Richie D.
Yelp
LOVE. . .
Noon Lodge at Mallard Bay on Big Bear Lake is "Cabin Glamping" at its best! Truly full of Instaworthy shots--as you'll notice from my unfiltered pictures. Thank you to my fellow Yelp family for helping me find this gem. Since their reviews already describe this cabin destination to a tee, I'll just provide a tips breakdown combining mine and their experiences to improve your upcoming visit.
Favorite features:
- The lay-out of the property is adorable (central fireplace with Adirondack chairs and larger cabins closer to the lake) and the location is ideal being on an islet, away from the hustle and bustle of The Village. Yet you're only a 3 minute drive by car to all the action!
- I loved the modern-rustic touches like multiple outdoor fire pits, public speakers with camp musical hits, taxidermy, cabin envelopes containing the key, hand-drawn property and recommended businesses town map, woven rugs and blankets, leather chairs, black and white framed artwork, and more!
- They have plenty of self-guided activities on the property including bicycles, kayaks/canoes, bocce ball, shuffleboard, and a swimming pool. I was particularly excited to see boats available (with a liability waiver) since this destination is best enjoyed on the lake.
- Multiple Wi-Fi networks are available with good speeds depending on where you are on the property. Each cabin has a TV, mini fridge (or larger), oscillating fan (no AC for summer months yet plenty of windows for a cross-breeze), and coffee machine. Not to mention wine glasses and a bottle opener.
- They have enforced Quiet Hours after 10 pm. I appreciate this as someone who goes to sleep on the earlier side. Our room was wedged between the swimming pool and public outdoor fireplace so I could see how it could be noisy. Not to mention we had a shared wall studio. Party animals and those with children--Sorry, not sorry!
- Given Covid-19, they have a sticker on the door of each cabin noting: "This room has been cleaned and disinfected." This detail was truly appreciated! I still took it upon myself to sanitizer the remote control, door handles, light switches, etc.
Room for improvement:
- Fresh coffee is brewed only on the weekends in the lobby. Though there are automated coffee machine in every room it had only Folgers coffee grounds available (ew).
- Simple cleaning and upkeep could be a tad better given the price point; yet you are renting individual "rustic" cabins in the middle of the mountains, so I didn't have the highest "Ritz-mentality". I personally cleaned our fan inside and out from the layers of dust it hosted. The tiny shower had peeling paint on the floors and walls. The shuffleboard (faded paint) and corn hole (uneven and broken boards) have seen better days. The life vests were quite icky to be worn for water sports. With all this said, a coat of fresh paint on each wall and a deep cleaning with dusting would get them an improvement in reviews from what I observed and had read. (Hint hint)
- While I was pleased they had dedicated parking spots, the gravel lot was extremely narrow and full of potholes and mud. Plus the lots was a ways from all the cabins, so be sure to carry your bags and belongings to your cabin when you self check in and are closer to the cabins.
Tips for your visit:
- If you go with the studio cabin see if you can get #4 because it is the only studio with a gas fireplace. We loved having this available in the evening for playing cards with wine given that it drops to 35* and below even in the summer.
- Like others warned me about: bring your own toilet paper and pillow! They use an eco friendly TP which is great for Mother Nature but rough on the behind. They do have enough towels for each individual and Beekman Boys shampoo, conditioner and body gel. Pillows are thin and frumpy; bed is very firm but they say that's great for the back. I found my skin to be quite dry after showering perhaps since I'm use to a water softener, so bring lotion too.
- Take a moment to look up at the stars. The show is amazing and you can use a sky gazing app to identify all different constellations. I even found Ursa Major (Big Bear), Saturn and Jupiter!
- You may find cheaper cabin rates online through Hotels.com or other competitors versus on their website.
- Lastly, upon check out they request you to throw out your trash, close the windows, turn off the lights/heater/fireplace/mini fridge, and maintain furniture arrangements the way you found them. I honestly don't think this is too much to ask, plus it reduces waste of our resources.
Nonetheless, I am very positive and refreshed after my little getaway to Big Bear's Noon Lodge at Mallard Bay. I would definitely visit again. Until next time!