Prior to arriving at the Northern Traveler Motel I had checked out their website and read user reviews on this site. I have stayed at mom and pop places before so I was expecting a clean, no frills room in desperate need of renovation. However, there were a few things I wasn't expecting.

For example, their website reads, "beach access". The beach access in question, is the public beach access across a four lane highway and down the road.

Second, their website claims, "You won't even have to unhook your boat." This is the kind of motel where you park your car in front of your room. That leaves enough space in the parking lot for two cars to get past each other. Maybe if you parked your boat all the way at the end, but other than that if you didn't unhook it you would be blocking access to the rest of the narrow lot.

As far as the room goes, it was your standard (albeit considerably smaller) motel room with a bed, 19 inch tv, table and two chairs. It was clean, however had an overpowering musty smell as though it had been closed up for quite some time. The mattress was low to the ground, hard and thin, and no matter what position I laid in it made my back hurt. (No, I don't normally have back problems.) My husband is 6'4" and his feet hung off the end of the bed. There was no bathtub, only a standing shower.

The room our friends were staying in was larger and more like a standard hotel room with two beds, etc. However, you had to squeeze between the sink and the toilet to use the facilities and when you were sitting on the toilet the sink was practically in your lap.

There were gas cans, a bottle of lighter fluid, numerous five gallon buckets all stacked up outside the rooms which should've been put away in a utility shed, and I'm assuming the other guests were more like long term residents since we got the last two rooms they had available.

If you're planning on spending much time at the motel doing anything other than sleeping, this isn't the place. We were there on a motorcycle trip with two other couples, and it was raining so we needed some place that had a little room for us to sit comfortably and chat, perhaps have a drink and play cards. This was not the place for us.

Going for a stay of a couple days in Oscoda, MI I asked a friend who lives there to suggest a place. I was directed to the Northern Traveler and was more than pleased. I didn't need fancy just clean, and that is exactly what I got. Comfortable bed, good water pressure, cable TVa couple of chairs, a table & desk, a micro wave, and a small fridge that actually worked.

The innkeepers were great folks and willing to help in every way. Good restaurants and any type of convenience within a short hop.

This is a cute little mom-and-pop type motel right in the heart of Oscoda. The rooms are extremely clean. The beds are comfortable and all of the rooms have a mini fridge and a microwave. The only complaint I have is that the ice machine was not working - there was a sign in the office that said "No ice til spring." Other than that, it was a nice place to stay. If you are looking for a no frills, economical place to stay in Oscoda, you will find it here.