The Orca Inn

Room is really small. Reminded me of hostel. Suitcase on 1 x 4 ft desk/table or on the bed. Unit was Clean. Nice towels. Not enough outlets for devices. Fridge and microwave. Shower was a 3 x 3 install unit. No coffee maker in room but available in another building. Internet was weak = 8 mb down. 3 up. If you’re looking for bare minimum, this will work fine.

The Orca Inn is a great place to stay, as long as you understand where you are staying and as long as you determine ahead of time that it meets your needs The Orca Inn is not fancy. If you want luxury then book a luxury hotel (and pay luxury rates). The Orca Inn may not be fancy but it is fun, clean, quirky, and the staff are friendly and responsive. It’s not on the waterfront but it’s a pretty easy walk to get there. Maybe 15 minutes? A lot of the negative reviews I have seen are really frustrating because the Orca Inn is very transparent and upfront about what it is. It is a great option for people on a budget who want to experience San Juan Island. It works for me because I am a very active traveler and I don’t spend all day lounging in my room. I wake up, explore the island all day, and come back to my room to shower and sleep. In the morning there is complimentary coffee available in the office so I drink my coffee and set off for the day. There is not a restaurant on site but there are plenty in the area and my room had a little fridge for leftovers In summary it’s a fun quirky motel with a fascinating history. If you book a room, pay attention to what you are reserving and make sure it meets your needs

Luckily we had small suitcases as 2 large ones wouldn't fit. It was a queen bed against the wall, a shower and toilet in a closet and a sink in another. It was old which is ok and I knew. It was affordable on an expensive island. Very nice staff and clean.

I did not expect much for the price we paid but this little gem met all our needs. The front desk woman CJ was super helpful when we added a night to our stay. Will def stay here again. But if you plan to stay in your room for other than a shower and sleep, this may not the place for you.

This is the place to stay if you're coming to the island to do things on the island, not hang out in your room. Affordable, very clean. Small rooms. Great for sleeping and taking a shower and getting back out into the world. Not always quiet so bring earplugs. If you want to linger in luxurious lodgings, this is not your place. If you want to visit San Juan Island without spending a fortune, this place is clean and comfortable. I slept great.