BANDON, ORE. - The Bandon Inn

Sometimes, serendipity leads you to just the right place. So it was during our recent trip to the Oregon coast.

Despite doing my due diligence, the hotel I originally booked in Coos Bay turned out to be anything but upmarket and completely unacceptable, so we cancelled our reservation and, without a fallback position, headed to Bandon, father south along the central coast.

Passing several rather humble roadside properties, we spotted the Bandon Inn. Situated on a cliff overlooking the city’s Old Town, the Coquille River and the Pacific Ocean, the view was exactly what we’d hoped for. The buildings are of a charming older style and appeared well-maintained, so in we went to ask about availability.

Room 27, a King room

Cheyene, the front desk attendant, was most helpful and readily prepared a temporary key so we could inspect the room before deciding. The moment we entered, we knew we were home, at least for a few days. It was exactly what we were looking for, and the rate was only a few dollars more than the property we’d originally booked in nearby Coos Bay.

Unit containing work station, dresser, TV, microwave and fridge

Off the lobby was a combination gift shop and pantry with items ranging from coffee mugs (which we brought home) and notions to bottles of local wine and beer for guests who didn’t want to travel a quarter mile down Highway 101 to the local market.

The room itself was fairly spacious and reasonably well-appointed. At just over 225 square feet, it held a King bed, two chairs with a side table, a dresser that included a work station and held the flat-screen TV, microwave, fridge and coffee maker. The room included a narrow balcony with a couple of chairs where guests can sit and take in the view and the salt air.

View of Old Town from the balcony

The bathroom included a combination tub and shower and, thoughtfully, a magnifying mirror and a mat for the tub to help prevent slipping – both of which are becoming increasingly important as we age. Bath amenities included the usual soap, shampoo and conditioner, an iron and board, and hairdryer. The sink was located outside the bathroom – not our favorite configuration – and counter space was fairly limited, but it worked.

Bath and sink area

Free Wi-Fi is included, and speeds were quite acceptable: 5.8 Mbps download and 2.9 Mbps upload, as measured by Speakeasy.net/speedtest. For those who would rather phone home than email, Bandon Inn offers free long-distance calls anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.

The hotel also has an espresso stand on property and will deliver your favorite espresso drinks between 6:30 and 10:30 each morning for those who prefer them over the in-room coffee from Portland Roasting. At other times of the day, complimentary coffee and a selection of Stash teas are available in a sitting area off the lobby, which also serves as the dining area for the included, but modest, continental breakfast.

The Bandon Inn also has some rooms that are pet-friendly, and the pet charge is modest.

Among the amenities the Bandon Inn does not offer are in-room safes, a swimming pool or spa, a business center or guest laundry. Bathrobes are only available in some of their suites. Finally, the rooms are not air conditioned; the hotel's proximity to the Pacific make it largely unnecessary. However, rooms do come equipped with electric fans so they can be easily aired out or cooled down.

Staff members were uniformly polite and accommodating, greeting us as we passed in the halls and elsewhere on the property, bidding us, “Good morning,” asking if there was anything we needed, and generally making us feel quite welcome indeed.

Just west of the property is a paved path that leads to the area’s Old Town, making it convenient to park the car once, then walk to a variety of shops and stores, restaurants and pubs, and the nearby waterfront. That can be a huge benefit during this small area’s peak season, when traffic can get crazy and parking spaces come at a premium.

If you’re headed to Bandon or anywhere near, really, I highly recommend the Bandon Inn.

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