The Covington Inn

I couldn't review this hotel because it was physically gone when we got there. The hotels website had taken a reservation along with our money. Sent us a confirmation number. Then never return phone calls or emails when we had questions about the check-in time. Imagine our surprise when we showed up to enjoy our $300 room to find no boat floating in the river and the former neighbors saying it was hauled up River months ago. So if you are thinking about booking you might want to find something else. This place has that problem of not existing.

Staying here was my favorite thing about my visit to St Paul. It was so comfortable, relaxing, and interesting in the best way! Harriet island is very nice to walk around. On the Inn you'll also experience excellent views. I watched the sunset from the upper deck. Lot's of peaceful entertainment watching the birds. Not far from downtown but really feels like an escape. Has every modern amenity, despite being a boat! Came to St Paul for a conference at the intercontinental and stayed here on my last night, I wish I had stayed here the whole time! It is a very short walk. The owner is very kind and accommodating. I'm vegan and she made me a delicious breakfast. Staying at the Covington is really a must-do! I hope I have an excuse to come back and cannot recommend it highly enough!

My husband and I have stayed here for many years. It is a unique property with a very relaxing atmosphere. We loved our stays here. But this trip we found it had a new owner and the experience was vastly different. The previous owner, Liz, made you feel welcome from the very beginning, and was very accommodating. We didn’t feel the same way this time. When in the evening we wanted a drink of water, we noticed there were no cups in the room, nor in the main sitting area. We had to drink water from a faucet using our hands in order to take our meds. At registration I asked the hostess about breakfast, and she said breakfast was at 9:00. Previously that would mean Liz would start breakfast at 9:00, but it would run for an hour. There was always serve yourself coffee prepared while you waited, but she would bring breakfast out as you arrived. She would also visit with her guests and we had some great discussions. This time when we went from our room at 9:35 there was a note saying that the hostess had waited 30 minutes but had to leave for a doctor’s appointment.🤷‍♀️ She left us a container of instant oatmeal ( don’t know what we were supposed to do with that) and a stale breakfast bar. Thankfully there was coffee. There was no one there to cheerfully send us on our way as there always had been in the past. It was a real disappointment after our wonderful experiences in the past. Very disappointing. We won’t be back.

EDIT 9/11/24: Calah has responded to me and processed the refund for my canceled stay. She apologized for the delay. Original review: The Covington Inn seemed like a nice B&B to spend our anniversary weekend, but unfortunately, we never found out. We paid for one night with the added "Romance Package", which totaled nearly $400. Unfortunately, the day before our stay, Calah at the Inn emailed to let us know that the boat has suffered damage and would not be open for a stay. She asked me to call her to find alternate accomodations, but she did not answer the line that was provided on the Inn's website and didn't call back when I left a voicemail. I ended up paying for a hotel room in downtown St. Paul without her assistance since she didn't answer emails or calls. Since then, I have not heard back from Calah, despite multiple calls and emails asking for a refund for the last-minute cancellation. As much as I would like to give this B&B a positive review, I can't do that after paying almost $400 and then being ghosted by the owner.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival and the Covington Inn are a perfect combo. And definitely book two nights, not just one. Expect a very laid-back look and feel, almost a youth hostel vibe, except for the very private, unique rooms, and flavorful breakfasts . We had read from another review that drinking water is from the tap, so we brought our own. No problem for us.

Looks like a cute place, but never got to actually stay. Owner doesn't have the best business skills. Does not manage/block off reservations nor follow-up appropriately. Attempted to call and voicemail box full. Wanted to stay here for an anniversary. Booked a Saturday night online the week of, and payment promptly accepted via paypal. Generic email received confirming reservation. Day of stay drove 1.5 hours to arrive at location with note with multiple phone numbers to call. Attempted multiple times to call with no one answering phone and unable to leave voicemails. Waited around for an hour almost missing later plans (looked like other couples did the same thing). Finally after giving up staying here received a call from owner at 7 pm stating she "didn't know how the rooms were booked as they should have been blocked off, she was out of town and phone on airplane mode, and the friend watching the BNB had an emergency to attend to" She was polite and allowed me to express frustration and offered to allow us to stay that night and would discount a future stay". I was too exhausted to be angry and decided to just drive the hour and a half back home that night. She agreed to refund me. It is 2.5 weeks later and no refund. Attempted to call and voicemail still full. It looks cute, but this woman doesn't know how to run a business. I hope I can get my refund, but I am quickly loosing hope in the issue being properly resolved.

Covington Inn is a very special and unique place! Recently had an opportunity to visit and enjoyed every minute. Located on a boat on the Mississippi River in St. Paul, the management truly understands the meaning of hospitality at a deep level. I was especially impressed by the great room--complete with fireplace--which exudes charm and comfort. You can't go wrong with Covington--a hidden gem.

Honestly, I can't recommend this place enough. The boat provides an intimate experience of the Mississippi. The boat itself is cozy and has a great view of St. Paul skyline. The host's hospitality is welcoming, made me feel right at home the moment I stepped aboard. A true hidden gem!

DO NOT STAY HERE! This is not the same owner that is in the video! The owner kept us and another couple waiting to check in for over 30 minutes while she talked on the phone. She was confused and out of it when she did try to check us in. After she gave us our room key she just walked into her room and closed the door. I knocked twice and she wouldn't answer. We had no idea where or how to get to our room! In the room we found live spiders in the head board, above the bed and on the air conditioner. The bathroom towels were dirty! We told the hostess we were leaving and didn't stay. We have not been able to get a response from her sense for a refund. The parking area is defiantly sketchy at night and didn't feel safe. We have stayed at a LOT of B&B's and this is the worse one ever!

