Front Porch Inn Arcata: Serene Getaway with Hidden Bath & Spa Oasis

Beware and be smarter than I was when booking. The photography is very strategic and shot close up. They’ve decorated their patio beautifully to look like an Oasis in the woods and the advertising leads you to believe you’re staying in the redwoods. My husband and I, who aren't particularly familiar with NorCal, booked our honeymoon here for what we believed would be a cosy, woodsy getaway. We drove 10+ hours and rolled up in the middle of the night to a tree-less, crumby suburban location. From the street the inn is unrecognizable and no amount of patio staging makes up for being 45 min away from nature in any direction. There’s virtually no secure parking and we had to park on the street several minutes away. The room was much smaller than we’d believed based on the photos, which we could’ve lived with if it was at least clean. It smelled sour and mildewy, there was also visible dirt and grime in every corner. The walls are also paper thin and we could hear our neighbors whispering in the next room. At a glance the internal facility is as photographed so I suppose if you’re familiar with the location and know what you’re getting into it’s an alright quirky and boho motel at best. However, if like us you fall for the crafty instagram marketing and the shocking amount of positive reviews (how?) you will be sorely disappointed. Wish we could get our money back for our honeymoon. We left almost immediately after opening our room, never stayed a night. Even after driving so far we were just too upset to give it a chance.

We chose The Front Porch Inn based off of a recommendation from our elopement photographer. We were not disappointed! We chose The Lounge and it was perfect size for us. I loved the vintage board games and decor, as well as the soaking tubs located in the courtyard! The soaking tubs and the gated courtyard were a huge selling point. We eloped in the Redwoods which is just a short drive from Arcata. We will definitely be back to stay in the future.

We loved this stay, but some may prefer a more personal touch. We received our check in info via email and didn't interact with any people on site, other than other guests. It's a beautiful property with well curated vintage rooms. We stayed in the Lounge, which was perfect! The tubs and sauna are amazing and the town is delightful!

Wow. We stayed in #16, Elysium, for two nights in early August. First off, this is a gorgeous property inside. The street view isn't much, frankly, but get inside, and it's amazing. The attached picture was literally the view from our porch one morning. The rooms (this was a suite, with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen/dining/living room) were immaculate and very tastefully decorated. We wanted to move in for good. The kitchen was fully outfitted for whatever cooking you might want to do, with plenty of pots, pans, bowls, etc. The sofa doubles as a pull-out bed, and the mattress was comfortable; our 14 yo daughter usually complains about these beds, but not this one. The instructions for getting in the property and in the room were sent by email and were easy to follow. We got lucky one night and parked inside; the second was on the street, but space was plentiful and safe. We walked to town and down the other direction to Redwood Curtain Brewing and the South G Kitchen food truck - definitely check them out! About 10 minutes in either case This was way up at the top of great places we've stayed over the years. We'll definitely be back.

All I've done so far is check into my room, and it's getting an immediate 5 stars. A bit of a splurge for my budget, but just dropping my luggage off I can already see this place is worth every penny. Honestly, it's a bargain. The grounds are just incredible, and I love how tucked away it is from the outside world. It's truly an oasis. The attention to detail is excellent, the rooms are well stocked, the vibe is humble and intimate. I haven't spent one night yet and I already want to come back.