The Bunkies - Ottawa, Illinois

Thomas H.

Cute and modern cabin located near Ottawa downtown (8min drive) and state parks (15 min drive). The room has many nice features like kitchenette w cookware & dishes and a 2nd floor area w sky light and hammock bed. They also nice little entertainment around the room like a record player and card games in addition to a new flat screen tv. There were more amenities in the neighborhood to explore like a bonfire, pool, etc but didn't try during our stay.

Some elements that were disappointing were an odor that was kinda like a wet dog smell (we used our car's air frenshner to try and cover the smell) and a deceng number of bugs got in (mostly lady bugs but a few beetles).

Overall, it was still a pleasant time and a nice weekend getaway option from Chciago (suggest Heritage Harbor address some of those minor issues above and it would be a 5 out of 5 experience).

Abhishek A.

My wife and I stayed 3 nights at "Old Salt" in December to do some winter hiking at the nearby state parks. This was our first stay at The Bunkies and overall, we enjoyed the new experience to stay at a rental cabin versus a hotel room. Some positive highlights:

+ Our own private little cabin with kitchenette
+ Quiet area of Ottawa
+ Appreciated the furnishings and amenities inside the cabin, although we didn't use the dishwasher, stove, or laundry.
+ Roku TV to allow us to watch out own streaming services
+ Very fast WiFi service
+ 4 coffee K-cups and some packets of dried cream and sugar were provided, but we didn't notice them until Day 2 since they were in a brown bag from Operations which we hadn't opened. Perhaps, they are out in the open near the Keurig machine for better visibility? Also, how about a few packets of black tea?

The reasons for giving 4/5 stars are because:

- We found a lot of dead and live ladybugs all over the cabin. I scooped up many to throw them away and also photographed 5-8 of them to send to the management team. They said they would advise Operations. There was also one stink bug inside the cabin.
- Construction appears to be quick and efficient, but not carefully thought out. The panel doors above the laundry are for utilities, but someone might think it's for storage and attempt to slide the panel doors (which don't have handles) and then struggle a bit to close them. I loved the hooks near the door for jackets, but then the light switches to the room are obscured. The door frame in the kitchen wasn't secured to the wall near the floor, so someone could pull and tug on it. The TV appeared to be mounted on a slight angle with respect to the ceiling whereby the top-right would get caught against the ceiling. The hook inside the shower was mounted upside down. And, there is only one hook on the bathroom door, which works for one towel, but then one of us had to hang the other towel on the back of a chair. But hotels are no different -- there are never enough hooks!
- We happened to notice our fire extinguisher in the kitchen was EMPTY. That suggests the staff don't appear to have it in their protocol to check the status of it every X months.
- Since we visited in December, they had beautiful Christmas lights around each cabin. But, when you want to sleep, despite pulling the drapes down, the glow of those bright lights still gets indoors. Perhaps, they should be on a timer that turns them off around bedtime.
- The mat in the kitchen had deep scrapes and minor chunks missing from it.
- There is mood lighting where a light bar goes across the wall behind the bed. It's wonderful. Except when you turn on the TV and have its reflection along the length of the TV.

Two general observations:

* There is netting in the top bunk area above the kitchen. But, no notice advising if it is for decoration only or can kids / adults lay on it, i.e., a weight limit?
* For guests who will visit in the winter months, please note that it will take several hours for the cabin to warm up. But, the floors will never get warm, so bring some indoor slippers. We hopped from carpet to mat to bathroom mat whenever we walked around, haha!
* We wished the drapes pulled down from the bottom, so that we could raise them up to say, eye level height, and could still get some daylight into the cabin but maintain some privacy.

Kevin D.

I have stayed twice at the Bunkies and had a wonderful experience both times. Even though the home has a small footprint, there is plenty of space with the king bed, fully equipped kitchen (cooktop, microwave, and dishwasher), as well as a very large bathroom with rain fall shower head. The laundry unit was a nice feature too. I also love the loft space, with a huge skylight and rope hammock.

The real magic is at night, the space is incredibly relaxing with all of the built in mood lighting, star gazing through the skylight, and music from the provided record player and vintage records.

With the group of 5 Bunkies clustered in the corner of the Heritage Harbor resort, my next visit will include friends and family to use all of them together.

Kimberleigh H.

A wonderful place for a couples getaway! Also a great spot for friends to go and each have their own bunkie to stay in. The bunkie had everything we could need, including games to play and a the most comfortable bed. We were able to rent a pontoon boat during the day for an beautiful day in the sun. The walkable marina with live music at night made for a fantastic evening experience! And the campfire right out front was fabulous for roasting s’mores and chatting with other bunkie guests. Would highly recommend staying here!

Ana B.

We enjoyed a relaxing weekend at the Bunkies. It’s like a little home away from home, cozy and with all the amenities for a perfect stay (fully equipped kitchen, large bathroom). A short walking distance from the pool and the sand bar with live music at night.

Kristen H.

Fun weekend trip from the chicago area - very relaxing and plenty of time outdoors. These are new construction units. They’re comfortable and adorable! Loved the skylight in the loft and the bonfire nearby.

Tim B.

I can't say enough about how wonderful my stay was. The Bunkies truly exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait to come back. Thank you so much to the hosts for making my trip so special! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a warm and welcoming place to stay.

Rachel J.

My family and I spent a weekend in The Bunkies; highly recommend! 10/10. Beautiful views, environment and atmosphere. You won’t be disappointed.