As first time visitors to Block Island, we were looking for a hotel that was in a good location for a decent price. When we arrived off the ferry, Ballard's was within walking distance and located right by the center of town. We arrived early and the staff would not allow us to check in early, although they did let us store our bags in the lobby.
Once we were able to check-in, we were led up a awkward stairway to the room. The upstairs is much smaller than I expected. The room was clean and the bathroom was small. We weren't there to hangout in the hotel room so the accomodations fit what we needed. Sleeping at night was comfortable especially with the air conditioning. You never heard the noise from the restaurant or bar which was nice. Some people commented the shower was small which it was but I didn't have a problem getting ready.
Overall, Ballard's is a good place to stay if you plan on leaving the hotel for the day and only using the room at night. The room was clean and the staff was friendly and the price was reasonable.

My famiy and l to stayed there the 2nd week of July every year. That's when Paul and Paula ran ballards. It was a great family place. Now it is a low class drinking place with bad food. Too Bad. A place that I used to visit with my family 38 years ago turned into low class club.

the hotel was very nice help was good the beach was nice excepted for the smokers who where in the many used the beach as there ash try. It was discussing for me.

Finding a room on Block Island is not an easy task. There are no traditional hotels, only “bed and breakfast” type lodging. When I found Ballard’s on the web, I noticed that it was one of the only places listing air conditioning. I was a little concerned; Tripadvisor.com had mixed reviews and there were no pictures on the Ballard’s website. Once you get there, you realize why there are no pictures.

I believe the thought process behind Ballard’s Inn went something like this… “Hey I know what we can do with that extra space above the restaurant! We can hire bad carpenters, invest as little as possible, and charge $250 a night for a room that makes a college dorm look like the Ritz.” Mission accomplished! Prior to arriving at the “Inn”, I tried to ease my apprehensions by telling myself that some people just expect too much. The Tripadvisor.com reviews are mixed, so it can’t be that bad. I’m here to say that it is that bad. I suspect that the positive reviews were either planted by Ballard’s management, or written by people accustomed to squatter settlements.

The first thing that seemed out of the ordinary was the entrance. You enter in the restaurant, and then climb a stairwell that is tucked away near the kitchen. The hallway on the second floor smells of cheap air fresheners. The room doors are cheap and not made of a solid core; this may make some people uncomfortable. My room had a large stain at the main entrance; I suspect it to be vomit left by a guest. The carpet was coarse and in need of replacement. The sheets were old and worn but didn’t smell; so that was good. The room had DirectTV, but I didn’t want to sit on the bed to watch it. While many of the Island’s lodging accommodations require guests to share a community bathroom, Ballard’s is a classy joint with each room having its own. The bathroom reminded me of my high school locker room. The grout on the floor was black and stained with mildew. The shower was a preformed shell, approximately 4’x4’. At 6’ tall, I wear a 44 jacket; so I’m not a very large person. I was unable to shower without the curtain open; I feared that my back would come in contact with filthy shower curtain behind me. Had I dropped the soap, there was not enough space to bend over to pick it up.

I left with the feeling, “it is what it is”. I’m going to assume that many guests argue with management over the condition of the rooms. I wasn’t going to do that, so I cannot comment on the staff. I didn’t eat at the restaurant so I cannot comment on the food. I can however share the video I made of the room. I hope it helps others with their trip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXsuW5_6kJo