DO NOT BOOK THIS PLACE! Apparently the new owner is NOT as enthusiastic as the old owner Liz. She does not answer phone calls emails or texts. I have tried to cancel with her and have now filed a dispute over the charges with my bank and pay pal. After reading recent reviews I changed my mind on the stay and now I can't get my money back. She is MIA. BEWARE! If I could I would give her 0. No stars just a 0! The old owner is heartbroken it's come to this. Stay and pay at your own risk.

Amazing little tow boat turned bed and breakfast. My bride and I enjoyed staying in the Pilot's House Suite, which included the bedroom, a separate living room in the Pilot's House, and a private deck on top of the boat. We sat on the deck enjoying views of the Mississippi, falcons, scully teams, barges and so much more. It's right next to Harriet Island and walking trails. You're in the city of St. Paul yet feel like you're miles away. The quarters are cramped, but quaint, cute and enjoyable. I highly recommend if you like unique experiences.

It's a bed and breakfast. On a boat. That's pretty much all I needed to know. My friend and I stayed at the Covington Inn (an old tugboat now permanently docked on the Mississippi across the river from downtown St. Paul) as a treat to ourselves at the end of a long and eventful week in the Twin Cities. And we enjoyed every minute we could. We checked in to the Pilot Suite (the top two levels). Our suite included a private bath, a bedroom (with both a fireplace and a/c depending on what you need), a sitting room (the former wheel house) and outside deck. We enjoyed dinner (takeout we had picked up before arrival) on the outside deck as we watched the sunset. Alarms were set for sunrise and we took that in as well. The setting could not have been more relaxing on our private deck. It was the calm we needed after a busy week. As we watched the setting and rising sun reflecting off the river, it felt like we were worlds away. As we descended into the common area, we were greeted by Liz who served us breakfast (French toast with berries and whipped cream) and gave us a history of the boat. She has also put together several photo albums showing how it came to be the Covington Inn. This place was a wonderful find but seems to be a bit of a hidden gem. I'd recommend it for out-of-towners and locals as a great getaway.

My husband and I stayed at the Covington Inn for the first time last night. It was wonderful! We were in the Master's quarters; the room was comfortable, cozy, and peaceful. While we weren't able to take advantage of the deck access (far too cold), we are sure it would be a perfect addition to the experience. We hope to stay again in the warmer months to walk the river and explore a bit more!

I was super nervous about a tugboat B&B before we arrived. I get sea sick and love a good ol' boring hotel room. I am SO glad I let the hubby make the reservations, because this place was AMAZING!!! I CANNOT recommend this place highly enough. Zero motion (I'm sure that sounds silly, but I was paranoid!), connected to city water, THE MOST COMFORTABLE bed I have slept on in years and easy walking distance to the arena (we were there to see the Wild play the Bruins). GREAT food every morning and the most kind, entertaining host (Liz). The only thing that stunk was leaving! One of the hidden gems for SURE!!!!!

My husband and I stayed in the Master's Quarters on the Covington Inn last night- Liz met me and helped me with my bags, leading me up a beautiful spiral staircase to a breathtaking room. The Master's Quarters has a beautiful bed, two comfy chairs, a fireplace and several windows. There was a wonderful breeze coming off of the Mississippi- the windows were open (An AC unit is available, had it gotten to hot) and the views of downtown and the river were stunning! The deck off of the suite was enormous, with tons of seating (there was even a beautiful outdoor day bed) and lots of fun décor. In the morning, Liz made amazing French toast and sausages. She even kept me company, as my husband had to go to work this morning before breakfast. I couldn't have dreamed up a better getaway! Thank you Liz! Go to the Covington Inn- you will enjoy every moment! -Megan

We love this place. Just hosted a party on the roof deck for 50. We catered ourselves. Then a handful slept over. Breakfast was awesome. The views are unique and stunning. And our guests loved exploring the boat's nooks and crannies. Liz, the owner, is super helpful and accommodating. This place is a gem in the Twin Cities--nothing else like it! Perfect for a couple's getaway or hosting a group party.

Super inexpensive and one awesome little place. It's a boat!!! Walk over the bridge to down town St. Paul. This place is a gem. Groceries, restaurants and shopping g is all within 20 minutes walking distance.

Love everything about the Covington Inn. We had a small wedding ceremony on the upper deck last weekend, which Liz officiated. It was absolutely perfect! Liz was warm and welcoming in every way. Our guests raved about the place. The boat has a wonderful view of downtown St Paul, with the Mississippi River rolling past in between. We stayed the night in the Mates quarters, which was a terrific space, loved nodding off to the lights across the river, and the few boats and barges sputtering through the night. Huge thanks Liz!!

I had never heard of this place until I read about it in the B&B issue of one of our local MSP mags. It's a tugboat (towboat?) that's been converted into a bed & breakfast, docked near Harriet Island. Crazy, huh? I thought so too! So, away we go for a little romantic winter get-away near downtown St. Paul. The place was pretty much what I imagined, very quirky....a little worn-in, without being too shabby. This isn't a prissy Victorian-esque B&B and I can see men enjoying the fact that they can wander around and check out the old boat controls? and whatnot. Rooms all have fireplaces and views of downtown St. Paul which makes for a cozy winter stay and deck access which would rock in the summer. I'd love to go again and bring friends and have cocktails on the deck watching the boats go by. Don't expect much in the breakfast department, we had very weak coffee and french toast with strawberries & whipped cream. It wasn't horrible, just not the gourmet spread you get at some B&Bs. Call and ask about seasonal or off-peak rates as the website only lists one price, but the owner will probably give you a deal.