a little table to sit outside and enjoy the peace and quiet
-The bed was very comfy and the mirror in front of said bed did not go unnoticed. Well played.
-The in-room jacuzzi was fun and super relaxing (Be sure to stop at Lush in the city beforehand.)
-The fireplace was a nice touch
-The staff was friendly and welcoming with complimentary local wine for the special occasion
-Nice modern and comfy chairs in the room
-Champagne and wine glasses waiting for guests near the jacuzzi
However, five and four star hotels/inns/b&bs go above and beyond after details are worked out. They're also at least close to your ideal of a perfect stay. Here, there is work to be done.
Some not so great details I noticed:
-In room hotel coffee is always awful, but out of the many hotels/inns/b&bs I've stayed in, this was seriously the worst EVER; completely undrinkable. Imagine Lipton tea with with a hint of coffee...watered down.
-No trash liners in any of the wicker trash cans makes throwing things away (esp. coffee filters/grounds) awkward.
-No stationary and pens in the desk or night stand to write down phone numbers or directions
-No laundry bags in the closet, or any type of plastic bag anywhere in the room.
-The temperature plate in the shower was backwards (and upside down) which inevitably caused several "AHHH!" moments.
-No warning about the crazy boiling facet water which caused about three burns that stung for hours.
-Only one starter log and no other logs to burn for the fireplace, and since there wasn't a heater (and the front desk closes before normal fire lighting times) the room stayed chilly.
-Tube TV. I know people don't come here to watch TV, but perhaps an upgrade is in order; most 3+ hotels have made the switch to flat.
-No internet. Again, I know people don't come here to yelp all day (shocking, I know), but being able to get food/outing ideas and directions would be have been helpful.
-The breakfast consists of danishes, breads, hard boiled eggs and cereal which is nice, but perhaps they shouldn't claim to be a bed and breakfast if it's pretty much the same as three star motels. In fact, I've stayed at middle of the road hotels that have had more exciting things.
-"Luxury soaps"? really? "Deodorant Soap" isn't a brand I've ever seen at Sephora. Why even make the claim on your website?
-The "paintings" reminded me of Thomas Kinkade "artwork."
Overall this is a great retreat and a nice secluded option in comparison to other choices in the area, especially since there is an ocean/cliff view (if you pay for an ocean view room.) Plus, the price is great for being in such a beautiful area. However, if you've stayed at your basic Hyatt or Hilton, are familiar with hotels or are used to the details being worked out, don't expect the same details here. If however, you seldom leave the house and will be thankful to stay in a comfy room with no kids or city noise right next to the water, you will absolutely love this place.
I would recommend this place but also give a heads up about the little things to ensure friends/family had a quality stay. Next time I want to be in the area, I may consider staying at St. Orres located not that far away instead, or just go up to Mendicino.
Regardless, I had a very nice time and this was a much needed trip. -
Review from Sean M.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2009
We pulled off Hwy 1 in urgent need of a restroom break, and saw this establishment that friends had told us about-WOW! We got lucky! John & Vicky were warm and wonderful and John showed us to a balcony room overlooking Point Arena Cove and pier-SOLD!
Nice feather bed and warm heavy linens to snuggle under. The jacuzzi tub for two was a great experience-soak the road and your troubles away as you listen to the surf below, drinking in the fresh chilly sea air makes for a great experience and even better when shared with the one you love! my love took 3 baths in two days-AMAZING! The grounds are well maintained and it is but a short walk down the driveway to the local full service coffee place (good coffee, snacks and sundries) serving the locals, fisherman, surfers and tourists alike. We didn't get around to lighting the fire, and slept with the balcony door open engulfed in the refreshing Picific Ocean air as swaddled under the comfy heavy bedding. The wireless (slow) was still convenient. We had wine on the balcony and then dinner at the pizza place at the bottom of the hill, with a scoop of local dairy ice cream for desert-YUM! Perfect. There is finer dining also at the bottom of the hill. We got to see the haul of sea anemonies being loaded for delivery on the pier and enjoyed watching the surfers and fishermen. No this is NOT the Four Seasons, but this place fit the bill for us and may others. Pity the woman who cried, though crying seems appropriate for such a sad woman! Life is what you make it. Thanks John & Vicky for making our night & our road trip special! -
Review from Boner J.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2009
Stayed for one night recently. Got the Ocean Splendor room for $149 on a Sunday night...
