Olemas cottage is beautiful.....!! Denise was entertaining.

I have read some of the reviews for this hotel and it seems that, if you are looking for the style and amenities of a Sheraton-like hotel chain, this is not going to be your place. Myself, I enjoy the personal warmth and care of independent hotels like this one.

The people who work there are warm and serviceful. They want you to enjoy your stay, and it shows.

The main area offers a reading library, which includes fiction and lots of information about the local flora and fauna; a game room, which includes board games, a lovely fireplace and a pool table; and the breakfast room, which always has tea and coffee available. The ambiance is warm and inviting. This was not a romantic getaway for me but a weekend reunion with my brother, and we felt very welcome to sit with our feet propped up by the fire, reading.

We did not pay the extra $10 and got a very basic room. It was clean and comfortable and had a wonderful balcony. The entire hotel is eco-conscious, with radiant-floor heating, a little recycling bin in each room, and a more natural soap and shampoo. I found this most impressive and I hope that other hotels -- especially the big chains -- pick up habits like these.

The beds were warm and comfortable. The breakfast was a good continental one but didn't have the heartiness of cooked eggs and such. The breakfast room was full when we got there, so we sat at a larger table with strangers, got into conversation with them, and parted as friends. I love independent hotels.

The primary cons for me were the noisy footsteps of the person in the room above us, and the rather noisy plumbing. Nonetheless, I would happily stay here again. And, with any luck, I'll get the chance.

If you are looking for luxury or elegance, this is not the place! Our fireplace room with a little balcony and jetted tub was small. The carpet needed a good cleaning and the bedding was tired looking. No room for a desk or dresser. A couple chairs, 2 worn bedside tables, an armoire and the bed were as much as this room could hold. No TV. ~That was perfectly fine with us as we could hear our neighbors in the next room. (We would not want to hear their TV, too.) That meant that they could also hear us.~ The view and landscaping were quite lovely.

We commented that 8:00AM seemed a bit late for breakfast so a basket with a coffee maker and coffee fixings was placed in our room. That was a nice touch, but it was not replenished the next morning. We returned to our dirty cups still on the bedside table. Breakfast was standard continental with granola, "yogurt," breads & pastries. A fresh fruit platter was the star of the show. It would have been nice if the staff had prepared a roaring fire in the fireplace before breakfast as the little room was quite cold. (It seemed that it actually could have been tended to all day as the lobby and staff are right there.)

Bathroom towels were scarce, and not very white. Scratchy & not fluffy at all. One thing that really got to me was that the first night of our stay we found that both the bottom and top sheets of the bed had holes. Really obvious ones! We asked for a change of sheets the next morning, which we got. By that time I had already realized that attention to detail was seriously lacking, especially with price tag of $195.00 per night.


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The Seashore Lodge is a 1 minute drive or slightly longer walk to the Bear Valley Visitor Center of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Reasonably priced, particularly compared to some of the B&Bs around. No TVs in the rooms and a $10 or so higher rate gets you a better room than the basic room and includes a jacuzzi tub. Comfortable room. Staff was courteous & friendly. Continental breakfast included. They have a small library of books/field guides to help the novice nature lovers. Not much around besides the Seashore, but if you like hiking and relaxing walks you'll find peace and serenity here. It rained the entire time I was there (obviously not their fault), but the beauty came through nonetheless. I'd return there and stay at this Lodge again.