We're planning a last minute trip to Newport OR, and I've been checking into accomodations. Does anyone have thoughts on the Elizabeth St. Inn? Location? Any info on the quality of the beds? (I've heard they may not be comfy.)

Thanks.

HI Orcas! Lucky you! I think JimShep has stayed here and recommends the place. Maybe he'll fill us in again on his latest stay here.

I think he also recommends April's for a nice meal in Newport. Will you be visiting the aquarium? I've heard there's a really cool shark exhibit going on now. ***kim***

Hi. We'll try to fit in the aquarium. We're planning to go bicycling, walk along the beach, look at galleries and shops. Thanks for the recommendation on Aprils. I'm in a quandry on accomodations. Nothing quite fits - we're late making reservations in our price range for the number of people.

Have you considered the Sylvia Beach Hotel? There's also a BW property there on Agate Beach and we have stayed at the Hallmark Resort which was very nice. ***kim***

Sylvia Beach Hotel looks wonderful, but they don't have the right bed space for us. One of the people in our group doesn't like the Hallmark, though I've only heard good things about it. Oh well. Thanks for the idea on the BW Agate Beach. It sure looks like it's in a beautiful spot and they actually have the right kind of room for us. We like the idea of being in town, though, so I'm still looking, but fast, as rooms are going quickly.

Am still hoping to hear from someone who knows the beds at the Elizabeth St. Inn. (My back screams all night if the bed isn't comfortable.)

The Oregon Coast is popular for a good reason, but that doesn't help us late-planners!

When are you planning on being in Newport? I will be staying at the Elizabeth Street Inn during the second week in August, but I suppose that will be too late to be of any help to you now.

If we stay there, I'll be there for a couple of days near the beginning of the second week, as well. Hmmm. How shall we identify each other as fellow Fodorites? This could be fun!

I'm in the middle of a 4-night stay at the Elizabeth Street Inn. I'm in Newport for work, so perhaps some of the things I look for will differ from someone else.

I love the location. It's right on the bluff overlooking the ocean. Each room has an ocean view and a private balcony. They even provide two chairs and a small table for use outside. Beach access can be reached either by a paved path a little ways to the north, or a long, steep staircase to the south via the Shilo inn parking lot.

If you only need a single king sized bed, then I would request room 234, 334, or 434. These rooms provide an additional window on the northern side that provide a view of the Yaquina Lighthouse.

The size of the room is more than adequate for my needs, and has a large table from which I can set up my laptop and word. Having a small refrigerator and microwave are also a plus.

This is not a luxury hotel, but it's clean, and the staff has been prompt and accomodating.

My one dissatisfaction has been the bedding. So much so, that I went out last night and bought an inexpensive pillow to use that I will take with me on the road.

I just read some reviews on Tripadvisor and one of them is titled,"Four thumbs down for the pillows," LOL! There were other complaints about the bedding and the staff but everyone said the views from the property are nice.

Maybe the Sylvia Beach Hotel would be a better choice in this area. I can't stand uncomfortable beds and pillows. My DH never leaves home without his fluffy down pillow. We like pillow top mattresses and down pillows and comforters where we stay.

We take this into serious consideration with our rental properties and buy very nice mattresses and down pillows and comforters. We have received lots of thank yous!! in our guest book. ***kim***

Elizabeth Street Inn has ocean views and all the usual motel amenities, including a frige I believe. The "breakfast" is minimal, but the location is within walking distance of Nye Beach and April's excellent restaurant. I don't eat steak often, but I enjoyed the one April dished up and my entree included a good salad that wasn't mentioned on the menu.

Did you bring your own pillow, Jim? LOL ***kim***

I've stayed there twice, but I don't remember the pillows. A motel/hotel pillows is seldom to my preference, which is for one that is thin and flat. We took pillows on one long road trip, but it just seemed like one thing too many.

I thought it was funny that Presocia commented on the pillows, and so many other people that stayed there said the same thing in Tripadvisor.

