Serendipity

I decided to visit Saugatuck for a few days after a conference wound up in Grand Rapids. I planned on a solo trip and chose my accommodation accordingly — nice, nothing too ‘romantic’ or ‘luxurious’ but also not ‘basic’ or ‘utilitarian’. I wanted comfort, cozy, friendly… nice. I’ve used B&Bs many, many times over the years, both in the US and abroad, so was most comfortable with that model. I also wanted somewhere close to the action so that I wouldn’t need to drive around too much to get to restaurants, the shops, the sights. I went to several websites, compared prices and amenities offered and chose Serendipity. I booked knowing my room which is in the main house did not have an attached bath. The bath was shared with one other room and it was just a few steps down the hall (literally) — no issue
it was, the other room was not booked so we had the bath to ourselves. When I booked I emailed a few dietary restrictions to the hosts who were quick to respond and let me know that they would provide for my needs. My husband decided to join me at the last minute and I communicated with the B&B that we would be two and they couldn’t have been nicer. Since I had told them when I expected to check in, I did them the courtesy of letting them know that I would be detained as my husband’s flight was delayed and they were perfectly fine with that. I get that B&Bs are not hotels and usually just two people who hopefully have some life other than the guest house — sometimes you need to get out and get groceries or go the doctor’s office, you know? Having an agreed upon time of arrival makes perfect sense. The room I had booked was fine for the two of us; plenty of towels, nice decorative touches, comfortable bed, windows that let in the light. There were lots and lots of pillows, so the small sign suggesting that the decorative pillows be regarded as just decorative wasn’t a big deal to us, as it was to another reviewer. The bathroom was lovely with a spa tub which we didn’t avail ourselves of. There was a small fridge in the hall for our use, and coffee and tea things were set up on a table outside our room and hot coffee was waiting for us when we woke — a very appreciated gesture! The house is an older historic home and nicely done, with a lovely garden all around. I’m not much of a gardener myself but appreciated the variety of things growing, very pretty. There was a cozy little alcove just off the dining area that looks out on the street where the owners had books and comfortable seating for a quiet moment. The breakfast was really yummy and generous. As one reviewer noted, some people will not like the B&B experience as facing strangers over the breakfast table is just too much. That is not the fault of the B&B, it’s probably more a lack of socialization issue or being uncomfortable with those that may not be just like one’s self. But hey, you can learn a lot over the coffee cups! We found that beer was cheaper on the boat ;-) meaning on the paddlewheeler (Star of Saugatuck II) that offers excursions up the river and out onto the lake. The host, David, asked if a 9 o’clock breakfast would be good for us, but also asked if another time would be better. I’m on vacay, I’m going with the flow! The wifi was strong, free and fast. There was a tv in the room that we never turned on. The B&B is in a great location which is both quiet yet steps away from everything in central Saugatuck. It was nice to leave the car parked (parking is provided) and explore the town on foot, and we felt completely safe walking back from town (lol, one block!) after a late dinner. I thought that Saugatuck was really charming, and I’m curious what it might look like in winter. We will definitely come back.

I found this bed and breakfast experience was on the low end compared to other bed and breakfasts I’ve been to. I felt like the rules were sort of rigid and that it was difficult for David and June to be accommodating. For instance, at many B&Bs, breakfast is served between a certain time frame of a few hours, giving you choices for what you start your day. But here, breakfast is between 9 – 9:15. And when I requested breakfast a bit earlier, I got it, but not without a bit of push back from David.
There were also lots of little signs up everywhere that made me feel like I was a kid and my mom was reminding me to do my dishes and not to use her fancy pillows.
I understand it’s probably difficult to accommodate everyone’s needs as a B&B owner, but it might help to be a bit looser in one’s approach so as to not make guests feel constricted.

These people should NOT be in the hosptality business. The place was nice but they were SUPER RUDE. We schedualed a special early check in at 1pm. When we arrived at 130 they told us we could not come in. I feel asleep on the couch while reading, and was wokedn up and told i was not ALLOWED to fall asleep on the couch. They made our stay very uncomfortable.

So I think that where some B&Bs turn people off is through what I can only reference as some sort of implied forced intimacy: sharing a breakfast table, that kind of thing. That may be perfectly fine for some folks, but my take is that traveling can often be inconvenient enough without the added burden of locking elbows with strangers over grape jelly. I burden you with this preamble mostly because that’s the opposite of the situation with Serendipity, a quaint and comfortable, funky and friendly boutique in Saugatuck, where I spent a couple of days recently, in town for a wedding.
The proprietors really make these experiences happen, and I thought the two folks who run Serendipity couldn’t have been nicer or more accommodating — daily they bring breakfast to your room (ours was its own separate building, as were — from what I could tell — many of the rooms here), so you really felt waited on, yet comfortably in your own space. We stayed in the Music Room, which comes adorned with all sorts of sheet music, framed art of composers, and the like. Full kitchens, extensive video collections, kid friendly and those breakfasts they brought by really hit the spot. We had a perfectly fine time here. It’s not fancy, if that’s what you’re looking for, but if you’re spending some time on vacay or off the see some friends tie the knot, you could do much worse. I’m not in town very often, but I’d definitely stay here again if I were.

From the time I made a reservation through the end of my weekend stay at Serendipity, everything was wonderful. Booking the room online (library suite for 3) was a breeze, and David and June not only gave us all sorts of suggestions for restaurants and galleries, but they catered to our dietary restrictions when making breakfast. Each morning we got breakfast delivered to our suite in a basket — quiche, egg casserole, scones, muffins, fresh fruit, and juice — and we enjoyed it on our sun porch. The suite was clean, and had plenty of space with a very comfortable living room. Parking was easy, and it was just a 15 minute drive from both Holland and Fennville. My girlfriends and I had a wonderful stay, and will definitely return to Serendipity next time we’re in the area.

Nice cozy place. Love the homemade Bfast: yummy scones, quiche and fruits. If you are looking for a nice weekend getaway in Sagatuck, Serendipity is close to everything in the town. Parking is provided, which is needed since it is hard to find spots all around the city. David and June warmly greeted us when we arrived and gave us suggestions on what restaurants and events to check out. Thanks to the warm hospitality of the owners. We are sure to come back for more visits. Recommend.