We stay here sometimes on our anniversary or when they have a special rate/deal. It's a beautiful location and the last time we stayed, they surprised us and upgraded us to a room that had an incredible view. While laying in bed, we could watch the ferry arrive and depart. We love this place. The breakfast is delicious in the morning that they provide and we highly recommend their small restaurant for dinner as well. There aren't too many good restaurants in Friday Harbor, but theirs is well worth it!

When I was booking they had a deal for "best available room", basically you pay for a cheaper room and they will upgrade you for free if anything is available when you check in. There was some kind of problem with the internet booking so I called directly. Close to our arrival date, I checked again out of curiosity and the special had disappeared and even the cheapest rooms had become more expensive than what I'd booked at. Lesson 1: book in advance, keeping an eye out for rewards for doing so.

When we checked in, the clerk brought up my record and noted that it said "he's very nice - give him a good room". Although the place was full (based on the phone conversation I overheard with someone trying for a booking), we got a beautiful room on the top floor, with that fabulous view people are talking about, at the special lower price I'd booked. Lesson 2: treat other people as you would like to be treated and they will often do the same in return.

One problem: their outdoor parking lot is the primary toilet for all the island's birds, it seems. Lesson 3: go past the turn into the lot and see if one of the few covered parking areas is available.

We enjoyed breakfast, with freshly cooked and baked goods coming out frequently. We also found a very enjoyable local restaurant. Coming out of the hotel onto West St., walk to 1st and then 2nd St. Just about at that intersection is a diner whose name I forget. Looks like something right out of the 50's, whose decor hasn't been updated since then, nor any repairs made to the old furniture. Full of lower class working people. Special of the day painted on the window. Doesn't sound too attractive? For $8.95 we had a huge chicken pot pie, salad, fruit wrapped in cheese and prosciutto, ice cream and a huge macadamia nut/white chocolate cookie. And it was all delicious! Later, the hotel clerk told us that their restaurant staff often eats there. Lesson 4: don't judge by appearances.

San Juan Island is a great place to visit and the Friday Harbor House is the perfect location! The rooms are extra large and the view overlooking the marina is spectacular. If you're going to visit the island, the Friday Harbor House is definitely the place to stay!

Kelly from Atlanta

We stayed at the Friday Harbor house over a weekend in May 2008. We booked a Harbor view with a King bed through Kenmore Air. When we arrived we were placed in a room with 2 double beds. It had a harbor view which was nice and the room was nicely appointed with a fireplace and jetted tub.

There are a few nice things about the hotel..mainly its the room and the view. There really isnt anything else special about the place which is a shame since the price is usually well over $300 per night. It very much felt like a staying at a Comfort Inn.

The hotel offers a "continental" breakfast in the morning in what they call their restaurant. A muffin sitting on a table is not breakfast. When your spending over $300 a night its quite pathetic actually.

The hotel staff was nothing special. Not very informative and a bit standoffish.

Much of what is wrong with this hote is that it is on a small island with really no other competition. If you were to pick up the hotel and put it in any city it would rate the same as a Comfort Inn.

The only thing going for the hotel is the location and rooms. Enjoy!!!