Pros:
-location directly facing the ocean, with a pier and restaurant/shops at the bottom of the hill
-value for the room (jacuzzi in room, balcony facing ocean, 4-poster bed, featherbed)
-overall attractiveness/romanticness of the complex
-just up the hill from what appears to be the only decent restaurant in point arena
-free wireless
Cons:
-sloowwwww free wireless
-don't expect 5-star...a very good 3 star i'd say
-minorish details (sweeping the balcony, quality of the accoutrements) not 5-star quality
I'd come again in a heartbeat for a romantic coastal getaway -
Review from Kim G.
Falls Church, VA
5/22/2007 5 photos
This was probably one of the nicest rooms I've ever stayed in. The view was amazing and Mendocino is a great alternative to wine tasting in northern california. Complimentary breakfast included juice, cereals, and pastries. Each room has a balcony, fireplace, and two person jacuzzi! The area is very quiet and secluded, and the room gets a lot of light. I think there was a wedding there when I visited as well. Your choices of fine or casual dining are satisfactory and only a couple of miles away, but the fun is found hugging the curves down beautiful forest laden windy roads overlooking the ocean to get there. Mendocino is a nearby getaway from the city life and the community is welcoming and friendly.
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Review from Eric B.
7/14/2007
Gayle and I have stayed here twice. The first time we picked this place at random and it was an amazing surprise. The view is wonderful and Pt. Arena cove is quiet and relaxing. You can have Mendicino via a short drive, but without a lot of the expense and pretense. The rest of the coastal drive (both north and south) is memorable as well.
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Review from M W.
Santa Rosa, CA
11/1/2007
I took my wife here for our anniversary and it was great! We had a view of the cove and the pier. The room was nice and comfortable with a balcony, fireplace, 4-post bed, and sunken jacuzzi. The price was $200 for the Saturday night, which is about right for a place like this, I think. We ate dinner in town at Phoenix.
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Review from Farrah S.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2007
absolutely romantic...as the room was called it was romantic and peacefull. A view of the ocean, the mountains from the balcony. Plus an in room fireplace and jacuzzi. You can hear the ocean waves crash from your room and cuddle in a huge comfortable bed. It only cost us 109$ a night. Each town is quaint with cute cozy restaurants. It couldnt have been better.
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Review from C C.
Volcano, CA
8/13/2010
I too was disappointed when we arrived, but after 3 nights I'd say that they did OK. The area and local bar are "rustic," but then that's why we travel, right? To see things other than what we get at home. Besides, this town is about fishing. I would expect colorful characters here (responding to earlier review).
We had the "partial ocean view" room and to be fair, that's what we got.
Feather bed? No. It's a feather comforter on top of a regular mattress/box spring.
Others have commented on the jacuzzi. It's a nice bathtub, but the jets are uncomfortably loud enough to be useless.
Apparently they've upgraded the TVs as there is a nice flat screen with a built-in DVD player (room 116).
Now my one and only real complaint: the room smelled like disinfectant when we got here, but as our noses adjusted to that smell we realized that the bathroom smells terrible. It's as if no one has got down on their hands and knees and really scrubbed around the base of the toilet in years.
So, would we stay here again? No, probably not. There are too many "colorful" and rustic" places in the area to explore. I don't feel that this place is special enough to stay here again. It wasn't bad though and would be a nice place to stay on the way through town. -
Review from A K.
Lafayette, CA
5/31/2011
Great room, VERY comfortable bed and pillows, super helpful staff. We arrived on touring bikes after a half day in rain. The manager, Terri, loaned us rags at our request to wipe down the bikes, showed us a place where she offered to lock them up for the night, provided us hose access, and offered to do our laundry for us while we went to have dinner! The room has a huge jacuzzi tub with 2 small candles for atmosphere, a fireplace, a great view, wine glasses (and wines available at the lobby/desk for purchase), very comfortable bed, great proximity to the Chowder House by the pier but away from it enough to not have noise. (best chowder I"ve ever had by the way).
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Review from Chaunie L.
Fremont, CA
6/8/2009
I'd seen this place many times when we visited Point Arena and always wanted to stay there. We stayed in a Spectacular Whitewater room and had a great view of the wharf and cove area. There were lots of birds and we enjoyed their singing from our deck. The bed and the pillows were extremely comfortable. The only problem was the overpowering smell of the cleaning products they were using. We left all the doors and windows open for several hours and it abated - asked them to not clean the room the next day and everything was fine. The room was large and we had a nice jacuzzi tub in the room. The wharf was a lot of fun - the wharf master told us approximately what time the fish buyer would be there. We saw sea urchins unloaded from their nets into their shipping crates and tastes of one were given to anyone who wanted to try it. Also, we saw the live caught fish hauled out of the cove in their storage containers and sorted on the wharf, weighed, and put into tanks for shipping to Asian restaurants in the Bay Area that keep live fish in tanks until preparation time. Breakfast was typical for a motel free breakfast and was fine for us. We are more B&B people, but enjoyed our stay here.