Maybe someone should notify the management about purchsing some nice down pillows for the hotel. I'm sure there is a Costco in Newport!! ***kim***

I've stayed at the Elizabeth Street Inn a few times. I don't remember the pillows - I think I always had my own anyway. One comment on the rooms: the gas fireplaces are nice, but I never figured out how to turn mine off completely (OK, I never asked). This seemed to keep the rooms hotter than it needed to be. One night I kept the sliding glass doors open - but the roar of the ocean was way cool! It was also neat to watch ships go by out in the ocean laying in bed!

As others have said, location is good. You can walk right down to Nye Beach and to some restaurants. Internet was $10/night if you have a laptop (wired - don't remember if they give you a free cable or not).

No, Kimamom, there's no Costco in Newport, but there's a Wal-Mart and a Fred Meyer.

Andrew

If I ever stay at this Inn, I'll just sure to bring my own pillows! LOL We really enjoyed our last stay at the Hallmark Resort in Newport.

Comfy beds, pool, jacuzzi, view of the lighthouse from our window. Georgie's Grill is also very good, located on this property and recently mentioned in Oregon Coast.

I've often seen the Agate Beach Hotel advertised in Oregon Coast. Has anyone stayed here? Looks small and quaint, right on the beach. ***kim***

I'm back and reporting for duty!

We did, indeed, stay at the Elizabeth Street Inn, for 2 nights. We had two adjoining rooms (3 women) and each got our own queen bed, in this arrangement, and we had 2 bathrooms.

Some of the pillows are lumpy, like an old foam pillow that's been washed too many times and the foam has broken up. Fortunately, with 6 pillows and 3 people (and 1 of us was smart enough to bring her own, so it was 6 pillows for 2 people), it was easy to find enough that weren't lumpy.

The bed was hard - I'd call it an xtra firm. That would be okay for my husband. I prefer a less firm mattress, but my aching back was relieved by aspirin, and I did remember to bring my Ambien.

It was hot in the rooms when we first arrived, but we left the sliding doors open and it cooled down soon enough.
The place was clean, great views and well-located. Staff was fine. Breakfast was okay by me. I'm not a big breakfast eater. They had bagels, sweet rolls, cereal, oj, coffee.

So it was an okay place to stay and the price was good. They have a satellite dish and this "HBO 4" tv was, well, ooh la la. If my kids had been there, and in their own room, I'd probably have had a cow. Instead, well, my eyes were buggin' out.

More in next post!

This is Oregon Lighthouse Week, this very week, and we enjoyed a ranger led tour of the Yaquina Light House. (Pronounced Ya- kwinn - ah) There is a nice little visitors center there with a film on the geology, animals, etc of the area, and there are a couple of lovely walks to coves from the point. One is accessible to the disabled, with tidepools people can go next to from wheelchairs. Very cool!

The beach at Newport was very wide and beautiful. The hotel was near Nye Beach, with cute shops and the famous Sylvia Beach Hotel. We had dinner at the Sylvia Beach and Will Shakespeare attended and answered our questions about his life and times. (The Tempest is showing this weekend at the local playhouse and every year, apparently, Shakespeare drops in at the Sylvia Beach Hotel) We all learned a lot! The dinner was family style and we met a few other nice people The food was excellent.

We also ate at the "Whales Tale" in the "downtown" historic area and it was also excellent.

The coast was very cool and refreshing, while Portland and Seattle were melting down, I hear. Hope I get to go back soon, and I hope you get to visit the Oregon Coast soon, too!

Thanks for the report, Orcas! Four members of our family are about two hours away from the coast right now!!

The rest of us are "stuck" in this dreadful heat in CA! Regsitering for school, carpooling to WP practices twice a day,etc., etc. I'm ready for another trip to the OC, that's for darn sure!! ***kim***

Some pics from Newport and Nye Beach:

http://www.portlandbridges.com/viewp...5-cat-1-1.html

The title photos here (dusk photo) was taken from the balcony of my room at the Elizabeth Street Inn, FYI.

Andrew,
Your photos remind me of what I am missing! Can't figure out why I am back home, sweltering in Bellevue rather than chilling out on the Oregon coast.