Isle Royale Forums

We decided to stay at the the casino the night before we leave. Any idea how close it is to the harbor where the Voyager II is?

We stayed there this trip. Not very far, probably a 5 minute drive.

Cool! Thanks, it looks like we'll have to eat at Rydens for Breakfast as it's an early wake up. Thanks for the info. I'll post a trip report when I get back. 2 weeks and counting! Can't wait.

We stopped in Rydens Friday evening to make sure they would be open early for breakfast.
They opened at 6:00 AM. We were there at 6:00 and were out of there by 6:30. Boat starts loading at 7:00.

Thanks for the info

We stayed at the Casino last week before the boat as well. Go to the Guest Service counter in the casino before you check-in and join their Player's Club. It gets you a coupon for a cheap room, up to four people. We got a room on Tuesday night for $39. Busier days it goes up to $49.

Plus, last spring when I was there, you get a coupon good for a "pop" and the bar and some knick-knack (last time it was a cheap travel mug). Also, after 6 stays (I believe) you get a free night.

Mr Blister wrote:We decided to stay at the the casino the night before we leave. Any idea how close it is to the harbor where the Voyager II is?

I am thinking about staying at the casino in a few weeks, and I am wondering if you would recommend staying there if I am traveling with my two young kids. I have heard it is similar to the Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, but I am not too sure about this advice. Do you have any advice before I book my rooms there? Thanks in advance.

I'd rather stay at Ryden's about 6 miles north. Not a big fan of paying ~$100 a night to stay in a town that consists of less than 1000 people. I just find it difficult to drop that kind of money in a non-existant night atmosphere (I don't gamble so the casino does not count for much.) On a note of reference, it beats the hell out of paying $160 for the Best Western in Grand Marais that hosts a population of just over 1500 people. Sorry, I'm from Chicago and you can get a somewhat decent hotel for that price in the middle of downtown. Why I am going to pay such an ungodly amount in Grand freaking Marais? Well guess what, someone must pay it if they are obviously still charging it. I just won't be that someone. If I'm not staying in a metropolis or an area that requires that kind of money like a chalet on at a ski resort, I am not going to drop it at a place just so I can have a layover until I leave for Isle Royale on the following morning. Ridiculous Ha Ha Ha. If you plan on considering putting out such money, at least treat your wife to a bed and breakfast at a comparable price in Grand Marais. Then again, I don't know if that would be an appropriate place to take the kids. Not that kids wouldn't be welcomed in such an establishment, but I doubt there would be much appeal in it for the young ones. I guess a Casino doesn't count for much either in the eyes of children

thomasjj wrote:I am thinking about staying at the casino in a few weeks, and I am wondering if you would recommend staying there if I am traveling with my two young kids. Do you have any advice before I book my rooms there? Thanks in advance.

No reason not to stay there with kids. It's basically a hotel with a room full of slot machines attached to it. Perfectly fine the one time I stayed there.

Casino is very "smokey" but it's fine overall. REALLY good fried chicken and onion rings at the restaurant.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Stayed there last fall.

The hotel room was nice, the restaurant not so much..

My wife and I stayed there before and after our first trip to Isle Royale in early September. We did not eat there before, but did after we got back from the Isle. We both thought the restaurant was very good. She is also quite particular when it comes to eating. I thought that the portions were generous, and the food was good. It could have been "the first meal" after 3 1/2 days on the Isle.