Mackinac Island? (Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie, Pellston: hotels, trip , rent)

[YAZ]

I prob'ly should mention that I've never been to the island.

What a shame, cuz my Dad was born there.

The house he was born in is now a museum, from what I hear.

Someday we'll go, and me & wifey will be livin' large at the Grand Hotel.

[cardwellave]

Grand is totally overrated IMO.

[wordsmith680]

Went to "High Tea" under diress(afternoon thing @ the Grand)......but, turned out to be a book signing party and well worth it.

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

the grand hotel is a unique experience for someone who has never been there-i've never spent the night but have been in the common areas-it is beautiful!

Another point that people should really think about before booking a room in St. Ignace! yes rooms are cheaper-but look at the cute little motels-or Parkside inn-i've stayed there before!
My point is, if you plan on doing more than just the island-you may want to stay in Mackinaw-Bridge toll was increased to $4 each way so if you want to go to michilimackinac or mill creek which just added a bunch of cool stuff including a zip line or maybe the water park so if you do that even just for one day that is $8 just to cross the bridge then plus the $8 just for arrival and departure cheapest nights are thursday and sunday-if you are only doing the island and maybe tahquamenon falls then sure stay in st. ignace

[wordsmith680]

Originally Posted by mofromcheboygankalamazoo

Mackinaw-Bridge toll was increased to $4 each way

Mackinac Bridge Fare Schedule - Mackinac Bridge Authority Fare was increased on a time schedual, if I remember correctly it will end up at $5 in a few years. Go now, and get a break? $3 each way now............

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

whoops! my bad-i know for a long time they were pushing for it to be increased to $4 anyway $6 is still a lot if you plan on doing a lot in the mackinaw area in addition to the island!

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

whoops! my bad-i know for a long time they were pushing for it to be increased to $4 anyway $6 is still a lot if you plan on doing a lot in the mackinaw area in addition to the island!
ferry rides roundtrip these days are super expensive also! (i refuse to pay it always find my own way across).....so if you do do the island and want to not pay bridge tolls (more than once if you are going to see some beautiful UP sites) then find a cheaper hotel in mackinaw-don't be picky with a silly bridge view etc. there are public parks and beaches you can use! (and to be honest nobody would know if you parked in a hotel's parking lot and used their beach!

[cardwellave]

It was what $2.50 last year? (and the past oh 10 or more years).

The ferry rates seem to go up a dollar a year as well. They are also regulated so all three have to have the same base price (incentives and coupons may vary).

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

Originally Posted by cardwellave

It was what $2.50 last year? (and the past oh 10 or more years).

The ferry rates seem to go up a dollar a year as well. They are also regulated so all three have to have the same base price (incentives and coupons may vary).

yes-there was a serious push though for it to be $4......i forgot they negotiated a cheaper fare-for now though....

yeah i think they are up to $21 roundtrip now-that is a lot if you are taking an entire family! i never pay-but when i worked at the hotel i felt really bad telling a family of 6 or 7 how much itw as going to cost them!

[cardwellave]

Yeah I don't have to pay either but it sure does add up. But its pretty interesting, I got a figure one time of how much it was costing them to do one trip on Radisson, I think it was in the neighborhood of $150 with marine grade diesel being about $3 /gal back then, and don't forget boats get gallons to the mile, so it was chowing it. Now there were only about 3 people on the boat, so that's about $60, but you figure they do very well when the boats are full so it tends to balance out, but the companies as a whole aren't doing well.