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Review from Lisa S.
Modesto, CA
8/26/2011
My husband took me to the Wharfmasters Inn for our Anniversary. He was very nervous because he had found it online and was not sure what kind of accommodations we would get. We were pleasantly surprised...our check-in was easy and the gal at the front desk took us to our room. The room was clean and cozy. The Jacuzzi tub and fireplace was nice. The view was beautiful, we had an ocean view room with a private balcony. It was nice to sit on the balcony and have a glass of wine and take in the view. In the morning, they had a really nice continental breakfast with toast, bagels, pastries, cereal and assorted juices in addition to coffee and milk. The room rate was very affordable for a coastal inn with beautiful views of the Pacific. The location was very quiet and a perfect romantic getaway. The only issue we had was that the faucet at the sink leaked and ran all over the bathroom counter whenever you turned the water on. I would highly recommend this place and we will definitely be back.
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Review from Charlette B.
Oakdale, CA
3/29/2011
Our trip started with a cold, raining weekend that I thought could not possibly turn out good. With two road closures, and a horrible storm I was just looking for any solid structure to crash in. After driving up the driveway that had some great wood carvings and greenery I was very surprised by the hidden gem that was off the main road. The front desk staff was amazing and helpful, booked us in a amazing room with a beautiful ocean view, and patio we used when the rain stopped. Room had a great romantic feel, with a huge jetted tub, fireplace, and an antique four poster bed. The next day the rain had stopped, and the staff directed us to a few great restaurants in the area, which I have to say the small bakery in town open from Wed-Sat was AMAZING! Over all the hotel was a great stay, some of the rooms look like they are in the process of remodeling, and doing some repairs, but nothing that would make me stay away from coming again. I can't wait for the Whale watching season, because most rooms look like they have prime viewing seats, and I'll definitely be going back.
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Review from Tom A.
Anaheim, CA
5/30/2010
My wife and I make an annual pilgrimage from Southern California to the Wharf Master's Inn, with our May 2010 trip being our 4th. We have settled on room 123C in the Lookout building (room type: Whitewater Spectacular) as our favorite. The room has a splendid balcony overlooking the pier, where we spend a great amount of our time reading books, sipping champagne, and enjoying the ocean view. We enjoy throwing the door wide open at night to enjoy the cool ocean breeze from the warmth beneath the comforter of the 4-post queens-sized bed, and listening to the sounds of the ocean break (and, if lucky, the barking of a visiting seal). We met the owners this trip, who graciously gave us an extended tour of the facility's master suite, the Wharf Master's Vacation House. We are now contemplating our next trip there during the winter, to contrast it with our summer experiences. Highly recommended.
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Review from Jana H.
San Jose, CA
10/4/2009
My husband booked a reservation here. We drove 5 hours and when we drove down the street to the hotel there were dumpy homes and mobile homes, ugly boats, a beat up square building with a junky gift shop and a nasty restaurant and to top it off the hotel overlooked the back of this dated dark nasty building. The owner was eating and spitting food out of his mouth. The room was outdated, the pillows smelled like scalp, there were long black hairs and curly short hairs in the bed. The sink didn't drain, we had to pull the stopper out. We could hear people walking upstairs, floors and beds squeaking. Nice people who run it but not and I mean not worth staying at. I cried when we got there. It was dark, depressing, full of toothless drunkards at the restaurant and just plain gross. If you like cheap, tie dye style, with carved wood caricature's, go for it. The best part was packing up to leave. I awoke early just to get out of there. So dated, no cell service, deodorant brand soap and brown water for coffee. No amenities to speak of worth using. Not even worth a star. Sorry Wharf Master. You can make it right! Invest in remodel and nice amenities like good soaps, shampoos, bleached pillows and sheets. Make sure you quality check before someone stays in the room. Updated TVs, insulated floors so you don't have to hear other people. Cool paint colors, good coffee. Things can be done.Its not hopeless. Make it a haven. A view is not everything, especially when you have to see the ugly building below. Pictures should be scaled to the size of the room and updated. Definitely need newer furniture without cup ring stains and chipped wood. Change the nobs, refinish the furniture. The price was not worth the stay. $85.00 max for what you have to offer. Never eat while your talking to a client.
