A frequent guest's review.
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 11/18/07
The Bluffs Inn is independently run by a charming Old-World couple, Julius and Pirrko van Binsbergen, formerly of Sweden, who have a strong personal committment to hospitality. It's not at all unusual to find them mingling with the guests on weekend mornings, taking their own breakfast at one of the cafe tables on the 2nd floor mezzanine overlooking the family room.
The breakfast is one of the most abundant and varied spreads found at any motel, as countless guests have remarked again and again. Not just the standard coffee, milk, juice and toast - you'll find donuts, bagels, biscuits and gravy, hard-boiled eggs, several kinds of fruit year-round, yogurt, pancakes-on-a-stick, sausage biscuits, and more.
The family room is a large area perfect for a large party to get together in (no need to cram your entire group in one suite or go off-premises to meet), or even for strangers to mingle and get acquainted. There's a pool table, an arcade game, and vending machines. And, putting the "family" in "family room" are sofas, a fireplace, tables to share food or participate in one of the games or jigsaw puzzles provided, a bookcase filled with a variety of books and magazines, and toys for the kids. At the moment, there's even a piano, on loan from a long-term guest. (Imagine having an impromptu old-fashioned Christmas caroling party during this holiday season!)
As if the above perks weren't enough, the Bluffs also has a pool - and it's the biggest indoor pool in the area. The pool room has plenty of space for group gathering as well, with picnic tables provided for refreshments. And of course, there's the hot tub. An abundant supply of freshly laundered towels is provided right in the area, so there's no need to unpack your own or bring them from your room.
If you can't imagine a family vacation without the WHOLE family, you're welcome to bring your pet for just an additional $10 per night. And the area around the Inn couldn't be more perfect for walking your dog, or, for that matter, taking a walk yourself. Because the building is situated on a hill, it has the unique distinction of having "ground-floor" access on all floors except one, making it easier to get to and from your car.
If you just HAVE to wear your favorite outfit, but it needs to be washed, it's no problem. There's a coin-operated guest laundry located in an outbuilding on the first level. Individual-size boxes of detergent are available for a reasonable price at the front desk.(No need to substitute your shampoo in a pinch!)
In a quiet corridor off the lobby you'll find wireless internet access for your laptop, with several computer desks provided. Each day free copies of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, one of the area's major dailies, are provided at the front desk.
Each room is wired with cable-access - the same Extended Basic package offered to area residents, featuring over 70 channels.
As if all the amenities described above aren't enough, constant improvements are underway, as Julius and Pirkko (they'll urge you to call them by their first names, like old friends) are determined to make the Bluffs better than ever. So it's a probability that each time you return (you will want to return) it will be even better than the last time.